Coping With SLE/LUPUS- changes in lifestyle

After a few months being diagnosed with SLE, i then realise that i need to learn how to cope with sle. We do things in our normal way before we are sick but all of a sudden we cant do that things normally and it might take some time for us to adapt in this new situation. It certainly changed our life. We might think it will be impossible to lead a normal life but this is not necessarily true. The important part of coping with SLE is learning to take control over as much of our life as possible. Focus on doing the best we can to help ourselves instead of waiting for miracles such as hoping our lupus would go away forever.

Here are some general guidelines for living with lupus (from a book 'Coping With Lupus' by Robert H. Phillips):

• Be aware of how your body feels. How is it reactive to the things you are doing? Act accordingly.
• Understand what makes you tense, knowing what you can and cannot do to change or avoid the symptoms and problems associated with lupus.
• Pay attention to yourself, your goals and your needs.
• Elicit the help of the people around you. Use relationships as a buffer. Join together with others to tackle the cause of your stress.
• Use laughter and humor to reduce stress.
• Build on the talents and activities you can still enjoy.
• Concentrate on strengths and accomplishments rather than dwelling on negative thoughts.
• Follow a healthy diet.
• Get enough sleep. Allow time for rest and quiet and don't try to solve problems at night or when you're overtired.
• Exercise to reduce the effects of stress by bringing blood to the muscles and the brain and stimulating production of the chemicals that give you sense of a well-being.
• Have fun in life. Spend time on hobbies that you enjoy.
• Realizes that you need to do things for yourself and actively think of yourself separately from the symptoms of this disease.
• Think of yourself as a formidable person and not some tired, miserable, suffering person.
• Learn all you can about lupus and seek out appropriate professional help. It is important to recognize when to ask for help - medical, counseling, spiritual, whatever it takes.
• Work on enhancing you relationship with your partner-adapting to the symptoms and being able to experiment to find the best ways to enjoy intimacy.
• Relax to reduce your experience of pain.
• Have your mind, body, and spirit in the best shape possible, so you can conquer anything that comes along.