Week 1 Discussion Factors Affecting Chronic Illness
Week 1 discussion Discussion Question There are many factors that affect chronic illness—chronic pain, stigma, social isolation, altered mobility, or fatigue. Utilizing your learning from your readings and the South University Online Library resources, respond to one the following questions: Based on the research, which of these factors have the greatest impact on a patient? Why? Contrast at least two ways the factors would affect a twelve-year-old with the way they would affect a seventy-five-year-old. Consider the twelve-year-old and the seventy-five-year-old have a chronic illness. How does the chronically ill patient’s illness trajectory influence the plan of care? Review Healthy people.gov website. Discuss how you feel these goals will impact the health of the nation. Briefly discuss how you could incorporate these goals/objectives into your day-to-day nursing practice.Week 1 Discussion Factors Affecting Chronic Illness
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Living with a chronic illness is perhaps the most difficult challenge that people can face in their life. Any disease is usually a hard psychological blow for a person, not mentioning all the physical inconveniences and pain that the disease might cause. However, when the disease can be cured, it gives hope to a person and the light at the end of the tunnel. The person knows why he or she takes medicines and goes for treatment. The result of the treatment is waited and the wish to get cured becomes the guiding force of a patient. However, if we remove any possibility to get cured, what is left for sick people? Do they have any stimulus to undergo a cure? That is why, first of all, chronic illness is a trial for the psychology of ill people and their environment.
Chronic illnesses might have different characteristics and different course, they might cause constant pain or just discomfort from time to time, and they might have different stages. All these factors influence the psychological and physical state of a person and the possibility to alleviate patient’s sufferings. However, if to take a general approach to a chronic illness as a physical and psychological problem, it is possible to characterize the way it influences on a person and find out the methods of struggle with it.Week 1 Discussion Factors Affecting Chronic Illness
Certainly, having learned about the chronic disease, people get depressed. The perspective of being ill for an indefinite period and to be dependent from medicines dispirits. It adversely affects people’s communication with others. They might be nervous and aggressive, reject any help or on the contrary pretend absolutely helpless.
Anyway, if chronically ill people yield to the disease and lose heart they become a burden to their family. Family members feel that they should support the person but the more they feel sorry the more the person becomes depressed and overburdened with his or her problem. Certainly, people, who are physically-challenged because of their chronic illness, need help and support, but they should be treated as normal people and members of society.
Chronically ill people are usually painfully sensible of their inferiority to others and try to avoid companies. Thus, they become more isolated and reserved, which contribute to the worsening of depression. �Social relationships are frequently disrupted and usually disintegrate under the stress of chronic illness and its management because chronic illnesses often involve disfigurement, limitations in mobility, the need for additional rest, loss of control of some body functions, and an inability to maintain steady employment�� (Royer, 66).
Unfortunately, the desire to cut oneself from the society is often provoked by the society itself. Others’ people attitude to physically-challenged people might be different and not always positive. They might be treated as inferior people or even discriminated. Obviously, such attitude results in aggression and desire for isolation. Thus, we see that chronic illnesses usually have negative effect on ill people themselves, on their environment and on their relations with the society. However, these negative consequences might be mitigated due to another approach to the problem.
In her book After the Diagnosis Joann Lemaistre calls it the Pollyanna approach, basing on the novel about a girl Pollyanna, who tried to find something positive in all her troubles and to adjust to difficulties. Ill people should try to find inner harmony and to become confident of themselves. �To be psychologically well while physically sick involves the belief that your personal worth transcends physical limitations; you need positive self-esteem for true adaptation.
This belief in your self-worth rarely emerges until what you have lost and grieved for stands second in importance to precious moments of inner peace and joy�� (Lemaistre, 25).Week 1 Discussion Factors Affecting Chronic Illness
Chronically ill people should master their disease and continue struggle with it. They should not be afraid of being among healthy people, and then they could change attitude to them. It is very important to follow examples of those people who managed to find their place in society despite any illness. Therefore, there are different associations which have united those people who have recently learned about their disease and those who managed to win it.
There chronically ill people might derive strength and hope, learn more details about the disease and find more friends. It is important not to be afraid of learning the information about the illness, its types, its stages and the ways of its treatment. Knowledge becomes one of the most important arm in the struggle with any disease. Such diseases as cancer are often associated with soon death, while there are many people who managed to cure it and to continue full-fledged life. Recognition of this fact will help people to struggle with their illness.
To make a conclusion, chronic illness has a serious impact on people’s state of mind and their relations with the society. In the very beginning the shock might be so strong that a person might lose heart and postpone the treatment because of the fear and unwillingness to believe that this disease has affected him or her. The support of friends and relatives is essential for ill people. They should feel that they are not alone in their struggle with the disease.
Being diagnosed with a chronic illness such as diabetes, cancer or arthritis can come as a blow. It’s normal to experience a range of emotions in the wake of such a diagnosis. However, you can learn to manage these feelings to live a fulfilling life.Week 1 Discussion Factors Affecting Chronic Illness
Emotional roller coaster
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.1 However, even people with relatively few stresses in life can be shaken by a chronic-disease diagnosis.
Digesting news of your disease can bring a flood of emotions. A diagnosis of diabetes, for example, is often associated with feelings of guilt and shame.2 Grief is another common reaction to chronic illness. You may experience various stages of grief including denial, bargaining, anger and sadness.
You may feel you’re on a roller coaster of emotion — accepting one day, and angry the next. It may help to remind yourself that these feelings are normal, and will likely ease with time.
Coping strategies
Some days you may be tempted to pretend you never received your diagnosis. However, facing your diagnosis head on is the best way to cope.Week 1 Discussion Factors Affecting Chronic Illness
This was evident in a study of women with breast cancer, which found women who felt resigned to their fate were psychologically less well adjusted three years later, compared to women who actively confronted their diagnosis.3
Another study, also of women with breast cancer, found those who sought social support and used active coping strategies — such as developing a plan of action — reported more inner peace and satisfaction with life two years later, compared to women who tended to deny or avoid their diagnosis.4
How can you actively face your illness? A good place to start is by writing down all of your questions and taking them to your physician to discuss. Ask your doctor what specific steps you can take to optimize your health. Accurate knowledge can help you feel empowered.
Also try to manage the elements in your life that are within your control. You may not be able to control certain aspects of your disease, but you can choose to eat healthy meals, take medications as prescribed and spend less time with people who aren’t supportive.Week 1 Discussion Factors Affecting Chronic Illness
Finding support
Minimize stress by letting go of unnecessary obligations. You may be able to take time off from volunteer commitments, for instance, or ask for more help from family and friends. Build a strong support network you can rely on, and communicate with them about how they can best help you manage your disease.
Illness can be stressful for an entire family. It’s not unusual for couples to experience strain on their relationship. Try to see things from the other’s perspective and keep the lines of communication open. If you have children, plan for some alone time with your partner. Also encourage your partner to make time to care for himself or herself, especially if he or she is your primary caregiver.
Facing a life-threatening diagnosis
Being diagnosed with a life-threatening or terminal disease is likely to trigger feelings of fear and grief. More than ever, it is important to surround yourself with positive and supportive people. Try to find small things that you can enjoy every day, and set realistic short-term goals for yourself. Even small goals such as a visit to a park or museum, or a phone call with a close friend, can help you make the most of each day.Week 1 Discussion Factors Affecting Chronic Illness