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National Ministry Reaches Out To Chronically IllNATIONAL MINISTRY REACHES OUT TO CHRONICALLY ILLNational Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week September 23-29, 2002 http://www.invisibleillness.com CONTACT: Ms. Lisa Copen, founder & director of Rest Ministries 858-486-4685 · toll-free 888-751-REST (7378) web site: http://www.invisibleillness.com email: rest@restministries.org NATIONAL MINISTRY REACHES OUT TO CHRONICALLY ILL San Diego, CA, U.S.A. (August, 2002) More than 1 in 3 Americans have a chronic condition, and despite what we may assume, 60% of those who live with daily illness or pain are between the ages of 18 and 64. The majority of chronic illness is invisible, including the 9 million people who are cancer survivors that suffer the side effects of cancer treatment. September 23-29, 2002 is National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week. The theme is "But You Look So Good!" It is a major public awareness campaign sponsored by Rest Ministries, an organization that offers a Christian support environment for those who live with chronic illness or pain. "Living with an illness that is invisible to those around us can often have a more devastating affect on our emotional health than the physical pain," explains Lisa Copen, 33, founder of Rest Ministries who lives with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. "Friends and family of those with chronic illness care a great deal about what their loved ones are going through, but oftentimes the invisibility of the illness sets up an environment for misunderstandings and even doubt about the validity of the illness. We hope to increase awareness of how many people 'look great' but are hurting deeply." Outreach includes various events: the distribution of literature, "When a Friend Has a Chronic Illness: What to Say, How to Help." Resources include "But You Look So Good: A Guide to Understanding and Encouraging People With Chronic, Debilitating Illness and Pain." Churches across the U.S. will be participating by having various testimonies shared about living with illness. Special chat guests will be online. For a complete list of events and resources visit www.invisibleillness.com or call 888-751-7378. "The feeling of knowing that one's illness and pain is acknowledged can have a great impact on how a person copes with living with illness," says Copen. "We hope that by recognizing people with illness rarely feel as good as they look, they will begin to feel better understood, leading them to a more invigorating life!" ###
Do you feel like you are attached to your weight? Do you yell at yourself for overeating? Do you rationalize by saying, "Yes, but I LOVE to eat!" Wouldn't you say that is a roadblock to slimming down? Well, here is an exercise that might help. Think of the most recent time you had a major roadblock in your ability to slim down. Visualize this experience somewhere outside yourself. In oth. . .
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