Overheads from OHIO '99
The Fifth National Patient Conference - Fibromyalgia Alliance of America
August 13-15, 1999 - Columbus, Ohio
Title of talk: Lessons from the Front
Introduction: Being Sick is Hard Work!
Overhead #1: Find the Right Doctor
- Find a doctor who is willing to answer your questions.
- Find a doctor with whom you can collaborate.
- Find a doctor who believes in your ability to get well.
Overhead #2: Educate Yourself
- Don't be a passive participant in the doctor-patient relationship. Your most important responsibility is education, education, education.
- Ask questions and be assertive.
- Trust your instincts.
Overhead #3: Confront Your Emotions
- Grieve your losses.
- "Just say no" to denial.
- Begin to face your fears.
- Embrace change.
Overhead #4: Find Support
- Look for a local support group.
- Find support on the Internet.
- If necessary, seek professional help.
Overhead #5: Set Limits
- Respect your limits.
- Learn to say "no."
- Communicate how you feel.
- Pace yourself.
Overhead #6: Understand Acceptance
- Acceptance isn't forever; it's only about today.
- Acceptance is not an admission of failure.
- Acceptance doesn't mean giving up.
- Acceptance is not denial.
- Acceptance means adapting to a new and healthier way of life.
Conclusion: Learning to live successfully with chronic illness is nothing more, or less, than learning to live a balanced life. When our expectations and our desires are out of line with our abilities and our resources, we are bound to feel poorly. Accepting ourselves as full and worthwhile human beings who happen to have a chronic illness is not the end of our journey. Rather, self-acceptance and self-care are the beginning of a healthier and more fulfilling existence.
