Chronic illnesses have inherent symptoms, but other problems arise alongside with time. For instance, you might start to experience pain and exhaustion more regularly, and also notice an impact on your appearance. These shifts can potentially transform a healthy self-image into a negative one. When you don’t have a positive self-image, it’s common to isolate yourself from your friends and other people in social situations.
Your outlook on life may change due to the accumulation of stress. Prolonged exposure to stress can bring on feelings of irritation, rage, hopelessness, and even depression in some people. Not just you but also members of your family could be affected by anything like this.
As the circumstances of your life shift, you could experience a sense of powerlessness, fear, and unpredictability over the future. It’s possible that some families could experience a role reversal, in which family members who were previously able to stay at home would now need to go to work.
Well, a chronic illness will indeed throw an unexpected narrative twist into your life, but that doesn’t mean it defines who you are. You are the only one who can write the chapters in your life’s story. It is normal to feel grief before accepting the reality of your condition. However, you have the ability to reevaluate your life in order to start fresh with renewed vigor and to get ready for what lies ahead.
