Do you ever feel isolated and alone due to your illness? Isolation or alienation from family and friends can become cumbersome and hard to deal with, as your disease/illness progresses.

I hate to keep using the phrases “I remember” or “I use to be able to…” and to be perfectly honest with you and myself, it’s been hard this past year to deal with my ‘new-life’ so to speak. Being outgoing came natural to me and
you could always count on me to get anyone chatting. Even if they were notorious for what I call ‘a zip-lip,’ I could drag more than a sentence out from them. Chronic illness can turn a ‘social-butterfly,’ such as myself, into a ‘wall-flower’ if we don’t catch ourselves. Here are a few tips to getting your petals to blossom, again…..in full bloom.
Pick-up the phone: (big one for me, but I am learning) This may seem simple and effortless to a ‘normal’ person, but if you are dealing with a chronic illness sometimes there are days when you wish you had no phone. It’s OK to pick it up—go ahead—tell the person on the other end how you are feeling without going into details, but before you do this make sure you really want to connect. Bottom-line…the person on the other end will not bite. Surprisingly, picking up and holding a conversation on the phone might just cheer you up.
Go on a Lunch Date: Call up or email that old friend you have been meaning to return the favor for a meal and request their presence. I know sometimes getting up in the am can be a huge challenge, but once you do manage to conquer getting out of bed and showering, you will be surprised at how good it feels to get out. Food and good conversation are always excellent reasons to come out of ‘hiding’.
Support Groups: Yes—I know this one is something some of us are not ready to do, but I promise even if it turns out to be a ‘whining fest,’ it still feels good to get out and talk to real people and release some built-up
frustration about your illness.
Join a Club: When and if your health permits, try joining a club of your interest…for example; knitting, crafts, book clubs, cooking clubs, poker. If you inform the club captain/president of your health situation, I
am pretty sure they will be open and understanding in case you have to leave early because fatigue has gotten the best of you or you are flaring. You still get to have peer interaction, even if you have to ‘retire’ early from the festivities.
Have a Day Out with your spouse/partner: Never underestimate the company of a loved one. Sometimes all we need is to get out with that special person in our lives, between work and living with an illness you can lose touch with each other. Especially if you are isolating yourself from everyone—including your spouse. It’s so hard for them to see us in pain/suffering and they would like to have any ‘normal’ moment if at all possible. Making the effort to have an US day on a ‘good day’ helps not only YOU, but your loved ones as well.
Park anyone??? If you happen to live near a park, take advantage of the splendor. The flowers, trees and not to mention the fresh air will perk you up. Sometimes just sitting on a park bench helps you re-connect with the real world. Isolation can make us forget how beautiful life is…so as you sit
there and marvel at the beauty that is life…you will then in fact start to
understand how important ‘outside’ contact is.
Hey laugh………..and Laugh some more: This is something I absolutely love to do and when we are in an ‘isolation-funk’ we forget that laughing actually feels good. Purchase or rent a Ben Stiller or Adam Sandler movie, or any comedian of your choosing. Call that one friend that is always cracking jokes…you know the one that always has the gut busting stories. Sometimes even if we are in pain, a chuckle can lift our spirits and drive us out
of isolation.
There will be times when we will all fall back into isolation, but as we do find ourselves slipping away into the deep isolation obis remember some of the above tips to help bring you back to the inclusion of life!
© 2007 by Nicole Hester-Francis, butyoudontlooksick.com