• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Kate the (Almost) Great

Chronic illness blog

  • Home
  • Start Here
    • About
    • Tags & Topics
    • Popular Posts
  • Blogging Resources
  • Shop
  • Work with Me
    • Ads and Sponsoring
  • Follow
  • Holiday
    • Gift Guide

in Health · October 19, 2018

Chronic Illness and Mental Health

Having a chronic illness can impact so many aspects of your life other than your health. It can impact your relationships, your finances, your self-esteem, and more. And that includes your mental health. As someone who has been in pain since fall 2001, I can confirm that chronic illnesses can do a number on your mental health. I personally had a bout of depression in high school when doctors kept telling me that nothing was wrong with me. (They were all wrong.) So I thought that today I would break down the connection between chronic illness and mental health, as well as some ways that you can help your mental health.

For the purpose of clarity, in this post, when I mention chronic illness, I’m discussing physical illnesses only. Mental illness can definitely be considered a chronic illness, especially when it lasts for years. But in this particular post, I want to discuss physical chronic illness and mental health, which can include mental illness.

I am not a medical professional. I have included advice from mental professionals and reputable sources, but if you are struggling with your mental health, please speak to a professional.

Do you or someone you care about have a chronic illness? Then you need to be on the look out for its impact on mental health. Chronic illness and mental health need to be considered when thinking about living with a chronic illness. Here's what you need to know.

Who Has a Chronic Illness?

First and foremost, let’s talk about what a chronic illness is and who has them. Chronic illnesses “are ongoing, generally incurable illnesses or conditions, such as heart disease, asthma, cancer, and diabetes” (x). Essentially, because there’s no cure and no reason to think they’ll ever go away, they’re chronic illnesses. This is different from a condition like a bone deformity, which would be a chronic condition. For example, my ankle condition is a chronic condition, as my ankle didn’t form correctly it isn’t healthy, but it’s not an illness that needs regular maintenance like my rheumatoid arthritis is.

Who has a chronic illness? 133 million Americans, or 40%, have a chronic illness, and that number is estimated to grow to 157 million by 2020 (x). Almost a third of the population lives with multiple chronic conditions (x).

What’s the impact? In 2009, 7 of 10 deaths in the US were due to chronic illnesses (x). Sadly, “According to the New England Journal of Medicine, people with chronic conditions receive only 56% of recommended preventive health care services,” which definitely attributes to those deaths (x). And there’s an economic effect. In 2007, chronic illness had a $1.3 trillion negative effect on the economy (x). Additionally, ” In the U.S., total spending on public and private health care amounted to approximately $2 trillion during 2005″ (x). I include all this to demonstrate something that healthy people don’t often think about when it comes to chronic illness: chronic illness can impact areas of your life other than physical health.

chronic illness and mental health, chronic illness, chronic pain, impact of chronic pain, mental illness, cost of chronic illness

Imagine that you have an illness that will never go away. In addition, it costs thousands of dollars a year, and you may or may not have that money to spare. You also have to spend too much time at doctor’s offices, which might make your job unhappy with you. That is, if you’re healthy enough to work. Your family and friends may or may not stick by you in your illness, and if they do stick by you, they might not be very nice to you about it.

As you have probably figured, that doesn’t set you up for very good mental health. Even if you don’t develop a mental illness, you will definitely have times when you’re down in the dumps, sad about your health, frustrated with the world, anxious about your future, and more.

I know, I know, this all seems fine and dandy and hypothetical. So don’t take my word for you. A 2000 study found that “The emotional dimensions of chronic conditions are often overlooked when medical care is considered” (x). Basically, “Doctors may be well equipped for the biomedical aspects of care but not for the challenges of understanding the psychological, social, and cultural dimensions of illness and health” (x). So when doctors give help for physical problems, they might not be able to provide support for the effects of those physical problems. But as I already mentioned, having a chronic illness most likely will cause some sort of mental health problems over the course of a patient’s life.

In fact, the National Institute of Mental Health found that “People with other chronic medical conditions have a higher risk of depression” (x). Depending on the illness, some illnesses can cause changes in the brain that lead directly to depression (x). Some other ways that this might happen include depression triggered by illness-related anxiety and stress, a recent illness diagnosis, or even from medications (x). Frustratingly, “Research suggests that people who have depression and another medical illness tend to have more severe symptoms of both illnesses” (x).

The gist of it is that chronic illness is a risk factor for mental illness, along with family history, traumatic experiences, stressful life experiences (which chronic illness could be included in), using illegal drugs, and lack of social support (x). Because of this, it’s important that we chronic illness patients and the loved ones of patients take care of our mental health, whether or not we have a mental illness.

