Chronic Illness, Pain and
Physical Disabilities
People with chronic illness(es), pain and disabilities deserve specific and unique care and support.
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What are Chronic Illness(es), Pain and Disabilities?
Chronic illness is defined as any illness which is long-lasting, usually life-long, and persistent, which means they might worsen over time. In certain instances illnesses can be life-altering or life-threatening.
Chronic illnesses, pain and disabilities (CIDs) can be invisible.
Without some detection, people looking at you may not know they exist.
Individuals with CIDs become experts at hiding their illnesses and pain, masking their existence.
In some instances, illnesses and pain lead to physical disabilities.
Like illness and pain, disabilities can also be invisible.
Examples are a hearing disability, vision loss, or a neurological disorder that affects one’s balance.
Even an ambulatory disability requiring mobility devices can go undetected and appear to be “invisible” if someone is only ever seen online. One’s cane, walker or wheelchair can be “off camera”, unseen in a video chat.
Similar to illnesses and pain, it is possible for physical disabilities to progress and worsen over time.
In the medical world, any illness, pain or disability which lasts more than six months is considered chronic, and cures are usually not options.
Any type or degree of chronic illness, chronic pain and physical disability is going to create complicated situations which include complex feelings. Let’s look at some of the ways these affect your life.
Medical Advocacy
Individuals living with chronic illness, pain and physical disabilities can find themselves living in a new world, a new normal. They often find themselves suddenly having to navigate their way through the medical system, with nobody guiding their journey. At the same time, there are illnesses and pain affecting their personal lives. Family, friends and colleagues often suspect something significant has happened, but they aren’t certain of the details, or how to provide support.
When you’re a patient, it’s not uncommon to feel confusion and overwhelm. Patients find themselves in unknown territory. There can be multiple medical appointments, physicians speaking quickly, large amounts of new information, decisions that need to be made, and much more.
As if this isn’t enough, patients are often left to wonder how they are supposed to communicate all of this to their family, friends, caregivers, colleagues and wider community. How do you explain an illness, or the medications? Maybe you need to change how you work, or adjust your daily lifestyle and activities. Perhaps you need help figuring out what to say and how to say it. Patients often worry they haven’t said enough for people to understand, but they fear saying too much. Nobody wants to feel like a burden, or sound like they are complaining.
This is all happening while a person is already in pain, exhausted, and maybe even in distress. It seems unfair to make an already unwell person have to navigate through all of this.
There is hope. I can help.
As a patient and former medical advocate, I understand how the medical system works. I can help you learn how to speak to your physicians, communicate with family, and express your thoughts and feelings. Together I can teach you techniques so you can avoid unnecessarily long wait times, manage multiple appointments, and regain some of the control you feel you’ve lost.
The medical world can feel intimidating. When you’re a patient you can easily feel overwhelmed, even isolated and alone.
You’re not alone. I am here to help.
I empathize. I’ve been there. I can help.
I empathize with your experiences and while everyone’s situation will be unique, I can relate to the feelings of helplessness and despair.
As a psychotherapist I can help you learn how to manage the stress, anxiety and overwhelm.
We can put you back in the driver’s seat of your life.
I will follow your lead and work at your pace.
I will be by your side every step of the way.
To learn more about medical advocacy book your FREE 15-minute consultation or FREE 50-minute first session now.
Impact on Your Mental and Emotional Health
Living with illness, pain and disability is usually life-altering. From the moment there is a diagnosis, everything changes. It can feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you, and the world as you once knew it has forever changed. It sounds dramatic, because it is.
I know because I am both a patient and a psychotherapist. I’ve experienced this myself, and I remember what it felt like. I remember when my world was turned on its head. When there is illness, pain and a physical disability, every part of one’s life is affected.
Personal relationships with family members and friends will change. The nature of your work might change. A career might be halted or the way you work must be adjusted. All your lifestyle activities, hobbies, sports, and even participation in worship services, might be impacted.
Then there is the exhaustion. Everything you once did now takes a lot more effort. You are more easily tired but expected to accomplish the same tasks throughout your day.
The expectations haven’t changed, but you have.
Due to the many ways illness, pain and disability can impact one’s life, it makes sense to expect all of this will have an impact on your mental and emotional wellbeing. Your nervous system might be in shock. Your thoughts and feelings will reflect this.
It is reasonable to expect that someone who has an illness, or who is in constant pain, will also experience a degree of trauma. The repercussions can also cause feelings of anxiety and depression. It’s also reasonable to expect all of this to cause a degree of grief and loss. There might be the loss of a job or career, where you need to live, or the sports you once participated in. There might be the emotional loss felt when one’s dreams and ideas of the future must change.
