To struggle with diagnosis?

[2021healthissues]

If you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic health issue, how did you come to terms with it?

I’m 24 and my life has suddenly become very restricted. I’m scared about my condition worsening as I age too. It’s frustrating not being able to cure it.

At the same time; I’m not dying and it’s not major in the grand scheme of life. I’m just having difficulty with how much my body has changed in the past year and that things will never be the same. How did you get past this?

I was referred for counseling. It was a disability counselor and she said that acceptance was important. Then focus on what you can do. Making plans was still important. She gave me lots of stuff on anxiety, including meditation etc. My debts were mounting because I couldn't work or live cheaply and I was turned down for benefits, so it was a difficult time. Are there any support services that you fit into?

I think you are experiencing an intense reaction to “suddenly becoming restricted”. As time goes on you adjust and it doesn’t seem so significant. It becomes your new normal, you accept and change. Adapt and survive (or even thrive).

It takes time and there are a few stages to go through along the way. It isn’t easy, and there are a lot of down days along the way, but when acceptance comes it does somehow make things easier. Take care of yourself.

www.healthline.com/health/chronic-illness/stages-of-grief-new-medical-diagnosis

I was diagnosed at 25 and 28 with illnesses that can’t be cured. Again whilst it won’t kill me it will shorten my life and be a curse. I was okay for a about a year or 2 and then my mental health turned and I felt I needed counselling. I was referred pretty quickly. It takes time to accept and re plan the life you thought you had etc. For me I’m 31 now and I had a year out of work and I’m back working 30 hours a week . Not sure if I ever will be full time but I just manage the best I can and have rest days as needed. Depending on your condition are there social network groups you can join? One of the first things I did was join groups on Facebook which made me realise I wasn’t alone in this.

My husband developed a condition that won't kill him but has materially impacted his life.

It was hard at first but as the years have passed he's accepted it more. I think it helps that we had a child after his diagnosis. Also that me and the kids adore him for who he is.

His mum has the same condition and has spent thousands of pounds over the years trying to find a cure. She buys into every bit of quackery out there in some hope that this will be the cure. Spoiler alert .... it's not