10 ways to measure chronic illness progress beyond symptom improvement

healing comes in many forms

photo credit Lisett Kruusimäe

We can start with honesty — I want symptom improvement. I want it so badly sometimes I forget to breathe, clinging to the possibility of a life that isn’t dictated so strongly by my body’s limitations.

At the same time, I’ve recognized that, for my own physical health, keeping such a tight focus on symptom improvement has paradoxically hindered my healing. It has removed me from the present moment, from my ability to embrace and find joy in the now, and it has added a thousand pounds to the burden of these illnesses. I’m a firm believer that healing comes in many forms when you’re ill (mentally or physically), and that recognizing multiple paths to progress holds the key to a richer, more fulfilling life, no matter what you’re going through.

10 ways to measure progress beyond symptom improvement

1. Listening to your body. The body has a language, and it’s not English, Spanish, Korean or whichever language you speak. Our bodies speak to us through subtle — and sometimes blaring — signals in our guts, breathing patterns, head pressure, heart rate, and so on. Did you get better at listening to these cues? Have you studied the dictionary of the language of your body?

2. Asking for help. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it here again: There is no shame in asking for help, even if someone is ultimately unable to provide it. Your job is to ask for what you need, and be gracious when others express their needs. So, are you better able to acknowledge that needing help isn't something to be ashamed of? Do you embrace interdependence? Do you validate your emotions when you don’t receive the help you want?

3. Practicing gratitude. Gratitude is medicine for the soul, easing the symptoms of a fast-paced life, and grounding us in little moments of joy and beauty. Do you feel more genuine gratitude? Both for the ways your body works well and for the everyday beauty of life?

4. Restorative Resting. Are you able to AcTUalLy rest, not guilty rest? Enough said.

5. Self-compassion skillset. In my essay, you can be nice to yourself during a flare, I write about how I once believed self-compassion was “overhyped,” but in reality I just found it unsettling. Self-compassion allows us to move through difficult experiences more quickly because we are not dismissing or ignoring our pain; instead, we acknowledge it, allowing ourselves to heal with more acceptance and less struggle. Are you better at validating your emotions? At cutting yourself slack when you're struggling?

6. Believing your symptoms. A lack of belief in our pain and illness symptoms often goes hand-in-hand with an inability to practice self-compassion. Acknowledging our hardships requires a willingness to admit that we are struggling and to be kind to ourselves about the struggle. Have you reduced the frequency that you gaslight yourself about your symptoms? Do you believe that you're truly sick?

7. Prioritizing positive relationships. Maturing is learning that not all relationships are meant to last. Healing is understanding which relationships are worthy of your time, energy, and gifts. Have you been able to let go of relationships that weren't serving you? To prioritize your energy for relationships with people who are understanding of your health and meet your access needs?

8. Self-advocacy. Self-advocacy requires self-assurance — something that’s difficult to build when you’ve been consistently dismissed by the medical establishment. Have you increased your ability to advocate for yourself at medical appointments, at work or school, with friends and family?

9. Accommodating yourself. Those of us with chronic health conditions often need accommodations from others because the systems and environments we inhabit weren’t built for people like us. But are you able to accommodate yourself? Do you take the as-needed medication on hard days? Do you use the mobility aid, or the shower chair?

10. Prioritizing joy. Life is meant to be joyful — not all the time, but regularly. Little moments of joy are possible within a larger time period of hardship. Do you allow yourself to experience joy through the pain? Do you recognize that joy is necessary, not a luxury?

you are as you are

If you haven’t made progress in these areas either, that’s ok. Maybe choose one or two that feel particularly relevant to focus on and see if you notice any changes in your physical and mental wellbeing.

This list is also not meant to imply that you constantly need to be growing. You are allowed to be content with where you are. I just know how those of us with chronic conditions can get stuck in our lack of progress with symptom improvement, and the physical toll that can take. Shifting focus to other areas of growth has been a useful perspective for me, and I hope it will be for you as well.

reflection for you: which of these 10 ways to measure progress have you already seen growth? which would you like to focus on moving forward?

I’d love to hear your reflections.

this post was an expanded version of an Instagram reel. watch it here.

Want to work with me 1-on-1? I specialize in supporting you to live in harmony with your body, embrace your authentic self, access daily joy, and cultivate deep self-trust

send an email to chronicallythinkingphd@gmail.com with questions. Or book a 15-min consult call here.

Want to find me other places?

on instagram; buy me a tea; talia’s lists of helpful things; meditate with me on aura health

Some previous posts you may enjoy:

you can be nice to yourself during a flare; on “worthy” time while sick; i cried when the dentist said my teeth looked great; i’m done shaming myself for ordering food delivery