6 Ways to Support Your Loved One With an Autoimmune Disease
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Perhaps one of your family members or close friends has recently been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, and they are not sure what to do next. You can be their shoulder to lean on
Perhaps one of your family members or close friends has recently been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, and they aren’t quite sure what to do next. Adjusting to this new reality can be emotionally challenging. Chances are, your loved one could use plenty of support right now, and you can be their shoulder to lean on. The Deep Path explains how to step in and lend a helping hand to your loved one.
Cooking Healthy Meals
Your loved one might be physically having trouble cooking. Or they may be trying to figure out their ideal diet for managing their symptoms. You can get in the kitchen with them and make the whole process more enjoyable. Naturally, if you’re going to cook for your loved one, you should always check in and ask which foods make them feel best and which ingredients you should avoid.
Medication Management
Perhaps this is the first time your loved one has had to take medication on a regular basis. You can give them some support when it comes to medication management, especially if you live with them. If you’re going to be helping your loved one manage their prescriptions, Human Good recommends keeping a list of all of their medications, writing down any notable drug interactions or instructions, using distinct containers to separate their different meds, and even using tools like automatic medication dispensers or medication alarm watches.
You can learn even more about medicine and a variety of medications your loved one requires by taking online coursework in nursing. Ramping up your knowledge with an RN to BSN online degree allows you to go back to school to gain practical experience and skills in not just caring for your loved one but also increase the likelihood of furthering your career in this much-coveted field. What’s more, you will likely graduate within 24 months.
Driving to Appointments
Chances are, your loved one is going to be at their doctor’s office pretty frequently. They might dread going to appointments alone, and depending on their symptoms, they might not even feel comfortable driving. You can make all of these appointments a bit more bearable by offering to drive them! Your loved one will be thankful to have some company, and you’ll be able to spend more time together. Knowing that you’re there can help your loved one feel more comfortable going to the doctor.
Focus on Stress Management
Autoimmune diseases carry with them a lot of stress. You can help your loved one take their mind off of their diagnosis without trying to brush their emotions under the rug. This is part of a stress management strategy, which is especially important for those who are working from home. Many times setting up a home office doesn’t take into consideration healthy aspects like adequate lighting and ergonomics, but it must be done to optimize the space for productivity and stress reduction.
Sometimes, your loved one might want to enjoy an activity with you that has nothing to do with their condition! It’s important to note that if you want to exercise with your loved one, Mark’s Daily Apple suggests that people with autoimmune conditions should focus on gentle workouts to avoid over-stressing their bodies. If you live in a walkable neighborhood, you and your loved one can take a daily stroll.
Consider a Holistic Approach
While regularly scheduled medical appointments are vital to helping treat your loved one’s disease, consider other, more holistic approaches too. Acupuncture may stimulate the body&';s own natural healing processes and increase its resistance to disease. Chinese herbs may also help balance the systems of the body.
Outside Help
When the chores of day-to-day life interfere with the health of someone living with an autoimmune disease, it’s time to look for outside help. Finding someone to handle lawn care services, grocery shopping, and cleaning can be done with a simple online search and is as close as your laptop or smartphone.
Seeing someone you love grapple with an autoimmune disease is never easy. But there is plenty you can do to make your loved one’s life more comfortable, including going back to school to increase your nursing knowledge and focusing on stress management. No matter how you can pitch in to help, your loved one will certainly be grateful.
The Deep Path looks at things through a different lens, helping you ask the deep questions, then helping you listen deeply in order to hear the deep answers. Contact consultant Dale Stubbart today to learn more! DaleConnects@Stubbart.com
6 Ways to Support Your Loved One With an Autoimmune Disease
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