Self-care doesn’t mean “do-it-yourself” care. One of the biggest skills you need is learning to find, ask for, and accept help. You can click on the links in the left-hand column to find information about ways to partner with others more effectively. Or you can continue reading to preview the information in this section.

Involving Family Members. Families can make or  break your self-management program. Dr. Ann Steiner, a psychologist who  works and lives with chronic illness says, "[Long-term conditions] put extra  burdens on a whole family. People don’t know what to do or how to help. But  everybody can help each other, if they work on how to do it. That takes  talking." How do we ask for help? How do we set limits and show loved ones  and friends what we need and what we don’t want?  How do we let them  know how we’re feeling in ways they can understand? Learning to communicate  and work together with families and other loved ones makes everyone’s job  easier and more rewarding. Read more.

Working with Your Health Care Provider. Providers have a major impact on our health. But our relationships with them are often not  the best. We can help them help us by preparing for appointments (like  bringing in our questions and our medications). We need to share information  (like what’s been happening with us and what we know about our condition.) We should ask questions (preferably write them down.) We should help  them get to know us as whole people without wasting their time on trivia. Learn to communicate and work with them to get the best possible results. Read more.  

Finding Resources in Your Community. Community resources can make life and  self-management much easier. Everything from churches to Y’s to neighborhood  groups, social work agencies and schools can be helpful. Learn how to find  them and use them! Read more.

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