My support

Managing your psoriasis is not something you should have to do alone. Your health-care team will play an important supportive role, will understand what you have to deal with, and may even be able to anticipate your needs.

However, in your daily life, especially if the challenges of your symptoms increase, or your energy levels wane, you will need to turn to certain people in your life for help. Family, friends, your partner—no matter who it is, you’ll need to help them understand exactly what you are going through and how they can help. Preparing your family and friends for what may challenge you in the future is a smart way to help set up an effective support network, regardless of whether your psoriasis is mild, moderate or severe.

Preparing your support team

The following are some ways you can help those people you turn to for support to be able to help you more effectively when you need it most:

• Ask your family and friends to learn more about psoriasis—and psoriatic arthritis if you have it. The better they understand your symptoms, the better they can help out when your symptoms flare.
• Let them know that even during remission, you may need support to follow your treatment plan to help keep your skin condition under control.
• Prepare for flares by including your caregivers in a plan for times when you need more help.
• Gently remind the “over-caregiver” (the person who tends to every need and gives you little breathing space) that you can take care of yourself most of the time. Support is not the same as “babying”—in fact, let them know that you would like to do things for them for a change when you are able.
• Re-evaluate household responsibilities or create new ways of doing things to allow for a fair distribution of chores. Regular family meetings can really help.
• Don’t let holiday traditions and family customs become sources of stress. Plan ahead to allow for your reduced contribution if your symptoms return during one of these occasions, and make sure you preserve your energy to get the most out of these special times.
• Plan family outings or vacations with an eye on flexibility and convenience.
• Consider a professional family counsellor or social worker when family conflicts cannot be resolved and before the situation gets worse.
• Practise active listening to help keep your relationships with your caregivers as open and honest as possible.