Being diagnosed with a chronic illness such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia diabetes, cancer or arthritis can come as quite a shock. But don’t fret It’s normal to experience a range of varied emotions in the wake of such a diagnosis. I assure you, you can learn to manage these feelings to live a fulfilling life despite your chronic illness.
Distress is a common symptom within a chronic illness diagnosis. When first getting diagnosed you will be distressed and find it hard to focus on one set thing But you need to remember your only human and it’s okay to feel this way even if it doesn’t feel like it. Research shows that a number of people who are experiencing stress in there lives before diagnosis, and those with a history of depression, may be at particular risk of psychological distress when they learn they have a chronic illness. This may be hard to disgust but It’s Okay to feel this way after your diagnosis.
Section 2: Digesting the news;
Digesting the news of your disease can bring to you a flood of emotions. A diagnosis of fibromyalgia, for example, is often associated with feelings of guilt and shame. Grief is another common reaction to chronic illness and again remember that it’s perfectly normal. You may even experience various stages of grief including denial, anger and sadness. You may feel like you’re on a roller coaster of emotions and you will be accepting to your illness one day, and then angry the next but this is ok! It may be helpful to remind yourself that these feelings are normal, and will ease with time. It’s all about coping and learning and to manage these Symptoms to keep them at bay.
Section 3: Coping strategies for chronic Illness:
• Some days you may be tempted to pretend you never received your diagnosis. However, facing your diagnosis head on is the best way to cope. You can’t block it out even though it may seem like the easier choice because all that does is add more stress and pressure and that aggravates your body causing more pain and anxiety.
•on days where you feel the increase of stress and pressure do things that are more likely to keep you calm, invest in yoga or meditation videos, or listen to soothing music (even if this means it’s nirvana 😂) anything that can help your mental health will help keep your illness at bay too.
•Remember that if you need to sleep because chronic fatigue is getting you down, it’s okay to go off and sleep for a bit. No one will judge you, your body needs additional sleep and resting will help restore your energy for the next day.
• telling people about your diagnosis may be hard and I know it’s easier to avoid it at all costs but telling people will be beneficial for you because then they will know when to help you, if and when you have a bad day
Section 4 : facing the illness head on
How can you face your illness head on? Well good question: A great place to start is by writing down all of your questions and queries in a journal and taking them to your physician to discuss. Ask your doctor what specific steps you can take to help your health. Accurate knowledge can help you feel empowered and put your mind at ease. I for one did this when I was first diagnosed with IBS and it really does help! And it also helps to make sure that you haven’t left anything out when you are talking to your doctor because sometimes your mind goes blank and you come out the appointment without saying any of the things you wanted too.
Section 5: Managing the Elements of your life within reach:
try to manage the certain elements in your life that are within your reach. You may not be able to control everything and I completely understand that, but you can choose to eat healthy meals, take medications as prescribed and spend less time with people who aren’t supportive of you.
Section 6 : Finding support for your illness :
Decrease stress by letting go of unnecessary obligations. You may be able to take time off from said commitments, for instance, or ask for more help from family members and friends. You can Build a strong support network you can rely on, and communicate with them about how they can help you manage your disease.
Section 7 : stress within the family
Illness can be stressful at the best of times but even more when an entire family is involved. It’s not unusual for couples or family members to experience strain on their relationship. Try to see things from the other’s perspective and keep the lines of communication open. If you have children, plan for some alone time with your partner. Also encourage your partner to make time to care for himself or herself, especially if he or she is your primary caregiver.
Section 8: Facing a life-threatening diagnosis :
Being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease is most likely to trigger feelings of fear and grief and it is important to surround yourself with positive and supportive people. Try to find small things that you can enjoy every day, and set realistic short-term goals for yourself. Even small goals such as a visit to park with the dog or the museum with your mum, or a phone call with a close friend or relative can help you make the most of each day.
Section 9: Seeking help :
As you go through the roller coaster of emotions that is your medical diagnosis, remember that professionals can help in the places where you can’t. If you’d like professional help coming to terms with your diagnosis and managing your mental health/ chronic illness you need to be open and ask for it.
And lastly if it’s just a friendly face you need or a chat I will always be here and you can contact at me on my twitter @heyitschloejade via DMs and I will be here if need be to answer any questions you have or even if you just want to rant and rave 😘
Thanks for reading, come back soon 🙂
heyitschloejade 