How to proactively embrace CF?

W

welshwitch

Guest
Hi everyone,

I've posted a couple times before...I am 27 and in the process of getting to know myself better....one way I would like to do so is to "embrace" CF and be more proactive with it. So here's my question:

What are some ways YOU, as strong, emotionally healthy people w/ cystic fibrosis, deal w/ your disease in a happy and productive manner?

A little background on me: I am healthy physically, but I think emotionally I am a little immature w/ my dealing with CF. I don't really talk about it to ANYONE unless I have to (going to doctors, talking with family and a few select friends and boyfriend). However, I have a lot of friends that I haven't told yet because I am not sure the exact method to reveal such powerful information. I also don't really like to discuss it because I often start to feel very negative about it.

However, I also feel really, really guilty that I haven't let some of my good friends know what's going on. My health is not really a problem so I am rarely forced to explain myself. However, my boyfriend has pointed out that in doing so I create a huge "secret" that ultimately makes it more of a big deal than it needs to be...he thinks I should be more open about it and expand my support network instead of having only a few select people in my life know.

So, I wonder what the best way to deal with this is....counseling? talking with other CFers? calling my friends? my boyfriend thinks I should make a personalized "brochure" that I could give out to people (lol!) I would like to remove the stigma that I have created for myself.

Any advice would be amazing! Thanks for being such a strong and supportive community!

welshwitch
27 female w/ CF
 
W

welshwitch

Guest
Hi everyone,

I've posted a couple times before...I am 27 and in the process of getting to know myself better....one way I would like to do so is to "embrace" CF and be more proactive with it. So here's my question:

What are some ways YOU, as strong, emotionally healthy people w/ cystic fibrosis, deal w/ your disease in a happy and productive manner?

A little background on me: I am healthy physically, but I think emotionally I am a little immature w/ my dealing with CF. I don't really talk about it to ANYONE unless I have to (going to doctors, talking with family and a few select friends and boyfriend). However, I have a lot of friends that I haven't told yet because I am not sure the exact method to reveal such powerful information. I also don't really like to discuss it because I often start to feel very negative about it.

However, I also feel really, really guilty that I haven't let some of my good friends know what's going on. My health is not really a problem so I am rarely forced to explain myself. However, my boyfriend has pointed out that in doing so I create a huge "secret" that ultimately makes it more of a big deal than it needs to be...he thinks I should be more open about it and expand my support network instead of having only a few select people in my life know.

So, I wonder what the best way to deal with this is....counseling? talking with other CFers? calling my friends? my boyfriend thinks I should make a personalized "brochure" that I could give out to people (lol!) I would like to remove the stigma that I have created for myself.

Any advice would be amazing! Thanks for being such a strong and supportive community!

welshwitch
27 female w/ CF
 
W

welshwitch

Guest
Hi everyone,

I've posted a couple times before...I am 27 and in the process of getting to know myself better....one way I would like to do so is to "embrace" CF and be more proactive with it. So here's my question:

What are some ways YOU, as strong, emotionally healthy people w/ cystic fibrosis, deal w/ your disease in a happy and productive manner?

A little background on me: I am healthy physically, but I think emotionally I am a little immature w/ my dealing with CF. I don't really talk about it to ANYONE unless I have to (going to doctors, talking with family and a few select friends and boyfriend). However, I have a lot of friends that I haven't told yet because I am not sure the exact method to reveal such powerful information. I also don't really like to discuss it because I often start to feel very negative about it.

However, I also feel really, really guilty that I haven't let some of my good friends know what's going on. My health is not really a problem so I am rarely forced to explain myself. However, my boyfriend has pointed out that in doing so I create a huge "secret" that ultimately makes it more of a big deal than it needs to be...he thinks I should be more open about it and expand my support network instead of having only a few select people in my life know.

So, I wonder what the best way to deal with this is....counseling? talking with other CFers? calling my friends? my boyfriend thinks I should make a personalized "brochure" that I could give out to people (lol!) I would like to remove the stigma that I have created for myself.

Any advice would be amazing! Thanks for being such a strong and supportive community!

welshwitch
27 female w/ CF
 
W

welshwitch

Guest
Hi everyone,

I've posted a couple times before...I am 27 and in the process of getting to know myself better....one way I would like to do so is to "embrace" CF and be more proactive with it. So here's my question:

What are some ways YOU, as strong, emotionally healthy people w/ cystic fibrosis, deal w/ your disease in a happy and productive manner?

