Thursday, July 18, 2013

9 Fun Ways You Can Look After Your Emotional Health

Learning that you have pulmonary hypertension (PH) or another life altering disease can bring on many emotions.  Everyone affected will experience different emotions throughout their journey and cope with their diagnosis in their own way.  Each person will learn what makes them happy and develop ways to make the best of life and stay emotionally well.

What do you do on a daily basis to help your emotional health? The PH community has spoken out and want to share their experiences with you. If you feel you are having trouble coping with a chronic illness, maintaining your emotional wellness or just want to see what others are doing to stay well, check out the information below. These nine fun tips are sure to brighten your life.

1)  Stay in touch with family and friends.
Having positive relationships with the ones you love is an essential part of staying emotionally well. These people are your first line of support. Make sure to participate in family activities and friendly get together’s when you feel up to it.  Even a simple phone call can make your day so much better. According to Teresa McMillian, “Sometimes it is wonderful to just spend some time on the phone with a friend just chatting about nothing.”

2)  Surround yourself with support by connecting online.
In today’s world, there are many ways to connect with people going through experiences similar to you.
Attending a local support group meeting can help you meet a network of people and help you realize you are not alone. With busy lives, it may be hard to attend all of these support group meetings. Luckily, with modern day technology, we have the ability to receive support from many different channels directly from home. There are many ways to connect online. Community created Facebook groups are one popular way to connect online and are helpful to many people. These groups give people the ability to receive support almost instantly by connecting with people from all over the country and world who are going through similar experiences. People in these groups become close friends and are always there for each other. With such strong support opportunities available, no one should ever feel that they are alone in their journey. Join one of these groups today to meet your new friends! 

3) Make time for a pet in your life.
The health benefits of being with and around pets are substantial. Pets provide us with companionship and comfort when we need it the most.  People in the PH community love their pets! Pets are there for companionship when no one else is around and bring happiness when things aren’t going well.  Alice Jones-Jaehne says that her Maltese/Poodle has been great for her husband and herself and helps her PH. Alice says, “I walk him daily whether I feel like it or not because he needs it.” Pets not only bring happiness, they promote physical activity. If you can’t adopt a pet, find someone who has one and arrange a play date! Pets are sure to make you smile when you need it the most. 

Do you have a story about how your pet has helped you cope with PH? Visit PHA's website today to share your story and a picture of your pet to show how important your pet is to you!

4) Take time for yourself. 
Although family and friends are important, make sure you are getting enough time to yourself.  Sometimes your mind needs a time out and being alone is the best way to relax.

Stillness practices are something that can be done when you are alone. According to the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, stillness practices are one way to encourage contemplation and spiritual healing. Stillness practices include things such as meditation and sitting in silence. These practices can quiet the mind and make it easier to take every moment as it comes.  Many people in the PH community say that meditation helps them get through the day. Learn more about the benefits of meditation to see it if is something that can help you.

5) Express your feelings and relieve stress through creativity.
Sometimes you may be feeling so many emotions and not know how to express them all. Creative expression can allow you to express feelings openly and freely.  

Haley Lynn is an artist who uses creative expression to express her feelings.  The beautiful art you are looking at are just some examples of Haley’s work. She shared her feelings about emotional wellness and what art does for her.

“Emotional wellness with any disease is so important because it’s the most ignored. Emotional pain isn't something you can just pop a pill for like we do with our bodies...it requires a lot more work. It needs to be taken care of just like our physical bodies. I've been an artist my whole life, whether its sketching, painting or writing. I don't really know why I do what I do, but it's more like something I HAVE to do to keep going. It's a release of energy. When it comes to my disease it's this area where I'll always feel comfortable...expressing current feelings, raising awareness and communicating. It's just me.”

Creative expression is a great coping tool. Other forms of creative expression include journaling, writing, photography, scrapbooking and crafting. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to be creative.  Just be creative in ways that allow you to express yourself, relieve stress and relax.

7) Be active if you can.
Everyone stays active in their own way. How do people in the PH community stay active?

Debra Webster does yoga with the help of a yoga instructor. Debra says, “Still being active keeps me going- I know I am lucky to be able to do that. I have a daily yoga practice that with the help of my yoga instructor I maintain a log and we track my progress. I really look forward to that 30 minutes in the early morning to get me going and set for the rest of the day.” See what a PH specialist had to say about alternative forms of exercise like yoga.

