Readjusting to chronic illness

[Guest guest]

Another blast from the past-- our dear Debbie wrote this one, and

it's worth sharing again.

Debbie wrote this, and I feel it is important. Re-adjusting to a

chronic or

possibly progressive illness isn't like doing a bit of physio and

wearing a

knee brace, it's about reinventing yourself a new life.

It includes grieving the loss of your old life, worry about the

future of

your new life, not to mention the fact that you have to accept that

this is

happening...

This is a very serious topic and a very good point. We lose much to

this

illness, but sometimes we forget to start over again. Where are you

at? (And

yes of course you can be at multiple places at once!)

Love Aisha

EMOTIONS SURROUNDING CHRONIC DISEASE

CONCERN: created when an illness lingers and medical professionals are

unable to find the etilogy (cause) of the problem.

FEAR: caused due to uncertainties-could be an undetected illness that

has

not fully manifested itself.

DENIAL: an attempt to deny the chronic disease and " live our life " ,

soon to

realize that the body is controlled by something out of their control.

TEMPORARY RELIEF: established when all other illnesses are negative.

When a

diagnosis is given for a chronic disease, there is " temporary relief "

in

having a name for the illness-then reality sets in that a " name " does

not

cure the illness.

FRUSTRATION: due to the patient's feeling that their body has somehow

let

them down. This can result in jealousy or envy in others. The patient

cannot do what the person helping them is doing. They don't want the

person

helping to be ill, but instead wish they were well enough to handle

the task

Society tends to dictate that if you try a little harder, endure,

etc.,

you can do anything-but chronic disease becomes the " master " .

UNFAIRNESS: results when the patient feels something has been taken

away-

being cheated of going on with their life " . Sometimes this emotion can

create a sense of " worthlessness. "

ANGER: sometimes directed at doctors who have told the patient " it's

all in

your head " . Anger often results when patients spend thousands of

dollars

seeing many different doctors. Sometimes anger becomes so severe the

patient can appear belligerent. This emotion emerges when the media,

public

medical professionals, friends and loved ones lack understanding of

chronic

disease. Too often, society demands visual evidence of affliction

before it

can be valid-but too often forgets that some illnesses often have no

physical signs until it is too late.

LOSS OF PERSONAL CONTROL: a very difficult emotion-we realize we have

very

little control over the rest of the world, but we find comfort in

feeling we

have control within ourselves. Chronic disease tends to become the

authority " of the patient, showing no respect for the body it resides

in.

DEVASTATION: created because of, not only emotional aspects of the

illness,

but also financial loss if a patient becomes disabled and cannot

work. All

of us have certain aspirations, but chronic disease often times will

destroy

those plans-reminding the patient they are very limited.

HOPELESSNESS: some patients may feel like suicide is their only

alternative.

Many have pre-existing psychological factors that were involved before

getting the chronic disease. Treatment with a counselor familiar with

chronic disease can help patients deal with this emotion.

MOURNING: the realization that the patients life never will be the

same. A

loss " is suffered personally, but many times friends and loved ones

tend not

to understand the illness, or loss of a once energetic person, and the

closeness with friends and family can diminish or disappear. Shattered

dreams are hard to lose-a long awaited promotion, career, marriage,

family,

home, car, schooling, vacation, etc.

HUMBLING: the illness can tear at every emotion until it " humbles " the

patient-regardless of economic or social status, patients share a

certain

camaraderie with other chronically ill patients. People with chronic

disease

are given a new perspective to life with the realization that we are

truly

dependent upon our health.

LEARNING TO COPE: this comes only after knowledge that the medical

community

does not have the " answer " for all or many chronic diseases. Patients

must

reach within their beings and find the tools to live with their

illnesses.

They can do that with the help of others like support groups,

educational

materials, relying on loved ones, family and friends. Their own

physician

can be a " partner " in their health care.

ACCEPTANCE: this emotion goes hand in hand with coping. Once patients

learn

to accept their chronic disease-they tend to find ways to conserve

what

energy they do have, and spend it wisely each day. They find ways to

eliminate stress and prioritize-and accept that some things may never

get

done but life still proceeds in spite of it. With acceptance, each

patient tends to find strength they did not realize was there.

HOPE: even though " coping " and " acceptance " allow patients to adjust

to

chronic disease and still enjoy life, each patient, deep within,

desires

that medical science will find a cure, prevention and/or treatment.

Some

patients depend on this emotion more then others.

UNDERSTANDING: this emotion is the greatest " gift " those not

afflicted with a

chronic disease, can give the patients. Patients are burdened enough

living

with a chronic disease without having to convince others that this is

a physical

illness. " Two truly are stronger than one, " and through

understanding, maybe we

can help patients endure all the aspects of their illness lest we

forget that

" people need people. " Some people say, there is always light at the

end of the

tunnel. I agree, but in the tunnel of a chronic disease you scrape,

climb and

even dig. Sometimes you think you found the end, but alas, you just

find a dead

end. There are streaks of light coming in, called hope. That is what

keeps you

going. The end of the tunnel is, understanding, and of course, a cure.

