Chronic health conditions may seem quite different from one another at first, but they can cause some very similar problems, such as:
- pain
- stress
- difficult emotions
- depression
- fatigue
- tense muscles
- problems with physical function
- shortness of breath
When you have a chronic condition, the symptoms you have aren't just due to the disease. They're also due to the "symptom cycle," a vicious circle where one symptom leads to another or makes another symptom worse. There are many ways this can work. For example, tense muscles can lead to pain that can lead to anxiety, or pain can lead to depression that can lead to fatigue.
To break the symptom cycle, you'll need to take steps to manage each symptom so it doesn't lead to other symptoms (or make your current symptoms worse). Here are a few tips for managing your symptoms:
- Keep track of the symptoms you experience, when they happen, and what you are doing when they happen. Note what makes you feel worse or better.
- Look for patterns. This can help you understand why you get symptoms at certain times. You may also find that many of your symptoms have the same cause, and that one symptom is leading to others.
- Make a list of the techniques you can use to manage your symptoms. Here are a few ideas to get you started (to find more, talk to your doctor or check with others who have your condition):
- pain: medications (ask your doctor or pharmacist), heat or cold, massage, or relaxation techniques
- fatigue: read "Management of fatigue" to learn more
- stress, depression, and difficult emotions: read "How to deal with stress, anxiety, and depression" and "Managing anger, fear, and frustration" to learn more
- tense muscles: read "Managing tense muscles" to learn more
- shortness of breath: read "Managing shortness of breath" to learn more
- Plan how and when you will use each symptom management technique, and use stickers or notes to remind yourself to use it. Try each technique for at least 2 weeks before deciding whether it's working for you. You may need to try many different techniques to get control of your symptoms.