Is life with chronic illness worth living?

My wife often says how much she struggles, and how her life has changed so much she often considered taking her own life. This very fact always made me the question: is life with chronic illness worth living?

Chronic Illness

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This is a difficult question to answer. Some people with chronic illnesses find their lives greatly impacted and may not feel that life is worth living. Others find ways to manage their illness and live relatively normal, happy lives.

There is no right or wrong answer, and it is ultimately up to the individual to decide what is best for them. If you are struggling with your chronic illness, it is important to seek out support from others who understand what you are going through.

My wife found such support in me. I always say: “the best gift you can ever give to a chronically ill partner is your unconditional love and support”.

What does living with chronic illness do to a person?

The short answer is – many things.

Chronic illness can take a toll on a person’s physical and mental health, as well as their social life, work-life, and finances. It can be isolating, draining, and frustrating, however, it can also be incredibly rewarding, gratifying, and even joyful.

It really depends on the individual and their particular situation. Some people find that living with chronic illness makes them appreciate the little things in life more. Others find it difficult to cope with the day-to-day reality of their condition.

There is no right or wrong way to feel about living with chronic illness. What matters most is how you deal with it, and whether you are able to find ways to make your life meaningful and enjoyable, despite the challenges.

If you want to learn how to cope with your partner’s chronic illness, how to support her struggles, and manage a relationship with a chronic condition, I give away a FREE Chapter of my eBook: “Supporting a Chronically Ill Partner”. 

This chapter alone has all the comprehensive information about acknowledging the struggles, including:

• A word to your partner.
• A word to you.
• Stepping on eggshells.
• Understanding her needs.
• How to acknowledge having a chronically ill partner?
• Acknowledging can be hard.
• 15 tips on how to do it!

Is life with chronic pain worth living?

This is a difficult question to answer. For some people, living with chronic pain is simply too much to bear. They may find that the pain interferes with their ability to enjoy life and participate in activities they once enjoyed. Others may be able to manage their pain and still lead relatively normal lives.

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. It is ultimately a personal decision that each individual must make for themselves. If you are struggling with chronic pain, it is important to seek out support from family, friends, and medical professionals to help you make the best decision for your situation.

Life with chronic pain is worth living if:

• You are able to find ways to manage your pain
• You have a strong support system
• You are still able to participate in activities you enjoy
• You have Meaningful relationships
• You are able to find joy in the little things

What living with a chronic illness is like?

For someone who never experienced chronic disease and pain can be difficult to imagine what living with a chronic illness is like, however, I lived and discussed my wife’s chronic conditions for over a decade, which helped me get closer to the idea of how it feels and if life with chronic illness is worth living…

So what is living with a chronic illness like?

There are many different types of chronic illnesses, so it is impossible to speak about all of them in one article. However, there are some commonalities between different chronic illnesses that can give us a general idea of what living with a chronic illness is like.

• First and foremost, living with a chronic illness means living with pain. This pain can be constant or it can come and go, but it is always there in the background. For many people with chronic illnesses, the pain is so severe that it makes everyday activities very difficult or even impossible to do.
• Another common symptom of chronic illness is fatigue. This fatigue is different from the type of fatigue that healthy people experience after a long day or week. Chronic illness fatigue is much more severe and can make it very difficult to get out of bed in the morning or to do anything at all during the day.
• Another common symptom of chronic illness is anxiety and depression. This is because living with a chronic illness can be very isolating and can make it difficult to maintain a positive outlook on life.

So, is life with a chronic illness worth living? Well, despite all of the challenges that come with living with a chronic illness, many people with chronic illnesses find ways to lead happy and fulfilling lives.

Besides, there are many resources available to help people cope with their chronic conditions and make the most of their life.

What can you do?

If you or someone you know is living with a chronic illness, there are many ways to get support. Here are just a few:

• Join a support group for people with chronic illnesses.
• Connect with other people with chronic illnesses online.
• Talk to a counselor or therapist who specializes in helping people with chronic illnesses.
• Read books or articles about living with chronic illnesses.
• Seek out resources from organizations that focus on helping people with chronic illnesses.

No matter what you do, remember that you are not alone in this. There are many people who understand what you are going through and who want to help you in any way they can. If you need help, don’t hesitate to ask for it.

How do you live a full life with a chronic illness?

In order to live a full life with a chronic illness, you need to prioritize yourself. Loving yourself and putting yourself before anyone else can be hard when you have chronic conditions such as endometriosis or fibromyalgia.

My wife has both, and she’d be first to tell you about the fact that shame, guilt, and the feeling of being a burden are all too common among people with chronic illnesses.

Loving yourself means giving yourself the time and space to rest when you need it, even if that means saying “no” to social plans or skipping out on work. It also means being honest with yourself about what you can and cannot handle.

Some of the tips people usually give to live a full life with a chronic illness include eating a healthy diet, getting as much physical activity, avoiding negative coping mechanisms like alcohol and substance abuse, and exploring stress-relief activities like meditation.

Here are 15 tips to live a full life with a chronic illness:

1. Take care of your physical health.
2. Make time for yourself.
3. Be honest with yourself about what you can and cannot handle.
4. Find a support system.
5. Seek professional help if you need it.
6. Follow a healthy diet.
7. Get regular exercise.
8. Avoid substance abuse.
9. Explore stress-relief activities like meditation.
10. Connect with other people who have chronic illnesses.
11. Read books or articles about living with chronic illnesses.
12. Seek out resources from organizations that focus on helping people with chronic illnesses.
13. Give yourself permission to rest when you need it.
14. Be gentle with yourself because chronic illness is not your fault and you are not to blame for it.
15. Remember that you are not alone in this and many people understand what you are going through and want to help.

How can I make money with chronic illness?

One of the biggest burdens of someone struggling with a chronic illness is financial strain. The fact that chronically ill people lose days of work due to terrible flare-ups or cannot work entirely is one of the biggest challenges of all.

So how can you make money with chronic illness? Here is the best and safest idea:

Start a blog about your chronic illness and share your experiences. Many people are interested in hearing about this but find it challenging to accomplish because they lack patience.

Blogging is NOT for those who want to make money fast. It takes time, on average 24 months, maybe 3 years if you are new to blogging, but if you have a strong will to change your life and are willing to put hard work and effort in, you can definitely reach success and make your life easier despite chronic illness.

Through your blog, you can make money selling advertising space, make money through affiliate marketing, or even write an e-book about your experience living with a chronic illness.

I would love to talk about it for hours because I absolutely love blogging, but the subject of this article is “is life with chronic illness worth living?” so if you are interested in making money blogging, I invite you to read one of my best posts about it! It focuses on people like myself (caring partner), but the same principles apply.

Conclusion!

Let’s summarise this – is life with chronic illness worth living? Here are the main takeaways:

• Take care of your physical health.
• Make time for yourself.
• Be honest with yourself about what you can and cannot handle.
• Find a support system.
• Seek professional help if you need it.
• Follow a healthy diet.
• Get regular exercise.
• Avoid substance abuse.
• Explore stress-relief activities like meditation.
• Connect with other people who have chronic illnesses.
• Read books or articles about living with chronic illnesses.
• Seek out resources from organizations that focus on helping people with chronic illnesses.
• Give yourself permission to rest when you need it.
• Be gentle with yourself because chronic illness is not your fault and you are not to blame for it.
• Remember that you are not alone in this and many people understand what you are going through and want to help.

If you take care of yourself and your health, follow these tips, and surround yourself with a supportive community, then life with a chronic illness can be not only manageable but also worth living.

Don’t give up hope – you are strong and capable, and you can get through this!