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Therapy for Chronic Illness

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Living with a chronic illness can be daunting. From feeling helpless about what to do about it to feeling like a burden to your family and friends, chronic illness can leave you depressed. You may also be filled with a sense of shame every time you have to explain what is happening to you.

Maybe you have been struggling with your illness for some time now, and it has greatly affected your relationships with people because you are feeling too damaged to be in a relationship, or you have had friends that can’t understand your bouts of anxiety or low energy. And now, your frustration is mounting because it seems like no one can understand you, and to top it off, a feeling of guilt has settled on you because you feel responsible for your failed relationships.

What is a chronic illness?​

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes a chronic disease or illness as a condition that lasts 1 year or more and needs continuous medical attention. Sometimes, these conditions can limit your day-to-day activities and livelihood. The most recent statistics tell us that 6 in 10 adults in the US have one chronic illness, and 4 in 10 have two or more, which puts you at a higher risk of depression or anxiety.

One of the popular misconceptions about chronic diseases is that people wrongly assume that because you don’t look sick, then you are not sick. This is wrong, of course. An invisible sickness is still a chronic illness if it has lasted for over a year. Examples of this type of chronic illness are lupus, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, sickle cell disease, endometriosis, to say the least.

When you are living with a chronic illness, you may feel frustrated and helpless. A change to a routine that you are used to can fill you with dread and physical reactions such as increased heart rate, sweating, nervousness, restlessness, tension, or excessive worry. Also, depression due to chronic illness is common and can increase your feeling of hopelessness.

It can be overwhelming when you are living with a chronic illness. However, you can go for therapy for chronic illness so that you can speak with an expert that can help you cope with your situation and further help you live your best life.

If you are feeling any of this, you may have, at one point or another, thought of getting help. Have you tried looking for therapists who specialize in chronic illness near you, but your search turned out dry? Or maybe you have gone for therapy for chronic illness, but your therapist didn't seem to get you?

What is therapy for chronic illness?​

If you identify with any or all of these, I’m here to help. In subsequent paragraphs, I will discuss how therapy for chronic illness can help you and how to find the right therapist for you. So, stay with me.

A chronic illness is a health challenge that persists for a long time and sometimes throughout a person’s lifetime. People that have chronic diseases are likely to experience mental health problems. This, in turn, can affect their quality of life.

Therapy for chronic illness helps you deal with the psychological effects that come with living with a chronic illness. A lot of people may experience depression, worry, anxiety, shame, or feelings of hopelessness after their diagnosis. As a result, they may be tempted to isolate themselves from people or doubt their self-worth as they try to venture back to their lifestyles before the diagnosis.

If you have just been diagnosed with a chronic illness or have been dealing with it for a while now and have been feeling hopeless, you can opt for therapy for chronic illness today to get to speak with an expert.

Talking to a specialist with experience in counseling people with chronic illnesses will be valuable to your mental health and relationships. Therapy for chronic illness allows you to consult with a therapist that has been trained to help you understand what is happening to your mental health and also to help you live a purposeful life despite your health condition.

With therapy for chronic illness, you get access to a person who is dedicated to providing you with a safe space, a confidential, judgment-free zone that allows you to express all your fears and anxiety without the fear of being shamed or misunderstood.

Overall, therapy for chronic illness can help you focus on your strengths and capabilities and generally help you thrive. You will also be able to explore and pinpoint present strategies that have not been helpful and replace them with new techniques that you need to better manage your daily life. You will equally learn grounding techniques that will help decrease your symptoms of anxiety or depression.

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Benefits of Therapy for Chronic Illness ​

Have you been feeling helpless, or do you feel a sense of guilt over your failed relationships? Do you feel like a burden to others because of your chronic illness? If your answer is yes, then it is time to sign up for therapy. Therapy for chronic illness has many benefits that will improve your life and help you feel empowered again.

Dealing with a chronic illness can be a lot. However, the good news is that you don’t have to deal with it by yourself. You can get help. And that’s why I am here. I offer therapy services for people dealing with different kinds of chronic illnesses. Above all, I am here to help you feel heard and understood.