How to Create A Long Term Illness Plan: 4 Top Tips to Live and Plan Your Future

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How to Create A Long Term Illness Plan
4 Top Tips to Live and Plan Your Future

Helen Chow, ND

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If, and when, you are diagnosed with a long-term illness, you will most probably find yourself in a state of shock. Not only for you yourself, but also for your immediate family members and close friends.
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These diagnoses could include

• cancer,
• stroke,
• chronic obesity leading to
• diabetes and amputations,
• arthritis (rheumatoid or osteo, both can be equally debilitating),
• alzheimer’s disease and
• dementia

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in a long list of illnesses which could incapacitate you to varying degrees depending on the severity of your illness.
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A long term illness plan is a very sensible strategy to adopt for looking after yourself. It doesn’t have to spell the end of your life as you know it. There are many ways to deal with your diagnosis, and you’ll eventually find ways to manage your life.
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Not sure how to move forward after your diagnosis? Here are 4 important steps to take.

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Long Term Illness Plan: Tip #1
Think About Finances
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You might still be able to carry on working while you are in the early stages of the condition. However, this might change as the illness progresses. You should think about what will happen if you need to stop working.
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One of the main implications will be on your finances. Can you afford it? Start saving and create an emergency fund now, just in case you do need to quit your job. There are organisations which help with finances.
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Do take a look at our Recommended Life-Line Organisations which include organisations which help people in financial crisis due to illness.
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You should also consider taking out a life insurance policy. This will help your family out in the event of your death. No one will like to talk about it, but it is something that you will need to plan.
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Long Term Illness Plan: Tip #2
Consider Home Adaptations
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If you have been diagnosed with an illness like cancer or stroke that will affect your mobility, you need to think about how that will affect your home life.
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Some people could find that they have trouble with stairs and using certain appliances that require them to bend over. Thankfully, there are many home adaptations that you can use to make things much easier.
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One of the most common adaptations is a handrail up the stairs. If things get particularly bad, you might need to have a stairlift installed. You might be eligible for money to get all these adaptations done. Contact your healthcare provider in your country.
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Long Term Illness Plan: Tip #3
How Can Your Family Help?
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Your family will want to help you out wherever possible. Don’t try and get by without their help. Many people are too proud to accept help once they have been diagnosed. However, they eventually come around and realise that they really need it.
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You shouldn’t feel like you are putting your family out. After all, they offered to help in the first place! Think about how they can be of use to you. Maybe they can help on the school run or get your weekly groceries for you.
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Long Term Illness Plan: Tip #4
De-stress
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It is important not to get too worried and worked up about your condition. All this extra stress will just lead to your illness getting worse.
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So, whenever possible, try to take some time to yourself and de-stress. This can be as simple as sending your kids to their grandparents for one night while you and your partner enjoy a night in.
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Stripped to its barebones, stress happens like this:

1. You experience or think of something which is stressful. Your negative thoughts and emotions combine at this phase.
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2. Your state from stage 1. (above) triggers psychological stress. You may begin to experience signs of mental stress.
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3. If your psychological stress is left unregulated, it will trigger the physiological stress response. You may then experience the physical symptoms of stress which include clammy hands and an elevated heart rate, even if you are at rest.

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You can master this easy mind-control exercise to stop mental stress. Click here.

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Easy Mind Control Exercise
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1. Find a quiet place to perform the Easy Mind Control Exercise. Get a piece of paper and write down 5 of the most horrid thoughts you’ve been having for the past few months.
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2. Below the first 5 items, write down 5 beautiful thoughts, memories or ideas that are directly in contrast with the first 5 items you wrote down.
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3. Focus your mind’s power on each of the undesirable thoughts and as you do, give your mind a firm command to remove the thoughts.
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4. Visualize a blank space where each of the undesirable thoughts used to be. Begin placing pleasant thoughts on this blank space, to replace the bad ones that have just been driven out.
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5. Repeat the exercise until you are satisfied and try again tomorrow.

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By relaxing, you’re helping your body by ensuring it has enough energy to try and overcome all the symptoms that you’ve been suffering.
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Hopefully, all these points will make it easier for you to live with your long-term illness.
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