It is just as essential to look after your mental health as it is your physical health. Of course they are both very much connected, so looking after one is vital to looking after the other!
Many women who have a chronic illness develop fear, stress and anxiety due to symptoms, health care access, financial hardship and employment worries.
For acute and serious mental health conditions that warrant medical attention – please seek it. There are many options mental health services in the ACT.
Top tips for looking after your mental health:
- Prevention is better than cure of course so start with self-care.
- Manage your health – put systems in place to ensure that your health is managed. For example take medication with your morning tea.
- Have a network – it’s important to have support. Foster relationships so that you have empathetic and caring people to turn to, whether it’s online or face to face.
- Know where to turn before it gets serious. There are many trained counsellors that are affordable and have a wealth of knowledge.
- Create community – everyone offers something, enjoy being involved, and helping.
- Participate in hobbies – it’s important to have things you can invest your time in and enjoy, it can be with a hobbyist group or by yourself.
Adapted from the Jean Hailes for Women’s Health Tool Kit. The toolkit explores the reason why anxiety might be part of your life while you have a chronic illness.