HD Blog

In a quiet moment sit down and take inventory of your life. What hobbies do you have? What do you do for the pure enjoyment? What kind of life do you have outside of HD? If you’re like many, your answers are going to be very short. Maintaining balance in life is difficult, even without the challenges of HD. You need to make a plan for returning balance to your life and you need to do it now. If you put it off until tomorrow it isn’t going to get done is it?

Re-establish your hobbies, do lunch with your friends, take a walk, visit a park, take a drive and turn up the radio! Do whatever it is that ‘recharges your batteries’. If you need somebody to watch things at home ask a friend or relative to help, check with your church, utilize adult daycare or ask for ideas from your support group.

Are you a member of an HD support group? If not, joining a support group is one of the best things you can do to take care of yourself. You’ll find out that you are not alone. Others are going through the same thing you’re going through. Because they’ve been there they have tips and tricks that can make your life much easier. The support groups are tied into the resources that are available out there. If there isn’t a local HD support group you can find valuable support in Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s support groups. They have to deal with many of the same issues. Another alternative is to use the Internet. There are HD Chats, email lists and discussion forums where people discuss HD issues. Visit HD websites, there’s a wealth of information and support out there.

When you are stressed-out and you feel like you’ve reached the end of your rope, give yourself permission to take a break and refresh yourself. “Put your air mask on FIRST…”