When my aches, pains and health concerns have me worn out and frustrated I have a wonderful weapon in my arsenal ......distraction! Just as you can distract a cranky toddler by exchanging the delicate china ornament with their favorite toy we can distract ourselves from focusing on our health issues by pursuing our hobbies and interests. Suddenly a depressing day can seem a little brighter and the pain a little less noticeable.
It can be as simple as looking at seed catalogs on a chilly February morning or as elaborate as painting tiny figurines for an action game. Your attention and focus is removed from your body and time begins to slide by. In fact that is how you can know you've found your bliss when you lose track of time and are distracted from your physical or emotional ailments. You have discovered a place of momentary rest from chronic illness.
What if your chronic illness has taken away your ability to enjoy your favorite hobby? How do you cope? Sometimes you can adjust with a shift in skills. If you love scrap booking but the scissor work and grasping hurts your aching hands maybe it is time to look at scrap booking on the computer. Different hand movements less stressful for your hands allow you to continue your hobby in a new way.
I enjoyed sewing and handwork but my brain fog and fatigue made it impossible for a time for me to pursue those interests. A friend with a chronic illness introduced me to knitting circle looms. I soon was making hats in a rainbow of colors and textures. This wonderful product didn't require me to count stitches or remember patterns. I could lay it down and come back to it later without losing my place. Best of all I felt productive and creative.
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