If you are immunocompromised, or have mobility issues, you may need to remain home, limiting your ability to participate with others in an “in-person” capacity. Social interactions may be limited, or cancelled, causing feelings of isolation and loneliness. CIDs can also cause individuals to need personal support and caregiving, increasing their reliance on others for basic living and personal tasks. This can cause feelings ranging from burden and guilt to helplessness.
Managing one’s chronic illness, pain and disability is complicated and complex. Below are some brief explanations for each of these mental health topics.
To start your healing journey now, click here to book your FREE 50-minute first session.
Trauma
Traumas are categorized as acute (single events), subacute (more than one event but less than a month), chronic (prolonged or repeated events), complex trauma (combinations of the above and possibly beginning in childhood), secondary or vicarious trauma, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (symptoms persisting beyond one month and causing significant impairment).
Unfortunately, when you have a chronic illness, trauma usually features prominently in your personal story. It’s important to recognize this, and all the implications which follow, so you can find the right support and care to help you adjust to your situation.
Many chronic illnesses and autoimmune diseases are of unknown origin; however, it is now widely accepted that childhood trauma can lead to chronic illness, pain and even physical disabilities. This is because science has now proven the mind-body and body-mind connection. This means that the body feels the impact of what our minds absorb. It’s important to recognize this, even expect this, and know this is not an unusual part of the chronic illness experience.
When something such as an event, abuse or accident happens to us, our brains find ways to cope. There are many reactions the brain will have, from fight and flight to freeze and fawn. Our brains are designed to protect us. Trauma exists on a spectrum and there are a wide range of responses our bodies and minds will experience. Our nervous systems will react in ways that affect our physical bodies (called somatic reactions) and our emotions, causing a wide range of feelings.
Perhaps there is no known cause for your illness. Maybe trauma did not play a role in the cause of your illness or pain, but receiving a diagnosis did. Once you receive a diagnosis your world is filled with medical appointments, your work or career is altered, your activities have been affected, relationships might change, and you realize there is no part of your life that remains the same.
These realizations and impacts on your life can be traumatizing, but I am here to offer you hope.
You are not alone.
I know how impactful traumas can be, and I also know it’s possible to heal, and to regain control.
Everyone has inner strengths, and I can help you explore your story, discover your abilities, and learn and grow so you are able to manage your new normal with resilience
To start your healing journey now, click here to book your FREE 50-minute first session.
Anxiety and Depression – Grief and Loss
Living with illness, pain and disabilities can cause anxiety and depression. That makes sense. After all, you are being forced to adapt to a world that wasn’t designed for you and your new needs. You could have much less energy and strength, and pain, but you are expected to accomplish the same tasks as everyone else.
This alone can cause anxiety.
It’s also exhausting.
Do you tell your boss what’s going on? Do you share with your partner that you don’t have the strength to work all day and then run errands, make dinner or pick up the kids? Do you cancel plans at the last minute? Are you hoping people understand even though you appeared to be just fine one hour earlier?
These are a few ways your illness or new circumstances might be causing you anxiety.
Having to withdraw from activities can feel demoralizing.
Needing to adapt your work, or leave a job or career you worked so hard for is deeply upsetting.
Not being able to attend worship services and see your faith-based community makes you sad. You rely on this spiritual side of your life. It is both personally fulfilling and a meaningful social connection.
It makes sense that all of these changes will leave you feeling isolated and alone. The changes in your life might be happening fast, are difficult to process, and can leave you feeling overwhelmed. You can be left feeling lonely, sad, upset, angry and even depressed.
There is significant loss felt when one has to adjust their thinking and consider a future that looks different than the one that was envisioned.
These feelings are to be expected. They are all reasonable and valid given your circumstances.
Now what do you do?
This is when you reach out for support.
I can help. Thoughts and feelings don’t disappear, but your resilience to them can grow, and I can help you learn how to manage them. Together we can reduce your anxiety, elevate your mood, and lessen the impact of the losses you have endured.
To start your healing journey now, click here to book your FREE 50-minute first session.
Self-Compassion and Self-Care
When faced with chronic illness, pain and physical disability your need for self-care increases. Where these things may not have played a significant role in your life prior to a diagnosis or injury, they may now feature prominently.
Creating a self-care regimen will help increase the strength of your mental and emotional wellbeing.
Self-care looks different for everyone. I work closely with each client to create a plan that helps you achieve your mental health goals.
We work within your comfort level and at your pace. Each regimen is designed giving consideration to your illness, pain and disabilities. We work together to create a plan that suits you and your needs.
Self-compassion will play a role in your self-care plan. It will help to increase your tolerance for the stressors in your life, restore your sense of self-worth and self-esteem, and even provide a level of protection against depressive symptoms.
To start your healing journey now, click here to book your FREE 50-minute first session.