Lymphland International lymphedema online (LILO)
  • Welcome to lymphland
  • Abc's of lymphedema and other interesting information
  • Abstracts and research 2012
  • Abstracts and research January to June 2011
  • Abstracts and research January to June 2010
  • Abstracts and research July to December 2011
  • Abstracts and research 2009
  • Abstracts and studies July to December 2010
  • Articles on Lymphedema
  • Benzo Drugs for Lymphedema
  • Blog
  • Breathing
  • Breaking news!!!!!!!!
  • Breast and truncal lymphedema
  • Cellulitis and coding for it
  • Clinical Trials on Lymphedema
  • Clothing and shoe resources
  • Compression garments study for treatment of lymphedema
  • Contact me
  • Cost of treating lymphedema
  • Decongestive Breathing Exercises
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • Dentists, Stress and lymphedema
  • Disability Secrets
  • Diseases of the Lymphatic system
  • Diuretics
  • Doctor Chikly
  • Doctors who treat lymphedema
  • Dragon boat racing
  • Emotional aspects of lymphedema
  • Erysipelas
  • Exercises Courtesy of the American Cancer Society
  • Ethnodrama
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Fibrosis
  • filariasis
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Find a therapist
  • Head and neck lymphedema
  • Horse Chestnut
  • Information on Lymphedema, what is it?
  • Kinseo taping
  • Lymph node transfers and transplants
  • Legislation
  • Interesting items
  • Links
  • Links
  • Lipodema
  • Liposuction
  • Lymphedema, Lipedema, and lipolymphedema
  • Lymph machines, lymphstar pro
  • Lymph nodes in the body, pictures
  • Lymph drainage of the arm
  • Lymphedema and air travel
  • Lymphatics
  • Lymphedema and vitamins
  • Lymphedema in the news 2011
  • Lymphedema in the news 2011
  • Lymphedema Treatment Act
  • Lymphland Chat
  • Manual Lymph Drainage Abstracts and Studies
  • Medicaid
  • Medicare Information (some shared by Bob Weiss, LE Advocate)
  • Medications that worsen lymphedema or edema
  • Mission Statement
  • Morgellon's
  • Oscillation therapy
  • Pain Syndromes found in lymphedema (don't let your dr tell you it does not hurt!)
  • Pregnancy and lymphedema
  • Primary Lymphedema
  • Pumps
  • Pycnogenol
  • Radiation and Lymphedema
  • Reducing lymphedema study
  • Risk of breast cancer lymphedema
  • Secondary lymphedema
  • Self Massage techniques
  • Self Esteem
  • Stem Cells for lymphedema
  • Stewart-Treves
  • Support Groups
  • Therapists, Find a therapist
  • Treatments
  • Turner's syndrome
  • UTUBE and Video's about lymphedema
  • Vulvar cancer (and yes it can cause lymphedema)
  • Weight Lifting
  • What is the lymph system
  • Winter and Gardening tips
  • Wounds
  • 2012 lymphedema in the news for January to March
  • 2012 lymphedema in the news for April to June
  • 2012 lymphedema in the news June to August
  • 2011 Lymphedema in the news
  • 2010 Lymphedema in the news
  • 2009 lymphedema in the news
  • In Memory of Julie Frary, Co-owner of Lymphland International Lymphedema Online
  • Memorials to those who died of lymphedema (and treating doctors who died as well)
  • Abstracts 2013
Self-Consciousness, Self-Esteem, and
  Lymphedema

The Impact of Lymphedema
Multiple studies have documented
  the powerful impact of lymphedema on quality of life. A Canadian survey
of women with lymphedema reported that “The women we spoke to feel their
  life, as they knew it, was
changed forever.”  The emotional impact
of  lymphedema can be so powerful that I devoted an entire book
to
the  topic: Overcoming the Emotional Challenges of
  Lymphedema.

Self-Consciousness and Self-Esteem
One of the hardest
  things about lymphedema is that it is often visible to others. This can make
you  very self-
conscious. However, you can decrease
self-consciousness and  protect your self-esteem by deliberately
working with your emotions,  your thoughts, and your
actions.
Emotions:
Foster positive feelings toward  your body. It is,
after all, doing the best it can. Regard your body with
gratitude
and respect for the many ways in which it still functions well.  Have sympathy
for its struggles. Offer
it your loving care. Think of  yourself as
in partnership with your body. 
Thoughts:
Notice thoughts  that reduce
feelings of self-consciousness. Some people find it helpful to tell  themselves
“I
am more than my physical body. I am not my lymphedema.” Focus on
all the other facets of your self that
make you the unique  person
you are. Think about your strengths, your talents, your beliefs and
  values.
Actions:
Move forward with your life. Even though it can be hard,
  don’t withdraw. Don’t avoid people, places,
things, or activities
just  because you aren’t physically perfect.

Handling Others’
Reactions
Strangers may see the swelling or the compression garment or
  wrapping. This raises the question of how you
should respond to
stares  or questions.
Decide in advance what you want to say. Then rehearse
until it  flows smoothly and comfortably.
Here are some examples:
•       
“Thank  you for your concern. It’s nothing to worry about.”
•        “I have
a  swelling condition and this helps control it.”
•        “I have lymphedema
  which is a swelling condition that often happens after cancer treatment. This

garment helps keep the swelling down. Would you like to know
  more?”

Be Your (Best) Self
Other people will respond to your manner,
  and your manner reflects how you perceive yourself. So focus on
those  aspects of yourself that create feelings of pride, confidence,
and comfort.  Stand erect, but relaxed,
with your head up. Make eye
contact with  others. Smile and nod often. Use a confident, friendly voice
tone.
      Let  your best self shine forth. You can be a source of knowledge
and inspiration to  others.

Reason for Hope
Acceptance, courage,
optimism, and  thankfulness are possible and attainable. Here are quotes taking
from
Voices of Lymphedema. Listen to these individuals who, just
like you, live  with lymphedema every day:
?        “I can rise to meet the
challenge.”
?        “I count my blessings every day.”
?        “I find so
many ways around  this…that it doesn’t seem that big a deal anymore.”
?      
  “I am better,  stronger and more resilient than I ever was before.”

In
Conclusion
As  Helen Keller once wrote, “Although the world is full of
suffering, it is full  also of the overcoming of it.”
Take good care
of yourself.

For  More Information:
These books are available through
www.Amazon.com,
www.BarnesandNoble.com,
or can be ordered by
your  local bookstore.
Living Well With
Lymphedema – Ehrlich, Vinje-Harrewijn, & McMahon. San Francisco: Lymph
Notes,
2005.
Overcoming the  Emotional Challenges of Lymphedema –
McMahon. San Francisco: Lymph Notes,  2006.
Voices of Lymphedema – (Eds.)
Ehrlich & McMahon. San Francisco:  Lymph Notes, 2007.
Lymphedema
Caregiver’s Guide: Arranging and Home Care – Kearse, McMahon, & Ehrlich. San

Francisco: Lymph Notes,  2009.

May, 2011        Elizabeth
McMahon, PhD

Author Bio:
Dr  McMahon (www.elizabeth-mcmahon.com)
works as a clinical psychologist in  California and has over 30
years experience helping patients, many with  chronic medical
conditions. She became interested in
lymphedema after a  family
member developed the condition. She serves on the editorial advisory  board of

www.LymphNotes.com, an online information resource and support
  group for persons with lymphedema,
their family and friends, and
for  lymphedema therapists.
In addition to lymphedema-related topics, she
writes  and speaks on decreasing anxiety, preventing burnout,
overcoming life  challenges, and increasing personal happiness.
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