1. Common Issues in Chronic Illness
and
What You Can Do About Them
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Forum
Tampa, FL
March 28,2015
Linda Ruescher
Program Director
Lupus Foundation of Florida

2. “Never deny a diagnosis,
but DO deny the negative prediction that comes with it.”
Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient
Norman Cousins

3. Onset Diagnosis Treatment Cure
Clear Definitive Clear Likely
Acute Illness

4. Chronic Illness
• Onset-gradual
• Diagnosis-difficult
• Treatment-trial and error
• Cure-rare

5. Treatment Goals
• Relieve or reduce symptoms
• Stop or slow progression
• Prevent or minimize damage

6. Culture Shock
• Inhabitants
• Language
• Society
• Dwellings
• Attire
• Tools

7. Acute Chronic
Beginning Rapid Gradual
Cause Usually one Many
Duration Short Indefinite
Diagnostic Tests Often decisive Often uncertain
especially early on
Treatment Cure common Cure rare
Role of Professional Select and conduct Teacher and partner
therapy
Role of patient Follow orders Partner of health
professionals,
responsible for daily
management
Lorig, Kate et al. Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, 3rd edition.
Bull Publishing Company: Boulder, CO. 2006.
Working with the Natives

8. The Symptom Cycle
Lorig, Kate et al. Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, 3rd edition.
Bull Publishing Company: Boulder, CO. 2006.

9. Difficult Emotions
Who are you?

10. “If you are breathing,
there is more right with you than there is wrong.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn Full Catastrophe Living
How sick are you?

14. • Awareness
• Permission
• Journal
• Create
• Get support
• Therapy
How can I do this?
“You need to claim the events of your life
to make yourself yours.“ Anne Wilson-Schaef
The Artist’s Way Julia Cameron

16. What makes you feel good?
What do I need to do to take care of myself right now?

17. Managing Fatigue

18. • Rest before you are tired
• Don’t push
• Rest/activity ratio
• Talk to your doctor
• Other causes of fatigue
Depression
Inactivity
Anemia
Poor hydration
Nutrition
Pain
Medications
Managing Fatigue

19. Never do for others
that which they are perfectly
capable of doing
for themselves!
New Golden Rule
Language of Letting Go Melodie Beattie
Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much Ann Wilson -Schaef

20. Lists…To do or got it done?
TO DO
Didn’t finish list.
Beats self up.
Feels like a failure.
GOT IT DONE
Did more than I thought.
Pats self on back.
Feels successful.

21. Mindmapping

22. Ifyoudon’t know where you’re going,
Anyroad will get you there.
-Cheshire Cat

23. Action Plans
Break goals down into action steps/plans
 What will you do?
 How much will you do?
 How often will you do it?
 How long will you do it?
 How confident are you?

24. The Power of the Mind
• What you think causes what you feel.
• What you feel causes changes in your body.
• Changes in your body affect your health.
All that is comes from the mind;
it is based on the mind;
it is fashioned by the mind.
-Pali Canon 500-250 B.C.E
You Can’t Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought: A
Book for People with Any Life-Threatening Illness-
Including Life
John-Roger and Peter McWilliams

26. Reframing Treatment

27. Purpose
Counterclockwise Ellen Langer

28. Everything can be taken from
a man or a woman but one thing:
the last of human freedoms
to choose one’s attitude
in any given set of circumstances,
to choose one’s own way.
Viktor E. Frankl
Linda Ruescher
Linda.ruescher@gmail.com