Chronic illness comes in many different forms, and affects many people in the world. It is something that affects everyone in a family, not just the person who is actually ill.
Chronic illness is not something that can be defined easily. It can vary from person to person, but basically makes up any conditions that persist over a long period of time and affect a person physically, emotionally, intellectually, vocationally, or so so forth. These conditions usually cannot be cured and are something the person just has to live with. Some examples of chronic illness are heart disease, multiple sclerosis, and kidney disease but the list goes on and on.
A lot of those with chronic illness face things like pain and depression on a daily basis. They might do their best to be strong for the people around them but they struggle sometimes and really need a good support system behind them. Below You will find a list of things those with chronic illnesses wish the people they care about knew. These are all things they might want to say but have not yet done so.
5 Things People With Chronical Illness Wish The People They Love Knew:
1. There will be good days and bad days.
When someone is chronically ill they aren’t always facing death like people tend to think. There is a difference between chronic and terminal. That being said, there will be good days and bad days. Just because someone has a few good days in a row doesn’t mean he or she is cured, and just because they have a few bad days doesn’t mean it’s the end of their life.
2. Comparing minor aches and pains to their pain does not help.
While you might think you’re not hurting anyone’s feelings by comparing your average headache to the way a person’s chest might feel when their heart condition is acting up, you are. Don’t get me wrong everyone’s pain is valid but there is no comparison between the two. There needs to be a line with this kind of thing.
3. There is no getting better.
Chronic illness is not something you just wake up from one day. Instead of giving false hope why not ask if this person is having a good day? You can’t try to force someone to think that believing they will get better will make their problems all melt away. It just doesn’t work like that.
4. Validation goes a long way.
Validating the person dealing with illness and acknowledging their pain is important. Don’t downplay things and make them feel like they’re overreacting when they aren’t. This will really do so much more than most realize.
5. Crying doesn’t always mean pain.
Just because someone with chronic illness is upset or crying doesn’t mean it is because of their illness. They still have emotions and they still get upset just like everyone else. If you’re confused, ask.