There’s no question that taking good care of yourself is an essential part of healing. There are many self-care recommendations that all people can employ to get and stay healthier. Some of these are especially important for those who live with myositis.
This is a very individual process, however, and only you can decide what makes you feel comfortable. TMA has gathered a collection of suggestions from myositis patients, care partners, and health care practitioners to help you start thinking about how you’d like to take care of yourself. We suggest you try as many as you feel comfortable with.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Take a leave of absence from work, if you need to.
- Try to maintain and enhance your close personal relationships, or develop new ones. (Studies have shown that a strong community and meaningful connections with others makes you healthier.)
- Have something in your life that brings you rewards or pleasure, such as hobbies, friends, family, or your pet.
- Think about the things you enjoyed before you became sick and can still do, and do them.
- End negative relationships.
- Give your life a sense of purpose, so you have a reason to fight.
- Let yourself cry for 15 minutes—but not more—when you need to.
- Get outside the house, even if you really want to stay inside. It may be hard to do this, but once you are outside it’s not as hard to stay out for a while.
- Every night, write down three things that you are grateful for.
- Listen to music, or better yet, sing!
- Laugh, even if you don’t feel like it. (Studies have shown that the body doesn’t know the difference between real laughter and fake laughter.)
- Watch comedies. (Studies have also shown that laughter really does make you feel better.)
- Keep a journal of your progress, so you see that you really are getting better.
- Accept your disease as a part of you, but don’t let it define you.
- Cuddle someone. (Studies have shown that this can improve the immune response.)