I am often reminded how easy it is to become so preoccupied with a diagnosis — whether it is a medical or a mental health diagnosis — that life seems to become the diagnosis or, more to the point, the individual seems to turn into a diagnosis. A depression. A diabetes. A cancer. Life becomes about living the diagnosis — the medications, side effects, lifestyle adjustments — and every interaction, every thought, is somehow related to the diagnosis. At some point, individuals begin to define themselves as who they were before the diagnosis and who they are no
If you spend any time tooling around the Internet news sites, you have probably run across the recent news that, by 2050, up to 1 of 3 adults may be diagnosed with diabetes. Of course, this will lead, fairly or unfairly, to further alarms being sounded regarding the problem of obesity. But as someone who is focused on helping patients to cope emotionally with their diagnosis, and get prepared for the road ahead — treatment decisions, lifestyle changes, changes in relationships and roles — I am also concerned about how these individuals are going to deal with this, an
When someone first learns that they have been diagnosed with a health condition, it’s important to connect with people who can listen without judgment and without thinking they have to do something to ‘fix’ their newly-diagnosed loved one. What’s going on with the people you count on? Are they able to sit with you, to listen and simply to be there? Or are they dealing, or not dealing, with their own reactions and unable to listen to how you are feeling? If your own support network can’t be supportive, find a new one. Check out your local mental health
Social networking online is a great way to get connected with others who have the same medical diagnosis to share experiences, ask questions, and offer support. One site that I highly recommend is www.alliancehealth.com. This site offers a number of social networking communities, for those facing diabetes, chronic pain, arthritis, and other conditions. Whatever your concern is, most likely there are any number of other patients and caregivers who have had similar concerns, and can share their personal experiences and even offer s
A client who I will call Maya talked to me about her reactions to her mother’s diagnosis:
"I am so mad, that’s all I can feel. I am mad that my mother is going to have to face all of this treatment. What has she done to deserve this? I am mad that she and my father have made so many plans and now they might not be able to enjoy the future they had planned. And to be honest, I am mad that this is going to mean that I am going to have to get involved in caregiving, and I am already working full-time and raising two kids. This isn’t fair."
A client who I will call Maya talked to me about her reactions to her mother’s diagnosis:
"I am so mad, that’s all I can feel. I am mad that my mother is going to have to face all of this treatment. What has she done to deserve this? I am mad that she and my father have made so many plans and now they might not be able to enjoy the future they had planned. And to be honest, I am mad that this is going to mean that I am going to have to get involved in caregiving, and I am already working full-time and raising two kids. This isn’t fair."
Any medical diagnosis means change, such as changes in diet and lifestyle and new medications, and it is only human to want to hang on to what is comfortable and familiar. Change is scary as we begin to ask alll of those ‘what if’ questions. If you are feeling fearful and uncertain about the future, here are some ideas to consider.
I don’t know what to say about the current state of the economy and what it means for people who are facing chronic and catastrophic health conditions. The media is filled with horror stories. This week, I read that states are having to cut back on programs that provide medication to residents who are living with HIV and cannot afford the medications. Some have lost their benefits and are scrambling to find a way to obtain their medications, including going directly to pharmaceutical companies. Others are on waiting lists. One of many repercussions of cutbacks
When I tell people about my blog and website, they often ask questions like "Whose side are you on?" The implication is that healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies… and patients…
I think that right now we live in a time in which more and more people are feeling helpless and hopeless. The economy, an oil leak that threatens the environment, wars and political unrest…