The term chronic illness can refer to a wide variety of health issues, some of which are more serious than others. It tends to be used to describe conditions that persist for more than a year and require ongoing medical attention or that limit the activities of the patient. For most people, living with a chronic medical illness can be a considerable barrier to living a full, active and enjoyable life. For many patients, the psychological effect of living with their condition can be just as difficult to manage as the medical illness itself. Depression is one of the most common complications of living with chronic illness, followed by some other similar, sometimes co-morbid conditions. This includes anxiety, agoraphobia, personality disorders and more.

Sometimes these effects stem from the range of psychological adjustments that patients with chronic medical illnesses have to make, which can include:

-          Learning to deal with and make sense of uncomfortable and/or distressing symptoms

-          Learning to cope with new healthcare environments and procedures

-          Grieving for the loss of their previous health

-          Adapting to the impact of their condition on their work, family, finances, etc

-          The potential deterioration of their condition (in some cases)

-          The possibility that there may not be a ‘cure’

Chronic illness doesn’t only impact the patient who is suffering from the condition. Family members often play a crucial role in the management of the illness, as well as offering physical and emotional support for the patient. Family members may also face other emotional difficulties relating to their own feelings of grief or loss related to the future that they imagined with or for their loved ones before the diagnosis. Siblings of patients with chronic medical illness can develop feelings of isolation or resentment if they receive less attention from parents and other family members, or they, like parents, can have feelings of guilt on behalf of the sufferer.

The scope for the emotional impact of chronic medical illness can be far-reaching and completely unique for each individual. Fortunately, counseling can help both the patient and family members come to terms with the situation and find coping strategies that help them to navigate the challenges that they face. Some of the benefits of counseling for chronic medical illness relating to self and family members include:

Acknowledgment

It is very important that both the patient and family members actually acknowledge the stress that is caused by the illness. In many instances, people will try and ignore their current situation for fear that acknowledging it will make it ‘real’, but it is only by doing so that acceptance can be achieved and progress can be made to move forward with strategies to overcome the challenges associated with the condition.

Facilitating conversations

Sometimes chronic illness means that we need to have difficult conversations with our loved ones. In many instances, families will avoid these until absolutely necessary. Counseling provides an opportunity to have these conversations in a controlled environment where your therapist can balance the viewpoints and help each person to see things from the perspective of the others. This is important since bottling up feelings can lead to resentment and other negative emotions that will impact on the family as a whole. Any undercurrents of unresolved stress can actually have a physical effect on everyone involved, and the patient may find their symptoms exacerbated by the situation.

Taking control of your situation

As we know, facing a diagnosis head-on is the best way to cope with a chronic illness. In fact, studies show that patients who avoid accepting their diagnosis and implementing coping strategies promptly are far psychologically adjusted several years later, compared to those who have confronted their diagnosis. Your therapist can help you to face your condition by finding ways to manage the elements in your life that are within control, and the same applies to your family. You may not be able to control every aspect of your situation, but there are things that you can do to make your day to day life more manageable and enjoyable.

Supportive counseling

Supportive counseling is valuable for both patients and family members. Sessions based on this can:

- Enable everyone present to explore emotions that they are experiencing, such as grief, guilt, depression, helplessness and more.

- Educate family members on techniques to improve empathy for their loved ones and cope constructively with negative emotions.

- Help family members to navigate shifting dynamics within the unit.

For more information on the benefits of counseling for chronic medical illness for both the patient and family members, please get in touch with my practice where you can have a compassionate and discreet conversation with me about your needs.