There are many chronic diseases that affect the human body in different ways. These may be unremarkable symptoms that do not greatly interfere with a person’s life. However, the disease can have a pronounced pathogenesis that interrupts an individual’s everyday lifestyle. It may include severe pain, inability to walk, hypersensitivity, and others. In any case, chronic illness has a significant impact on a person’s mental state. It is characterized by mood swings, apathy, depression, and in some cases, suicidal thoughts. The reason for this is the fact of the irreversibility of having a chronic disease and the understanding that it will follow the individual for life. However, in some cases, when accepting a chronic disease, a person develops positive psychological qualities in oneself. The aim is to consider aspects of living with a constant disease using chronic fibromyalgia as an example.
For more effective analysis of the chosen topic, it is first necessary to consider the concept of chronic illness. Such a disease is considered to be one that lasts a lifetime or a long time, and the symptoms can both intensify and subside over time (Bonino, 2020). In the case of effective treatment, symptoms can significantly weaken or disappear altogether, the person will stop noticing them and return to normal life. However, it is worth mentioning that chronic diseases do not go away completely, in some cases, one can only remove the symptoms. In addition, chronic illness is accompanied by periods of remission and exacerbations, compensations and decompensations (Bonino, 2020). Remission is the relief of symptoms and improvement of the condition, in turn, the exacerbation is accompanied by a deterioration in the state. Compensation includes the process of adapting an organism to live with new risk factors, and decompensation is a disruption of work due to exhausted resources.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease characterized by muscle pain, stiffness, and discomfort in the tendons and joints. This disease is sometimes referred to as a syndrome as it has many other symptoms, causing discomfort. It may include sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances, anxiety, depression, irritability, and chronic fatigue. In addition, fibromyalgia has a significant impact on the mental state of a person, characterized by negative aspects. It is formulated by the fact that it becomes difficult for an individual to move, and it is impossible, for example, to go in for sports. In turn, it articulates an aspect of inferiority that is difficult to accept and ignore. Fibromyalgia is one of the most common diseases affecting the muscles. However, reliable causes of occurrence are still unknown, despite the prevalence of the disease and technological capabilities.
The most common and distressing symptom for patients is muscle pain. However, an unusual aspect is that the pain in the tissues is not accompanied by an inflammatory process. Thus, hurt does not lead to irreversible consequences and the destruction of this tissue. Moreover, with fibromyalgia, there is no damage to the internal organs, which distinguishes the disease from similar ones. For example, fibromyalgia is very different from other rheumatological diseases, such as polymyositis or rheumatoid arthritis. In these diseases, the main source of pain is the inflammatory process, which as a result, leads to tissue destruction. Moreover, because of these diseases, the destruction of internal organs usually occurs.
The main symptom of fibromyalgia is pain resulting from the hypersensitivity of neurotransmitters in certain areas of the body. It brings considerable discomfort to the patient as normal activities become impossible. In addition, fatigue is often found, which is caused by a violation of the phases of sleep. Thus, usually, a person restores most of one’s strength during the deep phase of sleep. However, in fibromyalgia, the person is unable to enter the deep stage and thus wakes up tired and exhausted. Mental disorders occur in more than half of patients, which include poor recording fixation, impaired fixation memory, and depressed mood. Besides, due to the fact that fibromyalgia is poorly diagnosed, patients are often diagnosed with depression.
After considering the symptoms of an illness, it may seem that living with a chronic illness is either impossible or not everyday life. However, it is necessary to accept the fact of the disease since experiences will not lead to a positive result. One needs to realize that now the pain will follow the person constantly, and other symptoms will have their effect. The best way to deal with depression and anxiety is to work or some action (Bonino, 2020). For example, one can create one’s personal life plan considering the new conditions. It is necessary to analyze the points that have deteriorated and try to turn them into virtues in the aspect of new life. For instance, constant pain can serve as a factor in tempering character and developing willpower. Limited mobility can articulate a chance to try new areas of life, such as writing or being an artist.
