How to Cope With Stress When You Have Myasthenia Gravis

What do you do when life just gets to be too much? Too heavy?

If you’re reading this, then I feel it’s safe to assume that you’re a fighter, so you likely do the same thing I do and just keep fighting, pushing forward. There is no throwing in of the proverbial towel.

In September, I shared that I lost my great-grandmother when she was the respectable age of 104. Since then, life has continued to throw my husband and me curveballs. That’s led to an accumulation of stress.

Stress, it’s well documented, is never a good thing for folks with myasthenia gravis. It can trigger symptom exacerbations, flares, and, if left unchecked, a myasthenic crisis. None of these are good scenarios.

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But what do you do when life is too much? When you’re tired of being strong? I posed this question to my counselor during my appointment last week. She responded by asking me the same question. What do I do when life feels too heavy, too much?

I have a few coping strategies that I use to keep my stress levels in check.

Coping strategy 1

I compartmentalize, triage all the stressors that have led to me feeling that life is too heavy, and pick which stressor needs to be addressed immediately. My emergency management training from the Army pays off in these circumstances. I assess and manage the immediate threat, and once that’s handled, I move on to the next, and the next, and the next.

Coping strategy 2

I have a counselor. I talk to her every two to four weeks, depending on what’s going on. We talk about my PTSD and the grief that comes with having a disability, and on days like today, she’s a sounding board. Sometimes all you need is to have a safe place to “verbal vomit” about everything to someone who won’t judge you.

Coping strategy 3

I sculpt or use one of my many creative outlets. In the past, I’ve discussed how important it is to have a hobby. Having hobbies is for more than just filling the days; they can provide an outlet during stressful times.

Coping strategy 4

I turn to my tribe, my support network, and my friends. I don’t always have to talk to them about what’s going on. Sometimes just being in their presence and having their companionship is enough to help the world feel not so heavy, for the burden to feel lighter, for the stress to lessen and not cause a symptom flare or exacerbation.

Coping strategy 5

Humor. I choose to laugh because crying makes me short of breath. I have a dark sense of humor that my husband, thankfully, appreciates and frequently encourages. Sometimes there are situations so insane and stress-inducing that no one would blame another for being crushed under their weight. Humor helps lighten the load.

Life is stressful. We encounter daily stressors, stressful major life events, and some things that are so far in left field we never could’ve seen them coming. Having effective coping strategies to help you mitigate this stress is critical when you have an autoimmune disease like myasthenia gravis.

These are just a few of my coping strategies. What are some of yours? Please let me know in the comments below.

Myasthenia Gravis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Myasthenia Gravis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to myasthenia gravis.