Coping with Lupus

Coping with LupusManaging a long-term disease like is difficult and you will feel the wear both on your body and on your mind. Coping with lupus is no different. You may experience emotional breakdowns and even depression due to your illness. The key to conquering the disease is to stay healthy, pace yourself and reduce other forms of stress in your life. The physical changes you experience due to lupus can affect your self-esteem. Having friends, family and loved ones around your that understand will help you see that your disease doesn’t change who you are, unless you let it.

Tips for Coping with Lupus

There are some things you can do that will help you when coping with lupus to stay positive. If you are feeling “beat down” by the disease or simply just trying to manage your lupus flares, make an attempt to:

Pace yourself

Those with lupus have less energy and must manage it wisely. Often times, women with lupus feel much better when they get enough rest and calmly take on their tasks at home and at work. In order to do this effectively, pay attention to your body and how it reacts to your daily routine. Slow down or stop before you get too tired. Learn to pace yourself. Don’t try to do everything at once. Instead, spread out your work and other activities over longer periods of time.

Reduce Stress

Exercising with your doctor’s approval is fine, but find ways to relax and stay involved in social activities you enjoy. This will help reduce stress and allow you to begin coping with lupus, keeping that “normal person” feeling all the time.

Communicate How You Feel

Many people, even the good intentioned ones, may not understand how you feel or what you are going through. The best way to avoid awkward situations and is to communicate what is going on with you on a personal level. This is sometimes difficult, but it is much better than having all those around you guessing and worrying needlessly.

Get Support

Having people around you that you trust and can ask for help will go a long way. If you don’t have that type of environment to count on, consider support groups or counseling. They can help you to see that you are not alone and give you insight into other ways of coping with lupus. Group members teach one another how to enjoy life with lupus.

Talk to Your Doctor

The symptoms of lupus and some lupus medications may cause feelings of depression. People with lupus are more likely than others to feel depressed or anxious. It is important to tell your doctor about your feelings, so that if it’s needed, he or she can treat you for mental health disorders that are more common in people with lupus.

Learn About Lupus

People who are well-informed and involved in their own care have less pain, are more active, make fewer visits to the doctor, and feel better about themselves. Read about the disease and how it acts. Learn from others who have lupus to get tips for coping with lupus.