[CHAT] The sickness
Illness is such a broad term, but it's something that affects us all at one point or another. On Monday 13th of July at 8pm, Getting Real is going to be focusing on, and the impact on life. A chronic illness is any medical condition that lasts a long time, and subsequently they require ongoing maintenance and support. Examples include diabetes, asthma, and epilepsy but can also be depression, anxiety or bipolar if the illness is complex, ongoing and impacts your day-to-day functioning.
Young people can be affected by illness not just by having it, but also through secondary means by supporting and caring for others. Having a good support network is so important when it comes to chronic illnesses and we can't forget about the impact of the illness on friends and family. More and more, young people are becoming the main carers of a parent or family member with a chronic illness.
Whilst I am fortunate enough to have not personally experienced any major illness, anyone can develop chronic diseases. Some celebrities have even shared their experiences with chronic illness.
Michael J. Fox (Back to the Future star), at just 30 years of age, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder that affects a person's ability to walk and move.
Ruby Rose has had depression "for more years than I can remember."
Even Kim Kardashian lives with a chronic disease, Psoriasis. It is an autoimmune disease, meaning the condition results from the immune system attacking the body's own cells, rather than foreign invaders.
The point is people can learn to live with a chronic illness, rather than be defined by it. Chronic illnesses often change people’s lives - sometimes dramatically, sometimes slowly over time. It’s not just the physical or mental condition that people have to manage – it’s their whole life. Sufferers of chronic illness ride a rollercoaster of emotional changes, social changes, and environmental changes. Gaining treatment, education, and support are therefore crucial factors for individuals who are suffering, you don’t have to ride the metaphorical rollercoaster alone.
In the mean time, check out Jordan’s story to ReachOut regarding living with chronic illness, and how she effectively coped and got through her situation.
Whether you suffer from a chronic illness, support someone who is, or like me, just want to find out more, join us on Monday 13 July at 8pm, AEST! We’ll be chatting about everything regarding illness, including experience, diagnosis, coping, management, and support.
Love to see the conversation start to flow guys, keep it up! 
Next question!
4. What would you say to a friend who has just been diagnosed with an illness? And how it is important to act around them?
What would you say to a friend who has just been diagnosed with an illness? And how it is important to act around them?
I think it's important to not judge them and take their needs into consideration. Asking them if they would like support or just some space could be really helpful to avoid causing tension between you.
Not treating them like they're 'fragile' or 'special' is also a good idea because some people can take offence when they're treated like that.
What would you say to a friend who has just been diagnosed with an illness? And how it is important to act around them?
Not sure eactly what I would say but I would try to be as empathetic and understanding as possible. In terms of how I would act I'd try to be there to help them whenever I could, but it would be super important to not over do it and make them feel like I thought they were not capable of being independant. Kindness and balance would be the big main things 🙂
Next up!
5. Despite how much we try to help our friends, sometimes they may pick up some bad behaviours as coping mechanisms. What are some negative coping mechanisms people might adopt when dealing with illness?
5. Despite how much we try to help our friends, sometimes they may pick up some bad behaviours as coping mechanisms. What are some negative coping mechanisms people might adopt when dealing with illness?
Some coping mechanisms for dealing with illness is withdrawing from friends or family... or maybe substance misuse. I know a few users also SH to cope.
These are negative coping mechanisms though because they can push people away, make you feel unsupported or might make your symptoms worse.
Despite how much we try to help our friends, sometimes they may pick up some bad behaviours as coping mechanisms. What are some negative coping mechanisms people might adopt when dealing with illness?
- Drugs
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Negativity
- Violence
- Anger
- Isolation
- Self harm
Despite how much we try to help our friends, sometimes they may pick up some bad behaviours as coping mechanisms. What are some negative coping mechanisms people might adopt when dealing with illness?
Well for me...
Letting my anger in unsafe or negative way
Self harm
I've turned to drugs a couple of times.
Withdrawing from friends/things I enjoy
your answers to this question are all spot on!
gold stars for all.
So following from some of the negative behaviours,
6. What might be some healthier ways to manage a diagnosis or ongoing illness?
What might be some healthier ways to manage a diagnosis or ongoing illness?
- Acceptance
- Writing down feelings
- Venting
- Meditation
- Talking about it
I think the worst thing someone can do is reject support and help from friends and family. Although that's probably a lot easier said than done!
i think @FootyFan26 - sometimes when we find out someone is sick we start treating them like a whole different person. like they are going to break.
you're still you if you have an illness!
4. What would you say to a friend who has just been diagnosed with an illness? And how it is important to act around them?
I think if someone has been diagnosed with an illness of any kind it's important to be non judgmental. it's also good to ask questions (if they are comfortable with it) and find out how you can support them.
You don't have to know about an illness to help someone! Just being there for them can help heaps.
hey @wooli3 awesome answer and welcome to our chat. i'm glad to meet you and have you here with us tonight! how are you finding the getting real session so far?
what do you think of everyones answers and stories?
true @FootyFan26 - the hard part is stopping.
but once you know you're in a heaps better position to make that decision to stop. and you can even plan ahead if you know what your negative coping mechanisms are.
We can all try some of these instead!
these are some cool links from ReachOut about positive coping skills to in response to question 6!
http://au.reachout.com/what-is-coping
http://au.reachout.com/building-better-coping-skills
Some that I use personally is: exercising and talking to a friend or psychologist
http://www.recoveryourlife.com/index.php?categoryid=60&p2027_articleid=211
OMG @j95
YOU HAVE JUST GIVEN ME THE BEST IDEA FROM THAT LINK
WE SHOULD HAVE A LIST OF COPING STRATEGIES ON RO... LIKE OUR 1,000,000 POSTS BUT 1,000,000 THINGS TO DO TO GET THROUGH STUFF.
one idea per post!
and we could go foreverrrrrrrr.
(or do we have this already?)
