[Cocosurviving]

It’s very challenging having rare diseases and autoimmune diseases that primarily revolve around regularly taking steroid medications. Regularly taking steroid medications directly cause weight gain for many individuals.

I’m not going to give up...I will continue to be active on non-symptomatic days. Right now is very challenging with back to back ice and snow storms. I used to workout at my residence..home workouts. I really enjoy being outside.

I’ve been doing pretty good with my depression. I stopped taking all psychotropic medications in 2018 and it was the best choice for me. After being misdiagnosed when my original diagnoses was always depression. I’ll never go to another mental provider again.

I found several things that work for me as coping skills.....music, coloring, reading, blogging, traditional Indigenous music, praying to my ancestors, chatting with folx, soaking, knitting 🧶 etc.

I recently lost my auntie, heart disease and it hurts so much. I lost a cousin to breast cancer four months earlier. I’ve recently looked into bullet journaling. I see it as a creative outlet for me to deal with grief, loss and process my thoughts.

[CANDC]

Hi Cocosurviving. I am sorry for the losses of people in your life and activities. I like your idea of a bulleted journal. Sometimes journals get lost in details and are unreadable down the road.

I appreciate coping skills. Exercises like 5 minute Tai Chi on youtube have helped me stay in touch with energy and the body. For me, Zoom and youtube have helped a lot during Covid times. But walking outside is really good.

Friends in the Dakotas on the Great Plains saw temps go to 23 F below 0 or lower. It is just so cold.

Sounds like you have some great coping skills. I keep telling myself "Spring is right around the corner." Eventually I will be right.

All the best to you
@CANDC

[Travelinglady]

I'm glad you're finding ways of coping, dear one,