Chronic Illness in the home: Try Psychology for helpful tips

I found Psychology benefited me with my chronic illnesses, making me feel a lot better over time.

Making it Normal by Timothy Weymann, LCSW

Summary Tips from The Psychology of Chronic Illness: Relationships

Blame Game

• Low social support = distress Baby Boomers have been raised in household duties and childcare responsibilities which can make life challenging for a high social life and income.
• This in itself can cause a lot of distress.
• Yet it could happen to anyone.
• Adding chronic illness to it makes it even more challenging with low social support.

• Becoming a ‘scapegoat’ Click on this link to gain insights you might not have seen before.
• You will find more than you expected and very accurate.
• As a recovering scapegoat I found this article particularly pertinent and a good read.

Finding A Safe Balance

• Over-involvement I am guilty of over involvement probably due to my ‘scapegoat’ status always trying to do my very best to my own detriment.
• Once I realize I was in over-involvement mode I purposefully decided to change my ways.
• Especially for the sake of my health while reversing chronic illnesses.

• Diseases part Having encountered multiple diseases throughout my life I know how much it affects daily life.
• Having care takers is valuable while very challenging without support from others and loved ones.
• If you lack full-time support you might have to find your own resilience to get through it, as I have found.

Sharing The Load

• Our part/Their part It is beneficial to have cooperation with a supporter doing their part to help you.
• It is also fair for the one who is chronically ill to do their part as much as is possible.
• It also encourages the one who is ill to feel their contributions are valued and appreciated.

• Family/Marital Therapy If you are chronically ill it can take a toll on any type of relationship.
• Receiving regular therapy can be a life saver.
• Having an outside view of the situation can help balance tension. Responsibility and understanding can also benefit all concerned.

• Interpersonal Therapy There are important benefits managing your situation with Interpersonal Therapy in a deeply personal way.
• With confidentiality you may feel better being able to talk freely, receiving the help to relieve your situation.

• Social Media use In the event that it is difficult to connect with friends or family Social Media platforms can be the next best to keep socialized.
• Feeling part of something greater than home-bound chronic illness, restricting you from face to face contact, can make you feel better and less lonely.

Learning To Cope

• Coping Strategies I have discovered many coping strategies unique to me.
• Intuitively I discover ways of helping myself, having become resilient, watching how others cope and having regular therapy.
• It makes me feel less helpless, more hopeful and more able to move forward.

• Support Groups What a difference support groups made for me.
• Having attended support groups for five years during my cancer years.
• A fibromyalgia support group helped me get through to reversal stage.
• My goal is to return to that support group to share my testimony of healing.

Remember: There is hope always with bountiful solutions. Choose which ones work for you and your loved ones.

In case you missed it: