More Than Asthma - Chronic Illness Burnout

By Christy Amos

3 min read

A few months ago I wrote an article about asthma burnout - tiring of the day-in and day-out of caring for this chronic disease. I have many other chronic illnesses in addition to asthma, and the burnout with these other conditions is just as real.

This past week I experienced what I will call "chronic illness burnout." I have had a lot of health issues going on lately, in addition to an asthma attack earlier this month. I have been recovering from a major surgery, coming to terms with some additional diagnoses, and dealing with more medical garbage than I care to admit. (I would share the details of the "garbage," but we would be here for a while, so I will not bore you...)

Coping with chronic illness burnout: Asthma and more

It has been a lot lately, and frankly, I am over it. I am tired of dealing with all of these issues day in and day out with little to no reprieve. None of these are things that I can escape, ignore, or let go by the wayside. And it’s been really frustrating and discouraging.

I spent one day this week throwing a pity party for myself. I stayed in bed all day and refused to answer any phone call, message, or text that related to health issues. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but I did ignore a few calls, which reminds me, I still need to return those...oops...

Burnout or not, my health cannot be ignored. Being overwhelmed, tired, and completely over all of it does not stop the issue from being there. So, I thought I would share some of the things I have done this week to cope with this burnout.

Featured Forum

View all responses

Validation

First, it is okay to experience burnout. In fact, I think it would be odd if anyone did not have moments where they just don’t want to deal with health issues anymore. It’s okay to throw a pity party, cry a little bit, and maybe get in the car and scream at the top of your lungs while driving down the freeway. It is important to "feel" these emotions and validate the struggle. So I did. I had my day, I threw my party, and I acknowledged the burden that having multiple illnesses can cause.

Self-care

When experiencing this kind of burnout, I have found it really important to invest in some serious self-care. Self-care is always important, but even more so when struggling.

I love to craft, anything with my hands and creativity makes me the happiest. I spent a little while mulling over some different projects I could pour myself into. With some planning and shopping for supplies, my next project is well underway.

For you, it might be a massage, a trip to the salon, or a day out at your favorite venue. Talking to a counselor is another great avenue of self-care to help cope with chronic illness and the burnout that comes with it.

Expressing gratitude

The day after my pity party I was still in a funk, so I decided to do a gratitude exercise. Instead of dwelling on everything that was wrong, I spent time carefully considering all the things I have going for me. Once I got started, it was hard to stop. There are so many things I have to be thankful for in spite of all the health issues I grapple with.

Reorganize and regroup

Finally, it was time to reorganize and regroup. As I said, these issues are not going away, but the more organized and prepared I am to tackle my health issues, the better I can handle them mentally. I always say that knowledge is power, but organization and preparedness are incredibly important when I feel the weight of everything I am facing. It is the difference between being on top of the issues instead of being buried under them.

My toolbox for managing chronic illness burnout

I am still feeling the weight of everything that’s going on. Do not let my concise article on "how to cope" fool you into thinking that I have got all of this under control. I do not. But it is a work in progress.

As I incorporate each of these tools I am better able to handle the burden of chronic illness. I hope one or all of these tools might also be helpful for you!

What are some of the things you do when you experience burnout? Do you throw a pity party like I do? Let us know in the comments!

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Asthma.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

Join the conversation

Please read our rules before commenting.

saretta Member
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who has bad days of just being so over it. Days of wishing the asthma would just go away. If only that were possible! Thanks for the useful advice ❤️
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="saretta" user-id="3046005"/> Hi saretta - sometimes it make a big difference to understand that one is not alone or, the only one managing this disease. You are actually in a community which understands what you are going through and exactly how you feel about asthma. If there is anything we can do to assist you, please let me or any other moderator / team member know. You are always welcome here in our online community. Wishing you well, Leon (site moderator <a href='https://asthma.net' target='_blank'>asthma.net</a>)
Leon Lebowitz, RRT Moderator & Contributor
Hi @jlplank-hu (Janet) - I am so glad to hear the information in this article resonated so clearly with you. I am sure the author, my colleague, <inline-mention username="Christy Amos" user-id="3009657"/>, will be gratified to read your kind words. It is WE who should be thanking YOU, for being an active member of our online community. It's always reassuring for our team to know that our members (like you!) value the information we provide here. Wishing you well, Leon (site moderator <a href='https://asthma.net' target='_blank'>asthma.net</a>)
Thyme02 Member
Honestly, I don't really call it a pity party. It's grief for what you don't have and how much your life has changed because of it, and that's normal for someone with chronic illness. It's also why I tend to describe my experiences with asthma without pretending I'm happy all the time despite it, because it's not a happy time when it happens, and that's ok. Just because asthma is treatable doesn't mean it doesn’t take a toll on you. It doesn't mean you always have to look at the negatives though, and the gratitude does feel like stars in the darkness, that asthma can be brutal but all hope is not lost. I don't have to preach toxic positivity, be an "inspiration" so that people never admit the reality that they can't do everything, or pretend I'm always gonna be ok, because some days are harder than others to manage. It's perfectly fine to feel the way you do about asthma. Mine's made me... pretty bleak at times, but I also notice my more positive qualities because of it. I'm a lot more empathetic for others bc of having this, I do pretty well academically even if I may lack in athletic ability, and I'm a good researcher and writer, I enjoy arts and crafts, and I'm a good singer. Asthma may have robbed us of a lot, but it cannot take away our character.
1. Rebecca C Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Thyme02" user-id="9702954"/> What a truly inspirational way to go about dealing with and accepting asthma and/or chronic illness where you find strength and positive attributes within yourself, even while managing the challenges. Indeed, chronic conditions like asthma can sometimes make life feel bleak, but adjusting one's focus can make all the difference. It's crucial to acknowledge the real and often difficult impact that asthma can have on your life. It’s important to honor your feelings without being pressured to always put on a brave face. Thanks for your POV - hoping today is a good day. Rebecca (team member)