The 5 Benefits Of Going To The Psychologist When You Suffer From A Chronic Illness
Chronic diseases are a reality that, many times, we insist on observing only from a biomedical point of view.
However, we cannot forget that the experience of having developed a pathology of this type goes far beyond what happens in the organs and cellular tissues of our body: there are both causes and consequences of this that are psychological, behavioral. .
So that, So that a person with a chronic illness can preserve, to the extent possible, their quality of life and ability to live autonomously, in many cases they must have psychotherapeutic support. combined with medical assistance. In this article we will see why.
What are the benefits of going to a psychologist if you have a chronic illness?
Under the concept of “chronic disease” it is possible to find a great diversity of pathologies. Although we normally associate this term with severe health alterations, we must not forget that there are chronic diseases with mild symptoms or that hardly harm people’s quality of life, and there are even cases in which these disappear after a few months. or years. Technically, a chronic disease does not have to remain forever, but rather produce a progression towards worsening.
Now, in practice, the most harmful and persistent chronic diseases are the ones that attract the most attention in the field of health, naturally. And it is in this group of pathologies, among which we even find some that increasingly deteriorate the person’s health until they cause death, in which they become clearer. the benefits of having support in the context of psychological therapy.
The advantages of combining treatment with psychotherapy in cases of chronic diseases can be classified into two main categories:
These two major focuses of psychological intervention shape the way in which psychotherapy works both on part of the causes or triggers of the disease and on its consequences. On the one hand, we must not forget that what participates in the maintenance and evolution of pathologies is not only biological in nature, but also behavioral (our lifestyle habits and behavioral patterns influence the pathology), and on the other , the experience of having that illness can vary greatly depending on how we process the emotions and thoughts linked to it.
Going beyond this basic distinction between areas of intervention, we can specify several benefits that psychotherapy brings to patients with chronic illnesses. They are the following.
1. It allows you to adopt a lifestyle adapted to the reality of the disease
Both behaving as if chronic illness did not exist and assuming that it completely cancels out those who suffer from it are harmful alternatives.. For this reason, in psychotherapy the patient is “educated” in behavioral patterns associated with habits that help adapt to the illness, without adding to or subtracting from it.
In addition, psychologists can work in coordination with the patient’s relatives to make them understand what is happening and support the person in internalizing these routines.
2. Helps understand the origin of the discomfort
Chronic diseases, by virtue of being chronic, are associated with a greater or lesser degree of discomfort, which can occur in many degrees of intensity. However, The simple fact of having developed one of these pathologies does not imply a good understanding of which aspects of it produce significant discomfort..
In psychotherapy, the patient is helped to look beyond the abstract concept of “chronic illness” and to understand the concrete experiences that cause subjective discomfort. These elements change depending on each person, and being aware of them through self-knowledge processes supported by the psychologist allows you to better manage these negative emotions and limit their power, without letting them completely overwhelm the person working on acceptance.
3. Intervention on grief
Receiving a diagnosis of a chronic illness can be a hard emotional blow. This It is associated with a feeling of loss, in this case loss of health or even one’s own identity..
That is why in many cases these cases are approached just as is done with the psychological grief of those who have lost a loved one. What it is about is enhancing the capacity for acceptance and not remaining anchored in nostalgia and living standards in which all references to “what should be” point to the past.
4. Allows you to maintain sources of motivation and incentives
Just as important as managing and limiting the negative emotional impact of chronic illness is helping the person find ways to be happy, maintain a life with the capacity to offer exciting experiences. For this reason, in psychotherapy, techniques of self-knowledge and the development of self-motivation are used when detecting interests compatible with the pathology and that provide incentives in the medium and long term.
5. The appearance of psychological disorders is prevented
In therapy, we also work to ensure that incorrect management of emotions leads the person with a chronic illness to develop disorders such as depression, dysthymia, an eating disorder, etc.
Do you want to have the help of a psychologist?
If you suffer from a chronic illness and are interested in psychological therapy to improve your quality of life, contact our team. From Vibra Wellness We carry out both psychotherapy and emotion management training programs through meditation courses, Mindfulness, and other therapeutic resources. You will find us in Madrid.
