INFOGRAPHICWELL-BEINGMSPSORIASIS

How to Care for Your Mental Health When You Have a Chronic Illness

March 18, 2024
How to Care for Your Mental Health When You Have a Chronic Illness ONGOING ILLNESS IS COMMON AND INCREASING 45% of all Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease, and that number is growing. 20.4% of U.S. adults live with chronic pain. A Double Bind A large percentage of people with chronic illnesses also have major depression, including: 50% of people with Parkinson’s disease 41% of people with cancer More than 25% of people with diabetes HOW TO DEAL WITH PAIN Mindfulness May Help An 8-week course in mindfulness-based stress reduction helped reduce chronic pain in patients. Patients with arthritis saw the largest improvement in pain and psychological distress while those with headache/migraine saw the smallest improvement. Those who complied best with a home meditation practice—no matter the illness— experienced the most pain relief. Mindfulness Up, Pain Down People with multiple sclerosis frequently suffer from chronic pain. A study showed that a practice of mindfulness—which includes observing pain without judgement—decreased the experience of pain in patients with MS. An Alternative Approach to Pain Patients can successfully apply cognitive behavioral therapy strategies such as relaxation and guided exercise to noncancer pain, a study showed, which may lessen the need for opioid painkillers. KEEP MOVING Don’t Quit Exercising Stopping exercise in active adults may bring on symptoms of depression, according to research. Experts suggest keeping up with regular physical workouts. Yoga and Arthritis In one study, 8 weeks of yoga classes improved the physical and mental well‑being of people with osteoarthritis of the knee and rheumatoid arthritis. Stretch and Splash Multiple sclerosis patients who did yoga and aquatic exercise suffered less fatigue, depression, and paresthesia (a burning or prickling sensation). DEPRESSION AND CHRONIC ILLNESS Skipping Doses People who are depressed are less likely to take their medication for a chronic illness, and therefore more likely to suffer ill effects. Treatment Travails Research shows that, when people have depression along with a chronic illness, commonly prescribed antidepressants are not effective. Researchers suggest that clinicians look at changing accepted treatments. Long Past Childhood Children who suffer chronic illness tend to have increased risk for depression and anxiety in adulthood. How to Lessen Hardship Chronically ill people with religious or spiritual practices tend to fare better than those without. Researchers say that the practices may buffer the negative effects of illness. WHAT HELPS Family Affair Family members, especially parents and spouses, can contribute to a patient’s wellness by supporting lifestyle changes such as eating habits and regular exercise. Sleep Solutions Cancer patients who have trouble sleeping can get relief from cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia as well as from mindfulness-based stress reduction. Life, Interrupted The degree to which a disease disrupts daily functioning is in keeping with how much it decreases happiness. The more a patient can keep up his or her daily activities, the better. Learning to Cope Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who went through training in cognitive-behavioral coping skills, such as relaxation and problem- solving, had less pain and an improved mood for a year or more afterward. Keep Track Research shows that keeping a “gratitude list” increases well‑being. Try it: Keep a notebook by your bed and write down three things you are grateful for each day. QUOTES Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today. ― Thích Nhất Hạnh SOURCES Angner, E. et al. 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(2015) Yoga in Sedentary Adults with Arthritis: Effects of a Randomized Controlled Pragmatic Trial. The Journal of Rheumatology. Morgan, J. et al. (2018) Does ceasing exercise induce depressive symptoms? A systematic review of experimental trials including immunological and neurogenic markers. Journal of Affective Disorders. Raghupathi, W.; Raghupathi, V. (2018) An Empirical Study of Chronic Diseases in the United States: A Visual Analytics Approach to Public Health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Reid-Arndt, S. et al. (2011) Gender Differences in Spiritual Experiences, Religious Practices, and Congregational Support for Individuals with Significant Health Conditions. Journal of Religion, Disability & Health. Rosenzweig, S. et al. (2010) Mindfulness-based stress reduction for chronic pain conditions: variation in treatment outcomes and role of home meditation practice. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. Secinti, E. et al. (2017) Research Review: Childhood chronic physical illness and adult emotional health - a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Senders, A. et al. (2018) Association Between Pain and Mindfulness in Multiple Sclerosis. International Journal of MS Care. Wilson, S. (2017) Daily Spousal Responsiveness Predicts Longer-Term Trajectories of Patients’ Physical Function. Psychological Science.