THERAPY FOR LIVING WITH AUTOIMMUNE AND CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES
You are not your diagnosis
A diagnosis does not define you. You may feel like chronic illness is all-consuming for you and even for the people orbiting your world. It can be a frustrating cycle of appointments, medical gaslighting, confusion, pain, medications, swings, isolation, and tedious testing. You may feel like you are shouting from the top of a mountain and no one hears you - or that you’re on top of the world one week and on your death bed the next. Your pain is valid, your concerns about your care are real, and your emotional health deserves attention and intention. Therapy is a safe space to express your fears, explore the impact of your illness, learn more about the mind-body connection, and ground into the latest version of yourself. Chronic illness and autoimmune diseases do change you and your life - but it doesn’t have to be a death sentence to your soul.
How therapy can be helpful if you are living with chronic health issues
The following situations are a few examples of where therapy may be beneficial:
Adjusting to a new diagnosis (chronic illness, autoimmune disease, cancer, etc.)
Struggling to manage with an existing illness (learn to ride the emotional waves)
Chronic pain & sleep issues (we’ll explore grounding, stabilizing, and attunement)
Rebuilding "normal" after a life-changing injury (making space for grief as well as joy)
Coping with role changes within the family (such as taking on a caregiver role, or, accepting care from a loved one - isn’t it wild how hard this one is to do?)
What therapy for living with chronic health issues looks like
With support from our experienced therapists, you can expect to be heard and seen in a way that validates your struggle while at the same time, reminding you that you aren’t broken. Over time, we will strengthen your mind-body connection through slowing down, sitting with what’s happening in the present moment, and attuning to your needs. You’ll begin to practice new ways to self-regulate when you feel overcome with difficult emotions, and relaxation strategies to regain control of your breathing and heart rate. When you regularly practice these techniques, you may find that your pain scores are lower, your memory is clearer, and you find motivation and energy to tackle your day. All of this comes after you’ve met yourself where you are, because you’re training the body to receive the permission to slow down, in order to create space and capacity to eventually build back up. The emphasis on slowing down isn’t just for fun - it’s the most intentional part of practicing somatically, because when you move half as fast, you notice twice as much. When you notice more of what you need, you begin to see and do things differently. In this way, you can move towards integration with your illness and away from being at war with yourself.
Navigating chronic health issues and looking for support? Contact us today.
Therapy is a safe place where you are validated as the expert in your body, mind, and spirit. You can be heard without judgment and are free to explore ways to manage your chronic illness. Contact us today for a free consultation.