Tips to help you find a brighter future

Individuals with chronic illness and pain can suffer emotionally, in addition to physically. The emotional impact can range from frustration to anger, to grief, to feeling emotionally numb and shut down, to sadness and even clinical depression. Chronic illness also affects a person’s ability to work, maintain strong social connections, and be active. Likewise, loss of financial independence can cause stress and create emotional problems.

The Emotional Impact Is Often Overlooked

Patients and their doctors often overlook emotional aspects of a chronic illness under the assumption that difficult feelings are normal for someone struggling with a chronic illness, according to data published in the Western Journal of Medicine. Further, the symptoms of depression such as fatigue, poor appetite, persistent aches and pains, impaired concentration and sleeping difficulties go unnoticed because they are also common characteristics of people who have chronic diseases.

Depression happens to be one of the most common problems in people living with chronic illness. This is because chronically ill patients struggle to meet the demands of their illnesses as well as their treatments. The necessity to do so is stressful and affects emotional health, often to a high degree.

For most patients, some healthy grieving is normal and it includes periods of anger, shock, numbness, and even emotional pain. Nonetheless, engaging in grieving is essential so emotional pain does not become destructive. The grieving timetable is different for everyone, and changes in health may provoke additional periods of mourning. Patients should watch for the symptoms of depression and seek professional help when necessary.

How to Respond

One of the biggest fears for people living with chronic illness is what the future will look like. While you cannot predict the future, you can still care for your emotional health and be confident and hopeful. Here are some ways to help you respond positively to the emotional impact of chronic illness.

Educate Yourself. Knowledge is power, and educating yourself is the best way to take charge of your health. With vital information, you know your health choices and you can make good, sound decisions.

Assess Your Resources. Chronic illness affects finances, health insurance, and life at home and on the job. Find out what resources are out there to help you manage your disease successfully, such as support groups, educational seminars, and reading materials.

Manage Symptoms. Always follow through on treatments and be open to alternative therapies to help manage symptoms, such as exercise programs and physical therapy. Also, be careful and aware of how much pain medication you’re taking, regardless of whether it is narcotic or over-the-counter.

Ask For and Offer Help. Communicate needs to family and friends. Ask for and accept help. Join a support group to connect with others struggling with the same disease. Be open to sharing your gifts and abilities with others.

Re-Examine Your Life. Evaluate what is important in your life right now. Determine where your time and energy should go and decide what supports your emotional health.

Set New Goals. Chronic illness may have required you to change dreams or plans, but it does not mean life is over. Create structure through realistic goals to remind you that life still has purpose.

Find New Interests. Just because you have to give up some favorite activities doesn’t mean that you cannot still enjoy life. Find new interests to keep you laughing and smiling.

Identify Stressors. Find out what life stressors trigger symptoms. Also, be aware of your body’s limits so that you can avoid and minimize overexertion and flare-ups.

Rebuild Confidence. Chronic illness has a way of bringing us down, so it is important to acknowledge successes instead of failures. Think about all the things you are still able to do and forget about the things you can’t.

Change Negative Thinking. By changing negative thinking, you shift your attention to positive outcomes and keep your mind off pain and other symptoms. Moreover, positive thinking keeps you motivated, productive and ultimately improves your health.

Let Go. Recognize that your negative attitude and behavior could sabotage any chance of emotional healing. Let go and accept that your life has changed. Redefine your life and find purpose despite illness.

Life is Meaningful

You will gain considerable insight as you learn to cope with the emotional aspects of your disease. Remember to acknowledge how you feel and recognize that good emotional heath requires responding positively. Make the intention that you will work towards a satisfying life where illness does not have to dictate. Believe that you can make it though yet another day and that you are not alone in the challenges you face. Life is in fact meaningful.

For more information on this topic:
5 Ways I Used Chronic Illness to Better My Life
How to Breathe to Release Stress
My Story: Waging a War Against Self-Pity