You just received the news that you’ve been dreading. You’ve been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. For a while, you’ve felt that something was off. Fortunately, you did the right thing by listening to your body and visited the doctor. While this isn’t what you wanted to hear, the reality is that this is part of your life now. There might be some changes, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t live a happy and fulfilling life.
No one can tell you how to live your life or how to feel. It’s entirely expected to be overwhelmed right now. You have every right to take the next little while to do anything that will help you process the information. Perhaps you’ll recluse for a few days at home, or maybe you’ll take a trip somewhere. Whatever you do, you deserve it. However, you’re going to want to take the necessary steps to start coping with your disease at some point. You’ll want to begin a long-term plan for yourself and your loved ones. Let’s explore what steps you can take to help you cope with your situation.
Find Support
The first step to take is to find a support system. Reach out to close friends and family members and talk to them about what’s going on. You don’t have to tell every person you know, but if you feel comfortable, confide in a few people you trust. Ask them for help when you need it. Let them know you might need a hand with things such as grocery shopping or meal preparation.
Seek Counselling
Speaking to a therapist specializing in life-limiting illness is an excellent idea because it allows you to discuss confidential matters objectively. While talking to friends and family is essential, sometimes you don’t want to discuss every detail of your illness with them.
At-Home Palliative Care
Palliative Care is the interdisciplinary approach to life-limiting illness and healthcare. It provides an extra layer of support as you navigate treatments, prescription medication, and other medical care. The objective is to reduce and relieve pain, whether physical or emotional. Your palliative care team will work alongside doctors, outside therapists, and any other healthcare team member to ensure that your quality of life is high and that you’re comfortable and happy at home. It’s a necessary component to the long-term health plan for many people with severe conditions, including COVID-19.
COVID-19
Have you been diagnosed with COVID? The first thing you’ll need to do is tell your friends and family to get an at home Covid test to ensure that they also haven’t contracted the virus. As medical professionals are still understanding this virus’s complexities, knowing what to do isn’t always a clearly-written formula. However, if your test is positive, you must contact your doctor immediately to see if they recommend that you isolate or visit the local emergency room right away. Having COVID definitely doesn’t mean your life is limited but you want to take every precaution possible to ensure that you remain healthy and strong.
You’re a courageous person, and it’s clear that you want to take care of yourself and your family. Take a deep breath, slow down, and take the appropriate steps you need to live your life to the fullest.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
