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How to Deal with Diabetes and Other Chronic Health Issues

Posted By : Administrator Wednesday 01 Feb, 2017
How to Deal with Diabetes and Other Chronic Health Issues

A fracture after an accident can no doubt be painful, but at least you know it will heal in time. The case is not so in the case of chronic ailments for which no cure has been found yet. We are talking about conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis – ailments that involve significant adjustments in daily lives. Someone diagnosed with a chronic illness can go through intense emotional upheaval. People who have a history of depression or other mental health issues are at an even significant risk of psychological distress following a chronic illness diagnosis. 

Grief is a common reaction to chronic ailment. Sometimes, there can be guilt and shame involved too, such as in the case of diabetes. It has been seen that people can go through stages of grief when diagnosed with a chronic illness – grief, denial, anger, and sadness.


How to cope with the emotional rollercoaster?

The first step in dealing with your upheaval is accepting the diagnosis and taking it head on. Recent studies conducted amongst women with breast cancer have found out that individuals who were accepting of their diagnosis and confronted it lived a better quality of life than individuals who were resigned to their fate. 

You need to remind yourself that there is still a lot you can do and take control of your life again. For instance, in the case of diabetes, eating healthy and making crucial lifestyle changes can help in better management of the disease. 

Perhaps the most important step in coping with chronic health issues is to ask your physician as many questions as you can. Make a list of doubts that you have and schedule an appointment with your physician. Getting clear, concise answers from an expert can help in alleviating a lot of your emotional tension. 


Build a support network

It is important to build a support network. Don’t be ashamed of calling upon close friends and family for help. When you are diagnosed with a chronic ailment, it is important that you prioritize only the most important tasks in your daily schedule. Thus, you can take a break from social obligations, and even take rest from your volunteer activities. 

It is also important to communicate openly with your partner. Such diagnosis can put a strain on relationships and further aggravate the situation. Communicate freely and don’t be shy of explaining how you are feeling and what you are expecting from your partner. 

Stay away from people who aren’t too supportive. At times like these, it is crucial that you surround yourself with people who have a positive outlook in life and are always there to lend a helping hand. 


Consult a psychiatrist

If you are finding it difficult to cope with your emotional distress, seeing a certified psychiatrist can help. Talking about your mental state with a trained professional can help prevent worsening of your emotional well-being that could lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.


Catex Health is a large network of mental health experts who are available 24x7 for your support and will ensure confidential, dignified and empowering support for any sort of emotional distress. Click here to reach out to an expert or call +91 9911775626.