So You Were Diagnosed with a Chronic Illness: What You Should Do Next

chronic illness and mental health, managing chronic illness, chronic illness, mental health, mental illness, chronic pain, living with chronic illness, living with chronic pain

How To Manage Chronic Illness and Mental Health

Now that we’ve established that this is a problem we chronic illness patients needs to be aware of, let’s talk about how to deal with and manage it.

First and foremost, if you can afford it, see a therapist. If you’ve recently been diagnosed, it can’t hurt to see one to help process your feelings as you adjust to your diagnosis and new life. If you are in school, your student health services might provide counseling. You should also try therapy if you’re going through a rough patch health-wise or you feel like you’re starting to struggle mentally with everything. Basically, therapy is great. I went back to therapy when Trump won because my generalized anxiety disorder flared up due to his anti-ACA leanings. It has gotten a lot better, but I’m still seeing my therapist to help manage the mental aspect of all of my physical health issues. Because I have generalized anxiety disorder and a history of depressive episodes, it’s so important for me to be on top of my mental health. I share this so you know that I’m speaking from experience when it comes to mental health. chronic illness and therapy.

Other than therapy, how else can you manage your mental health with your chronic illness? Psychology Today says that some ways are to surround yourself with people who support and care for you, practice being aware of gratitude, mindfulness, exercise in some way, eat healthy, take breaks, and get sleep (x). The University of Michigan also suggests you avoid or reduce alcohol or drugs, set realistic goals, and learn to deal with stress (x). A UK organization called Mental Health Foundation suggests that you also stay in touch with friends and family that are far away, ask for help when you need it, do things you’re good at in your spare time, and accept who you are (x). These are things to do every day, to help take care of your mental health.

10 Simple Self-Care Methods That Will Improve Your Life

What about if you’re worried that you’ve developed a mental illness? Mental Health America has this amazing list of signs of mental illness in adults, children, and adolescents. Let’s say that you’ve taken a look at the list and are pretty sure that you have a mental illness. In this case, you should see your primary care doctor and/or a therapist to help you navigate this. You shouldn’t have to navigate mental illness on your own. If your insurance covers it and/or you can afford it, see a professional.

Some people need medication for their mental illness. And that’s okay! I need medication for my rheumatoid arthritis, so why shouldn’t I need medication for my generalized anxiety disorder? If your medical professional(s) suggest you try medication and you can afford it, then I suggest you try it. It’s important to recognize that mental illness is an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. It’s not your fault if you struggle with mental illness, and you’re not weak if you ask for help or take medication for it.

On chronic illness and mental health Click To Tweet

But if you’re looking for professional help with mental health, you should know that psychology and psychiatry are different. “Psychiatrists receive the same medical school education as any other medical doctor, such as an internal medicine physician or a pediatrician and, therefore, hold a doctor of medicine degree (M.D.),” Psychology Today says (x). “Psychiatrists are also responsible for diagnosing mental disorders and managing medications, as their expertise focuses on the chemical imbalances within the brain. Similar to any other physician, they can write prescriptions,” which psychologists can’t (x). More specifically, “Psychologists do not attend medical school; rather they attend graduate school and obtain a doctoral degree” (x). When you think about a therapist, you’re generally thinking about a psychologist, as “Psychologists are experts in providing psychosocial therapy and concentrate on the patient’s mind and emotions” (x).

Essentially, if you think that you might need to take medication, you want to see a psychiatrist. If you don’t think you need medication and/or just want someone to talk through things, you want to see a psychologist. Psychology Today has a tool to help you find a therapist right on their website, and many insurance companies have tools on their sites for policy holders to help their find covered medical professionals. Take advantage of that!

How do you deal with chronic illness and mental health?

Like this post? Check out:

Is Chronic Illness a Disability?, Chronically Ill Tips: Preparing for Medical Appointments, Hacks for Living with Chronic Conditions, The Art of Managing Anxiety

Share this with your family and friends:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Print
  • Tumblr

Related

Previous Post: « 8 Ways To Blog Better
Next Post: Fun Things To Do in Boston: A 3-Day Guide »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lydia says

    January 6, 2020 at 8:29 am

    What a well organized post. I enjoyed reading it. And, yeah, there is absolutely no shame in taking medications for mental illnesses. It truly is no different than taking insulin if you have diabetes or antibiotics for an infection.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

I’m Kate, a millennial living in New England. I’m a writer and an advocate for people with chronic illnesses. Join me on my journey to greatness!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

Health
Lifestyle
Writing & Blogging

Pages To Start With

  • About Me
  • Blogging Resources
  • Follow
  • Popular Posts
  • Privacy Policy & Disclaimer Policy
  • Shop
  • Start Here
  • Tags & Topics

Search

Subscribe

Join my mailing list. Subscribe today!

