Living with chronic pain and illness creates its own set of unique challenges and concerns that other people don’t have to think of. When you are in chronic pain or chronically ill, suddenly everything becomes either more difficult, or requires more thought and planning. If you are reading this page, you probably know what I am talking about. Perhaps you used to love to go to concerts and now you can’t stand on your feet long enough, or you are hurt by the end of the day. Maybe you used to be the social butterfly of your friend group, but now your autoimmune illness or chronic illness makes so you never know when you will feel well to go out for the evening with friends. Have you become more isolated? Are your friends starting to get annoyed with last-minute cancelled plans?
Even holding and keeping a job can be challenging when you are dealing with chronic pain and illness. How do you go to all your doctor’s appointments and physical therapy without using up all your PTO in the first two months of the year? How do ask your job for accommodations at work? How do you take care of yourself and have anything left to give to your friends or family?
As a therapist who lives with chronic pain and illness myself, I can tell you that I have experienced most of these thoughts and feelings before myself. I know it is hard either surviving or thriving in a world that was designed for able bodied people. I know there are struggles and I know that at times, hope seems grim.
I know depression, anxiety and even intrusive thoughts can become greater and louder when you are in a flare. And, a flare is exactly when you need to be able to be the most calm so you can focus on getting out of the flare, back to your baseline.
That’s why I want you to know that therapy can help you and having a therapist that has been there before can be even more affirming to you. Even when it seems there is no hope, there is something to be said of having space to talk, process, grieve and sit in a room with a trained therapist who gets it.
Some of what we can work on together are things like self-esteem, grief over the way your life has changed, managing your relationships with your friends, family and significant other. If you are part of the LGBTQ community, I am fully committed to supporting you. As a queer person myself, I know it’s hard to know who to trust to be affirming. I am affirming of the LGBTQ and transgender community. In fact, if you are transgender, I know chronic pain and illness can be even more complicated because of the relationship you may have with your body and your gender identity already. Adding on chronic pain and illness makes the gender dysphoria experience worse.
If you are ready to start to process your chronic pain and illness with a therapist who gets it too, then reach out to me for support. I am not going to promise you your symptoms will get better, but I will let you know that you can expect to be heard, to have space held for you and to start to learn techniques that may help you cope with the pain or illness.
Helping people like you feel better
If you are struggling with chronic illness, feelings of depression or feeling like you don’t have a place because of your chronic illness, we understand how difficult that can be.
You might feel exhausted or like you’re struggling to get out of bed in the morning or you have to go back to bed in the middle of the day or you feel exhausted and it’s difficult to keep going at work. Or, you might feel like it’s difficult to talk to other people about your chronic illness because no one will get it, or no one will relate to how you feel every day. You might feel like no one can know how hard it is for you to function. You might feel like it’s difficult to keep going every day. You might even be feeling like you don’t want to be here in this world anymore or you might feel like a burden to the ones you love.
It’s hard to function in our daily lives when we are faced with chronic illness. Going to school or work can be challenging. Communicating with others can be exhausting and wear you out. You might just want to sleep all day instead of facing the day. It might seem easier to stay in bed and it might be harder to take care of your family and daily responsibilities.
Even though you may feel alone, know that many people have been through this and it’s okay to need support considering the many challenges you are facing.
Here Are Some Specific Challenges That We Can Help You With
As a person challenged with chronic illness, you may be feeling:
- exhaustion
- chronic pain and fatigue
- isolated and lonely
- misunderstood or like no one believes you
Even if you are feeling overwhelmed with feelings like these, getting therapy for chronic illness can help.
As Your Therapist, We Can Help You Feel Better
We are True You Southeast and we are uniquely qualified therapists to help you feel better.
We have years of experience working with people with chronic illness and some of our therapists have their own chronic illnesses. We understand what you may be going through and how defeated chronic illness can make you feel. That’s why we provide a safe and comforting place to work on healing and rediscovering what matters the most to you.
Think of our office as a sanctuary where you can feel heard and understood. We use therapeutic methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness and trauma focused care to really work on the root of what is causing your depression, so you can start to feel not only like living a better life but thriving in the life you do have.
We help peace come more naturally for you.
Therapy for Chronic Illness Can Improve Your Life
Therapy for chronic illness can provide the support you need to help you find your way towards a better life. Even if you’re feeling lost now, we can help guide you in making lasting, positive changes in your life.
Therapy for chronic illness can help you:
- feel heard and listened to
- manage your difficult symptoms day to day emotionally
- find hope and meaning again
- discover how to be more kind and patient with yourself
- find joy in things you used to like again
It’s not easy managing your tough situation but the good news is that it’s possible to feel better. We have the experience to help you.
Take The Next Step, Reach Out For Your Free Consultation
If you are challenged by sadness and depression and want to feel better, reach out to us for your free 10-minute consultation at 404-800-7586 or by emailing us at hello@trueyousoutheast.com today. We are here for you.
