How to Cope With a Serious Medical Condition

By eHow Health Editor

Rate: (0 Ratings)

Coping is hard work but can lead to healing and better quality of life.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

  • Support Groups

Step1
Learn as much as you can about your illness. An informed patient feels more in control.
Step2
Seek help from a psychologist or counselor if you have emotional problems.
Step3
Find and join a support group. It's good to learn that you're not alone, and statistics show that people in support groups live longer.
Step4
Start a support group if you can't find one.
Step5
Enlist your friends and family in your battle.
Step6
Accept help from others. This can help you to maintain your priorities.
Step7
Delegate burdensome chores, such as mowing the lawn, but keep the chores that give you pleasure or solace.
Step8
Find the humor in your situation whenever you can. Laughter has been proved to help the immune system.
Step9
Take care of the caregivers. Make sure they eat well, get enough rest and get breaks from their responsibilities.

Tips & Warnings

  • The Web can be a good medical resource, but watch out for scams and snake oil.

Comments

| View All Comments
Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 For anyone suffering from any of the many hundreds of disorders, illnesses, or syndromes, there's a free keyword-searchable database at:
http://www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/

View All

Post a Comment

POST A COMMENT

Request a New How-To Article

Looking for more How To information? Chances are there’s an eHow member who knows how to do what you’re looking to do. Submit an article request now!

eHow Article:  How to Cope With a Serious Medical Condition

eHow Health Editor

eHow Health Editor

Category: Health

Articles: See my other articles

Related Ads

Health

DrJewell
Meet DrJewell eHow’s Health Expert.