For some people, having a chronic illness completely changes the way they think about themselves; among people who are equally physically impaired, some will see themselves as much more altered than others. For instance, one study of men with prostate cancer showed that one-third said they felt less masculine.
Decreases in extraversion, emotional stability and conscientiousness were observed after the onset of most chronic diseases examined, while changes in agreeableness and openness were observed only after stroke and respiratory disease.
Living with or experiencing a chronic illness can result in many adjustments and changes, such as loss of independence and not being able to do all the active things you used to do or usually enjoy. Anxiety and depression are common in people with chronic physical illness.
persistent sadness, anger, irritability, or excessive moodiness. changes in self esteem. concerns about physical appearance and body image issues. behavior problems.
While research indicates that personality type clearly plays a role in health and well-being, certain ailments are more likely to be influenced by psychological characteristics. Heart disease, for example, is more strongly linked to personality type than cancer.
Personality changes can be caused by a mental illness like depression, bipolar disorder, or personality disorders. It may also be caused by physical illnesses like a urinary tract infection (especially in older adults), concussion, or brain tumor. Understanding the cause can help create an effective treatment.
Symptoms of medically-induced PTSD or illness-induced PTSD, like flashbacks, intrusive memories, agitation, being hyper-aware of your surroundings, difficulty sleeping or changes in your mood, are similar to the PTSD symptoms that can result from other types of trauma such as military experience or sexual assault.
The experience of illness itself may have a negative impact on people's self-concept, as they experience such things as pain, discomfort, changes in appearance and a loss of control over their own bodies.
Validation is not: Saying “you'll be fine” or “at least you're young” or “it can't be that bad” or “but you don't look sick.” Validation is: Saying “I understand that *insert chronic illness* can be debilitating.
Chronic illness can often shift the balance of a relationship. The more responsibilities one of you needs to take on, the greater the imbalance. If you're providing care, you can start to feel overwhelmed and resentful. And if you're receiving care, you can feel more like a patient than a partner.
Having a long-term physical condition can lead to social isolation, low self-esteem, stigma and discrimination. You may feel tired, frustrated, worried or stressed, especially when dealing with pain, tests, treatments or flare-ups.
According to Myers-Briggs theory, your personality type is inborn, and it doesn't change. However, the way you exhibit your type WILL change (and should) as you go through life. Why? As you age and mature you develop different facets of your personality type.
While increases in personality traits that help us excel do occur in midlife, some decline as we become older adults. This could possibly be because of health issues, the loss of a partner, or loss of social connections as community members pass away.
While many may suspect that people's personalities are fixed in childhood, new research suggests that most people's personalities evolve throughout their lives.
Chronic diseases - such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, and arthritis - are the leading causes of disability and death in New York State and throughout the United States.
Four personal behaviors that can affect chronic diseases are: lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol use.
According to imaginelifetherapy.com, there are seven stages of grief for chronic disease: denial, pleading, bargaining and desperation, anger, anxiety and depression, loss of self and confusion, and acceptance. Clients can go from one stage to another until finally reaching acceptance.
One of the biggest challenges of living with chronic illness can be the lack of support and understanding from others. Symptoms of chronic illness, including extreme fatigue, brain fog and debilitating pain, may be dismissed by doctors and even family members as a mental health issue.
Regardless of its source, chronic pain can disrupt nearly all aspects of someone's life – beyond physical pain, it can impede their ability to work and participate in social and other activities like they used to, impact their relationships and cause feelings of isolation, frustration and anxiety.
Experiencing depression, mood fluctuations, anxiety, altered perceptions and cognition, and emotional instability, are all commonly associated with chronic pain. This is a result of the perceived stress that impacts the body on a physical and chemical level.
Measured concurrently, neuroticism and conscientiousness were associated with greater disease burden.
Some personality types that are prone to mental health conditions include isolated introverts, overachievers, dramatists, day dreamers, worry warts, and perfectionists. People with these personalities are at risk of anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and other mental disorders.
BPD is currently the most commonly diagnosed personality disorder. You can read more about it on our pages on borderline personality disorder (BPD).