Privacy Policy & Disclaimer Policy

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.




✨ VISIBLE SIGNS OF MY "INVISIBLE" DISABILITY ✨ ✨ VISIBLE SIGNS OF MY "INVISIBLE" DISABILITY ✨ ⁣
⁣
1️⃣ TENS unit clipped on my jeans to help my foot and ankle pain ⁣
2️⃣ Wearing sneakers because a) they're the only shoes I can really tolerate b) I have an indoors and an outdoors pair c) I have to wear sneakers/can't go barefoot for long because of my foot and ankle pain ⁣
3️⃣ Leaning on my closet door slightly because it's the only way I can really stay still for pictures ⁣
4️⃣ Wearing glasses because I can't wear contacts due to dry eyes, which is a side effect of many of my medications ⁣
5️⃣ Popsocket on my phone because I really can't keep a grasp on it due to my super arthritic hands ⁣
⁣
These are just some visible signs! Just because you don't see these things doesn't mean they aren't there if you look. Invisible disabilities aren't truly invisible. ⁣
⁣
➡ What are visible signs of your invisible disability? ⬅ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate stands in front of a mirror on the inside of her closet door, taking a selfie in the mirror., She's a brunette white woman wearing jeans, a blue-and-white top, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She has a TENS unit clipped to her jeans.]
Harley and Piper's new album, coming this fall 😂 ⁣
⁣
Comment below with what you think their album would be named if this was the album cover ⬇ ⁣
⁣
📸 @happydogsboston ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
[Image: 2 dogs but from the perspective of down on the ground looking up at them. The dogs are on a brick pathway in Boston and behind them are classic Boston brownstones, trees without leaves, and a cloudy sky. One dog is a red-and-white cavalier King Charles spaniel, and her ears are flying back in the wind. The other is a golden retriever.]
Even once you're done with school, you should neve Even once you're done with school, you should never stop learning. That doesn't mean that you have to take classes! Learning can look however you want. ⁣
⁣
You can take up a new hobby. ⁣
⁣
You can learn a new skill. ⁣
⁣
You can learn about the world by getting your news from different sources. ⁣
⁣
There are so many ways to learn, and one of the great things about not being in school anymore is that you can learn about whatever you want and whatever interests you. ⁣
⁣
What is something you've learned or learned about? ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits in a gray chair, facing the camera. She's a brunette white woman wearing black pants, a white sweater, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She's holding an open book. Behind her on the walls are a couple of round mirrors.]
I've been missing rural Maine these days. While I I've been missing rural Maine these days. While I like being able to see people out and about in Boston, spending most of 2020 in rural Maine really reinforced how much my soul prefers country to the city. ⁣
⁣
I don't know what to do about that short-term, but it is helpful to know that my long-term goal of moving back to Maine (or at least not living long-term in the city) is in fact something that I will love. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Looking at a lake that has a rock-filled "beach" with rocks going out to a point. The other side of the lake is filled with trees.]
Put on a full face of makeup for a small Easter ce Put on a full face of makeup for a small Easter celebration today. This is your reminder that while it's nice to dress up and look nice, celebrating in small ways is just as good as celebrating in big ones. Also, Jesus doesn't want you to risk your health or the health of others to celebrate. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate takes a selfie. She's a brunette white woman wearing a v-neck ribbed shirt, claddagh necklace, and round tortoiseshell glasses.] ⁣
⁣
#bostonbloggers #bostonian #bostonblogger #proptoit #myunicornlife #makemoments #acolorstory #makeyousmilestyle #liveunscripted #howyouglow #mybeautifulmess #choosejoy #influencehercollective #howiseeit #inspiredwomen #documentyourdays #momentsofmine #myeverydaymagic #darlingdaily #todayslovely #seekmoments #momentslikethese #posttheordinary #thatauthenticfeeling #discoverunder5k #BossGirlBloggers #ChronicIllnessBlogger #bostonma
Like I said on Monday, this has been a busy week. Like I said on Monday, this has been a busy week. But I made it through the week! And you almost have, too. ⁣
⁣
Earlier this week, I published a new blog post with tips for new health bloggers. There are 12 in total! And then today I published a new blog post that is an FAQ for POTS. I'm answering questions that I've gotten a lot in my personal life as well as in my advocate life!⁣
⁣
Check these posts out by clicking the link in my bio or ➡ katethealmostgreat.com. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits in a gray chair working on a silver laptop. She's a brunette white woman wearing a gray t-shirt, a lighter gray cardigan, and round tortoiseshell glasses. The t-shirt is mostly covered, but the text on it is CureArthritis.org.]
Piper and Harley want to make sure that you're tak Piper and Harley want to make sure that you're taking care of yourself. If you're not, they're not mad, they're disappointed. ⁣
⁣
In all seriousness, if you're struggling right now, that's okay. We're a year into the pandemic life, and it is 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 some days. Piper and Harley want to give you hugs, but they know that they can't jump through Instagram to make that happen. But know that they want to! ⁣
⁣
📸 @happydogsboston⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: 2 dogs sit on a brick pathway. The one in front is a red-and-white cavalier King Charles spaniel. The one in the bag is a golden retriever.]
Happy Monday! I'm heading into a hectic week at wo Happy Monday! I'm heading into a hectic week at work, but then I'm taking a long weekend around Easter. Here are some things I do to power through weeks like this: ⁣
▪ Make sure to get a full night's sleep⁣
▪ Drink lots of water ⁣
▪ Take breaks away from the computer⁣
▪ Take all my meds ⁣
▪ Cut myself some slack when I struggle⁣
⁣
What do you do to ensure that you do what you have to while also not pushing yourself into a flare? ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits at a white desk typing on a laptop. She's a brunette white woman wearing a blue-and-white striped dress, large brown glasses, a FitBit, and a silver bracelet.]
What spring walks look like these days! With COVID What spring walks look like these days! With COVID-19 still being a big threat - and my immune system is still suppressed! - it's important to keep wearing masks. I'm not vaccinated yet, but even when I do get it, I'll be wearing masks for a while. ⁣
⁣
As you get your vaccine, remember that it takes a few weeks to be vaccinated. I heard that it takes 2-4 weeks after your last shot for your body to do what it needs to do be vaccinated. So don't get the shot and then immediately take your mask off. I know it has been a hard year, but please keep doing the safe behavior that we need for you!⁣
⁣
✨ What does your spring look like? ✨⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate takes a selfie while sitting on steps outside. She's a brunette white woman wearing a teal t-shirt, a blue popover fleece, a Boston Red Sox hat, round tortoiseshell glasses, and a black mask. Her cavalier King Charles spaniel is sitting with her and looking up at her.]
Follow on Instagram



