A chronic illness is a condition that endures for at least a year and requires ongoing medical care or consistently limits the scope of a person's daily activities. Major chronic conditions include cancer, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, asthma, HIV/AIDS, stroke, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Crohn's disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia , and kidney disease, among others. Tens of millions of American adults live with a chronic illness, and many of them live with at l
How to Cope with Chronic Illness
Grief , for a lost lifestyle or for a future that will not unfold as planned, is a common reaction to a diagnosis of chronic illness. So are changes in mood, even from day to day, as well as distress or frustration that one's options and outlook are so dependent on their physical health. Research, however, has consistently found that patients who face the reality of their diagnosis directly, rather than avoiding it, and who seek help rather than retreating, report greater life satisfaction and healthier adjustment. Similarly, those who seek empowerment—for example, by discussing all of their questions with their doctors—report less stress than other patients.
Many people find that reducing their outside obligations and commitments, and prioritizing time with partners and children, can bring some relief from stress . Committing to one small positive goal each day—such as a phone call with an old friend or an outing to the park—can also deliver a boost to one's mood.
Research into the qualities that enable people diagnosed with cancer to remain positive and resilient , part of the field known as psycho-oncology , has found that, along with social support and professional counseling, those who are able to manage their illness for years or decades are able to live in the present, accept mortality, avoid rumination, and take an active role in their treatment and physical health. Such patients tend to remain more positive and in some cases, even come to believe that their diagnosis changed them for the better.
Even those who commit themselves to staying positive as they manage chronic illness may find their mood flagging after several years. They become, one could say, sick of being sick . At those times, experts suggest, honestly acknowledging how they feel and allowing themselves to be upset, reaching out to supportive people, and challenging themselves to find positive aspects of their lives, perhaps with professional help, can enable them to regain a sense of control.
Facing a Future of Illness
Finding support can be crucial to coping with a diagnosis of chronic illness. Support groups for many conditions meet across the country or communicate online. But support from family and friends is also vital for maintaining a positive outlook, although many newly-diagnosed individuals may struggle with sharing the news for fear of changing or losing valued relationships, or because of worries about being judged. Some people with chronic conditions may feel fine most of the time, but have episodes of illness or fatigue, or they may have to take breaks or put limits on plans because of the demands of self-care. Still, experts suggest that patients be open with loved ones, including about their need for emotional and hands-on support (rides to appointments, help with shopping, cooking, child care, etc.). Many patients underestimate how much support friends and family members will be willing or able to offer. It's also important to establish clear boundaries if there are aspects of one's condition that one is uncomfortable discussing.
Yes. People with chronic conditions generally face a higher risk of depression than others, and their depressive symptoms tend to be more severe. In some cases, medications used to treat a chronic illness may increase one’s risk of depression. Neither those with chronic illness, nor their loved ones, should accept depression as unavoidable but should instead actively seek treatment.
Some research suggests that not only does a chronic illness raise one's chances of experiencing depression but that having depression increases one's chances of experiencing chronic illness such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, or Alzheimer's disease. One factor may be that individuals with depression are less likely to devote time to maintaining or monitoring their health, but signs of increased inflammation in those with depression, as well as metabolic changes and abnormalities in their heart rate and stress hormone levels may be factors as well.
People living with chronic illness or pain, and the experts who research the conditions, cite uncertainty as one of the most difficult challenges they face. Not knowing when symptoms may flare, if a condition will worsen, or whether treatment will work, takes an emotional toll. “ Illness uncertainty ” has been defined as the inability to determine the meaning of illness-related events, and comprises feelings of ambiguity, complexity, deficient information, and unpredictability. Being able to rely on trusted information and experts, and to accept a measure of uncertainty in their lives, can help people cope.
Living with Rare Conditions
More than 7,000 disorders are considered “rare,” meaning they affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S., and about 50 more are discovered every year— most types of cancer are in fact rare diseases . While about 1 in 10 Americans overall lives with such a disorder, finding social support is often a challenge, and such individuals report feeling greater anxiety and depression and experiencing poorer quality of life, than people with more common conditions. And since many such diseases are genetic, patients are often young.
All chronic illnesses pose physical emotional challenges, but patients with rare conditions (also known as orphan diseases) typically go from doctor to doctor seeking an accurate diagnosis. The experience can be intensely frustrating: For 15 percent of people with rare conditions, it took more than five years to get a diagnosis. Even when they are diagnosed, though, there may be no reliable treatment for the condition, or no local physician with experience treating it. Often, along with dealing with their symptoms, orphan-disease patients must also devote time and energy to advocacy, as funding for such diseases is desperately needed to find better treatments or a cure.
Because of the limited public awareness of these conditions those who live with them find their symptoms are often misunderstood or disbelieved by others. Since few people with the same condition tend to live in the same communities, support groups must be found online, although many people with rare conditions attend regional or national conferences as well. Research finds that those who do provide support to people with rare conditions , however, derive significant personal meaning and satisfaction from their efforts.
How to Support Someone with a Chronic Illness
Family and friends can play a significant role in helping loved ones deal with a chronic illness. Many people are unsure how to reach out to a chronically ill friend or relative, or are reluctant to pry. But communication is crucial. It's helpful to learn what one can about someone's condition independently, but also to understand that many people experience the same condition very differently, and to avoid rushing to judgment or making predictions. Instead, be clear and direct with statements of caring and offers of practical help. And if the individual requests privacy or discretion, limit what you reveal to those outside the family or circle of close friends.
Chronic illness in children can be especially frightening both for the patient and those around them, as a child may not understand why they must experience pain or suffering. Parents must be there for a child, but at the same time, they must acknowledge their own stress and anxiety and make time for self-care as much as possible so that they can maintain the energy to deliver support.
People with chronic illness rely on loved ones not just for support, but for understanding. There may be times, for example, when an individual may experience grief for the things they feel they have lost, embarrassment about aspects of their condition, or guilt over what they perceive as a burden they have placed on those close to them. At these moments, they may not be seeking solutions, or even a kind word, but just someone to listen.
There are some common misperceptions about the chronically ill . First, the way they look may not at all reflect how they feel physically, leading to the common exchange: “You look great!” “But I don’t feel great.” Also, many people misunderstand the connection between a patient's mental and physical state: The fact that stress may make someone feel worse does not mean their condition is “all in their head.” And many imagine that if someone rests before an outing, they should feel better, and similarly, that if they are having a good time, they must be feeling better. Neither may be true.
Explore More About Chronic Illness
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