Mighty Well
  • Shop
  • Home
  • Friends in the Fight
    • Friends in the Fight

      We Are Mighty Well

      January 22, 2021January 22, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      Making the Invisible Visible

      December 16, 2020December 16, 2020

      Friends in the Fight

      Holiday Wishlist

      December 4, 2020December 4, 2020

      Friends in the Fight

      3 Ways to Recognize When Someone Needs Support

      December 1, 2020December 1, 2020

      Friends in the Fight

      5 Ways to Give Support to Someone You…

      November 23, 2020November 23, 2020

  • Chronic Illness
    • Chronic Illness

      We Are Mighty Well

      January 22, 2021January 22, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      When Feeling Better Doesn’t Feel Good

      January 13, 2021January 13, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      POTS and ME Awareness: A Surprising COVID-19 Outcome

      January 6, 2021January 6, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      Decorating Your Mighty Pack

      December 23, 2020December 23, 2020

      Chronic Illness

      Making the Invisible Visible

      December 16, 2020December 16, 2020

  • General Wellness
    • General Wellness

      Looking Towards the New Year With Hope and…

      December 30, 2020December 30, 2020

      General Wellness

      Holiday Recipes

      December 9, 2020December 9, 2020

      General Wellness

      3 Ways to Recognize When Someone Needs Support

      December 1, 2020December 1, 2020

      General Wellness

      How to Safely Celebrate the Holidays

      November 21, 2020

      General Wellness

      Introducing: Limited Edition Mighty Well Masks

      November 18, 2020November 19, 2020

  • Shop
  • Home
  • Friends in the Fight
    • Friends in the Fight

      We Are Mighty Well

      January 22, 2021January 22, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      Making the Invisible Visible

      December 16, 2020December 16, 2020

      Friends in the Fight

      Holiday Wishlist

      December 4, 2020December 4, 2020

      Friends in the Fight

      3 Ways to Recognize When Someone Needs Support

      December 1, 2020December 1, 2020

      Friends in the Fight

      5 Ways to Give Support to Someone You…

      November 23, 2020November 23, 2020

  • Chronic Illness
    • Chronic Illness

      We Are Mighty Well

      January 22, 2021January 22, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      When Feeling Better Doesn’t Feel Good

      January 13, 2021January 13, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      POTS and ME Awareness: A Surprising COVID-19 Outcome

      January 6, 2021January 6, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      Decorating Your Mighty Pack

      December 23, 2020December 23, 2020

      Chronic Illness

      Making the Invisible Visible

      December 16, 2020December 16, 2020

  • General Wellness
    • General Wellness

      Looking Towards the New Year With Hope and…

      December 30, 2020December 30, 2020

      General Wellness

      Holiday Recipes

      December 9, 2020December 9, 2020

      General Wellness

      3 Ways to Recognize When Someone Needs Support

      December 1, 2020December 1, 2020

      General Wellness

      How to Safely Celebrate the Holidays

      November 21, 2020

      General Wellness

      Introducing: Limited Edition Mighty Well Masks

      November 18, 2020November 19, 2020

Mighty Well

Chronic IllnessFriends in the FightGeneral WellnessThe Undefeated

Finding Inner Peace in the Midst of Treatment

by Ariela Paulsen October 14, 2019
written by Ariela Paulsen
Finding Inner Peace in the Midst of Treatment

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Week, we’d like to acknowledge how interconnected together mental health and physical health are.  Mental illness can exacerbate constant symptoms and stressful treatments can make it difficult to feel happy and hopeful. Anxiety is understandable when you have no way of knowing what tomorrow will bring. Depression is natural when you are in pain, not sleeping well and unable to participate in activities that give you meaning.  Some illnesses can even create anxiety and depression on a chemical level, through the dysregulation of hormones and neurotransmitters.

Yet, despite this complex emotional landscape, there are so many things you can do to keep your mental health in good shape even within the midst of treatment!  Here are just a few of our favorites:

1. Follow your joy

Illness and the accompanying treatments will likely require giving up on things in life that made you happy.  You may need to grieve for these losses – but that doesn’t mean you’ll never feel that fulfillment again, pay attention to what sparks excitement! Was there something you heard on the radio that caught your ear? Or a friend who always makes you feel calm and happy? What about that old crafting you used to do?  Make time for people and activities that bring you peace, even if it means doing it for only 5 minutes or from a hospital bed.

Managing a new illness requires a reshuffling of life: activities, people, and priorities – but that doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing! Most people could use a reason to weed out the people and activities that don’t bring health, happiness or meaning to their life.  

2. Meditate

So much research shows how useful meditation is.  It regulates your nervous system, helps break pain cycles and is just so relaxing! It can be awkward the first several times you try to meditate and you won’t see the long-term results right away, but meditating multiple times a week can have a profound effect for both physical and mental health in the long run. Need some guidance through your meditation? There are so many helpful apps available! Insight Timer, Headspace, Stop Breathe & Think, Calm… and many more. One of these super helpful apps will be a right fit for you. When meditating, always remember there are not always graceful poses, the most important thing is to find a position that works for your body’s needs and helps to heal your mind and body. 

3. Move

While resting and finding joy are both important, exercise is an often underrated mood booster!  Exercises you used to do when healthier may not be possible, but there are likely forms of movement that will work for you.  Simply walking helps stimulate the brain to produce endorphins. Or if your body wants to be horizontal, try some supine exercises!  There are plenty of resources available online, both in writing and video.  Finding movements that work for you can feel empowering, and can significantly improve your mental health.

