Regardless of how severe they may be, dealing with illnesses
can be difficult. Diseases, conditions, and illnesses are generally not only
associated with tremendous amounts of pain, but suffering from an illness can
also be emotionally and psychologically draining. Add to that the fact that
most treatments today cost an arm and a leg, and you’ve got yourself worrying
about your financial situation amidst all of the pain and agony.
While calamity can strike at any time and is generally
unannounced, seeing a loved one being struck by a serious disease and suffering
can be incredibly exhausting for a number of different reasons. Not only is
your mind constantly racing at how the treatment will progress, but you’re also
left wondering about all the possibilities and the different ways in which you
can offer your love and support to your friends and family in testing times
Since we understand that you might not be able to think
straight when your loved ones are undergoing treatment for a serious disease,
we’ve got the perfect list of things to do in order to support your friends and
family when they are suffering.
Interested in learning how you can offer support to your
loved one when they are struck by a serious disease? Read on to find out as we
tell you the best and most thoughtful ways in which you can show your love and
support.
Accept the situation
If you’re like most people, you might have a hard time
wrapping your head around the fact that your loved one may not be in the best
of health for the next few weeks. With that said, however, accepting the
situation and coming to terms with the fact that your loved ones are going
through a tough time is the best way to ensure that you’ll be able to provide
them with the support and love that they need during a difficult phase in their
lives.
If you’re too preoccupied with worrying about all that could
have been done to prevent such a situation from arising in the first place,
chances are that you won’t be able to provide your friends or family with the
love and support that they need most when they are suffering from a serious
illness, condition or disease. By accepting the situation, you will essentially
divert your focus on ways to be there for them and cater to their every need
when they are going through physical and emotional distress.
Show them unconditional love
The psychological aspect of serious and life threatening
diseases can never be emphasized enough. While most patients at some point or
the other begin to feel like they are burdening their friends and loved ones,
this especially holds true for patients who are suffering from serious diseases
and may be bedridden.
If your loved one is struck by a serious disease and needs
your help and assistance with even the most basic of activities or tasks such
as walking to the front door or eating, showing them unconditional love is your
best bet. Since it is easy for patients to feel like they are troubling those
around them too much, or that you do not want to spend time with them any
longer, showing your sick friends and family unconditional love in these
testing times is your best bet to ensure that they do not only feel valued, but
also know that they have a support system that they can count on when the going
gets tough.
Whether you can help out by preparing health and nutritional
meals at home or making handmade heartfelt cards, it is important to leave no
stone unturned when it comes to making your loved one feel better.
Give them company
The most common complaint of patients suffering from serious
illnesses – especially when they are on the older side – is that they feel
lonely during appointments. Being there for your loved one during their
appointments when doctors are breaking the worst of news to them or providing
them with action plans for treatment and regaining stability in life is one of
the best ways of showing that you care.
Accompanying your loved ones on their doctor’s appointments
also helps you give off positive vibes and show them that they are not alone.
By being there with your ill friend or family member, you can also help them
believe that they have a strong support system that will always be there for
them no matter what.
Monitor their health
While your loved one with a serious illness or medical
condition might have a team of healthcare professionals or doctors keeping a
close eye on their case, keeping track of their health and monitoring it in any
way possible is a great way to show your love and support.
Often, patients can get agitated about the fact that their
loved ones are not in sight when they are being injected, having blood drawn,
or being provided with pill after pill to gulp down. This is exactly why you
should make it a point to keep track of the medications and health status of
your loved one to ensure that they feel like they are still important to you.
One thing, however, that it is important to note that in serious scenarios,
doctors might not grant you permission to take things in your own hands since
that could cause problems. Should that be the case, it is important to respect
the decision and authority of the doctor or other medical professionals and
continue to offer support in other ways.
Help out with finances
As mentioned earlier, treatments for serious illnesses can cause a fortune. Needless to say, patients are often distressed worrying about their financial situation and how they’ll be able to cope with all of the medical bills. For this reason, it is important to help out with the medical expenses of the patient in any way possible to ensure that they know that they are covered and don’t have one extra thing to worry about.
*** Paul Norwood, MD, leads the
team at Valley Endocrine in Fresno, California. Valued by his community for his
caring and kind personality as well as his skills as a physician, Dr. Paul
Norwood is also respected nationwide for his expertise as an endocrinologist.
In 1993, Dr. Norwood founded Valley Endocrine Clinic, which
specializes in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism, as well as Valley
Research, which does clinical trials.
References
Video: Dr. Paul Norwood M.D. of Valley Research discusses treatments
and medicine to treat conditions like diabetes, chronic migraines, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ueoj-gOs5M
Dr. Paul Norwood, medical doctor in Fresno, California, specializing in endocrinology.
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