Therapy for Health and Chronic Illness

Physical and mental health are tightly intertwined. Dealing with a physical illness, injury, or disability can result in a cascade of effects on mental wellbeing, including:

• Anxiety. Physical health issues frequently trigger ongoing anxiety about knowns and unknowns: illness progression, medical procedures, implications for relationships, and more.

• Depression. Patients often face feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed.

• Anger and frustration. It’s common to feel resentment towards the illness, one’s own body, or the circumstances surrounding a diagnosis.

• Grief and loss. Many people mourn the loss of physical abilities, independence, and the life they envisioned before the illness or disability.

• Relationship strain. Physical health issues can put stress on relationships, including communication difficulties around evolving emotions and needs.

• Existential concerns. In the midst of a major health event, people may find themselves facing heavy questions about meaning, purpose, and mortality.

• Sleep disturbances. Many types of physical health problems are accompanied by insomnia, nightmares, and other sleep disruptions.

• Cognitive difficulties. The health concern itself, or the strain of dealing with it, can cause problems with concentration, memory, and decision-making.

Psychological and emotional challenges can be debilitating in their own right. They can also exacerbate physical symptoms, creating a vicious cycle that further impacts well-being. Effective therapy honors the gravity of these physical and mental health struggles and offers you practical tools to cope.