Total Healthcare of Michigan, P.C Hannah Boulevard, Suite 200 East Lansing, MI Phone: (517) Ten Beliefs Associated with Chronic Illness

Beliefs Associated with Chronic Illness Rational Appraisals –My knees will buckle unpredictably at times and I can’t clearly chart the course of my (multiple sclerosis, other). –Being human. I sometimes feel anxious or deeply sad; and this, in combination with my neuromuscular impairment, will result in my knees buckling at times. –I am emotionally expressive. –My body is largely responsible for my legs wobbling; my anxiety adds at times a slight extra shakiness. My muscles are defective. –If I buckle, tough! I’m human. No one controls anxiety 100%! Irrational Overgeneralizations –I do this to myself. (I’m a weak person) –I should be able to control my anxiety and sadness nearly 100% of the time (and I’m defective if I can’t) –I’m emotionally out of control. –I’m a defective person (and I shouldn’t be comfortable spending so much time at home), If my legs don’t work, my life is over. I don’t belong on the planet. –I should be able to almost never feel anxious or upset.

Beliefs Associated with Chronic Illness Rational Appraisals –I’d like to be able to handle it better – but at times I’m still going to wobble and I’d better accept (and not think dreadful thoughts about) those possibilities. –I’d prefer not to become more disabled, but I’d better accept the fact that I may. (But I don’t have to become mentally disabled). –If I have to sit down, I have to sit down. It’s not a crime or something shameful. –I am a person with a neurological problem. –If others equate my entire value with my physical defects, they’re bigots! Irrational Overgeneralizations –It is awful if I collapse! Shameful and unendurable! People mustn’t look at me or pity me! –It’s awful that my mobility is getting increasingly limited. –It would be awful if I couldn’t move, or if I collapsed in public. –I am a defective person (and I must not be). –Others must not view me as defective (and it’s awful if they do).