Footer

Kate the (Almost) Great

Chronic health lifestyle blog

Lets Go!
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
✨ VISIBLE SIGNS OF MY "INVISIBLE" DISABILITY ✨ ✨ VISIBLE SIGNS OF MY "INVISIBLE" DISABILITY ✨ ⁣
⁣
1️⃣ TENS unit clipped on my jeans to help my foot and ankle pain ⁣
2️⃣ Wearing sneakers because a) they're the only shoes I can really tolerate b) I have an indoors and an outdoors pair c) I have to wear sneakers/can't go barefoot for long because of my foot and ankle pain ⁣
3️⃣ Leaning on my closet door slightly because it's the only way I can really stay still for pictures ⁣
4️⃣ Wearing glasses because I can't wear contacts due to dry eyes, which is a side effect of many of my medications ⁣
5️⃣ Popsocket on my phone because I really can't keep a grasp on it due to my super arthritic hands ⁣
⁣
These are just some visible signs! Just because you don't see these things doesn't mean they aren't there if you look. Invisible disabilities aren't truly invisible. ⁣
⁣
➡ What are visible signs of your invisible disability? ⬅ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate stands in front of a mirror on the inside of her closet door, taking a selfie in the mirror., She's a brunette white woman wearing jeans, a blue-and-white top, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She has a TENS unit clipped to her jeans.]
Harley and Piper's new album, coming this fall 😂 ⁣
⁣
Comment below with what you think their album would be named if this was the album cover ⬇ ⁣
⁣
📸 @happydogsboston ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
[Image: 2 dogs but from the perspective of down on the ground looking up at them. The dogs are on a brick pathway in Boston and behind them are classic Boston brownstones, trees without leaves, and a cloudy sky. One dog is a red-and-white cavalier King Charles spaniel, and her ears are flying back in the wind. The other is a golden retriever.]
Even once you're done with school, you should neve Even once you're done with school, you should never stop learning. That doesn't mean that you have to take classes! Learning can look however you want. ⁣
⁣
You can take up a new hobby. ⁣
⁣
You can learn a new skill. ⁣
⁣
You can learn about the world by getting your news from different sources. ⁣
⁣
There are so many ways to learn, and one of the great things about not being in school anymore is that you can learn about whatever you want and whatever interests you. ⁣
⁣
What is something you've learned or learned about? ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits in a gray chair, facing the camera. She's a brunette white woman wearing black pants, a white sweater, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She's holding an open book. Behind her on the walls are a couple of round mirrors.]
I've been missing rural Maine these days. While I I've been missing rural Maine these days. While I like being able to see people out and about in Boston, spending most of 2020 in rural Maine really reinforced how much my soul prefers country to the city. ⁣
⁣
I don't know what to do about that short-term, but it is helpful to know that my long-term goal of moving back to Maine (or at least not living long-term in the city) is in fact something that I will love. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Looking at a lake that has a rock-filled "beach" with rocks going out to a point. The other side of the lake is filled with trees.]
Put on a full face of makeup for a small Easter ce Put on a full face of makeup for a small Easter celebration today. This is your reminder that while it's nice to dress up and look nice, celebrating in small ways is just as good as celebrating in big ones. Also, Jesus doesn't want you to risk your health or the health of others to celebrate. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate takes a selfie. She's a brunette white woman wearing a v-neck ribbed shirt, claddagh necklace, and round tortoiseshell glasses.] ⁣
