Chronic illness can be really debilitating and cause many issues for those that suffer with them. An illness is classed as chronic if it is long-term, i.e. lasts for 3 months or more. These illnesses become more frequent as we age and unfortunately, there is no vaccination and no medication that will provide a magic cure to get rid of it completely, it is a matter of learning how to live with it.  

Chronic illness puts a strain on our bodies in many ways from the pain and symptoms that may cause us suffering, to the anxiety and worry about the prognosis of our illness, and/or the treatments associated with our particular condition. Concern about how we manage illnesses can cause stress on a day-to-day basis, compounding our symptoms and making them worse. Mindfulness however, has been proven to help with chronic illness in a variety of ways.

Mindfulness is often used to combat symptoms of anxiety and depression and when used regularly it has been proven to reduce chronic pain quite drastically across a range of conditions, not limited to but including; Arthritis, back pain, Cancer, Coeliac Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, Heart Disease, Irritable Bowel Disease, Migraines and Multiple Sclerosis and can even have a positive effect on blood pressure. It is not about changing or 'curing' these illnesses but is about being present in the moment and sitting with what is.

It is easy to focus on negative aspects when faced with illness and pain in our daily lives, however mindfulness brings us back to the present, helping to stop our minds from working overtime and worrying, so that we can feel more balanced and able to deal with our situations - whatever that means for us. Regular meditation can help to make changes to the neurological pathways in our brains, making us more resilient to the symptoms that we struggle with. 

It is important to note that chronic illness can also leave us with a sense of grief for those ways in which our bodies have changed and a sense of longing for things that we now struggle to do.  Mindfulness can also help us to deal with these feelings in a more positive way, helping us to focus on our capabilities rather than our limitations.

One thing to bear in mind is that mindfulness is called a practice for a reason. It takes practice - and patience! It is important to realise that one session of mindfulness doesn't bring about immediate changes, but if you keep at it and practice mindfulness regularly the benefits will accumulate and help you to manage your conditions. Likewise, you can't expect to start meditation as an expert - you will get distracted and your thoughts will wonder but each time this happens and you bring you’re attention back to the now, you are learning how to bring your mind back to the present and increasing your focus practice.

Mindfulness is not the only answer to chronic illness by any means, but it is definitely a useful tool to be utilised that can bring great benefits and ease some of your physical and psychological pains.