I am taking a Zoom workshop on how to live with a chronic health problem, and Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, the 5th edition, is the manual they are using. From what both the book authors and the Zoom workshop facilitators say, the strategies for dealing with chronic illness are the same regardless if it is a physical or mental illness, or both. If you live in Alberta Canada, you can take this Zoom workshop for free – phone 403-943-2584, or register online.
I highly recommend the book Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions for those with chronic conditions. This book is very much adapted to people who have chronic health challenges, and lack the stamina that “healthy people” have. A clear example of this to me are the kinds of exercises they suggest. (Note: Please take my word “healthy people” in perspective. According to the Baha’i writings, humanity is sick right now)
They have many resources and weblinks online here: www.bullpub.com/resources. This book is the basis of workshops across the world, and you can search for workshops near you. Their website doesn’t seem to list “ALL” workshops given since their website doesn’t list the workshop I am taking. If you are interested in taking this workshop, and you don’t find a workshop near you, I would suggest contacting your local health authority, hospital or doctor. The Self-Management Resource Center is the parent organization for these workshops.
I reproduced a table from the book, contrasting acute and chronic illness. This table helped me understand much better the parameters of my challenges. It was also the first time I had heard or read this explanation before, despite seeing therapists since the 1990’s.
| Acute Disease | Chronic Disease | |
| Beginning | Usually rapid | Slow |
| Cause | Usually one, identifiable | Often uncertain, especially early on |
| Duration | Short | Usually for life |
| Diagnosis | Commonly accurate | Sometimes difficult |
| Tests | Give good answers | Often of limited value |
| Role of professional | Select and conduct treatment | Teacher and partner |
| Role of patient | To follow orders | Partner of health professionals, responsible for daily management |
Here are a couple of webpages contrasting the differences between acute and chronic illness:
Here is the table of contents for this book:
1 Overview of Self-Management
2 Becoming an Active Self-Manager
3 Finding Resources
4 Understanding and Managing Common Symptoms
5 Using Your Mind to Manage Symptoms
6 Exercise and Physical Activity for Every Body
7 Exercising for Flexibility, Strength, and Balance: Making Life Easier
8 Exercising for Endurance: Aerobic Activities
9 Communicating with Family, Friends, and Health Care Professionals
10 Sex and Intimacy
11 Healthy Eating
12 Healthy Weight Management
13 Managing Your Medicines
14 Making Treatment Decisions
15 Managing Chronic Lung Disease
16 Managing Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, and Stroke
17 Managing Chronic Arthritis and Osteoporosis
18 Managing Diabetes
19 Planning for the Future: Fears and Reality