By Cherrilyn Warde -Crawford, Psychologist (MSc. Level)

Chronic illnesses are diseases that are permanent or last for a long period of time. They range from mild conditions, such as partial hearing losses, to severe and life threatening disorders, such as cancer, coronary artery disease, and diabetes. These conditions are not confined to the elderly but are common among various age-groups in the Federation. 

In fact, the St. Christopher Health Information Unit Statistical report for 2009 reveals the following information about chronic illnesses in our Federation:

Chronic Illnesses - 2009
Cancer – 70 new cases diagnosed
Hypertension – 110 new cases; the sum of old and new cases is 1198
Diabetes – 92 new cases; sum of old and new cases is 1034

The World Health organization (WHO) estimates that there will be at least 350 million people with type 2 diabetes by the year 2030. A more startling statistic is that most of us will eventually develop at least one chronic disability or disease, which may ultimately be the cause of our death. Thus, there is the likelihood that, at sometime, each of us will hear a doctor say that our condition is chronic and cannot be cured; it can only be managed.

Though chronic illnesses might appear to be as common as the flu, they are quite different. Whereas with the flu we know that within a week or so we will start to feel better and start to function normally, chronic illnesses may never go away and may disrupt our lifestyles in many ways.

It is therefore important that we learn to recognize the effects of these illnesses as well as ways of coping with them. 
 
Normal reactions to chronic illnesses

The normal reactions to the diagnosis of a chronic illness are varied, but are always powerful. Included in the spectrum of reactions are:
o shock            
o anger                  
o denial
o guilt
o fear
o confused state
o avoiding thinking about the illness
o grief over loss over health

During the initial stage of the diagnosis of a chronic illness, these reactions are considered normal. However, if these reactions persist during the rehabilitative phase of the illness (the part of time in the course of treatment where the patient is expected to recover from the pathology and/or re-adapt to living a normal life) they may produce adverse effects. They may interfere with the person’s ability to absorb necessary information about their treatment or self management.

Ways to cope

As persons learn to cope with the illness and associated life changes, they need to begin to integrate the illness as part of their life experience, adjust to what has happened and/or will happen to them, and live their lives as fully as possible.

Here are some ways of coping:

1. Take control

• Become knowledgeable about the illness, e.g knowing normal glucose levels (for diabetes), knowing the names and dosage of medications etc.
• Be responsible. Comply with your treatment.
• Positive thinking.  Talk positively to yourself. e.g “nothing lasts forever, I’ll get through it” etc.
• Get involved in activities such as reading, watching television, crochet etc. These provide a distraction from some of the discomforts of a chronic illness.

2. Benefit from contact with others

• Cooperate with your health care team. Help them to find answers for you through different investigations etc.
• Have support networks (Church groups, friends, family, support groups etc.) People are often relieved to learn about others who have experienced what they have gone through. Others find support by sharing their concerns and greatest fears with close friends.

3. Relate to yourself and others appropriately

• Get in tune with yourself. Do things that are soul-fulfilling and give you pleasure.
• Express your feelings appropriately. Although you may be angry at your illness, yourself, or friends etc., express your feelings in ways that don’t hurt those around you.
• Humor yourself. Laughter is good medicine.
• Have faith. Just knowing that God is with you usually helps. It may seem impossible but every day is a new day of possibilities.
• Have hope. Rely on your faith, believe in it. You have to believe in something in order to have hope.

4. You must have a 'fighting spirit’.

• That means you know exactly what you are up against. Even if it is a terminal illness, you keep your ‘fighting spirit’ up. Note that people with a ‘fighting spirit’ are not afraid of dying. When and if that time comes, they are at peace with it.

5. You must like yourself under all circumstances, even when you think you don't look that good.
 
• If you don't like yourself, chances are that you won't take very good care of yourself.

6.  You must have a strong belief that you are more than your body.

• There is more to you than the physical functions you can perform. Faith can be very helpful in such circumstances. For example, if you think God loves you regardless of your appearance, earning power or other capabilities, you too will learn to like yourself.

7. You must have a problem-solving attitude towards the challenges that you face.

• Persons who cope well believe that "problems" should be perceived as "challenges," leading to new solutions and means for personal growth. People often get totally embroiled in grief and fixate on the loss of previous functioning capacity. As a result, they can't focus on dealing with the challenges which their illness brings them.

8. Accept your illness.

• That word, "acceptance," gets under the skin of people who are still mourning the loss of better, happier days when they were far more capable of doing things. Those who make an effort to adapt to their circumstance understand the value of acceptance. They know it helps them to get over loss and meet the new challenges they face.

Living with a chronic illness has a deep impact not only on affected individuals, but on those surrounding them. It leaves no area of life untouched. Although most persons search for healing methods and cures, complete healing is not a possibility for some conditions, and even when it is, healing is a process that takes time. Our life may be turned upside down at times and our coping abilities pushed to the limit. We are likely to face crises, loss, pain, grief, conflict, disruption, excess stress, uncertainty, and even questions about identity and the meaning of life.
 
If left unmanaged, chronic illnesses have the potential to greatly degrade our quality of life, rob us of personal power, deteriorate our self-esteem and destroy our relationships. Accepting our limits and developing effective coping skills can help us manage feelings of pain and loss while allowing us the ability to continue living our best lives, no matter our circumstance.

"LifeLines is a monthly column dedicated to addressing issues of mental, behavioural, and social health. The column appears on the 1st weekend of the month, and is written by professionals in the field of social work, mental health, and community medicine".