What’s the #BestArthritisAdvice you’ve ever gotten?
For me, it was learning through my therapist and “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy” (ACT) that I don’t have to wait until my illness is BETTER before living a full, meaningful life.
Many of us with chronic illnesses understandably spend a lot of time trying to feel “better.” It’s a totally natural response to pain, and of course it’s evolutionarily beneficial to want to get rid of a source of pain as it can threaten our survival!
However, the stark reality is that for some of us, there may be nothing *more* we can do to feel “better” in a given moment.
That doesn’t mean we can or should give up HOPE for a less painful or more comfortable future.
However, if we live our lives with the assumption that we can ONLY live a full life IF we feel “better,” we lose out on the possibilities afforded to us right NOW.
It has taken me a long time to come to this conclusion, but it’s honestly been incredibly liberating for me.
Opening myself up to the possibilities of a full and meaningful life DESPITE pain or discomfort is actually very empowering to me personally, although I understand how to some, it can sound depressing at first.
What about you – what’s the best advice YOU’VE ever gotten for living with your arthritis or other chronic illness?
Let me know in the comments!
