Dealing with a Debilitating Disease
December 2, 2011
BY CARMEN M. HUBBARD
Growing old is one of life’s many adjustments. But when every day chores like doing the laundry, cleaning the house and shampooing your hair leave you feeling exhausted, it can be difficult to decipher getting older from something else. Fatigue is frequent, pain is chronic and the simplest tasks are a struggle to complete. Is this what 50 feels like? It’s an unfair hand dealt in life.
Chronic illnesses can range from asthma, Crohn’s disease, Type 2 diabetes, migraines, lupus and chronic fatigue syndrome to fibromyalgia. Some chronic illnesses affect people of any age or ethnic background, while others are more likely to appear in a particular age or ethnic group, according to humanillnesses.com. Some chronic illnesses are present at birth, while others develop later in life. Chronic illnesses are sometimes inherited. Diseases that are inherited develop because a person has certain genes. At other times, symptoms of an inherited chronic illness do not show up until much later in life.
A Canadian survey from the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine says adults over age 50 with at least one chronic illness were more likely to experience a major depressive episode than those without a chronic illness.
“Depression is a leading cause of disease burden and years of life lost worldwide,” said Kirsten Fiest, lead author and trainee of the HBI. “Many chronic illnesses occur simultaneously with depression, and it is important to understand how they are related to aid in prevention and treatment efforts.”
Officials of the study said the discovery brings awareness to prevention efforts targeting older adults exhibiting symptoms of depression or chronic illnesses. Information was analyzed from 15,591 participants over the age of 50, while a separate analysis was done for people over 65 years of age. The study was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Data was collected by Statistics Canada between May and December 2002 from the Canadian Community Health Survey — Mental Health and Wellbeing.
“Depression can affect cognitive function, creating difficulty in adhering to treatments,” said Dr. Scott Patten, who is a HBI member and professor of psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine. “It also zaps people of the energy and optimism that are so badly needed in coping with chronic illnesses. In some instances, it makes symptoms worse. For example, depression tends to magnify the experience of pain.”
When doctors diagnose a chronic illness, they also recommend treatments that can relieve symptoms or keep the body functioning at its healthiest. Sometimes treatments involve medications the doctor will prescribe. Other times managing the illness also will depend on things the ill person can do to remain as healthy as possible, such as making changes in diet, quitting smoking or exercising more.
People with chronic illness seem to do best when they work as partners with their doctors to take an active role in caring for their health. Having an illness that is in remission is not the same as being cured, because the disease that causes the illness is still present.
Healthy aging means reinventing yourself, finding new things to enjoy, adapting to change, staying physically and socially active, and feeling connected to your community and loved ones — regardless of health condition. Health experts from helpguide.org advise there will be periods of both joy and stress as you age. It’s important to build your resilience and find healthy ways to cope with challenges. This ability will help you make the most of the good times and keep your perspective when times are tough, according to experts.
Here are some suggestions to help cope with change: ()
• Focus on the things you’re grateful for. The longer you live, the more you lose. But as you lose people and things, life becomes even more precious. When you stop taking things for granted, you appreciate and enjoy what you have even more.
• Acknowledge and express your feelings. You may have a hard time showing strong emotions, perhaps feeling that such a display is inappropriate and weak. But burying your feelings can lead to anger, resentment, and depression. Don’t deny what you’re going through. Find healthy ways to process your feelings, perhaps by talking with a close friend or writing in a journal.
• Accept the things you can’t change. Many things in life are beyond our control. Rather than stressing out over them, focus on the things you can control such as the way you choose to react to problems. Face your limitations with dignity and a healthy dose of humor.
• Look for the silver lining. As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” When facing major challenges, try to look at them as opportunities for personal growth. If your own poor choices contributed to a stressful situation, reflect on them and learn from your mistakes.
• Take daily action to deal with life’s challenges. When challenges seem too big to handle, sweeping them under the carpet often appears easier. But ignoring the problem doesn’t make it go away; it allows both the problem and your anxiety to build. Instead, take things one small step at a time. Even a small step can go a long way to boosting your confidence and reminding you that you are not powerless.
A key ingredient in the recipe for healthy aging is the continuing ability to find meaning and joy in life.