Patient To Provider

Living with a long-lasting health condition (also called a chronic illness) presents a person with new challenges. Learning how to meet those challenges is a process - it doesn''''t happen right away. But understanding more about your condition, and doing your part to manage it, can help you take health challenges in stride. Many people find that taking an active part in the care of a chronic health condition can help them feel stronger and better equipped to deal with lots of life''''s trials and tribulations.

If you''''re living with a chronic illness, you may feel affected not just physically, but also emotionally, socially, and sometimes even financially. The way a person might be affected by a chronic illness depends on the particular illness and how it affects the body, how severe it is, and the kinds of treatments that might be involved. It takes time to adjust to and accept the realities of a long-term illness, but teens who are willing to learn, seek support from others, and participate actively in the care of their bodies usually get through the coping process.

Coping With a Chronic Illness

Coming to terms with a chronic illness is a trying process that takes a lot of time, energy and effort. It''''s a journey that can take you through a range of emotions — including grief, anger, relief (at finally knowing what is wrong), fear and hope — and potentially force you to take stock of your life, the people in it and the world around you. These feelings are the start of the coping process. Everyone''''s reaction is different, but they''''re all completely normal.

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross identified five stages of grief that you may experience when your first given your diagnosis.  The stages Kubler-Ross identified are: Denial (this isn''''t happening to me!), Anger (why is this happening to me?), Bargaining (I promise I''''ll be a better person if...), Depression (I don''''t care anymore), and Acceptance (I''''m ready for whatever comes).

Emotions may not be easy to identify. For example, sleeping or crying a lot or grouchiness may be signs of sadness or depression. It''''s also very common for people with chronic illnesses to feel stress as they balance the realities of dealing with a health condition and coping with schoolwork, social events, and other aspects of everyday life.

Many people living with chronic illnesses find that it helps to line up sources of support to deal with the stress and emotions. Some people choose to talk to a therapist or join a support group specifically for people with their condition. It''''s also important to confide in those you trust, like close friends and family members. The most important factor when seeking help isn''''t necessarily finding someone who knows a lot about your illness, but finding someone who is willing to listen when you''''re depressed angry, frustrated - or even just plain old happy. Noticing the emotions you have, accepting them as a natural part of what you''''re going through, and expressing or sharing your emotions in a way that feels comfortable can help you feel better about things.

The Power of Perception

Several scientific studies have shed light on what many have long suspected: a positive outlook helps people living with chronic illnesses adapt — both physically and psychologically — more quickly and effectively. This ''''positiveness'''' has less to do with a cheery disposition and more about:

• control or a sense of having power over personal experience;
• commitment or a strong involvement in life''''s activities; and
• challenge — seeing change as a chance to overcome, learn and grow.

Possessing a strong sense of these three elements affects your attitude and how you adjust to handling the challenges of a chronic ailment. Of course, one of the first and most important things to accept is the roller coaster of emotions you and those close to you will experience. No matter how positive your attitude, there will be moments of darkness and emotional upheaval. Though each person is unique and responds to chronic illness differently, the suggestions below can enhance your sense of control, commitment and challenge.