{"id":4696,"date":"2020-11-12T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-12T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.creativesolutionsonline.org\/?p=4696"},"modified":"2022-01-08T16:42:41","modified_gmt":"2022-01-08T22:42:41","slug":"holiday-illness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.creativesolutionsonline.org\/rebuild-csbh-sit\/holiday-illness\/","title":{"rendered":"Chronic Illness During the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Chronic<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Dealing with a chronic illness at any time can take every last bit of energy and strength you have. When holidays roll around, whether it\u2019s the middle of the summer and you\u2019re celebrating the 4th of July or a birthday, or you\u2019re already stressing over Thanksgiving and Christmas, it\u2019s important to know how to take care of yourself and your illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will be extra demands, extra stress, and it can often feel like you have less time for yourself. So, when your internal resources may already be running low, what can you do to manage your chronic illness? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Give People a Share of the Work <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have to do everything yourself, even if you\u2019re hosting a get-together. With any holiday or event, don\u2019t be afraid to delegate different jobs to people. That isn\u2019t always easy if you\u2019re someone who likes to be in control. But, your health matters more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, ask people to bring different dishes instead of doing all of the cooking yourself. Or, give family members tasks around your house like cleaning or decorating. Being able to delegate these jobs can conserve your energy while you make sure the important things still get done. As a result, you won\u2019t wear yourself out, and you can actually enjoy the festivities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Include an Ending Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re sending out invitations to a holiday or event, be sure to include an ending time. You know how your illness affects you more than anyone else. But, many people with chronic illnesses experience heavy fatigue and weakness, especially if you\u2019re busy or doing something out of the norm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By setting a \u201ccut off\u201d time for your event, you\u2019ll be able to make sure that your body doesn\u2019t get too fatigued. People can tend to overstay if they aren\u2019t told when the party is over. Make your rest a priority, and only allow the event to go on as long as you feel comfortable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Provide Yourself a Day of Rest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve been busy planning a holiday event or party, you probably have a schedule in place for when things need to be done. Make sure you include at least one day of rest somewhere in the middle of that schedule. This can help to fight off fatigue and give you the energy you need to actually enjoy the holiday itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During your party or event, it\u2019s also a good idea to have a \u2018safe\u2019 room to go into. If you\u2019re dealing with a chronic illness, everyone will understand if you need to take a break. So, make at least one room in your house off-limits during the holiday. If you\u2019re feeling sick or tired, you can go into that room for a period of time to get some rest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understand It\u2019s Okay to Say No<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Learn<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Just as it\u2019s important to delegate certain tasks to others, it\u2019s also important to say \u201cno\u201d if you\u2019re feeling bogged down and tired. If you feel like you\u2019re doing too much for the holiday, don\u2019t be afraid to turn down someone asking you to do one more task or take on one more thing. It\u2019s not a question of being rude or lazy. Instead, it\u2019s making your health a priority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, any holiday celebration should be fun and relaxing. Just because you\u2019re dealing with a chronic illness doesn\u2019t mean you don\u2019t deserve to enjoy every second of the holiday experience with everyone else. If you need to practice saying \u201cno,\u201d take the time to do it. You won\u2019t disappoint your friends and family. You\u2019ll be putting your own self-care first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can absolutely enjoy the holidays with a chronic illness. But, make sure you listen to the things your mind and body are telling you. When you do, you\u2019re more likely to feel better throughout any event, and keep from wearing yourself out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact Me<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you would like help in developing or implementing any of these ideas, please reach out to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know how stressful and demanding it can be to make changes in your life, but you don\u2019t have to figure it out on your own.   Some of the benefits of individual therapy include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n