A little background on me: I am healthy physically, but I think emotionally I am a little immature w/ my dealing with CF. I don't really talk about it to ANYONE unless I have to (going to doctors, talking with family and a few select friends and boyfriend). However, I have a lot of friends that I haven't told yet because I am not sure the exact method to reveal such powerful information. I also don't really like to discuss it because I often start to feel very negative about it.

However, I also feel really, really guilty that I haven't let some of my good friends know what's going on. My health is not really a problem so I am rarely forced to explain myself. However, my boyfriend has pointed out that in doing so I create a huge "secret" that ultimately makes it more of a big deal than it needs to be...he thinks I should be more open about it and expand my support network instead of having only a few select people in my life know.

So, I wonder what the best way to deal with this is....counseling? talking with other CFers? calling my friends? my boyfriend thinks I should make a personalized "brochure" that I could give out to people (lol!) I would like to remove the stigma that I have created for myself.

Any advice would be amazing! Thanks for being such a strong and supportive community!

welshwitch
27 female w/ CF
 
W

welshwitch

Guest
Hi everyone,

I've posted a couple times before...I am 27 and in the process of getting to know myself better....one way I would like to do so is to "embrace" CF and be more proactive with it. So here's my question:

What are some ways YOU, as strong, emotionally healthy people w/ cystic fibrosis, deal w/ your disease in a happy and productive manner?

A little background on me: I am healthy physically, but I think emotionally I am a little immature w/ my dealing with CF. I don't really talk about it to ANYONE unless I have to (going to doctors, talking with family and a few select friends and boyfriend). However, I have a lot of friends that I haven't told yet because I am not sure the exact method to reveal such powerful information. I also don't really like to discuss it because I often start to feel very negative about it.

However, I also feel really, really guilty that I haven't let some of my good friends know what's going on. My health is not really a problem so I am rarely forced to explain myself. However, my boyfriend has pointed out that in doing so I create a huge "secret" that ultimately makes it more of a big deal than it needs to be...he thinks I should be more open about it and expand my support network instead of having only a few select people in my life know.

So, I wonder what the best way to deal with this is....counseling? talking with other CFers? calling my friends? my boyfriend thinks I should make a personalized "brochure" that I could give out to people (lol!) I would like to remove the stigma that I have created for myself.

Any advice would be amazing! Thanks for being such a strong and supportive community!

welshwitch
27 female w/ CF
 
W

welshwitch

Guest
Hi everyone,

I've posted a couple times before...I am 27 and in the process of getting to know myself better....one way I would like to do so is to "embrace" CF and be more proactive with it. So here's my question:

What are some ways YOU, as strong, emotionally healthy people w/ cystic fibrosis, deal w/ your disease in a happy and productive manner?

A little background on me: I am healthy physically, but I think emotionally I am a little immature w/ my dealing with CF. I don't really talk about it to ANYONE unless I have to (going to doctors, talking with family and a few select friends and boyfriend). However, I have a lot of friends that I haven't told yet because I am not sure the exact method to reveal such powerful information. I also don't really like to discuss it because I often start to feel very negative about it.

However, I also feel really, really guilty that I haven't let some of my good friends know what's going on. My health is not really a problem so I am rarely forced to explain myself. However, my boyfriend has pointed out that in doing so I create a huge "secret" that ultimately makes it more of a big deal than it needs to be...he thinks I should be more open about it and expand my support network instead of having only a few select people in my life know.

So, I wonder what the best way to deal with this is....counseling? talking with other CFers? calling my friends? my boyfriend thinks I should make a personalized "brochure" that I could give out to people (lol!) I would like to remove the stigma that I have created for myself.

Any advice would be amazing! Thanks for being such a strong and supportive community!

welshwitch
27 female w/ CF
 
L

lightNlife

New member
Perhaps by reading some of my blog, you can get to know me a bit and see how I incorporate my thoughts and feelings about CF into every day life.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithCF.blogspot.com">Breathing Deeply: My Life with CF</a>
 
L

lightNlife

New member
Perhaps by reading some of my blog, you can get to know me a bit and see how I incorporate my thoughts and feelings about CF into every day life.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithCF.blogspot.com">Breathing Deeply: My Life with CF</a>
 