4. Speak your truth

Whether with a therapist or with trusted loved ones, you’ll need an outlet to express all of your feelings and emotions. My therapist once told me that shame (a frequent emotion tied to my illness) was like a mold – it grows best in the dark. However, if you air it out and expose it to the light, this shame will go away. Shame, fear, grief, betrayal, anger… these are all very normal emotions to have when coping with an illness. All of your emotions from your illness and even your physical pain, get better when you can freely express yourself, so let your truth be heard!

5. Gratitude

Numerous studies have found links between gratitude and improvements in mental health. To practice showing gratitude, try journaling each day to reflect on what things you are grateful for in life. This can be as simple as being grateful for a sunny day or a kind nurse who helped you in the hospital. Although we often have to track our symptoms to maintain our health, this can be a daunting and negative way to think about ourselves, but one way to brighten the day is to do a balancing act – by also tracking which parts of your body feel well each day.  Once you become more aware of seeing all things to be grateful for around you, try expressing it to those around you. Not only does gratitude enhance the parts of your brain needed to feel hope and strength, but it also allows those around you who are also affected by your illness to feel appreciated, helpful and supportive.


We hope these tips will help you keep your mind healthy as you figure out your body’s rhythms. On the bad days, though, remember that you are not alone! We have all been there – we have felt fear, despair, emptiness, grief, and pain…but we have also found joy, peace and love in the lives we build through illness.

How do you heal your heart and mind?  What does Mental Health Awareness week mean to you?  Join our Friends in the Fight facebook group to join the conversation.

0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Ariela Paulsen

Ari struggled with a wide array of health problems for decades before being diagnosed with EDS/POTS/MCAS/etc at age 25. She began writing as a way to heal while spreading information and helping others through their own journeys. She loves being part of the Mighty Well team, sharing the stories and strengths of spoonies everywhere!

previous post
Global Lyme Alliance 5th Annual Gala
next post
Conversations With Tiffany & Caleb Remington: Chronic Illness and Relationships

You may also like

Finding Solace in the Outdoors: Interview with Chloe...

April 9, 2020

Adaptive Fashion, Entrepreneurship, and Chronic Illness: Conversations with...

November 22, 2019

Careers & Chronic Illness: Tips on Navigating a...

September 23, 2019

Overcoming Cancer at 25

April 9, 2019

Mighty Well featured on Who What Wear!

May 31, 2019

Chronic Illness Accommodations At Work

March 23, 2020

Blankets & Hugs for Kids

October 11, 2016

Smoothies!

September 11, 2019

Benefits of PICC Line Covers

October 11, 2016

Meet Mighty Model, Shannon Maguire: Gastroparesis Warrior

June 3, 2019

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

About Us

Hi, We're Mighty Well.

The mission of Mighty Well is to help patients and their caregivers turn sickness into strength. We are leading the global charge that changes the perception of patients from victims to fighters. We do this by improving the experience of being a patient. We create the products we wish we’d had: functional and stylish apparel and accessories that you can wear with confidence - and content that can help you get through the good times and the bad. It’s wellness you can wear.

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Instagram

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username

Recent Posts

  • We Are Mighty Well

    January 22, 2021
  • When Feeling Better Doesn’t Feel Good

    January 13, 2021
  • POTS and ME Awareness: A Surprising COVID-19 Outcome

    January 6, 2021
  • Looking Towards the New Year With Hope and Self Love

    December 30, 2020
  • Decorating Your Mighty Pack

    December 23, 2020

Categories

  • Adaptive Wear
  • Chronic Illness
  • Featured
  • Friends in the Fight
  • General Wellness
  • Healthy Work Environments
  • Lyme Disease
  • Medical Devices
  • Mightier Together
  • Mighty Models
  • PICC Line
  • Popular Posts
  • The Undefeated
  • Treatment and Care
  • Uncategorized

Tags Cloud

Active Lifestyle Adulting Best Fit for Your Lifestyle Be Your Own Advocate blm Chronic Illness coronavirus coronoavirus covid-19 Disabilities Dysautonomia Family Feeding Tubes Fibromyalgia Gastroparesis holidays invisible illnesses Living Mighty Well Living With a PICC Living with a Port LLMD lyme disease Lyme Into Lemonaid Lyme Literate Doctors mental health Mental Illness mighty mask Mighty Pack mighty well mask Misdiagnosed Mom with Lyme New Years Organization Tips PICC PICC line cover PICC Line Dressing Change PICCPerfect PICC Placement POTS Prevention Self-love Support Systems TPN trans black lives matter Working With a PICC Line

Our Story

Mighty Well - Founder - Emily Levy - Our Story

 

It all started with a cut off sock, a cute hockey player, and an 8 AM finance class. Oh, and a PICC Line. That moment inspired us to launch our first product, the PICCPerfect PICC Line Cover.

 

We know it stinks to feel defined by a diagnosis or feel like just a name on a doctor’s chart. Sounds like you? Read how our founder turned sickness into strength.

Recent Posts

  • We Are Mighty Well

    January 22, 2021
  • When Feeling Better Doesn’t Feel Good

    January 13, 2021
  • POTS and ME Awareness: A Surprising COVID-19 Outcome

    January 6, 2021

Join the Fight

Mighty Well's Facebook Page

Find Us on Instagram

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Mighty Well © 2018 All Rights Reserved


Back To Top