Chronic Illness and Recovering from Loss By Mary J. Yerkes NABBW’s Living with Chronic Illness Expert “I have your MRI results,” said Dr. Price, my rheumatologist. I was in the midst of a strategic planning meeting at the office, but I quickly stepped out into the hall to take the call in private. Although I […]
Living Well with Chronic Illness: Small Choices Make a Big Difference By Mary J. Yerkes NABBW’s Living with Chronic Illness Expert Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce your risk of most common chronic diseases by 80 percent, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. By eating nutritionally balanced meals, maintaining a healthy […]
How Being “Tolerant” Can Ruin Your Health: Eliminate These Common Energy-Drainers By Mary J. Yerkes NABBW’s Living with Chronic Illness Expert Life coaches agree that people zap their energy and increase their stress by putting up with a multitude of things that bug them, what life coaches call “tolerations.” And for the chronically ill, lingering […]
Necessary Endings By Mary J. Yerkes NABBW’s Living with Chronic Illness Expert Endings are a necessary part of life. Despite their inevitability, most of us face endings with a sense of regret, anger, and even fear. Whether personal, job-related, or relationship-oriented, endings are tough. But realize this — to move forward, we sometimes have to […]
10 Tips for Building Resilience in the Face of Chronic Illness By Mary J. Yerkes NABBW’s Living with Chronic Illness Expert When faced with the pain and fatigue of chronic illness, do you tend to rise to the challenge or fall apart? Resilience is the ability to roll with the punches, to bounce back from […]
How You Can Support Those Living with Chronic Illness Experts encourage people to listen and give the “gift of presence” to the chronically ill. Learn what to say and do to help. by Mary J. Yerkes NABBW’s Living With Chronic Illness Expert For many, the most distressing consequence of chronic illness is social isolation. Friends, […]
Chronic Illness: A Four-Phase Journey to a New Life: Move from Surviving to Thriving in the New Year By Mary J. Yerkes NABBW’s Living With Chronic Illness Expert This year, instead of promising to lose weight again, resolve to discover your new, authentic self. One of the most difficult challenges facing the chronically ill is […]
Tis’ the Season for Family Stress and Drama: How to Navigate Difficult Family Relationships During the Holidays When You\’re Living with Chronic Illness By Mary J. Yerkes NABBW’s Living with Chronic Illness Expert The holiday season is once again upon us and with it comes the family drama. No matter how close you and your […]
A Brand New You: Rebuilding a Meaningful Life with Chronic Illness By Mary J. Yerkes, NABBW’s Living With Chronic Illness Expert A diagnosis of chronic illness can bring with it feelings of denial, anger and grief. But, at some point, the emotions subside and you are faced with a harsh reality—you are no longer the […]
Adjusting to Life with Chronic Illness by Mary J. Yerkes Adjust to life with chronic illness? It might seem counterintuitive, but according to experts, you can live a full and meaningful life despite having compromised health. Millions of people living with serious chronic conditions have used their struggles as a springboard for emotional, relational, and […]
