Many people who experience chronic health problems experience a reaction of shock and denial. This reaction may be followed by anxiety, depression, and anger. In most cases, patients eventually accept their illness and try to confront it. However, people with serious chronic illnesses (such as cancer and organ failure) may experience psychological distress that requires professional intervention.
According to the data provided in the World Cancer Report, cancer patients are known to exhibit a serious stress response compared to the general population. It has been observed that chronic stress makes adaptation difficult during the treatment process of the disease and negatively affects the course of the disease.
Chronic diseases affect not only the individual who has the disease but also the entire family. Many variables such as the family’s response to stress, their ability to adapt, the way they respond to crises that arise during life, and the presence of social support (such as extended family, relatives, and friends) shape both the patient’s and the family’s compliance with treatment in chronic diseases.
The Impact of Chronic Diseases on the Individual and the Family
Chronic illnesses can become a source of intense anxiety and stress within the family. Anger, sadness, and depression may be observed in the chronically ill and their relatives, as well as reactions such as guilt and/or blame among family members.
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Having a child with special needs (mental retardation, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, autism, allergies, orthopedic problems, etc.); having a liver, heart, circulation, kidney, etc. disorder; cancer; vision, hearing loss, etc. problems can create feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, and frustration within the family system. In such cases, family members have to adapt themselves to the person who is experiencing a chronic illness.
It is necessary to provide care according to the needs of a family member with a chronic disease, to divide the work when necessary and to organize the daily routine accordingly. In a chronic disease that occurs suddenly, it is very important to adapt to the current situation and keep the family together. Among the needs of a person with a chronic disease, social support comes first along with physical care. It is known that individuals who feel they are not alone and are supported socially can cope better with chronic disease and adapt more effectively.
Intervention for Chronically Ill Patients and Their Relatives
Supporting the adaptation skills of chronically ill patients and their relatives, developing their coping skills and supporting them psychosocially are as important as treating the disease physically. There are various treatment and psychotherapy methods used in this regard.
Family Therapy:
In family therapy, family members are considered as parts of the family system. Therefore, any difficulty/illness experienced by family members affects the entire family. In coping with chronic illness, it is very important to strengthen family members, allow them to express the difficulties they are experiencing emotionally, support the relationship between family members and emphasize their personal strengths, and encourage them that the problem can be solved together .
Individual Psychotherapy:
Individual psychotherapy is also among the methods used for individuals suffering from chronic diseases. In chronic diseases that suddenly appear, psychotherapy is of great benefit in terms of the individual’s readjustment of life, flexibility in terms of limitations, and re-adjustment of daily routine. Individuals who have had chronic diseases since birth or early childhood develop their life skills in this direction and can adapt. However, various emotional symptoms (such as anger, blame) can be seen in transitional stages during life periods: For example, they may feel restricted during adolescence and experience different emotional problems as their awareness increases. Among the intervention approaches to the problem encountered during life periods, strengthening the individual’s coping skills and providing support during this process are quite critical.
Group therapy (self-help groups) is another effective way for people with chronic illnesses to feel that they are not alone and to share experiences.
Medical Treatment:
When necessary, medical treatment is also among the methods used to alleviate the anger, sadness and anxiety (stress) symptoms caused by chronic illness.
