Kindergarten? Relearning How To Live After a Life-Altering Diagnosis #AtoZChallenge

When one learns of the diagnosis a significant chronic illness or injury, oftentimes they must learn the basics of life again. What do I mean, you may ask? Let me try to explain.

In kindergarten learn how to live and function among our peers and in the world as a whole. We learn increased balance and movement, more effective communication skills and how to use words to convey our thoughts appropriately. We learn how to work and play well with others. We learn the importance of self-care through naps. The last one may sound silly but bear with me.

J is for Just Don’t Say It! Think before you speak!

There are times in our lives when we may hear distressing news from or about someone who we care about. At those times our natural reaction is to say something comforting to the person sharing this information with us. However, in an attempt to be caring and supportive, people may unintentionally say things that wind up being totally inappropriate for the given situation.

I is for Inspirational

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been told how much I inspired someone to be better in their life. This applies to healthcare practitioners, other chronically ill people, and your average person you might see walking down the street. I appreciate the kind words, and it is nice to hear someone say something positive for a change. But to be honest, I just don’t see myself that way.

H is for Hopeful vs Hopeless

For anyone battling a chronic illness, there is a fine line between feeling hopeful versus feeling hopeless. This line may well blur depending upon the day, the severity of the symptoms that day, and the overall quality of life. I’d be lying if I said I have never experienced even the slightest bit of hopelessness. It is what we do with that feeling when it arises, that determines what happens next.

G is for Giving In vs Giving Up #AtoZChallenge

When we are challenged with a chronic health issue, it is normal to have doubts as to the new normal of your life. With a new diagnosis often comes a plethora of uncertainty, which can shroud our minds in confusion. This is both expected and quite normal. However, it is imperative that we remain cognizant of the challenges we face as we or someone we love adjusts to a new health issue. [To be clear, for the purpose of this article giving in refers to acknowledging the need to adapt, and giving up is a permanent decision.]