Anxiety and depression are common in people with chronic physical illness. The encouraging news is that there are a range of treatments, health professionals and services available to help with anxiety and depression as well as information on what you can do to help yourself.
Distress is common following a chronic disease diagnosis. Research indicates that people who are experiencing a number of stressful life events before diagnosis, and those with a history of depression, may be at particular risk of psychological distress when they learn they have a chronic illness.
Sorrow and sadness
It's common to feel sad after an illness has been diagnosed. The sadness may come and go, or may be present much of the time. There are often many changes to be made and you may feel grief as a result of these changes, and at the thought that your future may not be as you had planned.
Chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes may make you more likely to have or develop a mental health condition. It is common to feel sad or discouraged after having a heart attack, receiving a cancer diagnosis, or when trying to manage a chronic condition such as pain.
They may have school problems and feel overprotected. They may experience recurrent fear and pain. When these emotional difficulties are not dealt with, they can lead to anxiety, sadness, withdrawal, rebelliousness, or a decreased interest in school. School-age children rarely state that they are sad or depressed.
Emotional impact
The psychological distress felt by family members often results from their feelings of helplessness and lack of control. Many different emotions are mentioned by family members; guilt, anger, worry, upset, frustration, embarrassment, despair, loss, relief.
When you don't feel good about yourself, you may withdraw from friends and social activities. Mood disorders such as depression and anxiety are common complaints of people with chronic conditions, but they're extremely treatable. Chronic illness can also influence your ability to work.
childhood abuse, trauma, or neglect. social isolation or loneliness. experiencing discrimination and stigma, including racism. social disadvantage, poverty or debt.
Emotional symptoms are defined as daily presence of at least one of four symptoms: feeling low, irritable or bad tempered, nervous and having difficulties falling asleep.
If you are suffering from chronic pain and its psychological effects, it can feel as if there is no end to your pain. And no, you're not going bonkers. Experiencing depression, mood fluctuations, anxiety, altered perceptions and cognition, and emotional instability, are all commonly associated with chronic pain.
Patients with chronic pain often have a difficult time adapting to their pain and there is often an increase in stress, anxiety, depression and sometimes thoughts of suicide.
Chronic pain and emotions are so intertwined, in fact, says psychiatrist and palliative medicine physician David Buxton, MD, that's it's often hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. People with depression, for example, have about three times the risk of those without it of developing chronic pain.
The Six Basic Emotions
A widely accepted theory of basic emotions and their expressions, developed Paul Ekman, suggests we have six basic emotions. They include sadness, happiness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust.
Depression, anxiety, stress, poor body image, grief, loss, a major change in your life such as becoming a new parent can all affect your mental and emotional health and day to day living.
feel isolated — disinterested in the company of family and friends, or withdrawing from usual daily activities. feel overwhelmed — unable to concentrate or make decisions. be moody — feeling low or depression; feeling burnt out; emotional outbursts of uncontrollable anger, fear, helplessness or crying.
Chronic diseases can affect a person's daily life, restricting their enjoyment in normal activities with family and friends. Learning a new way of life and coping with new physical limitations is one of the biggest challenges for chronic sufferers, affecting almost half of them.
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.
Having a family member with a chronic illness can impact the daily activities of family members in the following ways: Feeling a burden from caring for the person. Feeling like they don't have time or freedom for themselves or their own interests. Having to rearrange their schedules to accommodate doctor's appointments.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders. Symptoms vary from person to person, but may include sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, pessimism, irritability, worthlessness, and fatigue. These symptoms interfere with a person's ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy their life.
It's normal to feel shock, sadness, anger and helplessness. But for some people, the feeling they're unable to cope with their situation does not go away, and they feel too low to be able to do any of the things they want to. If this happens to you and these feelings persist, it may be helpful to talk to a doctor.
Agitation or displaying anger, anxiety or moodiness. Withdrawal or isolation from others. Poor self-care and perhaps engaging in risky behavior. Hopelessness, or feelings of being overwhelmed and worthless.