⁣
#bostonbloggers #bostonian #bostonblogger #proptoit #myunicornlife #makemoments #acolorstory #makeyousmilestyle #liveunscripted #howyouglow #mybeautifulmess #choosejoy #influencehercollective #howiseeit #inspiredwomen #documentyourdays #momentsofmine #myeverydaymagic #darlingdaily #todayslovely #seekmoments #momentslikethese #posttheordinary #thatauthenticfeeling #discoverunder5k #BossGirlBloggers #ChronicIllnessBlogger #bostonma
Like I said on Monday, this has been a busy week. Like I said on Monday, this has been a busy week. But I made it through the week! And you almost have, too. ⁣
⁣
Earlier this week, I published a new blog post with tips for new health bloggers. There are 12 in total! And then today I published a new blog post that is an FAQ for POTS. I'm answering questions that I've gotten a lot in my personal life as well as in my advocate life!⁣
⁣
Check these posts out by clicking the link in my bio or ➡ katethealmostgreat.com. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits in a gray chair working on a silver laptop. She's a brunette white woman wearing a gray t-shirt, a lighter gray cardigan, and round tortoiseshell glasses. The t-shirt is mostly covered, but the text on it is CureArthritis.org.]
Piper and Harley want to make sure that you're tak Piper and Harley want to make sure that you're taking care of yourself. If you're not, they're not mad, they're disappointed. ⁣
⁣
In all seriousness, if you're struggling right now, that's okay. We're a year into the pandemic life, and it is 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 some days. Piper and Harley want to give you hugs, but they know that they can't jump through Instagram to make that happen. But know that they want to! ⁣
⁣
📸 @happydogsboston⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: 2 dogs sit on a brick pathway. The one in front is a red-and-white cavalier King Charles spaniel. The one in the bag is a golden retriever.]
Happy Monday! I'm heading into a hectic week at wo Happy Monday! I'm heading into a hectic week at work, but then I'm taking a long weekend around Easter. Here are some things I do to power through weeks like this: ⁣
▪ Make sure to get a full night's sleep⁣
▪ Drink lots of water ⁣
▪ Take breaks away from the computer⁣
▪ Take all my meds ⁣
▪ Cut myself some slack when I struggle⁣
⁣
What do you do to ensure that you do what you have to while also not pushing yourself into a flare? ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits at a white desk typing on a laptop. She's a brunette white woman wearing a blue-and-white striped dress, large brown glasses, a FitBit, and a silver bracelet.]
What spring walks look like these days! With COVID What spring walks look like these days! With COVID-19 still being a big threat - and my immune system is still suppressed! - it's important to keep wearing masks. I'm not vaccinated yet, but even when I do get it, I'll be wearing masks for a while. ⁣
⁣
As you get your vaccine, remember that it takes a few weeks to be vaccinated. I heard that it takes 2-4 weeks after your last shot for your body to do what it needs to do be vaccinated. So don't get the shot and then immediately take your mask off. I know it has been a hard year, but please keep doing the safe behavior that we need for you!⁣
⁣
✨ What does your spring look like? ✨⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate takes a selfie while sitting on steps outside. She's a brunette white woman wearing a teal t-shirt, a blue popover fleece, a Boston Red Sox hat, round tortoiseshell glasses, and a black mask. Her cavalier King Charles spaniel is sitting with her and looking up at her.]
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · Kate the (Almost) Great · Design by Studio Mommy

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.