Patty Sandoval Sralla does pulmonary rehab. According to Patty, “Pulmonary rehab twice a week makes a big difference.” Although staying active benefits some people, it is not for everyone. Check out PHA’s website and talk to your doctor to learn more about PH and exercise

7) Enjoy the benefits of parks and recreation.
Chances are you have a park somewhere near you! Parks and recreation benefits the community by promoting health and wellness. America has celebrated July as “July is Parks and Recreation Month” since 1985. “July is Parks and Recreation Month” provides the opportunity to bring awareness to and spread the message about how important parks and recreation are.  The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) offers a wide range of programs and services. 

Parks and recreation is for everyone, including you! Parks and recreation departments are going above and beyond to make events and activities accessible to everyone. Measures are taken to make sure your diagnosis does not stop you from enjoying the benefits of parks and recreation. Aside from making facilities accessible to everyone, recreation opportunities are available for people of all abilities. Not all parks and activities are active. Passive activities include exposure to natural surroundings, museums, environmental education programs and much more.  Many communities have passive parks or plans to develop them in the near future. Passive parks provide the opportunity for activities such as relaxation, sightseeing, picnicking, etc. Many passive parks include art, sculptures, flowers and other things to ensure a beautiful environment.  There are tons of events and activities taking place this month in honor of parks and recreation month. 


8) Take the time to laugh.
Laughing is one of the most important things you can do. Make sure to laugh at yourself when you need to! On the topic of laughter, July is National Tickle Month. Who knew that tickling is an important part of staying well? Check out these fun facts about tickling .

9) Last, but certainly not least…Enjoy the little things in life
Sometimes, it’s the little things in life that bring us our greatest joy.  When things get tough, remember to enjoy the little things that life brings us. Beautifully put:


By Laura Johns, Patient & Caregiver Services Intern 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Going from Miles to Inches


It’s that last mile of the race – you feel your mouth getting drier and your breath getting heavier. You see the track getting smaller and your surroundings start to blur. Your legs have grown weak from the previous miles, and it seems like asking them to push through just one more is preposterous. Suddenly, you hear claps and cheers and chants. The blurred sidelines crowded with people start to come into focus in your peripheral, and you feel their encouragement rush through you. More claps, more cheers, more chants, and those spectators with cups of water in their hands stretched out, your dry-mouth is instantly cured. Gulping down the refreshing water as well as the crowds’ support, that last mile turns into a couple of inches. Your legs burst with energy, your lungs get a second wind, and your body is rid of defeat. Thousands of claps, thousands of cheers, and thousands of chants. You collapse at the finish, panting with a smile on.

Defeat is really only a state of mind, and your strength can build, crushing all negative thoughts with the encouragement and support of others. 

Receiving news about your life-changing diagnosis, a chronic disease with no cure like pulmonary hypertension, can trigger feelings of sadness and despair. Many challenges are faced while you’re figuring out how you’re going to live with these new limitations, ones that you may not have ever thought you would have to experience in your day-to-day life. It’s these challenges that can really start to weigh on a patient and make it seem as if their surroundings are blurring, their passions might be getting pushed aside, and their dreams may start to lose their focus, even slipping past their peripheral sight. 

Regaining the strength to reignite a thirst for life is heavily contributed to by community. Patients don’t have to crawl and climb alone, specifically those who are living with pulmonary hypertension, as there are organizations, just like Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA), that offer a multitude of resources. Support groups engage in conversation with those who may be experiencing the same challenges, but most importantly the same successes. Seeking out local specialists also provides security and comfort. Receiving care from doctors whose careers are dedicated to your specific needs can greatly improve the journey of finding the right treatments that work specifically for you.
 
Another facet that provides a more tangible support are products and tools that cater to a patient’s limitations. PoppyPocket, a product I created for my father who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, offered him an alternative to the bulky fanny-pack that carried his transfusion pump delivering his medication. Since PoppyPocket allowed him to discreetly wear his pump underneath his clothes, he was able to sleep comfortably, without worry, and he was able to regain freedom in his mobility. All aspects of community, organizations, doctors, clinics, support groups, events, products, tools, etc. infuse freedom into every patient’s life. 

For those who are living with any illness, all of these resources are your glasses of water. All these resources are there on the sidelines of your fight clapping, cheering, and chanting. You aren’t alone; your miles of challenges and struggles will feel like inches, with the support of your community. 

Live boldly,
Julie at PoppyPocket. 
Photo credit:
Runners: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48932289@N03/4555346592/sizes/l/in/photostream/