Category Archives: chronic illness

Being Grateful for Our Body Parts and Organs That Work Just Fine

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Thomas Robinson

I’m sure you’ve been told to be grateful for what you have. It’s a good thing to do: A study by Dr. Robert Emmons at the University of California at Davis showed that gratitude improves both physical and emotional health. … Continue reading →

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Who Do You Support and Encourage?

Posted on July 24, 2009 by Thomas Robinson

Earlier this year I coached a young man who had chronic fatigue syndrome and some other health challenges that made his life very difficult. But he wasn’t a complainer and he did his best to get through each day. As … Continue reading →

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Are you treating yourself as if you matter?

Posted on July 20, 2009 by Thomas Robinson

During my many years as a life coach for people with chronic illnesses, I’ve met many people who thought that ignoring their illness-related pain was their best option. I don’t agree. I think you will understand why if you think … Continue reading →

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Take Time to Listen…. to Yourself

Posted on July 16, 2009 by Thomas Robinson

When we have a chronic illness, it often seems like the voice inside our head never stops talking about how bad our illness, our symptoms, and our lives are. And the more it talks, the worse we feel. Many knowledgeable … Continue reading →

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What To Do When You Just Can’t Do It All

Posted on July 1, 2009 by Thomas Robinson

Over the years that I’ve coached people with chronic illnesses, more than one person has told me that they just can’t do everything they’re supposed to. Usually it’s a woman who will tell me that, probably because more women than … Continue reading →

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A Million Dollars Worth of Ideas to Make Your Life a Lot Better

Posted on May 23, 2009 by Thomas Robinson

This post was inspired by a woman in an online support group that I participate in.  Carol (not her real name) wrote to say she needed to vent because her house had become a mess. Because of a flare, she … Continue reading →

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Imagining what it’s like to have your illness

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Thomas Robinson

In my post last week, I suggested that you use Bill Clinton’s campaign phrase “I feel your pain” for yourself, by saying it to yourself in the mirror. People have asked me questions about that post, so I want to … Continue reading →

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Is Your Life Better Than You Realize?

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Thomas Robinson

A while back, I had a client whose arthritis was so bad she couldn’t walk. Many tasks, from cleaning her apartment to buying groceries and cooking meals, were very hard for Maria to do. On top of that she was … Continue reading →

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Bill Clinton said it

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Thomas Robinson

There is a phrase Bill Clinton is known for – a phrase that helped him get elected in 1992. He first said it to an unemployed man at a town hall meeting, and then repeated it in other situations during … Continue reading →

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Don’t be a Tough Guy or Gal

Posted on May 3, 2009 by Thomas Robinson

Last week a woman in an online illness support group that I participate in–I’ll call her Ellen–shared with the group that her hair had fallen out and then had grown back in, but it now looked weird. Ellen wrote that … Continue reading →

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