At Thrive Counselling Solutions Adelaide, Carly has a special interest in helping clients deal with the many and varied ways chronic illness can affect their lives. Personalised one on one counselling can help people dealing with chronic illness regain a sense of control and improve their quality of life. Carly is registered with the Australian Counselling Association and is able to see clients through the NDIS who are plan managed or self managed.
Counselling can help clients deal with the stress, pain, and fatigue that may accompany a chronic illness. Signals that you are less able to cope include disturbed sleep, body aches, anxiety, and irritability.
What is a chronic illness?
Chronic illnesses last a long time, often for a year or more. You may also have a need for ongoing medical care and difficulties doing the things you need to do every day. These behaviours, called activities of daily living, include things like using the toilet and getting dressed. These difficulties can also affect your family. Examples of chronic diseases include diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease, or neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or Parkinsons.
Why can coping with a chronic illness be so difficult?
When you have an acute illness such as a stomach bug or a cold, you know you’ll feel better and be back to normal within a short period of time. This isn’t true with a chronic illness. It may never go away and can disrupt your life in a number of ways.
What are some effects of a chronic illness?
Chronic illnesses have disease-specific symptoms, but may also bring invisible symptoms like pain, fatigue and mood disorders. Pain and fatigue may become a frequent part of your day. Along with your illness, you probably have certain things you have to do take care of yourself, like take medicine or do exercises. Keeping up with your health management tasks might also cause stress.
Physical changes from a disease may affect your appearance. These changes can turn a positive self-image into a poor one. When you don't feel good about yourself, you may withdraw from friends and social activities. Mood disorders such as depression and anxiety are common complaints of people with chronic conditions, but they’re treatable.
Chronic illness can also influence your ability to work. You might have to change the way you work to cope with morning stiffness, decreased range of motion and other physical limitations. If you aren’t able to work, you might have financial difficulties.
Work around the house may take much longer to do. You might need to ask for help from your spouse, a relative, or a home healthcare provider. As your life changes, you may feel a loss of control, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future. In some families, there could be a role reversal where people who were able to stay at home must return to work.
Stress can build and can shape your feelings about life. Long periods of stress can lead to frustration, anger, hopelessness, and, at times, depression. This can happen not only to you, but also to your family members. They’re also influenced by the chronic health problems of a loved one.
Chronic Illness Grief
Chronic illness grief refers to the emotional journey that individuals experience when their health condition encounters setbacks. Each time there are worsening symptoms, a decline in health or unexpected complications people can feel a sense of loss. Whether this is a loss of control over their illness or loss of time and energy, emotions people experience can include frustration, sadness and anger. Counselling can help by providing coping tools and skills, having a non-judgmental support person to talk about these feelings to. The goal is ultimately to empower individuals with chronic illness to cope effectively, find meaning and purpose and enhance their overall quality of life.
When should I seek help to cope with my chronic illness?
The following is a checklist of the sources and signals of stress that you may experience with chronic illness.
Your sources of stress:
Chronic illness.
Uncertainty about the future.
Unpredictability of the disease.
Disability
Financial difficulties.
Stress symptoms:
Irritability and difficulty in relationships.
Anxiety, tension, sadness.
Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed.
Disturbed sleep.
Fatigue
Body aches and pains, including headaches.
Cognitive issues.
What kind of help is available for someone with a chronic illness?
At Thrive Counselling Solutions, Carly has a special interest in helping clients deal with the many and varied ways chronic illness can affect their lives. Personalised one on one counselling can help people dealing with chronic illness regain a sense of control and improve their quality of life.
Carly is Registered with the Australian Counselling Association and can see NDIS participants who are plan managed or self managed.
I would like to enquire about pricing for pension card holders please.