Don’t just wait for help to be offered, but ask for it.
Many times people are willing to do something, but they don’t know what you need, so they bring flowers or don’t do anything. Tell them if you could use a home-cooked meal, or a ride to the doctor’s office, or a night of babysitting so you can go to the movies.
Also, utilize professional options. Many are free, offered by hospitals, organized by groups like your local scleroderma chapter. Ask your doctor; also often nurses, social workers and support staffs are the experts in this area.
Attend support groups - research shows that these are the single best thing to do for emotional distress and isolation.
There are professional therapists - ask people for referrals, and don’t necessarily stop with the first one you see - look for a good match
And don’t forget school psychologists, etc. for children’s problems
