Chronic Health Concerns Impact Life!
“Just as my pain belongs in a unique way only to me, so I am utterly alone with it. I cannot share it. I have no doubt about the reality of the pain experience, but I cannot tell anybody about that experience. I surmise that others have their own pain experience, even though I cannot perceive what they mean when they tell me about it. I am certain about the existence of their pain only in the sense that I am certain of my compassion for them. And yet, the deeper my compassion, the deeper is my certitude about the person’s utter loneliness in relation to his experience.” (Illich, 1976).
Physical pain, emotional suffering and other health care symptoms, change self-image, disrupt relationships, and interrupt goals. Having sleep issues, memory loss, fatigue, and unknown physical sensations are distressing. Pain and sleep disorders are not understood or accepted by many individuals, and the person can be judged harshly. Many report feeling angry that their health hinders them from the things they love to do. Since physical health problems, like pain and fatigue, tend to ebb and flow, family members and friends sometimes struggle with understanding how their loved one can be so impaired one day and able to do things the next day. All of this becomes the mystery of living in a “strange and new” world. Understanding how chronic health issues impact your life will better your coping and managing skills.
Managing pain is the key. This is hard when we live in a world that feeds on “instant gratification” and always on the search for the “latest” cure. We can’t believe that health care providers are not able to “figure out” how to fix our health concern. Medical science has come a long way in understanding how the body and brain processes pain and other symptoms, but there are still many conditions that we do not have cures for yet; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Disorder, Auto-Immune Disorders, Lyme Disease, Myofascial Disorder, Migraines, RSD/ Complex Regional Pain Disorder, Neuropathy, Various Sleep Disorders, and many more.
Don’t be alone with your pain and fatigue. Being in pain or fatigue can be very stressful and lonely, and understanding and treating the anxiety or depression that chronic health problems create are important. There is hope! We, psychologists can help teach skills to manage physical and emotional symptoms, along teaching how to consistently pace activities appropriately to not to intensify your health experience. When one has an injury or health concern, it is conventional wisdom that, with time, everything will return to normal. While this is usually the case, the person with a chronic condition starts to find that the hopes of being “normal” may never return. As with all grief and loss reactions, we all go through stages identified by Kubler-Ross: 1. Denial; 2. Anger; 3. Bargaining; 4. Depression; 5. Acceptance. We can help with the acceptance process and get you back to your life. We help provide support, a listening ear, and problem-solving. We are an important piece of the puzzle with managing your health care concerns. Therapy can also go above and beyond learning pain and sleep management skills, and can include traditional talk therapy, if you desire. Your first appointment will clarify your wants, needs, desires, and goals.
Terri Lechnyr is a Licensed Clinical Medical Psychologist and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Dr. Ron Lechnyr, Ph.D., D.S.W., is a Clinical Medical Psychologist. Willamette Medical Center, 2401 River Road, P.O. Box 40668, Eugene, OR 97404. 541-344- CALM (2256). Read more about us on the “Providers” page. For new patients, please email terri@drterrilechnyr.com or call our office for a new patient packet. Thank you!