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There's no right or wrong way to feel when you're told you have a terminal illness, which is a health condition that cannot be cured and that you'll most likely die from. You might feel numb at first, and unable to take in the news, or feel calm and matter-of-fact about dying.
Aug 21, 2024 · But whatever your diagnosis or emotional response, it’s important to know that you’re not powerless. There are steps you can take to better cope with your new situation, ease the stress and mental anguish that often accompany serious illness, and find a way to navigate this challenging new journey.
- Your body is not the enemy. Quite the opposite; it’s working hard to support you. There’s a chapter in the book titled “Appreciating the Wondrousness of the Human Body.”
- It’s not your fault that you have health problems. Everyone struggles with his or her health at some point in life. Don’t make things worse by adding self-blame to your list of challenges.
- Accepting that life is uncertain, unpredictable, and doesn’t always conform to your wishes is the first step toward making peace with your circumstances.
- Don’t spend your precious energy worrying about how others view your medical condition. Instead, spend that precious energy taking good care of yourself.
- Loving her. I’m lucky I married someone I came to deeply love. There are so many things about her I find lovable: We have a perspective on life that is different from most people’s: We’re so in sync about politics, the generations’ culture, music, literature, and movies.
- Acceptance of the situation. As the Stoics urge, I accept rather than rebel against reality. That helps me deal with it rather than give myself a hard time.
- Looking forward. I don’t allow myself to dwell on the past, like “This is what Janice used to be able to do and now can’t." Rather, I think of each day as a baseline and about how we can move forward from here.
- Daily writing: 3-minute exercises. Per Albert Ellis’s Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy, you identify the thinking that’s dragging you down: “I must solve this.
If you still feel overwhelmed after some time and feel that you can’t cope, try speaking to someone outside your immediate family and friends. You might want to try some counselling. Also, various organisations can give you information about coping with grief, terminal illness and dying with cancer.
Chronic Illness. An individual counselor or a support group can help you 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. It is best to seek help early.
May 6, 2024 · Talking about your illness or condition. Introduction. Difficulties in talking. Talking about what is important to you. Your feelings. Telling other people you have a serious illness. Taking control of your situation. Who can you talk to? Asking for support. Humour. Dealing with feelings about your illness. Responding to other people.
