When facing a medical prognosis, whether it be short-term, chronic, or terminal, it can be difficult to also keep up with one’s mental health. 

Mental health and physical health have a symbiotic relationship and can often exacerbate each other’s symptoms, and create a vicious cycle of pain. It is important to take a holistic approach to your health, as it is all connected.

You shouldn’t be alone while enduring the stress of calling insurance companies, dealing with the uncertainty of your disease, and the toll having an illness takes on your day to day life. A mental health professional can help support you through the challenges that accompany managing a physical illness and avoid burnout.

Issues Faced by the Chronically or Terminally Ill

Chronic pain and illnesses such as autoimmune diseases, diabetes, or HIV/AIDS or terminal illnesses such as cancer can cause issues far beyond the physical.

These illnesses are often “invisible” and misunderstood as no one can ever fully comprehend one’s level of pain and stress. It can also be hard to recognize how many facets of one’s life can be affected, and the mental toll it can take.

Some issues those with illness may face include:

• Social life may suffer from an inability to attend events etc.
• Professional life may be stunted from an inability to work for periods of time
• Romantic relationships (or lack thereof) can be affected from the roller coaster that often comes with chronic illnesses
• Intimacy issues may arise from pain or stress
• Insurance or financial problems from medical bills
• Stress from medication management and its side effects
• Substance abuse problems from self-medicating for pain
• Medical gaslighting – Doctors that don’t take patient’s complaints seriously
• Keeping up with self-care and healthy habits
• Coming to terms with their limitations and symptoms that may never be resolved

Therapy for Chronic Illness

Getting diagnosed with a lifelong, chronic illness can be devastating. It can be overwhelming trying to wrap one’s head around the idea that this may be an endless journey through the healthcare system, and the unknown battles you may face within your own body.

It can be difficult to maintain support from friends and family without burning them out, and often they are not equipped to fully understand and provide the proper help.

A licensed mental health counselor can be a great addition to one’s medical team, as they can understand how physical illness can affect many other parts of one’s life.

Counselors may use mindfulness and meditation techniques to regulate an overly stressed nervous system that’s constantly bombarded with pain signals. Therapists may also use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help you direct your thoughts to what is under your control, and how to come to terms with what you cannot.

Beyond trying to heal the mind-body connection, a mental health counselor will be able to guide you through the various issues that arise when having a chronic illness. They can help you maintain healthy eating and exercise habits, manage substance abuse, and navigating one’s social, romantic, and professional life.

End of Life Counseling

For those diagnosed with a terminal illness such as cancer or ALS, besides all of the issues mentioned above, they are also facing coming to terms with their own mortality. This therapy can also be for their loved ones to help with their grief as well.

End of life counseling can provide emotional support and guidance to individuals approaching the end of their lives. A mental health professional’s goal in this type of counseling is to provide a safe space for clients to express and navigate these complex emotions. 

Counselors may also offer guidance making difficult decisions relating to their medical treatments and other final wishes, and prepare them to communicate these choices to their family and doctors.

Find a Therapist for Medical Issues Today

Handel Behavioral Health’s highly trained mental health professionals understand the complexity of emotions and unique challenges that can arise from dealing with an incurable illness.

Our compassionate counselors take a holistic approach in therapy for those facing chronic or terminal illness. They will guide you through the ups and downs of your illness, and focus on healing the mind-body connection. 

Our therapists for medical and health problems are available for appointments for online therapy or in-person in our Amherst, Franklin, West Springfield, Wilbraham, or Natick Massachusetts offices. Contact us today at (413) 343-4357 or request an appointment online.

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