Table 4. Patients’ free-text responses to questions about their resources for coping with the disease (translated into English by the authors).

Category	Example responses	n
Exchange with other people affected	“A Facebook group where someone is always willing to listen” “Forums, Facebook groups, other affected people” “Self-help group”	9
Hobbies	“Pets” “My dog…I walk him for hours” “Creative design”	9
Acceptance	“Don’t work against the disease…accept that it’s there”	8
Distraction	“As far as possible, try not to take the disease too seriously… distract yourself…enjoy life now” “Don’t concern yourself with it too much” “Distraction through my profession”	7
Integration of the disease in everyday life	“Integrate into everyday life” “Good, well-tolerated nutrition” “Integration in day-to-day life”	3
Professional support	“Psychological support, alternative medicine” “Rehabilitation”	2
Positive attitude	“I’m in charge of my life and the disease isn’t” “View the situation positively & don’t let it bring you down”	2
Information search	“Studies and research give hope that there’ll be new knowledge/treatment methods.” “The knowledge how I got the disease and how I can deal with it.”	2
Miscellaneous	“Things that make me happy” “Trust in my physician”	2