Your everyday life

TESS

At work

When you go back to work, you must remember you will not be able to pick up exactly where you left off before you were ill. It is often your own expectations that you find most difficult to live up to. Therefore, playing "superman" will be not a wise option.

Perhaps you should talk to your superior about redistributing your duties for a while. If your colleagues knows about your condition, they will probably show you some consideration.

If not, you might consider changing to another environment.

The higher your expectations for yourself and the expectations that you believe others have on you, the more pressure you will feel. This type of strain can contribute to worsening your condition. So take it easy when you go back to work.

At home

Your exterior can fool even those closest to you. When you slowly begin to get back to normal, people around you will expect you to become emotionally involved to the same extent as before. These expectations can give rise to disappointment and frustration. It is therefore vital for you to talk about your illness and involve your family in your treatment.

It is important for those closest to you to understand how you are feeling. If you take one of them to the doctor with you, he or she can ask questions and clear up any misunderstandings.