Yes. No. I mean – maybe? Well, okay. Have you ever wanted to be able to say "no" without feeling guilty? Without feeling you're letting someone down? Many of us struggle with disappointing anyone with a 'no.' At the same time, those two letters, n-o, can be freeing.

If you’re managing a chronic condition, the ability to say no is a powerful skill that can ultimately give you the gifts of time and energy to dedicate to your health. By trading off doing something you truly don’t have the time to do, you can give yourself more breathing room to stay on top of appointments, treatments, and general self-care. It becomes easier to say “no” with practice.

There are a variety of ways to say no and set boundaries with friends and family with no hard feelings. How do you say “no” to others? Are you direct? Do you provide rain checks?

Here are some conversations about this topic from the community:

“My daughter’s case is so severe she can't even go to school and she has been dealing with this since she was 8.”

"Yesterday, I finally broke down. I can't talk to my husband, my family or friends right now, because I just can't fake it for them right now."

"I want to go fishing or even just sleep...I don't remember my last full night's sleep where pain or itching didn't interfere."

When has saying no been a form of self-care for you?
Share in the comments below or post on myHSteam.