While it is an underdiscussed topic, people who live with a chronic disease can feel complex emotions, including a unique sense of grief. This grief can stem from various aspects of the disease, including the loss of health, changes in lifestyle and the ongoing challenges and uncertainties you must face.
Why you may grieve
One of the most immediate sources of grief is the loss of physical health and functionality. Chronic diseases can limit your abilities, making it difficult or impossible to engage in activities you once enjoyed.
A chronic illness often derails life plans, impacts relationships and necessitates significant lifestyle changes. You may have to alter your diet, reduce physical activities or adopt new routines to manage your condition. These changes can lead you to feel frustration and loss, especially if you must give up some or many of your treasured hobbies, habits and routines.
Additionally, you might experience a constant sense of uncertainty (and fear) about the future. The unpredictability of symptoms and the potential for worsening health can cause ongoing anxiety and sadness.
Coping
It's crucial to acknowledge and accept the feelings you have when you are living with a chronic condition. Understanding that you may feel grief provides the opportunity to find ways of coping.
Suppressing or ignoring your emotions can increase stress and worsen your wellbeing. Allow yourself to grieve for the losses you've experienced and the changes in your life.
Focus on what you can control to help you regain a sense of agency.
Create a daily routine incorporating activities you can still enjoy, such as reading or gentle exercise. Setting small, attainable goals helps you maintain a sense of accomplishment and purpose. Also, find ways you may be able to manage your treatment plan.
Building a strong network is vital when coping with a chronic disease. Friends, family and support groups can provide emotional support, practical help and companionship. Connecting with other people who also have your condition and understand your experiences can be particularly comforting. Sharing your experiences and hearing others' stories can help you feel less alone and more understood.
For additional emotional support, consider talking to a therapist or counselor who specializes in chronic illness. They can provide a safe space to express your feelings and offer strategies for managing your emotions while also helping you cope with additional stressors that accompany your life changes.
