When you’re living with chronic illness, it’s imperative to find activities that serve as a positive distraction from your ongoing challenges. Such activities can powerfully, although temporarily, redirect our attention and shift our focus.
I’m very thankful for my artistic interests. They have been an ongoing resource for taking my mind off of my persistent health challenges. I also enjoy baking. It’s been a creative outlet that allows me to not focus on my symptoms.
Watching classic movies is another one of my interests; for two solid hours, I’m engrossed in a film, rather than being preoccupied with my health problems.
Taking part in pleasurable distractions helps short-circuit the downward spiral of having increased stress exacerbate the severity of our symptoms, thereby producing even more stress.
