Welcome to Advice I Give Myself – a blog about living with RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) and Fibromyalgia while raising kids, going to school and hopefully working again someday. I call it Advice I Give Myself because these are the things I’ve told myself that I think have made me do as well as I do.  From the start – about six years ago – I’ve slipped into a voice somewhere between coach and gentle grandmother. And I always have pictured helping other people in the same situation. It just gave my predicament some meaning to think if I figured out a better way, I could share it. I’ve written about topics like having rough days, exercise solutions,  and journaling among others.  I suspect I may be just distracting myself by picturing an audience reading and benefiting from my experience but, hell, it works for me. So thank you for letting me fantasize that I’m helping you; it helps me a lot.

Being diagnosed with a chronic disease is like someone tossing you a frying pan while you are already juggling six balls. Those balls are the rest of your life – job, bills, kids, extended family, marriage – and it really can feel like a circus (ok, enough with that metaphor). But I found that in addition to spending more time on my physical health, I now had to pay attention to my psychological health too. All the things I’d been able to keep at bay crashed through and demanded to be addressed. Luckily, I found a great therapist through my husband’s insurance and she made a huge difference.

 I also found a lot of help in books. I’ve listed some of my favorites but remember your issues will depend on your past, not mine, so stay open and listen your own heart.  Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life, by Byron Katie and Stephen Mitchell is a great book on a technique to challenge and change the thoughts that are causing you pain. Nothing Special: Living Zen, by Charlotte J Beck and Steve Smith is a wonderful book on living in the moment.