Medical Disorders

Medical Disorders

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Click on a topic: Cancer Chronic Illness/Pain

Upon first hearing a medical diagnosis, whether heart disease, cancer, a chronic illness, you may experience symptoms of distress and crisis. You will also experience grief and loss, and will need to mourn the person that was (you), in order to find the person that will be (you). You will likely go through the stages of death and dying in order to grieve the loss of the old self. We experience loss throughout our lives – loss of youth, position, prestige, jobs, and even our health. But we can grieve and let go of what was and move onto someone who may be different, but who has gained new insights and perspectives. We can learn to effectively manage and to cope as this new person.

Cancer -- The " C " Word

Even though cancer is in the news almost daily, nothing can prepare you for the shock of hearing these words for the first time: You have cancer ! Treatments can include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation and others (bone marrow transplants), usually starting immediately after being given a diagnosis. And although many health professionals are caring, the treatments can be frightening and are sometimes performed without sensitivity to the emotions that are attached to this disease called cancer. The decisions about what to do are overwhelming with new information appearing in the news almost daily. Words are bandied about (port/CEA) and a whole new language must be learned quickly. Although you are told you have options, you also have to decide NOW what treatments you are going to agree to and move on these fairly quickly. Cancer involves a whirlwind of decisions with little time to think, let alone grieve (the loss of the self before cancer, of a body part, of image) -–and sometimes the emotion of it all catches up later. Along with this whirlwind comes a different sense of a loss of control – that needs to be recaptured whenever possible. Then there are those seemingly insensitive things that are said often in ignorance by others who just don’t know what to say and mean well.

With all this having been said, there are many new treatments available depending on the cancer itself. Decisions around your treatments must be made between you and your health care practitioner – and any involved family.

And with support of family, friends, support groups and centers, a new mental and psychological balance and equilibrium can be found along with inner peace.

I have facilitated cancer support groups and have gained so much from the participants in these groups. Groups made up of cancer survivors can offer you phenomenal support (and helpful information from those who have experienced the treatments) if you are newly diagnosed. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, I highly recommend finding a cancer support group in your area. (Also see Cancer under Bibliotherapy.)

If you do not have a cancer support group in your area and would like to discuss your concerns, please go to the Registration Site or to Rates/Types of Services offered by PsychOptions™.

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Chronic Illness/Pain

An acute illness offers us hope in that acute suggests time limited – an end to whatever pain or disability we may be experiencing. Chronic illness, on the other hand, brings with it different challenges and it suggests that we will likely have this illness from here on out. Chronic requires that we also go through the stages of grieving – and grieve the old self to make way for the new. We may now have to deal with an illness that waxes and wanes – that may incapacitate us at times, that may have pain and discomfort, that now will become part of who we are and will be ever present – to some degree – in our daily lives. Chronic illness and pain comes in many forms: multiple sclerosis, colitis, Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, or HIV/AIDs, to name a few. It is the long-term pain and disability that makes chronic illness a challenge. And although you need to finally accept the illness, you must not also succumb to it -- but rather find ways to manage the outward manifestations of the illness day to day. There are usually self-help groups for specific chronic disorders in each community, and these can be very helpful for specific information and on-going support.

If you would like one or more sessions with PsychOptions™, please go to the PsychOptions™ Registration Site or Rates/Types of Services available.

Please refer to the many references on Chronic Illness/Chronic Pain/HIV/AIDs in the Bibliotherapy section. There are several excellent books on symptom management and managing pain.)

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