Three Ways I Manage Stress with Chronic Illness

<h1>Episode at a glance</h1><ul><li>Introduction & definition of terms:<ul><li>What is stress, pain versus suffering, statistics on mental health and arthritis, common causes of stress with chronic illness (1:30 - 12:00)</li></ul></li><li>Cognitive behavior therapy for “thinking problems”:<ul><li>How “Catching ANTs” is a helpful tool for “thinking problems” (when your stress is caused by maladaptive thinking patterns) (12:30 - 20:45 )</li></ul></li><li>Mindfulness & “perpetual problems”<ul><li>Cheryl explains how true mindfulness of the present moment (even uncomfortable parts of the present) can help cope with perpetual problems from chronic illness (21:45 - 27:10).</li></ul></li><li>Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)<ul><li>Cheryl explains how acceptance and commitment therapy helps her devote energy towards present possibilities rather than wasting time trying to solve unsolvable problems (which can lead to unnecessary stress). (27:10 -43:00)</li></ul></li><li>Concluding thoughts: 43:00-end</li></ul><p>Sometimes there is not a clear way to make your pain go away, no effective tool to “heal” your condition, and no way to convince someone else that  your invisible illness is real.</p><p>While that might sound depressing at first, Cheryl explains that accepting this reality helped set her free (“The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off” - Gloria Steinem). </p><p>She explains how she learned this technique from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/acceptanceandcommitmenttherapy/">#acceptanceandcommitmenttherapy</a>. </p><h1>Speaker Bios:</h1><p>Cheryl Crow is an occupational therapist who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for seventeen years. She’s passionate about helping others with rheumatoid arthritis live a full life, by using effective tools to manage physical, emotional and social challenges. She formed the educational company Arthritis Life in 2019 after seeing a huge need for more engaging, accessible, and (dare she say) FUN patient education and self-management resour