Grace Tworek is a clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic who is passionate about helping people who have autoimmune disorders. She suggests practical ways to reclaim a positive quality of life when myasthenia gravis symptoms severely disrupt the norm.

So when we’re looking to find stability, something we come back to often in the psychology world is quality of life and identity. So what makes you you? Oftentimes there are certain activities or enjoyed hobbies that become a really important part of one’s identity and improve their overall quality of life.

Symptoms, though, can sometimes get in the way of how we do these sorts of things. So what we try to do is break down that activity to determine what someone may value about that thing.

So for example, maybe you’re someone who really enjoys going on a neighborhood walk with your spouse or with a really close friend. And due to symptoms, you’re no longer able to engage in that activity in the same way — so for the same period of time or during certain seasons, for example. We want to take a little bit of a closer look to determine what values that activity really upholds.

So perhaps it’s the quality time with a close friend or with your partner, engaging in nature, being outside, feeling the sun on your shoulders, and self-care, taking that time for yourself to unwind and relax at the end of the day.

So while we might not be able to do that same activity, can we do another activity that promotes those same values? So perhaps this means sitting out on the patio with that person, talking about your days and having a glass of lemonade or water.

So finding an activity that upholds those same values, even if it looks different, can really align with your identity and values. As well, it’s important that if the toll of myasthenia gravis begins to feel that it’s significantly impacting your mood or your motivation to want to do things you normally would enjoy, this may be a sign to seek out mental health care.