Chronic Illness
What Does It Feel Like To Struggle With Chronic Illness?
From the moment I wake up until I go to bed, wherever I am and whatever I am doing, even in my sleep, I am in constant war. War with my body, war with myself, battling a chronic illness that has taken over my life. Every decision, every aspect depends on it. It’s all about how my life revolves around managing it and living with it. Am I really living when all I am doing is managing it, living with it, surviving?
Most days it seems to take over not only my own life but also the lives of my loved ones. For most illnesses there is light at the end of tunnel, for me it’s just a tunnel. I have to “adapt” and “cope” with the idea that this is how it’s going to be, or even worse, this is the best it’s going to be. I can’t hear anymore professionals telling me to adapt and cope and deal. Is there a way to actually live and enjoy living?
Counselling For Chronic Illness
Mental health difficulties can either exacerbate or precipitate long term illness and medical conditions. We want to understand what life is like for you living with your condition, and how it is affecting relationships in your life. Therapy may include:
- Finding ways to look beyond your condition and not be defined by it
- Adopting a proactive attitude to promote self-awareness and self-management
- Learning how to be more attuned to your body, and how to manage the physical aspects of your condition
- Exploring how you communicate your needs and feelings
- Finding ways to experience mutual respect in relationships, especially with those that care for you
Our expert team of therapists can help you make sense of your experience of chronic illness, and support you in finding new ways of improving your mental health and wellbeing.
Feel well
If you are interested in our services, arrange a call with our friendly team.
We want to understand what is going on for you, so we can match you with the right practitioner.
We value being clear and open about our prices, so please check Our Fees before booking a call.
Learn more about health issues
Here are some articles and blogs about health issues
Health Anxiety Self Help
You may not be ready to talk to us yet, so here are some self-help strategies to help you manage health anxiety
- Challenge your health related worries by writing them down and replacing them with a more realistic way of thinking.
- Eliminate seeking constant reassurance from doctors, family or friends, or repetitively self-checking or self-diagnosing yourself.
- Avoid using online platforms to diagnose yourself.
- Join a support group, as talking about your worries will help you understand and re-evaluate your way of thinking.
- Follow a balanced diet that will help you stabilise your physiology and reduce stress levels.
- Exercise regularly, sleep more, and limit alcohol intake. This will help you alleviate the physiological symptoms of anxiety and stress that might precipitate your health anxiety.