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Mental Health And Chronic Illness

                 

Mental health refers to the condition of well-being and satisfaction of the mind and spirit as a whole, not as a partial. It reflects an individual's state of mind and behavior in the society.

A chronic illness refers to a disease or condition that renders an individual unwell for a long period usually taking months or even years to be treated.

Examples of chronic illnesses include only to mention but a few as Cancer, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, a few STIS, Arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, Epilepsy, Endometriosis, and so much more.


HOW THEN DOES MENTAL HEALTH RELATE TO CHRONIC ILLNESS?

Mental health and chronic illnesses affect each other in the form of a dynamic relationship.

When an individual receives a diagnostic report showing that there is an existence of a chronic illness regardless of whatever form it is, he/ she becomes depressed and when the individual's level of depression increases, the long-term condition persists and, increases.

Chronic illnesses do occur and there are advanced treatment methods such as the revolution of AI in medicine that can be employed to curb the disease. Still, the potential of healing, recovery, and treatment period depends on the individual's state of mind toward the condition.


OTHER EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM ILLNESS AFFECT AN INDIVIDUAL'S MENTAL STABILITY.

Refrain from work. Long-term illness empathetically forces employers to send a sick worker home as he/ she cannot cope with the job demands and expectations. 

Financial instability. Chronic diseases take a long to heal and treat requiring large amounts of money which may not be affordable since the long hours of hospital admission, and drug purchases also increase health costs that make an individual's family unable to manage other basic needs.

General physical appearance. Long-term conditions generally affect an individual's physique as they may be accompanied by disability and loss in body weight that results in great changes in body size. 

Change of lifestyle and behavior. Some of these chronic illnesses require various therapy procedures that will often make an individual change his/ her way of living and adopt changes in behavior that he/ she is not used to.

Dependency. Persons living with chronic illnesses require general support from family and friends who help them run their day-to-day activities. They need special attention from members close to them regarding basic needs provision for their health. This interferes with other people's activities as all eyes are on the patient.

Social Isolation is used as part of the treatment. Some therapy treatments require one to be isolated from society to avoid cases of new infections in other members of society.

Impairment. Some chronic illnesses render an individual physically, and mentally disabled.

Future doubt. When an individual is suffering from a chronic illness, he/ she starts to have feelings of uncertainty about the future.


MANAGING FEAR, STRESS, DEPRESSION, AND ANXIETY.

Seeking help from mental experts such as a Psychotherapist.

Joining support groups that address issues concerning chronic illnesses.

Being faithful, and keeping a fighting spirit that all shall be well.

Paying attention to the disease.


MANAGING CHRONIC ILLNESSES

Regular medical checkups.

Staying healthy.

Taking medications.

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 References                        

Cleveland Clinic 'Chronic Illness'.My.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles. 5/10/2021 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/4062-chronic-illness

CDC 'About Mental Health'. CDC.gov/mental health/learn. 16th April 2024 https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm

Martha McLaughlin 'How does chronic illness affect mental health?' blackbearrehab.com https://blackbearrehab.com/mental-health/how-does-chronic-illness-affect-mental-health/

MedlinePlus 'Living with a chronic illness-reach out to others' medlineplus.gov 8/15/2022 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000602.htm

 

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