Eroding Self Confidence & Chronic Illness

Chronic illness can erode confidence in ways that are hard to name. The body that once felt reliable begins to feel unpredictable, and plans that once felt simple now require calculation and backup options. Each canceled commitment and each symptom flare can chip away at the sense of competence that used to come naturally. Over time, self doubt can settle in, shaping how we see our worth, our productivity, and our place in the world. Rebuilding confidence while living with ongoing symptoms often means redefining strength, honoring effort over outcome, and learning to trust ourselves in smaller, steadier ways. Confidence may no longer come from how much we can do in a day, but from how honestly we meet the limits of our bodies and still choose to participate in our lives.

Dr. Jeffrey Bone