Coping with Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)

- Short description
1. MCTD Diagnosis: this can be a very difficult life-changing process in the life of an individual, especially if they’re young. Lets reflect on that.
2. The most common effects of chronic disease in psychological adjustment, in daily life.
3. Process of accepting the disease, and understand how to live with it. Discuss stages and coping strategies.
4. Coping with MCTD : Strategies to face all the changes that these diseases can cause to the patients lives and their bodies too. Reflect on important psychological and social consequences that demand significant psychological adjustment.
5. How to make plans and adjustments for the future ? What about our dreams?
6. Patient perspective living with MCTD, one story, so many stories. Testimony: epag Vera
All resources and more info about MCTD can be found here: reconnet.ern-net.eu/disease-mctd/
Speakers are:
- Ilaria Bini, psychologist . At 21 years old she had the diagnosis of UCTD (with arthritis and sjogren symptoms). From 2017, she start to collaborate with various Italian associations to raise awareness abouts rmds, and since 2020 she collaborates with EULAR YOUNG PARE, before as group member and then, from 2022, as group leader. She is a psychologist and she works with chronic pain, autisms and neurodivergences, immigration, LGBTQAI+. She is doing a specialization in Psychotherapy.
- ePAG. Vera Guimarães is a MCTD patient since 28 years old. Mother of 2. Psychologist in oncology and Palliative Care. ePAG of MCTD in ERN ReCONNET, Patient Research Partner, member of Portuguese League against Rheumatism (LPCDR).