Chances are good that you’re on this page because you’ve either been diagnosed with a chronic condition or you suspect you have one. Either way, I hope the pages in this section will serve to provide reassurance and usable strategies to live your best despite the obstacles.

The Big Picture

Managing a chronic condition can feel like a part-time job all by itself. From having multiple prescriptions to juggle, frequent doctors appointments, planning your diet around good- and bad-for-you foods, having a cumbersome bedtime routine, to needing extra “stuff” when you travel, it can quickly zap your energy and feed the symptoms you’re trying to minimize. First and foremost, keep these things in mind:

• Prioritize your focus: With abundant information about how diet, sleep, exercise, meditation (among other things) all affect your health, you may find yourself trying to control it all. By trying to start an all-out elimination diet while starting an exercise routine and getting your meditation on every day on top of your “regular” life responsibilities, you will quickly burn yourself out. Talk to your doctor about which change can have the biggest impact, and start with that one.
• Grab quiet moments: Taking a minute here and there to be mindful and present in the moment can help let some dust settle from life’s daily stressors and allow you to refocus. Standing in line, waiting at a red light, waiting for the microwave to “beep” – use those moments to ground yourself, no matter how small they may be.
• Don’t beat yourself up: You may not be able to do as much as you could before, or you may feel like you’ve let your loved ones “down”. You’re human, remember? Give yourself some credit – you’re doing the best you can given the hand you’ve been dealt.

Here’s a collection of blog posts about living with chronic illnesses:

• The Emotional Toll of Mystery Illnesses
• She’s Not a Princess, She Has Sjogren’s Syndrome

Read the pages below that apply to you about how to live your best with your constant companion in life – your body.