A Chronic Illness Without a Universal Treatment


The Canadian government website says, “There’s no universally agreed-upon approach to diagnose and treat post-COVID-19 condition.”(3) The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention adds that symptoms are not explained by tests, making them difficult to manage.(4)

Beyond the pandemic, it is clear that COVID-19 is a chronic health problem long after recovery. But if there is no universal approach to allow patients to feel seen and heard, what can they do?

Having studied neuroscience and physiological psychology, Steve Mann empowers people and families impacted by chronic illness, depression, and life challenges. He teaches others how to manage day-to-day and find ways to unravel some of the long-term habits that can play into a person’s health experience.

Mann coaches people through facing their trauma, depression, feelings of helplessness, low self-esteem, and lack of control. While he has personally lived with a chronic illness for 50 years (Type 1 diabetes), he has also experienced many of the challenges, struggles, and self-doubt that his clients face. He has helped clients with chronic issues, such as heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, kidney disease, pain, fibromyalgia, brain injury, and endometriosis.

“Four things are needed to improve your life with a chronic illness,” explains Mann.

1. Self-care: find behaviors that work for you to help improve your spirit and your health. These might include going for a walk, talking to a friend, and finding an activity that helps you feel better mentally.

2. Know your body and its limitations. Learn as much as you can about your condition. The more you know, the better you can decide what actions might work for you.

3. Develop a plan that will lead you to a better quality of life. The most difficult step is to condition yourself to take deliberate action to change behavior and work towards optimum health. This might involve scheduling a walk on a specific time on a specific day. An accountability partner can help you to follow through.

4. Find a supportive community that understands your journey. The Internet has the community you are looking for. It might be on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, or there might be a group that meets in your local neighborhood. When you find the people who know what you’re going through, you are no longer alone.

When our health transforms, so does everything else: our relationships, our perception of time, careers, and most importantly, ourselves.

“You are not a passive observer of your health but the person most responsible for it,” adds Mann.

Those who live with chronic conditions must be at the center of their health and wellness journey. Despite what healthcare services people have access to, individuals can learn to better manage their chronic condition from a position of presence and calm.

Steve Mann is the founder of Mann Life and Health. He is also a CMO at Chief Outsiders and studied neuroscience at Graduate Center, CUNY studied experimental psychology at New York University and psychology at Emory University in Atlanta GA. and is also a member of the International Coaching Federation.

(1) https://abcnews.go.com/Health/american-adults-covid-long-haul-symptoms-data-shows/story?id=85569861

(2) https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20211118/millions-worldwide-long-covid-study

(3) https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/health-professionals/post-covid-19-condition.html

(4) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html

https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-providers/civil-rights-covid19/guidance-long-covid-disability/index.html#footnote10_0ac8mdc

https://www.chroniclife.co/

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