Beyond Recovery: Moving on After a Life Changing Ailment

The day you first received the diagnosis of a chronic ailment, which would affect your life from then on, is something that will remain in your mind for a long time. You may initially be gripped with fear, sadness, helplessness, even resentment or frustration. The succeeding days would be indescribable as you go through a range of emotions unable to take the implications of the ailment in the manner you have to live your life.

If you have enlisted the help of a professional counselor, you must be on your way to “emotional healing.” If you think that you are done recovery having accepted your life-changing ailment, you are not. In fact, you are just starting to live a “new lifestyle” to support a healthier one.

Getting Used to the New Lifestyle

If you were diagnosed with diabetes, you need a shift in your diet and lifestyle. Saying goodbye to fat, sugar and salt-laden chips, pizzas, fries and burgers may be harder than you thought. Hitting the park for a walk or jog or the gym for a calorie-busting workout may take more than you imagine. The worst thing is, these shifts will not just be for a week, month or year; this will be for a lifetime.

The initial stage may make you excited with the opportunity to experience new things in life. Sooner or later, the novelty may wear off. Once again, you’ll find yourself inching back to the old ways. With your household lifestyle not being modified, you’ll be tempted to share their food and their lazy weekends. Then, you’ll realize, getting used to the new lifestyle will not be a walk in the park.

Moving On as Emotions Hit Again

As you are hit by the realization, you’ll be feeling the overwhelming emotions once again. You need help to get used to your illness and new lifestyle. You also need a support system that is willing to travel the road with you and assist not only you, but the people who surround yourself with, your family. You may experience anger directed to yourself, for not being strong enough, or to your family, for not understanding your medical condition.

Don’t be too hard on yourself or your family. Rather than be defeated by a surge of overwhelming emotions, draw continued support from Carolina Counseling Services – Fayetteville, NC. With counseling, you may fall into step with a chronic ailment and a new lifestyle more easily. The right therapist can go beyond helping you; he/she also provide guidance to the people surrounding you so they can support you more effectively.

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