Chronically Me

Emotion Regulation

Rumination Is a Common Response to Life's Challenges

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on November 15, 2023

The causes, effects and treatment of ruminating.

The causes, effects and treatment of ruminating.

Chronic Illness

Acceptance and Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on October 15, 2023

Acceptance of chronic illness is correlated with positive health outcomes. Learn what it is, what it is NOT, and how to cultivate it.

Acceptance of chronic illness is correlated with positive health outcomes. Learn what it is, what it is NOT, and how to cultivate it.

Chronic Illness

Chronic Illness: Coping With Dependence and Self-Acceptance

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on September 15, 2023

Chronic illness dependence gives rise to painful feelings, but by acknowledging and communicating about them, an individual's self-worth often improves.

Chronic illness dependence gives rise to painful feelings, but by acknowledging and communicating about them, an individual's self-worth often improves.

Chronic Illness

Family Resilience and Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on August 10, 2023

Family relationships affect, and are affected by, chronic illness. Your family can build resilience by analyzing strengths over three domains of functioning.

Family relationships affect, and are affected by, chronic illness. Your family can build resilience by analyzing strengths over three domains of functioning.

Anxiety

Worry and Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on July 14, 2023

Many people who live with chronic illnesses worry about their health. Learn why and how to manage it.

Many people who live with chronic illnesses worry about their health. Learn why and how to manage it.

Chronic Illness

The Art of Savoring

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on June 14, 2023

Savoring—the mindful appreciation of positive experiences—is linked to well-being. Learn more about how to boost your capacity to savor.

Savoring—the mindful appreciation of positive experiences—is linked to well-being. Learn more about how to boost your capacity to savor.

Friends

Chronic Illness and Friendship

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on May 15, 2023

Chronic illness can create barriers to making and keeping friends. Learn why this is so and ways to challenge these barriers.

Chronic illness can create barriers to making and keeping friends. Learn why this is so and ways to challenge these barriers.

Stress

When Medical Treatment Hurts

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on April 13, 2023

Learn how to identify and manage the stressful aspects of medical care.

Learn how to identify and manage the stressful aspects of medical care.

Depression

Chronic Illness and Grief

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on March 14, 2023

The dual process model of coping with grief can help us conceptualize and understand chronic illness grief.

The dual process model of coping with grief can help us conceptualize and understand chronic illness grief.

Relationships

Relationships and Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on February 15, 2023

Chronic illness can create barriers to relationships. Use social work's "micro-mezzo-macro approach" to analyze and mitigate these barriers.

Chronic illness can create barriers to relationships. Use social work's "micro-mezzo-macro approach" to analyze and mitigate these barriers.

Chronic Illness

Chronic Illness and Health Insurance

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on January 17, 2023

Personal Perspective: Dealing with insurance companies as a chronically ill person is more than annoying. It's harmful.

Personal Perspective: Dealing with insurance companies as a chronically ill person is more than annoying. It's harmful.

Media

Social Media and Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on December 16, 2022

Social media can be a powerful channel for communicating chronic illness experiences.

Social media can be a powerful channel for communicating chronic illness experiences.

Chronic Illness

Art-Making and Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on November 15, 2022

The practice of art provides mental health benefits, including increasing the self-esteem and self-efficacy eroded by chronic illness.

The practice of art provides mental health benefits, including increasing the self-esteem and self-efficacy eroded by chronic illness.

Chronic Illness

Chronic Illness and the Body

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on October 14, 2022

It can be hard to like our bodies when we live with chronic illnesses. These principles from trauma-informed yoga can help.

It can be hard to like our bodies when we live with chronic illnesses. These principles from trauma-informed yoga can help.

Chronic Illness

Body Awareness in Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on September 15, 2022

Listening to our bodies is a skill worth developing.

Listening to our bodies is a skill worth developing.

Chronic Illness

Isolation in Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on August 15, 2022

The use of public space can be challenging for people living with chronic illnesses. Learn how to enhance access and improve quality of life.

The use of public space can be challenging for people living with chronic illnesses. Learn how to enhance access and improve quality of life.

Identity

4 Illness Identity States and How to Work With Them

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on July 15, 2022

Chronic illness changes one's identity in multiple ways.

Chronic illness changes one's identity in multiple ways.

Chronic Illness

Attachment Theory and Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on June 15, 2022

Secure attachment promotes positive coping with chronic illness.

Secure attachment promotes positive coping with chronic illness.

Anxiety

Anxiety in Chronic Illness Pregnancies

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on May 16, 2022

Anxiety is an expected and understandable part of chronic illness pregnancies. Learn why it matters and how to manage it.

Anxiety is an expected and understandable part of chronic illness pregnancies. Learn why it matters and how to manage it.

Chronic Illness

Rethinking Chronic Illness Limitations

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on April 15, 2022

Chronic illness can cause avoidance of experiences. Learn how to improve the quality of your life by moving from avoidance to engagement.

Chronic illness can cause avoidance of experiences. Learn how to improve the quality of your life by moving from avoidance to engagement.