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How to live with a difficult diagnosis

    Article submission by Jackie Waters 11.30.17

    This is a guest post written for Tranquil Therapy about living with a difficult diagnosis 

    How to Live Strong: Dealing With a Difficult Diagnosis

    All of us, at some point, in some way, will receive news that will change our lives. Some people
    might receive it in the form of a painful diagnosis. Perhaps you have been informed of a difficult
    condition or one that might mean living with chronic pain. This type of news might initially be met
    with disbelief, denial, and even anger. Becoming aware of a few key tips might help you to get
    through the shock and to a point where you start thinking clearly and can live your life to the
    fullest.
    Give Yourself Time
    A difficult chronic pain diagnosis
    requires time. This is due to the fact
    that immediate reactions may
    include denial and anger, which
    make it difficult to take in important
    information and think rationally
    about your treatment options and course of action. Instead of rushing into a decision or giving in
    to the panic or fear, take a deep breath, relax, and let the news sink in. Talk to trusted and close
    family members. Allow yourself to accept the news and gain some clarity.
    Learn About Your Condition
    It is important to learn about your condition. By understanding what your body is going through,
    you empower yourself as a patient and are better equipped to investigate and ask your doctor
    questions and articulate doubts. An informed patient is an engaged patient, and it makes for a
    more conscious awareness of treatments, medications, and results. Psychology Today
    suggests building or attending support groups, where useful advice and information is shared.
    Embrace Lifestyle Changes
    Most chronic conditions that are diagnosed will require you to make some lifestyle change. This
    might mean changing your diet, implementing exercise and physical activity, or quitting
    smoking. The best you can do is embrace these changes and approach them with vigor and
    enthusiasm, as this is your gateway to remaining healthy and mitigating pain. Consider the
    following changes:
    Exercise: If you have chronic pain, exercise might be the last thing you want to do. As
    SpineUniverse reports, exercise is important because strong muscles support bones
    better. Remaining active also helps joints, helps avoid weight gain and obesity, and
    improves mental health. Try exercises such as yoga, walking, weight training, and
    swimming.

    ● Diet: Eating foods that are anti-inflammatory can mitigate some of the inflammation
    causing your pain. Some of these include ginger, turmeric, salmon, and olive oil, among
    others. Also, stay away from sugars and alcohol.
    Take Control
    Making lifestyle changes and informing yourself is a good start. Another way is to take control of
    your environment. Make necessary modifications to your home or office space that can help you
    in relaxation and promoting optimism and positivity. Here are some tips:
    ● Meditation can fortify your mind and not only help you fight stress and anxiety, but even
    help mitigate pain. The Atlantic reported how meditation can be used to reduce pain
    intensity in patients.
    ● Create a peaceful home environment. After the diagnosis, it might be normal to feel a
    little isolated and to look for a place to be alone to take in your new reality. Your
    surroundings become profoundly important when coping with difficult emotional stress.
    Try removing clutter from your house and doing a deep cleaning. This will rid your home
    of negative energy. Your brain is actually hardwired to respond positively to order. Your
    brain tends to relax when there is order, and it will leave you feeling calm and energized.
    So consider reorganizing closets, garages, and cabinets for a more relaxed space.
    ● Create your own meditation space. It’s always good to have a space just for yourself
    where you can be at peace, relax, and rejuvenate yourself.
    Receiving difficult medical news is stressful. Living with chronic pain takes courage and
    determination. Making lifestyle changes is not easy. However, the little things in life will help
    make you stronger and better be able to cope with what’s ahead. Don’t give in to fear or
    sadness; instead, take control of your life, inform yourself, make decisions, and live life to the
    fullest.

    Can we help you manage living with a difficult diagnosis?

    To schedule a massage and see if we can alleviate pain from living with a difficult diagnosis help click here

    If you liked this check out more Massage Guest Posts, Chronic pain self help , chronic pain , pain management , pain relief

    can help you manage living with a difficult diagnosis? someone it sitting at a desk with lots of papers strewn about. they are wearing a grey long sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up as both hands hold the lower back as if to be in a lot of pain.

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