When you have received bad news, like a newly discovered diagnosis, the way you manage health isn't only changing, but the experience of living overall.
You might start overanalyzing your every move and plans, while having a dozen new questions tied to your future.
Not to mention the psychological impact of what's happening can stay long after the symptoms have been stabilized. The obligation to change your way of life almost immediately requires identity shifts and long-term adaptations.
So it is almost an everyday practice for people to reach for emotional support when going through major changes.
What Changes Psychologically After a Chronic Diagnosis
As mentioned above, adjustment after a diagnosis takes time and involves several processes. You aren't going through a single emotional reaction or a single life change. Emotions unfold slowly as you get to different stages of your recovery and lifestyle transformation.
At the beginning, there is too much information and big decisions, that's when you can go through shock and emotional numbness. Either of these can slow emotional adjustment, but unfortunately, this is a natural response of the body.
Meanwhile, fear starts to creep up. As most people are less scared of actual symptoms and more affected by uncertainty – what remains unknown, what might or might not change.
On top of that, this all combined can give you a new sense of self, as you start viewing your body and roles in life differently.
For instance, people who used to work actively, always on the move, such as policemen or firefighters, now have to be behind the desk doing office work. There doesn't always have to be a major transition; even the smallest one can second-guess you.
By the time this period has passed, you have already learned to live with your diagnosis; however, you might have become a different person, stuck in fight or flight mode.
Why Adjustment Can Be Harder Than Expected
These psychological shifts don't happen all at once, and they can surface after the urgency has passed. However, knowing why it can be so hard to get used to a new lifestyle can help you manage certain aspects more easily.
Living With Uncertainty
Not having clear solutions for your problem, but just living by certain advice and rules, leaves you completely uncertain about further outcomes.
Perhaps you are having your condition under control, while constantly worrying that it will develop or change. This can be both physically and emotionally draining.
And learning to live with doubt about what comes next can be extraordinarily hard, as your mind stays on edge.
Searching for Meaning, Answers, and/or Responsibility
When you've been exposed to something potentially harmful, the natural next step is looking for answers. In most cases, you won't get clear answers, and it will look like a consequence of prolonged stress.
But there are other risk factors, exposures, etc.
If you've been in a fire (or even near one), you might wonder if it's the cause of that – especially if firefighting foam has been used to extinguish it.
Researching similar cases might lead to information on who qualifies for a firefighting foam cancer lawsuit, not as a step to action, not necessarily anyway, but more of finding out about other people who've been in a similar situation (same exposure) as you, and see what happened in these cases.
This is far less about blaming someone, but is more about making sense of what happened and why.
Delayed Emotional Impact
After external support stops and treatment ends, you no longer talk about your condition, which can lead to emotional distress and shutting down. After which, bottled-up emotions start coming up.
Plus, quieter periods are usually followed by increased anxiety, as there are fewer chances for you to reflect and talk.
How Therapy Can Support the Adjustment Process
People often ask for help only when they can't see another way. There's a common misunderstanding that going to therapy means something is wrong with you, while it is the complete opposite.
After going through such traumatic events, like treating a chronic diagnosis, it takes more time and energy to get used to it than when therapy plays a key role.
It is all up to you, as you dictate the tempo of work done, leaving you with enough space to process the shift you have been going through.
The main reasons why people opt for therapy are overwhelming feelings of anxiety, fear, and overall low mood.
Besides, as we are all different, there are various strategies that can help you process your emotions. For example, cognitive behavioural therapy (a.k.a. CBT) is usually advised for those struggling with health anxiety.
However, what works for one group of people won't necessarily be enjoyable for others. So before starting, you shouldconsult with professionals to help you choose the best option for you.
Conclusion
Being forced to change how you live your life is hard. And the word 'hard' doesn't come close to painting the full picture here. Not even close.
This isn't made easier when you factor in that it's an individual process (YOUR process), and it's only you who's dealing with it. Sure, you might have support. But it's still you who has everything on their shoulders.
If you're struggling at the moment, that doesn't imply you're doing anything wrong. It's normal to give yourself time to adjust, and whether it goes harder or not, it is normal to seek support.
As this is pretty much an evolving process, it's super important to make your life healthier from this day onwards. And no, that doesn't mean just taking care of your body; you need to take care of your mind too.