Manage chronic illnesses means living well while managing symptoms and adapting to how it impacts on your life. Acceptance is also key – accepting what cannot be changed like illness while making efforts toward healthier diet, regular exercise and sufficient rest are important components. If you need help coping with chronic conditions it’s essential that you visit a mental health practitioner specialized in chronic disease management for guidance or seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
Chronic conditions differ significantly from acute illnesses like influenza or bronchitis in that they tend to remain undead and persistent over time, often manifesting themselves with symptoms that interfere with daily life and have invisible side-effects that aren’t always noticeable, including pain, fatigue and mood disorders. People living with chronic illnesses may also experience stress as the result of long-term illness impacting family life and work as well as keeping up with health management tasks such as taking medication and attending appointments regularly.
As part of an overall effort to foster greater self-management among older adults living with chronic conditions, there are various proven strategies available that can promote it. One such proven strategy is chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME), community-based educational programs which have been shown to delay disease onset while improving function and quality of life; such programs consist of small workshops with 10-15 participants held either in-person, over the phone or internet; their curriculum emphasizes goal setting, decision making and problem solving as well as creating support networks.