[Guest guest]

Another blast from the past-- our dear Debbie wrote this one, and

it's worth sharing again.

Debbie wrote this, and I feel it is important. Re-adjusting to a

chronic or

possibly progressive illness isn't like doing a bit of physio and

wearing a

knee brace, it's about reinventing yourself a new life.

It includes grieving the loss of your old life, worry about the

future of

your new life, not to mention the fact that you have to accept that

this is

happening...

This is a very serious topic and a very good point. We lose much to

this

illness, but sometimes we forget to start over again. Where are you

at? (And

yes of course you can be at multiple places at once!)

Love Aisha

EMOTIONS SURROUNDING CHRONIC DISEASE

CONCERN: created when an illness lingers and medical professionals are

unable to find the etilogy (cause) of the problem.

FEAR: caused due to uncertainties-could be an undetected illness that

has

not fully manifested itself.

DENIAL: an attempt to deny the chronic disease and " live our life " ,

soon to

realize that the body is controlled by something out of their control.

TEMPORARY RELIEF: established when all other illnesses are negative.

When a

diagnosis is given for a chronic disease, there is " temporary relief "

in

having a name for the illness-then reality sets in that a " name " does

not

cure the illness.

FRUSTRATION: due to the patient's feeling that their body has somehow

let

them down. This can result in jealousy or envy in others. The patient

cannot do what the person helping them is doing. They don't want the

person

helping to be ill, but instead wish they were well enough to handle

the task

Society tends to dictate that if you try a little harder, endure,

etc.,

you can do anything-but chronic disease becomes the " master " .

UNFAIRNESS: results when the patient feels something has been taken

away-

being cheated of going on with their life " . Sometimes this emotion can

create a sense of " worthlessness. "

ANGER: sometimes directed at doctors who have told the patient " it's

all in

your head " . Anger often results when patients spend thousands of

dollars

seeing many different doctors. Sometimes anger becomes so severe the

patient can appear belligerent. This emotion emerges when the media,

public

medical professionals, friends and loved ones lack understanding of

chronic

disease. Too often, society demands visual evidence of affliction

before it

can be valid-but too often forgets that some illnesses often have no

physical signs until it is too late.

LOSS OF PERSONAL CONTROL: a very difficult emotion-we realize we have

very

little control over the rest of the world, but we find comfort in

feeling we

have control within ourselves. Chronic disease tends to become the

authority " of the patient, showing no respect for the body it resides

in.

DEVASTATION: created because of, not only emotional aspects of the

illness,

but also financial loss if a patient becomes disabled and cannot

work. All

of us have certain aspirations, but chronic disease often times will

destroy

those plans-reminding the patient they are very limited.

HOPELESSNESS: some patients may feel like suicide is their only

alternative.

Many have pre-existing psychological factors that were involved before

getting the chronic disease. Treatment with a counselor familiar with

chronic disease can help patients deal with this emotion.

MOURNING: the realization that the patients life never will be the

same. A

loss " is suffered personally, but many times friends and loved ones

tend not

to understand the illness, or loss of a once energetic person, and the

closeness with friends and family can diminish or disappear. Shattered

dreams are hard to lose-a long awaited promotion, career, marriage,

family,

home, car, schooling, vacation, etc.

HUMBLING: the illness can tear at every emotion until it " humbles " the

patient-regardless of economic or social status, patients share a

certain

camaraderie with other chronically ill patients. People with chronic

disease

are given a new perspective to life with the realization that we are

truly

dependent upon our health.

LEARNING TO COPE: this comes only after knowledge that the medical

community

does not have the " answer " for all or many chronic diseases. Patients

must

reach within their beings and find the tools to live with their

illnesses.

They can do that with the help of others like support groups,

educational

materials, relying on loved ones, family and friends. Their own

physician

can be a " partner " in their health care.

ACCEPTANCE: this emotion goes hand in hand with coping. Once patients

learn

to accept their chronic disease-they tend to find ways to conserve

what

energy they do have, and spend it wisely each day. They find ways to

eliminate stress and prioritize-and accept that some things may never

get

done but life still proceeds in spite of it. With acceptance, each

patient tends to find strength they did not realize was there.

HOPE: even though " coping " and " acceptance " allow patients to adjust

to

chronic disease and still enjoy life, each patient, deep within,

desires

that medical science will find a cure, prevention and/or treatment.

Some

patients depend on this emotion more then others.

UNDERSTANDING: this emotion is the greatest " gift " those not

afflicted with a

chronic disease, can give the patients. Patients are burdened enough

living

with a chronic disease without having to convince others that this is

a physical

illness. " Two truly are stronger than one, " and through

understanding, maybe we

can help patients endure all the aspects of their illness lest we

forget that

" people need people. " Some people say, there is always light at the

end of the

tunnel. I agree, but in the tunnel of a chronic disease you scrape,

climb and

even dig. Sometimes you think you found the end, but alas, you just

find a dead

end. There are streaks of light coming in, called hope. That is what

keeps you

going. The end of the tunnel is, understanding, and of course, a cure.