Don't let a chronic illness take over your life.

There have been many occasions where I thought, “If I could only feel good, my self-esteem would be so much better.” Like many living with chronic illness, I find that being sick and in pain makes me frustrated at my body for working against me. Moreover, the medications I take to manage my diseases can cause some pretty awful side effects. Medication responses, such as skin problems, hair loss, puffy face and weight gain, all affect my self-esteem.

Chronic illnesses can lower levels of self-esteem and self-worth. Years of living with illness, pain and fatigue make it difficult to achieve life goals. Being sick can make it impossible to be self-sufficient and happy, thereby resulting in feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. When we feel worthless and/or helpless for long periods, depression is inevitable. And with depression come higher levels of pain and increased disease symptoms.

Improving Self-Esteem

It has taken me nearly six years but I know the importance of achieving personal self-worth to better enhance my quality of life as I live with and manage rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Here are some of the ways in which I have worked to improve my self-esteem so my illnesses don’t get the better of me.

I take care of myself. We are all tired of hearing how important diet and exercise are to healthy living despite chronic illness. We know it is hard work when our bodies make it impossible. But you don’t have to work-out in a hardcore fashion or eat only certain types of food. I just keep moving, put real food in my body, and stay away from processed and sugary foods.

Remember, exercise releases feel good endorphins and those are important to helping you to feel better. Further, if you are mindful of what you put into your body, you are being kind to your body and your body will thank you by feeling better.

I choose positive self-talk. Every morning, I look in the mirror and tell myself one thing that I love about myself. Sometimes, I tell myself I love that I am smart or funny and other times, I tell myself I love my imperfections. It may seem like silly thing to do but by reminding yourself that you are more than just sick, you can improve your self-esteem and feel pretty good about yourself.

I dress to feel good. It is true that clothes aren’t everything but getting dressed in a way that makes you feel successful and accomplished helps you to feel better about yourself. Even if I am not leaving home, I won’t just stay in my pajamas. I get up, shower, dress neatly, comb my hair, and put on some makeup and let my confidence shine. I find this is a great way to show I care about myself.

I help others. By offering my time to others, I feel like I make a difference and that makes me feel good about myself. So, donate your time or money. Volunteer for an important cause. You can also practice small acts of kindness daily. Open the door for someone whose hands are full or offer to help them. When you take the time to stop thinking about yourself and all the complexities of your illness, you will find that there is more to life than just being sick.

I listen to my body. I know life with chronic illness will never be easy and my health is constantly changing. I watch out for warning signs that my symptoms are coming back or worsening. I stop and rest as soon as I start to feel tired and I don’t overdo things until I feel better. I have learned that if I listen to my body, it responds by allowing me to get better faster so that I can go back to enjoying life.

It Can Be Hard

Positive self-esteem is no cure to your health woes but it is a step in the right direction. Try to thrive and try not to feel sorry for yourself. Work to love your body even when it is fighting a war against you. Act like a winner even when you don’t feel like one. Remind yourself you are beautiful even though you don’t necessarily feel that way. Practice the words “I love my body and that my body works to make me better,” often and you might be surprised at the outcome.

It certainly can be hard, at times, to love a body that continues to rebel against you. It is even harder to deal with the side effects of medication but changing how you respond to the stresses of chronic illness can help you to improve your self-esteem, better your quality of life, and increase your confidence.

To learn more on this topic:
Tips for Coping with Chronic Pain
Coping with Chronic Illness in Marriage
Arthritis & Depression: Recognize the Signs