5 Steps to Deal With a Chronic Illness

I was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C in 1985, when it was still called non-A non-B. My doctor didn't sugar coat his words when he said to me: "Toni, I am sorry but there is no cure. You have a ticking time bomb inside and nobody can predict how long you have to live." My heart stopped and the course of my life was forever altered. For the next few years, I desperately tried every alternative medicine treatments and modalities to no avail. This virus is a formidable foe. It replicates itself at the speed of light and attacks healthy liver cells leading to fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is the leading cause of liver transplants and has surpassed HIV in yearly fatalities. My most challenging symptom however, was not physical. I felt that my life force was threatened and that the rug was pulled from under my feet revealing a bottomless pit of uncertainty. Facing our mortality is no small affair but it can be the lifeline to living our very best life. Once I accepted my condition, instead of fighting it, I learned how to live with my virus and overcome its physical, emotional and spiritual implications in my life. I empowered myself to make the very best decisions regarding my care. In my case, it allowed me to stay healthy and balanced until a cure for Hep C finally eradicated my illness earlier this year. If you are facing any life-threatening or chronic illness that robs you of living full out, here are five steps which will shift you out of despair and a...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news