Newly diagnosed patients and those who have been living with their illness(es) for a long time cope with their situation in very different ways. Some like to read while others enjoy altruism.  From experience caring for someone with a chronic illness, we found four ways to mentally cope when things are getting bad. Feel free to add more creative ways YOU like to distract yourself with in the comments section:

#1 Photography

Photography is the only medium where an entire story can be told without a single word being said or written. The beauty of photography is that you can see your imagination at play, no need to try and visualize it in words. Another plus is that any patient with a chronic illness can take a camera and tell a story through their own unique perspective, no need to worry about semantics or grammar! (Take that Ms. Menendez – my own personal fifth-grade grammar police)

#2 V-Logging

We millennials love to use our trusty social apps to record our every move. We’ll record and post anything from how many steps we took throughout the day to how many episodes of Empire we binge watched. However, for patients, all these social media platforms are a godsend! It gives them a public (or private) platform where they can reach others with the same conditions and share victories, downfalls, and other experiences. Video Blogging (V-Logging as it is commonly known) can be done on any existing social platform. All you need is a phone with a decent camera and an active social media account and you’re set!

#3 Writing

This is the way most patients decide to get creative. We grew up doing it, we know how to put our words to paper and these days, it is the easiest way to let the world know where we stand. Different from Vlogging, Blogging has been an incredibly useful and cathartic way to communicate with others who are going through the same or similar situation as you are.

#4 Painting

This is a very underrated way to express one’s feelings. It encompasses elements of photography and writing while being a unique medium. You don’t have to know how to draw an apple or be M.C. Escher to express what you’re feeling, all you need is a mix of different colors and a canvas.. you don’t even need brushes if you don’t want them.

So go ahead and get creative, express yourself and you’ll see just how much creativity you have and how much better you’ll feel once you start getting creative. If you feel like writing is your thing and you want to start expressing yourself, don’t be shy, and become a contributor