Discover Top Posts Tagged with #grieving chronic illness

Chronic Illness and Grief: The Dual Process Model

This article is not a super easy read so pick a time when your brain fog has dissipated and you're in a good head space...

The dual process model of coping with grief can help us conceptualize and understand chronic illness grief.

"Loss-oriented stressors are focused on the loss itself. In chronic illness, loss-oriented stressors include the changed body and its symptoms.

... Restoration-oriented stressors are secondary sources of stress emanating from the primary loss of health. Examples include the need to manage one’s life to accommodate the chronic illness.

... it’s essential to focus on both categories of stressors as part of grief. If one only focuses on the loss-oriented aspect of grief, they remain stuck in the past. If one only focuses on the restoration-oriented aspect of grief, they cut off the past without truly finding a way to integrate it with their present identity. For “good grief” to occur, both loss-oriented and restoration-oriented stressors must be attended to."

#grieving chronic illness #acceptance resources #grief resources #chronic illness and acceptance #mental health resources #wellbeing resources #online resources #dual process theory #chronic illness resources #disability resources #spoonie resources

[op ed] Turning Body Awareness Into Self-Kindness

"Self-kindness is not pretending you feel fine. It’s telling the truth with gentleness. It’s the difference between saying, “I’m falling apart” and saying, “I’m having a hard day, and I deserve care.” When you pair body awareness with self-kindness, your nervous system receives a different message: You are not alone in this. I’m here with you. That message matters because the body often responds not only to what’s happening, but to how we relate to what’s happening."

by Irene Roth-Blog Editor-Freelance Writer Body awareness is powerful—but it can go two ways. For some people, noticing the body becomes a f

"Start by noticing how you talk to yourself when symptoms show up. Many of us use harsh language without realizing it: This is ridiculous. I can’t do anything. I’m so weak. That inner commentary becomes a second layer of pain. It tightens the body, increases stress hormones, and drains emotional energy. Self-kindness interrupts that cycle by changing the tone of your inner relationship—from criticism to care. Try this three-step practice: Notice – Name – Nurture. Notice: What is happening in my body right now? Name: What might I be feeling—physically and emotionally? (tired, overwhelmed, tense, tender) Nurture: What is one kind response I can offer? The nurture step is where self-love becomes practical. Kindness might look like pacing your day, sitting down sooner, choosing simpler meals, texting someone for support, or giving yourself permission to cancel what’s nonessential. It can also look like speaking kindly: Of course this feels hard. I’m doing the best I can. Even a small shift in language—This is difficult instead of This is hopeless—can soften your body’s stress response. It also helps to widen your awareness beyond symptoms. Ask, What feels even 5% better right now?" [...continue reading]

#op ed #how to cope with chronic illness #mental health resources #wellbeing resources #chronic pain resources #fibromyalgia resources #chronic fatigue resources #grieving chronic illness #acceptance resources #chronic illness and acceptance #chronic illness resources #chronic illness community

Processing Grief After a New Medical Diagnosis

"The type of grief that comes with chronic illness is complex, and the cycle can often restart each time a new issue presents itself. Here, we look at the standard five stages of grief according to Swiss-American psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, but through our relationships to our own bodies and what it means to mourn ourselves."

The type of grief that comes with chronic illness is complex.

#grieving chronic illness #acceptance resources #grief resources #chronic illness and acceptance #wellbeing resources #mental health resources #online resources #5 stages of grief #chronic illness resources #disability resources #spoonie resources

Grief and Chronic Illness

"Grief is most commonly known as the psychological distress experienced after losing a loved one... But what if the event that brought about the grief never truly ends?"

"What if the event that brought about the grief never truly ends?"

#grieving chronic illness #acceptance resources #grief resources #chronic illness and acceptance #mental health resources #wellbeing resources #POTS #op ed #chronic illness resources #spoonie resources #disability resources

Moving Forward from Grieving Your Life Before Chronic Illness

This easy-read article covers what the grieving process might look like, how to cope with chronic illness in everyday life, practical steps for working through grief, and how to move forward:

People with chronic illnesses may experience seven stages of grief, different than the usual five most people have heard of.

"Wherever you are with your grief, take a moment to recognize that your feelings and experiences are valid, and remind yourself that you are not alone in facing the challenges and changes life with chronic illness can bring. You are strong, you are valuable, and together, we can move through this."