Emotional support & coping
Tue, March 03, 2009 1:00 AM
In my experience, psychological well-being is so often overlooked in the treatment of Crohn's & Colitis. I was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2004 and found myself at a complete loss for how to cope with the news of a chronic illness without a cure. Since then, I have had my ups and downs, but find that emotional well-being is still a huge missing piece of the overall treatment of the disease.
I am now a graduate student at the University of Denver, working on my doctorate in clinical psychology. Much of my focus has been on health psychology, which examines the intersection between illness and psychological health. In my experience, it seems that many clinicians don't quite know how to deal with chronic medical illness and/or chronic pain in their clients. I'm wondering if anyone has experienced this with mental health professionals?
And with that, what would you have liked from your therapist/psychologist/counselor that you didn't get or felt that he/she was missing? Or, even if you haven't been to a mental health professional, what would you want from one in terms of taking your illness into account? What would you expect them to know or understand? I'm just so curious about how this oversight of psychological care for Crohn's/Colitis affects other people, since I have experience so many instances of a lack of understanding and a tendency to not even factor in the chronic illness in the overall health of a person.
cemJoined Nov 10, 2008
Fri, March 06, 2009 1:00 AM
Reply posted for cem.
I found relief from the emotional side of things when I recognised that most of the feelings and thoughts I was having were not mine. Now that may seem weird but then a disease like UC is totally sane?
Joined Mar 6, 2009
Tue, March 03, 2009 10:09 PM
Reply posted for cem.
For me, it isn't as much as the psychological aspect of this disease, but the day to day survival of it. Yes, there have been times when I say "why me?" and feel the strain that this has put on me, but somewhere, deep down inside, I keep hearing that even though there isn't a cure for this horrible disease, we can and will survive. It is a matter of finding the right doctor and the right medication.
Psychologically, it is more - what next? I have abdominal pain, I now have chronic inflammation of the bladder, a hernia, my legs hurt so bad, I can hardly walk, how dibilitating is this disease? How many more organs will be affected by it? I have had my gallbladder removed which helped a little, but knowing that there are others out there, as yourself, who are coping the best they can, and having this site to come to for understanding and sharing makes a huge, huge difference.
For me, it's more, getting through the phases that one goes through with any type of illness, then it seems to be a little bit easier. I've cried until I made myself sick, been angry, at one point, refused to believe it and now I am learning to accept it and putting my foot down with the medical profession and acting on this. Two years, for me, is two years too long to have to live in severe pain and I simply choose not to. My doctor actually listens to me now, if I want a specific test done, bloodwork, whatever, he will do it. We are the only ones who knows what our body is going through and if we don't speak up, no one will.
I tolled with the idea of seeing a therapist, but I am lucky enough to have a core of friends there to listen and be there for me. I have had some pretty nasty previous experiences with therapists, and yes, not many understand what it is like to have to live in pain on a daily basis. That, I believe, is the key to finding psychological help. Someone who has been there, done that.
Joined Mar 3, 2009