How to Emotionally Cope When You Have Eczema

Eczema was the hardest time of my life. For those who suffer with it (or have a close friend or family member who suffers with it), you’ll probably know that eczema comes with a lot of physical and psychological baggage.

When I was going through my own personal journey with eczema, I dealt with lots of issues, including: low self-esteem, insecurity, frustration, resentment (at myself and others), disappointment, fear, worry, and pain.

You’ll probably understand this if you have eczema. The hardest part was that my emotions were constantly fluctuating up and down; one moment I would be happy, and the next moment I would be worried and frustrated at my skin and the state of it.

The feeling of being disappointed, unhappy, and frustration was the biggest driving factor for me to get my eczema healed. I had been searching for healing for years and I didn’t want to continue going through it anymore. I went from doctor to doctor determined to get it healed, and I was willing to do whatever it took to find a cure. (P.S. If this is you going through something like this, don’t lose hope – you’ll eventually get there as well!)

Now looking back and having clients who are going through the same thing, I realize that there are some things I could’ve done differently. I wish I had found other eczema sufferers that I could talk to because I know I would have felt a lot better. However, I do have a few tips for emotionally and psychologically coping with eczema.

Here are a few ways to cope with eczema:

• Don’t lose hope – although the journey gets discouraging and frustrating, you have to keep having hope to carry you on. They say that when you visualize things, it helps brings things to pass – so use visualization techniques and affirmations to imagine your skin healed. Write post it notes around your house with affirmations such as “Your skin will heal” or “You have beautiful skin!” to keep you feeling positive.

• Surround yourself with a great support group – in order not to lose hope, you need to find a group of people who will instill hope in you. Remove anyone who is negative and who brings negativity in your life. Go on forums, talk to other eczema sufferers, or join Facebook groups with other eczema sufferers. EczemaVoice.com is a good platform that will allow you to encourage each other and find others who can encourage you.

• Be thankful – despite everything, count your blessings for what you do have in life and be grateful. The reason is that being thankful for what you have will bring your focus to the good things in your life, so that you can stop focusing on what you don’t have. For example, you can be thankful that you have food, that you have a place to live, and that you have a wonderful family. Some people will also start and end their day with saying 5 things they’re grateful for. It’s scientifically proven that people who do this are happier as well.
• Get plenty of rest – as hard as it may be to sleep for some eczema sufferers, try to sneak in more rest by taking naps, or going to bed earlier to try and get more restful sleep. Sleeping will help your skin heal. I used to try to stay awake the whole entire night because I was so scared that I would wake up with blood on my fingers and dead flakes all over my bed. It was an incredibly scary time. I survived by taking naps throughout the day, or trying to get to bed early so I could at least have more sleep (even if it was disrupted sleep).

• Use stress coping techniques and do something that relaxes you (and that you enjoy!) – For example, watching a feel-good movie, praying, or spending time with God is something that really relaxes me and allows me to find hope. I also enjoy dancing and taking nice walks in nature. This helps me get my mind off of frustration and it allows me to reflect, find peace, and joy.  Journaling is also a big thing – it helps me release my emotions and lift the burden off of my chest. Invest in a hobby, keep busy, or do something that will take your mind off of the frustration.

• Don’t be afraid to cry – don’t’ be afraid to let out your emotions, cry, scream. Do whatever it takes so that you don’t have to suppress what you’re going through. The journey is not easy, but you will get there. In the meantime, enjoy life and allow yourself to cry when you need to.

• Stop the negative thoughts – you live with yourself more than any other person. The thoughts you have will affect how you feel throughout the day.

If you’re reading this, you are probably just as determined as I was to get my eczema healed. I don’t think people understand how much emotionally and physically painful and draining eczema can be – so pat yourself on the back for already making it through so much!

If you suffer (or know someone who suffers with eczema), try to avoid pity parties and avoid criticizing yourself for what you’re going through. It’s not your fault – so try to count the good things in your life that you can be grateful for.

You need to realize that you can always handle more than you think! I had so many doubts and even contemplated with suicidal thoughts, but I was determined to make it through – and I finally have today.

I hope that these tips will be able to cope with eczema and feel much better after!

————–

P.S. Check out my resource page for a full list of Products I Love! Or check out “The Eczema Cure” book for more information on healing eczema from the inside out.

Biography

Abby is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist who helps clients achieve optimal health. She is passionate about seeing people use health and nutrition to transform lives. She hopes that her experiences and knowledge can help educate others on natural remedies that will help eczema. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or YouTube for more updates!

Disclaimer: All the information found on this website should be used for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace proper medical advice. Always consult a qualified health care provider before embarking on a health or supplement plan.

Read my eczema guide for other articles and resources that I’ve written on this topic.