Chronic Illness Therapy
Living with a chronic illness is not just about living with a medical condition, it’s an experience that can impact many areas of your life as well as your emotional well-being. Even getting a diagnosis can be a difficult step. Many people can experience confusion in this process or symptoms being dismissed by health care providers. Once you have a diagnosis there is then a significant adjustment period.
Some health conditions are visible while others are invisible. You may feel sad, anxious, frustrated, helpless, or angry. At times it may feel like it impacts almost every aspect of your life. We want you to know therapy can help.
In living with a chronic illness we know you may have a lot to navigate and juggle. We provide therapy in person in our Atlanta office, which is located in Buckhead. We also provide virtual sessions so you can meet with a therapist from the comfort of your home or location of your choosing.
Therapy For Chronic Illness
- At our Atlanta based therapy practice we office in person appointments in Buckhead as well as virtual appointments for people with a chronic illness. Our goal is to offer a supportive and compassionate space. Therapy can help you to:
- - Develop coping skills
- -Improve your quality of life
- -Have a safe outlet to process what you’re going through
- -Enhance your emotional resilience
- -Improve pain management
If you are not ready to start therapy here are some reflections on things to consider:
1) Take time to grieve. A chronic illness can often challenge many parts of our functioning that we rely on. These changes in functioning can lead to changes in how we perceive ourselves and our efficacy. Additionally, we are a culture that is grief avoidant, and you may feel the need to continue doing everything at the same caliber as you were before. Let yourself feel the emotions and acknowledge them as they arise.
2) Challenge internalized ableist narratives. This is related to the first point, but there can often be pressure to not let your illness define you. Although your identity is much more than an illness, the reality is that there will be time frames where your illness does overpower you.
3) If your illness was a person, what is your relationship like? Take this as a starting point to reflect on where you are with your illness. Living with a chronic illness often means there is no cure or it will require managed care for an extended period of time. So the goal is to move forward WITH the illness, not without. So how are you relating to it? Do you take care of it? Do you communicate with it? Are both your needs being met? Are you angry towards it? Do you neglect it? Do you pretend it doesn’t exist? Is your life totally consumed by it?
4) Celebrate. Whether it is related to your illness or not, make sure to take time to celebrate milestones and the positive aspects of life. This can also mean being intentional about planning things that bring you joy.
5) Evaluate boundaries within your various relationships. Do you find yourself wanting to show up in relationships the same way you were before you were ill? Changes in health may mean you cannot show up in the same ways and may need support that looks different. Take time to be honest about your limits and seek support as needed.
6) Find a community. Whether this is a support group, online forum, or within a therapeutic context, find places where you can give voice to your experiences.
7) Self-care. This one may warrant an eye-roll, but having a routine with your body and mind is a significant step in managing the illness and living with it. Whether this is related to dietary commitments, medication, sleep hygiene, showing up for medical appointments, or other lifestyle practices – be mindful and intentional, especially when you don’t want to.
8) How do you make meaning out of existential threats? An illness or threat to our life can bring up a myriad of reactions. How do you make meaning of it? How do you conceptualize meaning and purpose? How do you understand death? This doesn’t have to be rooted in a religious context at all, but having a belief system can often be helpful in making meaning out of experiences.
Whenever you are ready for support we are here. You do not have to navigate this alone. Our atlanta based therapists are highly trained and experienced in helping people with chronic pain or chronic illness. You’re welcome to schedule a complimentary consultation or book an appointment.
If you are looking for help with sleep or insomnia, know that you are in the right place. The psychologists at Best Within You Therapy & Wellness work with clients struggling with sleep as well as clients who experience anxiety, and depression. You can schedule a video appointment or in office therapy appointment with one of our psychologists today.