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When one is diagnosed with a chronic illness, your attention and focus tends to be on your physical health, and how you may manage your physical recovery. However, a long-term chronic condition can have an impact on the individual’s mental health as well.
We explore the effect a diagnosis has on your mental health; and suggest tips on how you can ensure your mental health is protected, while you care for your physical health too. After all, as we know, our mental health and physical health are closely interlinked – and so, looking after your mental health is just as essential as looking after your physical health as well.
Common Emotional Reactions to a Diagnosis
A diagnosis of a serious health condition, such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, can indeed be a blow to your mental health – especially if it had been an unexpected diagnosis, or if you had little or no symptoms beforehand. It’s understandable that you’ll experience a certain amount of sadness or grief, after hearing of your diagnosis.
Emotional Toll and Stress
Firstly, receiving a diagnosis of a chronic condition can also cause a huge amount of stress, particularly if the treatment options are complicated and costly.
You may feel overwhelmed by the amount of things you have to do: arranging for your next consultation, figuring out your treatment and medication plan, trying to sort out your finances for any upcoming medical bills.
Five Stages of Grief
Knowing the five stages of grief may give you a better understanding of the emotional journey that you’re experiencing. We may experience grief when faced with a diagnosis, because we’re grieving for the life that we used to lead, knowing that we may have to make large changes to how we had been living prior.
The five stages are:
- Denial: A typical first reaction would be denying the diagnosis. This could be seeking a second, third, even fourth opinion; or deciding not to make any lifestyle modifications at first.
- Anger: Once the reality of the diagnosis has set in, you may experience anger at your diagnosis. Anger at the unfairness of having the illness, and resentment at being in the situation you’re in.
- Bargaining: When a diagnosis happens, you may feel like you’ve lost control of your life. As such, you may try to find ways to regain control over what’s happening; through making ‘deals’ with the universe (or God, if you’re religious), or coming up with ‘What if’ statements.
- Depression: The stage most commonly associated with grief, depression may present in different ways: whether it’s muted, foggy emotions or feeling lethargic. If you find these symptoms of depression persisting for more than two weeks, you may want to consider seeking professional support to cope as well; before it manifests into something more long-term and severe.
- Acceptance: Finally, coming to terms with your diagnosis in a way that helps you be more positive about what to do. While this doesn’t mean you’re happy, it means you have accepted the reality of the situation; and this can help you to move on to positive next steps.
While the five stages are usually listed in chronological manner, your emotions may jump from one stage to the other, both forwards and backwards; and there is no fixed time that each stage may last for.
Strategies to Cope with Your Diagnosis
First, know that there is no ‘correct’ way to process your emotions. Everyone copes with a diagnosis differently, and you should find what works best for you. These are just a few strategies that could be helpful in your path towards acceptance, recovery, and treatment management.
Learn to Manage your Emotions
Give yourself the grace and space to cycle through what you’re feeling: whether it’s anger or sadness, or anything in between. Keeping your emotions pent up on the inside may create even greater stress on your mental health; and this may not be beneficial for your physical health either.
Take time to digest the situation. If it helps, list down all the questions you have about your condition and treatment; and have this along with you at your next consultation. Learning more about your diagnosis may help you feel more in control of the situation, and support your recovery.
Find a Support Group
You don’t have to (nor should you) go through your diagnosis alone. Reach out to loved ones that you’re comfortable sharing your diagnosis with, and let them know that you may need their support. A strong social support network can be a tremendous source of strength for your mental health.
In addition to friends and family, you may want to look for support groups that are managing the same diagnosis you have as well. You could either search online for possible communities or ask your primary physician if they know of any groups you may be able to join. Support groups can provide you with helpful advice from individuals going through the same thing as you on how they manage their diagnosis, and still flourish with their daily lives.
Speak to a Professional
Lastly, speaking to a mental health professional can be something you consider, on any part of your recovery journey. There are counsellors and psychologists who specialise in helping individuals cope with chronic conditions; they can provide you with structured, evidence-backed strategies on how you can manage your mental health throughout your treatment and recovery journey.
If you would like to speak to a professional, you can browse our directory of experienced, trained therapists and reach out to anyone who seems to best suit your needs at the moment. We’re all here and ready to help, whenever you need.
References
- https://www.healthxchange.sg/wellness/mental-health/coping-with-diagnosis-serious-condition
- https://www.apa.org/topics/chronic-illness/coping-diagnosis
- https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/chronic-illness-mental-health
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/4062-chronic-illness
- https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/chronic-illness
- https://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/coping-with-a-life-threatening-illness.htm
- https://www.cruse.org.uk/understanding-grief/effects-of-grief/five-stages-of-grief/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/stages-of-grief
