Neuromuscular Diseases Site
	Jori Reijonen, Ph.D. BellaOnline's Neuromuscular Diseases Editor

CMT, Grief, and Healing
Under the right circumstances, when I am not fatigued, when I wear orthortic bracing and when the ground level and firm, I walk well. Perhaps a casual observer would not know that I have any difficulties. It turns out, however, that I no longer walk well on the beach.

Developing Resilience
Resilience has been defined by psychologists as the ability to adapt well to the difficulties in our lives including all kinds of adversity and stress. Resilience can help those of us who are coping with significant health challenges such as dealing with neuromuscular disease.

Handling Grief Over Health Losses
When diagnosed with health problems such as neuromuscular disease, people often experience grief. Learn about the five stages of grief and how they apply to grief over health problems.

Journal Writing and Neuromuscular Disease
While the benefits of personal writing have been well documented, some people find it difficult to get started. To help you, I have provided a few journaling prompts about the experience of having a neuromuscular disease to help you begin journaling.

Keeping a Gratitude Journal
As I have dealt with my diagnosis and symptoms of neuromuscular disease over the past few years, sometimes my emotions have given way to worry or despair. When I begin to despair, one of my most useful tools is prayer, often in the form of keeping a gratitude journal.

Maintaining Self-esteem Despite Differences
Maintaining self-esteem despite the physical disabilities and differences caused by neuromuscular disease can enable one to make a difference in the world.

Performance Anxiety and Advocacy
Increasingly, I have opportunitites to speak to others about neuromuscular disease. I sometimes experience performance anxiety before or during my speaking, but have been learning to manage my stage fright.

Resilience and Optimism
Research has shown that people can learn to be resilient, to face adversity well, as my father did after having a stroke. As I face of my own diagnosis of neuromuscular disease, I claim these qualities for myself.

Respecting My Own Physical Limitations
When I fail to respect my physical limitations and rely on my own strength, I can easily over to it, and even hurt myself. When I respect the limitations that neuromuscular disease causes me, I avoid hurting myself, and, ultimately, can accomplish more.

Spiritual Journaling
Recently, much of my journaling has taken the form of spiritual journaling. I have found this to be a valuable practice to help me cope with the neuromuscular disease, remember my many blessings, and strengthen my walk with G-d. Journaling has also been found to have important health benefits.

Stress Expectation and Change
Broadly defined, there are two types of problems. There are problem that can be changed, fixed, improved, or made better, and problems that cannot. Spending time focusing on unfixable problems can become a major source of stress.

Support Groups for Neuromuscular Disease
If you do not yet belong to a support group, I strongly urge you to find a support group in your area. The relationships that you build will help you to live, cope, and maybe even thrive despite neuromuscular disease.

Support Groups for Neuromuscular Disease
If you do not yet belong to a support group, I strongly urge you to find a support group in your area. The relationships that you build will help you to live, cope, and maybe even thrive despite neuromuscular disease.