Staying Positive During Serious Illness

When you’re told you have a serious illness it can come as a shock. More so if you’re someone who maintains a high level of health. Being diagnosed with a condition, disease or ailment that sets back your health is news that no one wants to receive. However, while this news is confronting, staying positive during serious illness is essential to managing your condition in the best possible way. Let’s look at how you can keep your positivity at an all-time high after diagnosis.

Staying Positive During Serious Illness #1 Gather Information

When faced with a health battle, identify the enemy and know how you plan to attack. Educating and arming yourself with the facts about your illness is surprisingly empowering. When you understand your condition, you’ll feel more confident about treatment options and decisions. Plus, this knowledge lets you prepare a list of questions to ask your doctor when you next see them. Knowing what to expect also relieves any anxiety or apprehension you’re feeling.

Staying Positive During Serious Illness #2 Gain Control

It’s often difficult to come to terms with the news of a serious illness. You may feel vulnerable as you try to make sense of the situation. Additionally, confusion about how you’re going to cope financially can be confronting. What will happen if your illness restricts your capacity to work? Who will pay the bills? While this behaviour is normal, once diagnosis has sunk in, tackling your illness head-on helps you to remain positive and maintain life balance.

If your illness means you need time off work for treatment and recovery, then find out how much leave you’re owed. Also, if you have income protection or life insurance, then look at what illnesses these cover. Plus, review the terms and conditions of policies and what amounts you can expect to receive over what duration. If you don’t have private cover or owed leave, then it’s time to research government benefits.

Staying Positive During Serious Illness #3 Seek Treatment 

Knowing that you are in expert hands is an immense comfort when you are dealing with a serious illness. Finding the right doctor is essential to getting the best possible treatment and the highest level of care. Plus, it never hurts to get a second opinion.

To find leading doctors specializing in the illness you have, search through a medical directory using the name of the condition. For instance, type in lymphoblastic leukemia to find doctors specializing in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. By using this directory or a similar resource your search reveals a choice of doctors for you to consider.

Selecting your own doctor and carrying out independent research lets you feel in control of the situation. Also, you’ll be more optimistic about receiving treatment. After finding the right doctor, you’ll then be ready for the next stage of the journey. Depending on your condition this can mean surgery and several forms of treatment.

Staying Positive During Serious Illness #4 Find Support

When coming to terms with a difficult diagnosis, it can be tempting to shut yourself away and isolate yourself. While this is a normal reaction when you first receive the news, in time, you may find it beneficial to seek out reassurance. Feeling the love and support of others will bring you comfort. Knowing you are loved and cared about is essential when you are going through this time of change and uncertainty.

Friends & Family

Having family members and friends to talk to about your feelings and experiences is essential to maintaining positivity. Also, this situation lets you make sense of physical and emotional changes happening to you. The support and love of your family and friends play a significant role in elevating your optimism even when it gets tough.

Support Groups

Additionally, you may find it helpful to also look for further support outside of your primary network. Searching for support groups in your local area is an excellent way to connect with people experiencing the same illness as you. These groups provide an opportunity to connect with like-minded people who understand how you feel. The support group may also have access to further resources so you understand your diagnosis and treatment options better. Armed with this knowledge and support, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle your illness with greater positivity and strength.

Staying Positive During Serious Illness Key Takeaways

While diagnosis with a serious illness is concerning, technology has advanced considerably. Illnesses that were once debilitating or terminal have far better outcomes. So by remaining positive you give yourself the best chance of recovery and enable your mind and body to become more resilient.

Just to recap, staying positive during serious illlness stems from:

• Gathering information – by knowing more about your condition you can tackle it with greater confidence.
• Gaining control – when you feel like you’re not in control it can play havoc with your mindset and positivity. However, if you know what’s about to happen to you and how you can best manage the situation you can better use the resources you have on hand.
• Seeking treatment – find the right doctor and treatment options for you and your condition.
• Finding support – don’t fly solo when you have a serious illness. Instead, surround yourself with peopleyou love and who love you. Also, seek out others who are in the same situation as you. The comraderie elevates your mood and makes you feel a part of a group who better understand what you are experiencing. For example, you can discuss treatment options and other aspects of your illness that your family and friends find too confronting.

InShape News – ‘Live. Life. Healthy. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.’

For similar content delivered weekly to your inbox, subscribe to our feed.

For daily updates on how to lead a happier, healthier lifestyle, follow us on social media: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter

If you’re looking for more on fitness or health and wellness, then visit the InShape Online Group or the Trixi Club to plan for better, more sustainable health, fitness & wellness.