The Basics - by Assaf from Family Matters

10 commandments after diagnosis - Basic

1. Keep to a routine. Knowing what happens and when reduces stress on a biological level. Try to wake up and go to sleep at the same times everyday, eat at regular time, exercise at regular times etc. It’s not always possible but the more stable your schedule is the more stable your health is.

2. Shirt, Shower and Showtime. Brush your teeth, comb your hair, shower regularly, feel good for the outside in. If you look human you will almost always feel human.

3. Put the Smartphone Down. Computers, TVs and smartphones are built to suck you in. Chronics can’t afford to have their routine disrupted by 4 hours of snake videos on Youtube. Disconnect from your electronics more often for less addictive form of entertainment, those that let you keep a schedule.

4. Tidy Up. Same idea as keeping up appearances, you house looks good, you feel good. Take 15 minutes to de-clutter your house, you might find something valuable underneath the mess.

5. Do the healthy. Figure out the minimum amount of bad you need and strive for it. Eat less junk food, smoke less, find a fun activity and exercise more, you know the drill. You have a new body, see if it still wants all the old stuff the same way, it ill surprise you.

6. Right Doctor. The job of maintaining your health just got a lot more exclusive, interview the candidates until your find a doctor who knows their stuff and your feel confident with.

7. Accept help. Life is hard, it just got harder, it only gets easier in the long run with help in the short run. Accepting help when it’s needed is a sign of strength. The only weakness is maintaining your ego, refusing help, keeping out those who love you, sinking into pain and despair and making your loved ones miserable.

8. Listen to friends and family. Those around you know when you are slowing down and about to break. When they tell you to slow down, listen to them.

9. Chronic Discomfort = Cranky. Try to keep your calm as some keeps poking you in the ear. Have you snapped already? Congratulations, you’re sane. Chronics are in constant discomfort with good and bad days. Recognize when you’re having a bad day that’s puts you on edge, apologize after snapping for no reason and offer the cookies of reconciliation (with chocolate chips).

10. Give yourself a break. Being hard on yourself for making a mistake now just means you are less likely to accept that you made a mistake in the future. Accept responsibility, make amends if necessary, and cut yourself some slack. We get better by accepting our limitations.

From a caregiver to all you new Chronics and Wizards. Good luck & Good health!