7 ways to build the support system you need to cope with lupus

Whether you have lupus or are a caregiver to someone with lupus, a strong support network is critical to maintaining optimal health and keeping the normal stresses of life in check. Just as it takes a medical team to manage lupus, living well with lupus requires a team of people who offer support — emotional, physical and spiritual.

We offer seven steps to help you build and grow your social support network. Once your network is in place, you’ll find it to be invaluable day to day and through the years.

Seven Steps to Building Your Network

1. Know the dangers of isolation

It’s easy to be overwhelmed when you’re managing a chronic disease like lupus, or when caring for someone else. This is when it’s most important to reach out to your support network. The dangers of isolation may start small, but a lack of interaction with others can negatively affect your health and well-being over time.

Spending time alone is not the same as being isolated. Alone time is sometimes a good thing. Being isolated, however, is not.

Francine Rosenberg, Psy.D., of the Morris Psychological Group in New Jersey tells us that "People who have more social support tend to fare better both physically and emotionally. It's important for people to express that they have been feeling really lonely or unsupported."

A chronic illness like lupus can be isolating for many reasons. You can become isolated if you don't understand or know anyone else who has the disease. You can also feel isolated if you have always been healthy until lupus developed. This can affect your social life, work or even school. 

Being assured that you are a valuable member of society and that you matter to the people in your life will help you feel more secure. Using daily positive affirmations can help, too. One of the affirmations people with chronic illnesses often state is:

"I have this disease, but it doesn't have me."

2. Reach out

Research shows that getting the help you need (known as “perceived social support”) improves your quality of life, whether you have lupus or you’re a caregiver. A strong support team will have people who can help in different ways. However, it’s not necessary, or likely, that everyone in your support network can meet all of your needs. The important thing is that you can count on these people when you need them.

The individuals who make up your support network can include:

• Family members: A lupus diagnosis affects the whole family. You may find that cousins, aunts, uncles, siblings and your spouse will empathize and naturally step up into the role of supporter.
• Neighbors: People in your neighborhood often can provide a home-cooked meal during a stressful time, or they can simply be a nearby source of comfort.
• Coworkers: The people you work with can help by being empathetic about your situation. You may need to telecommute, take a leave of absence or use flex time, which will require the cooperation and support of your colleagues.
• Lupus support group members: People in this network have knowledge about lupus and can offer strategies and suggestions based on their experience.
• Medical team: If you're a caregiver, your loved one's providers and office staff, social workers, and other professionals will probably understand what you are going through and can be supportive of your caregiving role.
• Therapist or counselor: It's important that you have an outlet for your emotions. Check to see if mental health services are included in your employer's health coverage. If not, look for free services in your community.
• Teachers and school instructors: When you are caring for a child with lupus, keep his or her teachers informed and let them know how they can help.

3. Set up several types of support

“The first part of putting together your support network is really identifying what you need,” says Dr. Rosenberg. “Define what you think will fill that void, and explore all the different opportunities that may be available.”

Know the different types of support to rely on.

4. Ask

By asking for help, it may feel like you are giving up your independence, but most people want to help. Although they may not completely understand what you’re going through, they want to be supportive. It is important to understand how to make your needs known to people who can assist you. Learning to ask for help, and learning to accept help that is offered, will get easier over time.

Dr. Rosenberg explains that "Not everybody has the skills to seek out support, especially if you’re a little socially shy. If it feels awkward to make a request, it may require practice initiating certain conversations."

Knowing what you need help with, and having a list of people you think would be good matches for those roles, will make each 'ask' much easier. Next to people’s names, put their strengths: what they like to do and what they do well.

Tap into people's skills. For example, if your co-worker is a whiz at finding bargains, ask her to help you with your holiday gift list. Give her some gift ideas and a budget for each person, and make sure it’s okay to reimburse her later.

Be specific with your request. Does your best friend love to cook? She may be thrilled to try out some new recipes on you! Being specific is more effective. Say, “Would you be able to make a casserole for our family supper this Friday?” instead of, “Could you cook something for me sometime?”

Try arranging a barter exchange. Perhaps you can babysit for a family member in exchange for help with insurance paperwork, or organize closets in exchange for yard work. Think creatively!

5. Connect

Dr. Chakravarty suggests, "When you connect with others, you’re thinking and talking about something that’s not your health. I’m not saying to completely ignore that, but we don’t want it to consume your whole life. We want you to think of yourself as a person who happens to have lupus, rather than that your whole existence is as a lupus patient.”

You can get started by getting connected with LupusConnect!

LupusConnect is a online community launched
by the Lupus Foundation of America that provides people with lupus and their loved ones a safe and understanding space to share experiences, find emotional support, and discuss ways to manage the disease. Start connecting at LupusConnect.Inspire.com.

Former Lupus Foundation of America CEO, Sandra Raymond tells us that "No matter how isolated lupus can make people feel, LupusConnect offers people the opportunity to express their fears, frustrations, and hopes with others who understand lupus firsthand.”

6. Share

You’ll probably find that you share different aspects of what you’re going through with different people. That’s why it’s so helpful to have a variety of people to talk with and places where you can speak and be heard.

People’s emotions are very complicated when they’re dealing with chronic illness. Regular meetings with an objective person, such as a trained counselor or therapist, can be very helpful. You may also want to engage with people who understand lupus and know what you’re going through.

Dr. Chakravarty recommends, "Over time with any given relationship within your support system, you gradually increase the amount that you share.”

7. Volunteer

Volunteerism offers social support benefits because helping others can make you feel better about life in general. One good option is volunteering for a Lupus Foundation of America chapter or a support group.

Think about the social causes you are passionate about and the skills you have to offer. Check out an organization’s website for volunteer opportunities, or call the local office and ask how you can help.

"There is research to support that helping others who have a similar problem that you have is very validating,” Dr. Rosenberg tells us.

Above all, remember: A strong social support network will help you to stay connected — with family, with friends, with community.

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