When the Medical impacts the Emotional

Often times when someone is diagnosed with a serious medical illness, they are overwhelmed with the number of scans, tests, and doctor visits that come with the care needed for treatment. Along that journey, it is easy to get lost in all that is required of you – the pills, the infusions, radiation/chemo treatments, surgeries, and adjunctive therapies that may go along with it…which now become your new life routine. But with all that, we don’t often get to discuss the emotional impacts these health challenges create.

Impacts such as struggles with loss of your former identity, changes in social and familial dynamics, and the emotional toll that treatments cause when you may just be trying to get through your day well. Many people experience an increase in depression, anxiety, anger, and a multitude of other emotions. Additionally isolation further compounds just how difficult managing a serious health condition can be. For further information, below is an article found on the National Institute of Health’s website regarding depression and chronic illness. This is just one example of the impact of chronic medical treatment and illness.

If you or a loved one are currently struggling to live well while going through a medical challenge, please seek out support. When you participate in therapy, there is opportunity to reflect and address on the shifts in your life and how you can ensure life continues to be vibrant in the ways that are satisfying.

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/chronic-illness-mental-health/index.shtml