L

lightNlife

New member
Perhaps by reading some of my blog, you can get to know me a bit and see how I incorporate my thoughts and feelings about CF into every day life.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithCF.blogspot.com">Breathing Deeply: My Life with CF</a>
 
L

lightNlife

New member
Perhaps by reading some of my blog, you can get to know me a bit and see how I incorporate my thoughts and feelings about CF into every day life.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithCF.blogspot.com">Breathing Deeply: My Life with CF</a>
 
L

lightNlife

New member
Perhaps by reading some of my blog, you can get to know me a bit and see how I incorporate my thoughts and feelings about CF into every day life.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithCF.blogspot.com">Breathing Deeply: My Life with CF</a>
 
L

lightNlife

New member
Perhaps by reading some of my blog, you can get to know me a bit and see how I incorporate my thoughts and feelings about CF into every day life.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithCF.blogspot.com">Breathing Deeply: My Life with CF</a>
 
M

moxie1

Guest
I know exactly how you feel.

I've never been very open about my cf. Nobody in high school ever knew and while I am more open now, I still hold back. I think it's because I want people to know me for who I am, not the disease I have. I hate it when the first thing people say to me is "how are you feeling?" I know they care and I appreciate it, but I don't want them to look at me and think "Cf" all of the time. I guess that's immature, but that's how it is.
 
M

moxie1

Guest
I know exactly how you feel.

I've never been very open about my cf. Nobody in high school ever knew and while I am more open now, I still hold back. I think it's because I want people to know me for who I am, not the disease I have. I hate it when the first thing people say to me is "how are you feeling?" I know they care and I appreciate it, but I don't want them to look at me and think "Cf" all of the time. I guess that's immature, but that's how it is.
 
M

moxie1

Guest
I know exactly how you feel.

I've never been very open about my cf. Nobody in high school ever knew and while I am more open now, I still hold back. I think it's because I want people to know me for who I am, not the disease I have. I hate it when the first thing people say to me is "how are you feeling?" I know they care and I appreciate it, but I don't want them to look at me and think "Cf" all of the time. I guess that's immature, but that's how it is.
 
M

moxie1

Guest
I know exactly how you feel.

I've never been very open about my cf. Nobody in high school ever knew and while I am more open now, I still hold back. I think it's because I want people to know me for who I am, not the disease I have. I hate it when the first thing people say to me is "how are you feeling?" I know they care and I appreciate it, but I don't want them to look at me and think "Cf" all of the time. I guess that's immature, but that's how it is.
 
M

moxie1

Guest
I know exactly how you feel.

I've never been very open about my cf. Nobody in high school ever knew and while I am more open now, I still hold back. I think it's because I want people to know me for who I am, not the disease I have. I hate it when the first thing people say to me is "how are you feeling?" I know they care and I appreciate it, but I don't want them to look at me and think "Cf" all of the time. I guess that's immature, but that's how it is.
 
M

moxie1

Guest
I know exactly how you feel.

I've never been very open about my cf. Nobody in high school ever knew and while I am more open now, I still hold back. I think it's because I want people to know me for who I am, not the disease I have. I hate it when the first thing people say to me is "how are you feeling?" I know they care and I appreciate it, but I don't want them to look at me and think "Cf" all of the time. I guess that's immature, but that's how it is.
 
J

JORDYSMOM

New member
Hi Welshwitch

My thought regarding telling your friends about your CF is this:

If they are your FRIENDS, the fact that you have CF will not change anything. In fact, it should strengthen your friendship. They should feel priviledged that you are sharing this part of yourself with them.

One way to bring it up to them might be to ask for their support in a Great Strides event or some other fund raising event. Tell them it is important to you because you have CF. Maybe getting involved with fund raising would help you feel more comfortable with yourself as well. It may at least help you feel less negatively about things.

I hope you get to know yourself better and most importantly I hope you like the preson you find.
 
J

JORDYSMOM

New member
Hi Welshwitch

My thought regarding telling your friends about your CF is this:

If they are your FRIENDS, the fact that you have CF will not change anything. In fact, it should strengthen your friendship. They should feel priviledged that you are sharing this part of yourself with them.

One way to bring it up to them might be to ask for their support in a Great Strides event or some other fund raising event. Tell them it is important to you because you have CF. Maybe getting involved with fund raising would help you feel more comfortable with yourself as well. It may at least help you feel less negatively about things.

I hope you get to know yourself better and most importantly I hope you like the preson you find.
 
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