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There are times where it can be a struggle to find hope when you with a chronic illness. In my new post for Mango Health, I share building blocks to nurturing a sense of hope:“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all”– Emily Dickinson

There are times when having a chronic illness can feel like you are being held in a dark dungeon, somewhere in the bowels of a medieval castle. You’re not imprisoned by stones, bars, and rattling chains, but by unrelenting pain and fatigue.

Every night, you go to bed hoping that tomorrow will be better. Every morning, there is a split second when your heart lifts as you wake up … and then reality dashes all hope. The pain is still intense, and the fatigue still overwhelming as if you hadn’t slept at all.

I started the year like this, clawing my way back from a holiday illness. I had to stop my rheumatoid arthritis medication for over a month, which lead to a nasty flare. Coping with that took some good meds, a lot of patience, and being hopeful that I would find a way out

It’s easy being positive when your disease is controlled. When it’s not, hope is hard work.”

Read more about building hope on the Mango Health blog.