- Chronic disease promotes depression
- 9 steps to learn to live well with an incurable disease
- Changes in the patient's psyche change relationships with loved ones
- The voltage must be discharged, but not to your detriment
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When someone finds out that they have a disease that cannot be cured, they have a hard time. He thinks about the future with fear, he is afraid of losing his job, independence and love. Some people develop depression on this background.
Many chronic diseases are easy to manage and live a normal life as long as you follow your doctor's instructions. Others cannot be controlled, bring with them many limitations, and sometimes even lead to loss of faith in the meaning of life. Of course, a lot depends on our psyche, coping with the disease, and the support we receive from family and friends. But medical statistics show that at least one in four people with chronic disease suffer from depression, and most struggle with depressed mood on a daily basis. A closed circle is formed: a chronic disease causes depression, depression exacerbates the symptoms of the underlying disease, reduces the effectiveness of therapy and worsens the prognosis. You need to be aware of the dangers to start treating it at the first symptoms of depression.
Chronic disease promotes depression
The mental state of the patient is influenced by many factors: physical suffering, changes in appearance caused by the disease, strenuous treatment, such as the need for surgery. In hospital patients, depressed mood causes distance from relatives. It intensifies because they see the suffering of other patients and look for their own future in their history. The situation worsens when, as a result of illness, they drop out of their current social roles: wife, husband, boss. The worsening of depressive states translates into the physical condition of the patient. It makes it difficult to comply with medical recommendations, reduces the effectiveness of treatment and significantly extends the convalescence period. Research shows that depressed patients achieve significantly worse rehabilitation results, then return to work, more often quit it and apply for a disability pension. They are also reluctant to make changes in their lifestyle, diet, etc.
This will be useful to you9 steps to learn to live well with an incurable disease
It takes time to come to terms with a chronic disease and its limitations. Here, nothing will happen right away, because it is impossible to accept the new situation without objections. The following rules will help you reorganize your life.
1. Try to be open about yoursdisease. This tames her, takes away her demonic dimension. Don't hide the diagnosis from your loved ones.
2. Allow yourself to experience regret, anger and fear. Be open about what you feel and what you fear.
3. Don't be ashamed to ask for help if you need it, but also don't do it for any other reason.
4. Talk to your doctor, ask for clarification on issues that worry you, talk about your fears, changes in mood.
5. As long as possible, be active, get out of the role of the victim.
6. Learn to enjoy small things, small successes.
7. Give yourself a little pleasure, do not give up your earlier plans, even when their implementation requires some modifications.
8. Don't neglect your appearance - it also improves your well-being.
9. Watch your body, react to new drugs, but don't listen to every little ailment.
Changes in the patient's psyche change relationships with loved ones
A chronic illness of one of the household members affects all family members, creates conflicts, and even leads to the breakdown of the relationship. Sometimes sick people tease others as if they wanted to compensate for their own misfortune. Very often the cause of such behavior is depression - undiagnosed and untreated. Depression manifests itself as sadness, mood swings, bouts of crying, irritability, tantrums, pessimism. The patient has problems with making decisions quickly, cannot concentrate, withdraws from social life, and sometimes starts to think persistently about death. It happens that a terminally ill person finds joy in life, wants to use it, live as interesting as possible, learn new things. Unfortunately, more often such patients lean towards destruction, destroying themselves, and worrying about the future. It is a huge burden for the family, and it happens that the children or the partner of the sick person begin to fall into depression.
The voltage must be discharged, but not to your detriment
Focusing on the disease often means that the patient does not notice changes in his psyche, he does not see that apart from the body, he also has a sick soul. So he does not seek help from a specialist, but dispels sorrows in ways he knows. He reaches for cigarettes, alcohol, drugs or sedatives. It is depression that shapes these dangerous behaviors. But this is a road to nowhere - it always leads to a deterioration of he alth. The patient should talk to a psychiatrist who will determine the best treatment, psychotherapy will also be useful.
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