(Image from Positive Outlooks)
Whilst it would be great if everyone could really understand what you are going through and the changes a long-term health condition places on your life the experience is uniquely yours.
No one can fully appreciate your inner feelings — the reality is that no amount of explaining will be enough. No amount of listening will be enough. Unless someone has been through the exact same experiences and been dealt the same challenges will they be able to acknowledge the heart aches — pain — mental strain — confusion — passion and drive required to manage the day-to-day challenges of an experience like yours.
This can make life seem more complex — like a mountain to climb — but empathy can help. Support and acknowledgement that what you are feeling is real and that in some way another human being is trying to be there for you will reduce the load.
Connectivity through a change — especially through a long diagnosis — a change in how your life is now led — the battles you face as you head into the future — will be so important.
Taking small steps — charting your progress will help. Journalling — blogging — recording — all different ways to get yourself through difficult times. Enabling you to look back, focus on the next step and see just how far you have come.
Being kind to yourself — looking after yourself — practising self-care are all coping mechanisms you can employ to support your journey.
Even at those times when you feel lonely and isolated — when it feels like you are sinking — when it’s so hard to get out of bed and face the day. Your list of tasks is overwhelming.
Whatever you are facing just remember — there is always someone out there for you.
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