Hi folks,

I've been wondering about how we can maintain a positive self image while we are ill. I'd like to know what people think about this.

Sometimes we post and talk about 'the person I was before I was ill' and stuff like that. It feels like the illness takes away our positive self image as part of the process, like it actually takes 'us' away.

But maybe this is not the whole truth. While I was ill I had to be stronger than ever before, just to keep on going. Isn't that a reason to respect myself? I mean, if someone said to you "I've had 5 panic attacks this week, but I'm still going to work", what message does that give out? To me it gives the message that this person is a frickin hero!

We fight some of the nastiest illnesses on the planet, right here on this site, so I'm thinking that maybe that's a reason for some positive self image. I know it's hard to think positively when we feel like poo, it feels impossible sometimes, and yet here we are, still fighting.

Cheers, Myzen