Acceptance of the fact of the disease will significantly improve the mental state and reduce depression. It is due to the fact that emotional experiences and resentment do not make sense, however, on the contrary, they worsen the body’s ability to fight the disease. In addition, acceptance allows the individual to think coolly and make an effective plan for coping with illness or improving symptoms (Bonino, 2020). One should remember that any person is susceptible to disease, and many people have much worse conditions. In addition, it should be realized that life is uncontrollable and unpredictable, thus, some things one cannot influence. If the individual were in complete control of life, one would secure an exceptionally positive experience for oneself. However, difficulties are a factor of the movement of life, and challenges help a person to group and act. In addition, it is necessary to expect not only positive but also negative events since both of them can happen anyway.
A significant negative aspect of living with a chronic illness is the limitation of certain bodily functions and the resulting social isolation. In the case of fibromyalgia, due to chronic fatigue and muscle pain, one cannot go for walks or study with others. In this case, it is crucial to maintain communication with friends and people using all possible ways. Fortunately, today, due to the development of technology and the Internet, one has the opportunity to be in constant communication. Moreover, there are many different online communities where a person can find care and support. The individual has the opportunity to make acquaintances and communicate with people who have the same or similar diseases. In this way, people can share their experiences of living with illness, relieving symptoms, and improving mental health. It is important to remember that social isolation will only worsen both mental and physical conditions.
Further, it is crucial to work out one’s own rhythm of life, which will maintain a balance of workload and rest. In other words, it is necessary to do at least some physical activity whenever possible. Despite difficulties accompanying physical activity, it is essential to at least walk once a day. The stroll on air will not only help to avoid muscle atrophy but also increase mental tone (Bonino, 2020). However, one needs to understand the body’s resources and develop one’s own load plan. In some cases, it may be formulated by a walk around the lake, and in others, an exit to the lawn and back. In any occasion, one should listen to one’s own body and consult with a doctor, which will help to choose the optimal rate.
The next important aspect of living with a chronic disease, as already indicated, is performing some activity. However, one doesn’t need to find an offline job since, in this case, fibromyalgia causes difficulty in focusing and problems with attention. Moreover, constant pain and discomfort will prevent one from effectively focusing on the task, leading to aggravated stress. In this regard, the disease opens up opportunities for self-realization, namely, transferring one’s feelings or experiences to other people. It may include writing a book, creating a website or blog, creating a video blog, and others. A sick person’s emotions are genuine, which will be interesting even to people who do not have an illness.
Furthermore, one can create a charitable foundation and raise money to treat or maintain severe symptoms. It may also include a collection of remedies for other, more serious illnesses such as cancer. In case the symptoms improve, one can create an online support group where one can share their trials with people with the same illness. All this formulates the fact of transmitting one’s experiences, which is crucial for the sick person’s mental state. Besides, activity and communication allow one to escape from thoughts about illness and depression. Sometimes, severe stress due to a diagnosis unlocks unexpected talents and skills in a person, such as drawing, writing, or others. Finally, setting goals and achieving them will significantly increase mood, self-esteem, and will.
To conclude, living with a chronic illness means a new stage in life, which for many, formulates a negative experience. However, such an approach will only worsen the body’s mental state and physical capacity. In addition, it will be more difficult for close persons to care for a sick person in case one demonstrates a bad mental state. In the current case, fibromyalgia was considered, which is a chronic disease characterized by muscle pain, sleep disturbances, depression, and chronic fatigue. Aspects of living with this disease include common problems associated with chronic diseases. Similarly, recommendations for leveling problems are similar to other illnesses.
Primarily, one needs to learn to accept the fact of the disease and stop thinking about the causes. It is necessary to consider illness not as a problem but as an opportunity to enter a new life. In some cases, people with chronic diseases realize themselves better than those without them. It is formulated by free time and emotions that a person experiences and stress, which sometimes opens up new talents. There are many ways to perform the activity, such as creating a website, a video blog, writing a book, and others. Finally, working out one’s own exercise plan and listening to the body and doctors are crucial.
Reference
Bonino, S. (2020). Coping with chronic illness: Theories, issues and lived experiences. Routledge.