Coping and support
By Mayo Clinic staffLiving with a chronic disease that has no cure can affect your life in a number of ways. To help cope with your condition, you can:
- Find out as much as you can about mixed connective tissue disease. Ask your doctor and other health care team members for assistance in finding reliable resources. The more you know about the disease, the easier it is to understand what's happening to your body.
- Take good care of yourself. Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Exercise to the best of your ability. Find ways to relieve stress, such as meditating or listening to music. Staying healthy may ease your signs and symptoms or help you deal with them better.
- Seek support from others. Social support helps you cope with the stress of mixed connective tissue disease. Ask your doctor about support groups in your area for people with chronic illnesses. Go online to connect with other people living with mixed connective tissue disease. If support groups aren't for you, consider talking to a counselor who works with people with chronic disease.
References
- Bennett RM. Clinical manifestations of mixed connective tissue disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 15, 2009.
- Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec04/ch032/ch032c.html. Accessed Dec. 25, 2009.
- Hoffman RW, et al. Immune pathogenesis of mixed connective tissue disease: A short analytical review. Clinical Immunology. 2008;128:8.
- Bennett RM. Definition and diagnosis of mixed connective tissue disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 15, 2009.

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