Stress can manifest itself in negative ways. It can make dealing with autoimmune disease so much harder. The problem is, while stress can exasperate autoimmune disease, the reverse is also true: autoimmune disease can exasperate stress.
You know that living with an autoimmune disease can add more tension to your life. You have to deal with making lifestyle changes, and you may feel frustrated because you can’t do things you once could. You may feel stressed when you have to keep explaining yourself to others. And, of course, it can be stressful dealing with the chronic pain. Just thinking about all of these things may be making your shoulder muscles tense up, and that’s not what we want. We want to help you find relief from stress, which can benefit you mentally and physically. There are a number of things you can do to ease this burden.
Allow time for yourself
You may be used to caring for others, but when you have an autoimmune disease, it’s especially important that you make time for self-care. Allow yourself to take some quiet moments and time for hobbies. Give yourself some peace of mind with a walk, by reading a book, listening to music, or just closing your eyes for a little while. Spend time enjoying some healthy, fun hobbies that put a smile on your face.
Get to know yourself better
Pay attention to your body. You may notice that you start to tense up, feel sweaty or clammy, or get headaches when you’re stressed. These are warning signs. When stress comes on, remind yourself that it’s time to take a break and do some stress relieving exercises or switch up the agenda a bit.
Set up comfortable boundaries
Sometimes you need to set up boundaries at work and at home. You need to be honest with your boss, coworkers, and loved ones about what you can and can’t accomplish. If you over-commit yourself, it can place a heavy burden on you and trigger flares.
Develop a support system
You need people you can go to that understand you have an autoimmune disease, people who won’t judge you when you’re honest with them about how you feel. You want people you can count on, so call on your friends and family, or find a support group for people dealing with a similar condition.
Give yourself a little grace
Don’t judge yourself if you can’t get everything on your agenda accomplished. Be okay with not being perfect… no one is. Put fewer expectations on yourself, and instead spend time making reasonable goals that you can accomplish without pushing yourself beyond your limits.
Try stress relieving exercises
There are a lot of ways you can relieve stress: deep breathing, meditation, listening to the right music. Find stress relieving exercises that work well for you and make time to ease your mind.
Accept that you have an autoimmune disease
This may be the hardest one. Many people seem like they’re coping, but they actually haven’y fully accepted that they have an autoimmune disease. Once you get to the point of acceptance, you can live your life the way you need to. You won’t put too many expectations on yourself and you’ll learn that this is just the way life is now. Once you accept your condition, you can live your fullest life, finding ways to feel better and maximize your days.
Take steps today to ease the heavy burden you’ve been carrying with you. While stress won’t cease to exist, you can keep it from running your life or making your autoimmune disease worse. Let yourself off the hook, make time for rest, learn stress relaxation exercises, and accept where you are and what you can do. Be honest with who you are and set healthy boundaries as needed.