What a Tough Year Has Taught Us About Battling Lupus

2020 was a year like no other. With the COVID-19 pandemic, stress over staying safe while battling a chronic illness has been at an all-time high. It has brought on several challenges that may have disrupted our lives to a higher degree in our lupus battle. The losses, the pain, the anxiety that we have all endured has been extremely difficult even if you weren’t directly affected. So many have lost their jobs, seen savings depleted, and taken on more responsibility while still fighting daily to get past lupus issues. It has surely been a whirlwind of a year that will never be forgotten.

Quarantine tough

The quarantine has most likely taken a toll on our mental and emotional health. Even though lupus warriors often have to quarantine in order to stay safe with compromised immune systems, this time staying at home has most likely been particularly hard. The unknown of the quarantine coupled with loneliness and isolation can be tough. Still, as has been the case with your battle with lupus you have been resilient. You have been remarkable in your adaptation during this time and have become quarantine tough.

Things you may have learned from 2020

You may have learned more about technology and how to use it to stay connected. We have embraced technology in our personal lives with family Zoom's and our professional lives with remote working. Having no choice but to jump right into technological trends by moving to telemedicine.

We may have learned to stop and focus on ourselves. To learn how to get rid of things we don’t need physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Cleaning out our clothes closets, as well as our mind wardrobes, has given us a slice of peace.

We may have learned how to save money. Staying at home has cut out the frivolous spending done outside of quarantine. Remote learning and working afforded some to be able to save on commuting with things like using less gas and avoiding tolls.

2020 may have taught us not to spend so much money on travel, eating out, and extra-curricular activities. Teaching us to be more creative in how we perceive fun and how we have fun at home.

Most of all, 2020 may have taught us to pause and think about what is important in our lives. It may have made us stop and really listen to our bodies and make adjustments accordingly. It just may have given us the opportunity to really plan out how we can beat lupus and keep our sanity beyond it.

Many families have grown closer just by spending more time with one another. 2020 pretty much helped us realize how important close relationships are and how important it is to not overdo it.

Every lupus warrior should be proud of themselves as they became stronger beyond the stressors of 2020. If anything, hopefully, 2020 has taught us that we are stronger than we think. Stronger than lupus and its issues. And, much stronger than anything 2020 brought into our lives.