Archives for 2014

Can chronic illness promote resilience?

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I understand if you’re not interested in reading one more post about resilience.  I get it if you’re not feeling particularly resilient today and this is just one more thing that you don’t seem to be getting right …

But if you’re at all interested in this idea, don’t stop reading.  Because I want to share a new take on the word that just might brighten your day – – at least it did for me because it put a positive spin on my daily slog with difficult health.

Let’s start with the fundamentals, the dictionary  Merriam‑Webster, definition “…resilience is the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens.”

I’ve been writing about this for years because I believe it’s a key ingredient in the stew that makes it possible to adapt to the myriad of difficulties that come from living with difficult chronic health health.  Honestly? I’m not sure what I believe about the part resilience plays in restoring strength or health.  But I’m convinced that being resilient makes it much easier to restore success.

Now, findings from a new study by Gerontologist supports the idea that,  “…people who are more resilient by nature are less likely to let a chronic illness disrupt their daily lives “.   But here’s the kicker: “…according to The New York Times, age, health, and financial status alone cannot fully explain the disparities of why some individuals are more resilient than others. Study author Lydia Manning, a gerontologist at Concordia University Chicago, says that “…resilience is usually acquired during ‘moments of adversity,’ noting also that ‘everybody has the capacity for resilience’.”

Huh? Does that mean that chronic illness, clearly an adverse experience, can stimulate resilience in a person?  Now, that’s intriguing, isn’t it?  Also I like the idea that each of us has the capacity for resilience.  I’m going to let these ideas percolate for a while.  

I sincerely hope that you find some measure of resilience, strength and hope during this holiday season.  This time of year puts those of us with weakened energy to the test, doesn’t it?

 

What Are You Doing For Your Self This Holiday Season

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When I was growing up in the U.S. in the 1960’s, the  ‘self help’ section didn’t exist.  There were  ‘do-it -yourself’ books, such as ‘Sewing for Beginners” (which I owned  and used) and “How to Take Care of Your Automobile” (which I bought but never read).  But then the “Me Generation” wasn’t a noun yet, either. But things change and these are different times.  There’sRead More

How are you doing with reconciling Illness, Work and Marriage?

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THE FOLLOWING  GUEST POST is written by Helena Madsen When we live with chronic illness, we often daydream about quitting our jobs. We’re tired of constantly having to juggle sick days, the fatigue that predictably sets in, and the less than stellar performance reviews as we struggle to keep up with our work load. NotRead More

Is time a blur?

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Do you experience significant chunks of  ‘lost’ time because of debilitating symptoms?  It happens, too often, with chronic and difficult health.  I recently heard it described as, “…getting lost in a rabbit hole where time is a blur”.   I’ve been there. I’ve seen how easy it is to assume that while in that blur, you’re gettingRead More

3 Ideas for Helping Old Habits to Slip Away

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“Slip sliding away, slip sliding away You know the nearer your destination, the more you slip sliding away.”  Simon and Garfunkle. Last year, when my husband and I were in California, a friend told us about a fitness program that had been the single most important change she’d made to improve her well-being. We weren’t dissatisfiedRead More

3 Conversations about chronically difficult health

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Does anyone really question that living with chronic health problems makes it very, very difficult to hold a job?   I don’t know about you, but no one has ever argued this point with me.  Probably, because it seems  obvious to most reasonable people. I’m not implying that we’ve got a lock on the challenges behind maintaining positiveRead More

Are You Talking About Illness at Work?

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Achieving the success you desire when you live with a debilitating chronic health condition can require change in the most unexpected places. In my experience, those of us who can meet the challenges are more likely to thrive, not just survive. One key element for thriving with illness is the ability to communicate effectively. This is particularlyRead More

Is work a safe haven for you?

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NEWS FLASH . . . A new study shows that  ” … people find work to be less stressful than their home lives. Work was, in fact, a haven.”  (WBUR.org/NPR).    That same news report cited a poll conducted by NPR, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Harvard School of Public Health found that,  … “health problems, the deathRead More

Do you question your assumptions before making a change?

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I’ve noticed something odd and I wonder what it’s about.  People who live with chronic health conditions,   too often make important career decisions without first questioning their assumptions.  Of course , “healthy people” fall into this trap, too.  But let’s face it.  If you’re living with debilitating chronic health, you have less wiggle room for poor career choices. WhenRead More

Four Things to consider when Choosing Health Plans if you live with chronic health conditions

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This is a GUEST POST written by Sandra Mills.   People who have chronic illnesses  or any long term health condition need a health plan designed for managing complex medical conditions. It sounds simple enough, but there are many companies and many plans available. Choosing the best health plan to support a person suffering fromRead More

Are you turning disclosure into opportunity?

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She was struggling with whether to tell her team that she lives with a chronic disease, multiple sclerosis.   There seems to be a tipping point when disclosing a long term chronic health condition starts to feel like a necessity rather than a choice.  Low impact symptoms become more debilitating, symptom ‘flares’ last for longer periods,Read More

Being a student while living with Health Challenges?

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Being a student who lives with chronic health challenges requires acquiring and mastering a sophisticated skill set that is not part your educational curriculum. Any successful student learns to adapt to norms and rules set by others – – starting in preschool.  Isn’t that the name of the game? And those who develop this skillRead More

Uncovering the Links Between Illness and Stress

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 This is a Guest Post by Jessica Socheski.   In 2007, Sheldon Cohen, a professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, revealed that stress can be a factor that contributes to and worsens illnesses, “… in particular depression, cardiovascular disease and HIV/AIDS.” The links between depression and stress prove complex. In some cases, a stressful eventRead More

3 articles to challenge your thinking

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Today, I’m sharing 3 sites that I hope will stimulate your thinking.  Of course, all are related to living with health challenges, though none are   specific to career. But doesn’t your ability to keep working tie directly into your efforts to manage difficult health? Choosing Wisely, Massachusetts encourages physicians and patients to discuss medical testsRead More