The Importance of Being a Self-Care Advocate When Living With Chronic Illness
"This is a sponsored post for Self Care Catalysts. I have been compensated through the Chronic Illness Bloggers network. All opinions remain my own and I was in now way influenced by the company."
When you live with a chronic illness, being your own self-care advocate is just as important as being your own wellness advocate. I'm a firm believer in wellness advocacy whereby the patient stands up for themselves, talks openly about their symptoms, asks clear, concise questions, and requests a second or third opinion if needed.
While getting a medical professional to take you seriously about your illness is not nearly as challenging as it was even a few years ago, advocating for your care is still …show more content…
This is not only a healing and nurturing thing to do, it is also 100 percent necessary, especially if you're living with a chronic illness.
You wouldn't deny yourself water if you were thirsty, food if you were hungry, or a warm coat if you were cold. So, why do you think it's any less detrimental to your health to deny yourself rest and relaxation when you're fatigued, flaring, or struggling with anxiety?
What I Do for Self-Care
At the ripe old age of 36, I've discovered the bliss of napping. Unlike meditation, which, for some reason, doesn't work for me, slipping in earbuds and listening to ambient music while I drift off for an hour and a half or two refreshes me like nothing else can.
In addition to the music, I sometimes use lavender essential oil. I also make sure my eyes are blocked from the sun, so I can get the deepest rest possible. I make no apologies for turning the ringer off on my phone and shutting out the world. I need this time for myself like I need air, food, or water. It's a survival must.
Other self-care practices I engage in are yoga, swimming, walking, and being in
"This is a sponsored post for Self Care Catalysts. I have been compensated through the Chronic Illness Bloggers network. All opinions remain my own and I was in now way influenced by the company."
When you live with a chronic illness, being your own self-care advocate is just as important as being your own wellness advocate. I'm a firm believer in wellness advocacy whereby the patient stands up for themselves, talks openly about their symptoms, asks clear, concise questions, and requests a second or third opinion if needed.
While getting a medical professional to take you seriously about your illness is not nearly as challenging as it was even a few years ago, advocating for your care is still …show more content…
This is not only a healing and nurturing thing to do, it is also 100 percent necessary, especially if you're living with a chronic illness.
You wouldn't deny yourself water if you were thirsty, food if you were hungry, or a warm coat if you were cold. So, why do you think it's any less detrimental to your health to deny yourself rest and relaxation when you're fatigued, flaring, or struggling with anxiety?
What I Do for Self-Care
At the ripe old age of 36, I've discovered the bliss of napping. Unlike meditation, which, for some reason, doesn't work for me, slipping in earbuds and listening to ambient music while I drift off for an hour and a half or two refreshes me like nothing else can.
In addition to the music, I sometimes use lavender essential oil. I also make sure my eyes are blocked from the sun, so I can get the deepest rest possible. I make no apologies for turning the ringer off on my phone and shutting out the world. I need this time for myself like I need air, food, or water. It's a survival must.
Other self-care practices I engage in are yoga, swimming, walking, and being in