Just living life is a challenge for many people living with chronic long-term health conditions. So adding exercise into the mix can often feel, not just hard, but near impossible.
Fatigue, pain, restricted mobility and side effects from meditation can stop people from doing physical activity in their daily lives.
Our research shows that almost half of people living with a long-term health condition, or a disability, said it stopped them from doing more physical activity in a typical week.
We know that moving our bodies regularly can support good mental health and wellbeing so we hope these stories inspire others to try taking #MomentsforMovement this Mental Health Awareness Week – and beyond.
Dave's story
Dave talks about how living with chronic arthritis and other health conditions affects his mental health – and how cold-water therapy and short walks, when he can, help him cope.
“It’s good to get the body moving. It’s an achievement. It might not be a big achievement for some people, but it is for me. Simply by being able to do it.”
Christina's story
Christina talks about how living with Type 1 Diabetes, and seven other auto-immune conditions, makes exercise difficult – but how essential it is to support her mental and physical health.
“Even though it’s hard sometimes, and I maybe end up hypo (low blood sugars), and occasionally crying in the kitchen eating jelly babies, I think not moving would make things worse, both mentally and physically.”
Photo: Versus Arthritis
Find your moments for movement
Mental Health Awareness Week
Join us 13-19 May! This year's theme is Movement: Moving more for our mental health. Find out more and get involved.
Find out more