Health related issues
Health issues affect almost everyone at some point in their lives. People may develop an illness themselves or indirectly experience illness through a friend or family’s condition. Worrying about yours or another’s health may contribute to feelings of sadness, anxiety, depression, and/or anger. Therapy can help you cope with any challenges that arise as a result of a diagnosis.
AIDS & HIV
HIV is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), the name used to describe a number of potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that happen when your immune system has been severely damaged by the HIV virus. Having HIV does not always mean that you have AIDS, and it can take many years for AIDS to develop. Currently there is no cure for HIV. This means once you receive a positive diagnosis, you will always have the HIV virus. Caught early and treated effectively, you should go on to live a long life. If you find yourself struggling after your diagnosis, isolating yourself or feeling low you could benefit from seeking support.
Cancer
If you have cancer you might be feeling fear, strong reactions to changes to your body and/or anxiety about your treatment. You may feel very angry, or find it difficult to cope with a feeling of loss of control. You might also feel very stressed about having to cope with side-effects of treatment, such as fatigue, pain or sickness. Therapy can help you to cope better with the many difficulties you face, during and after your cancer diagnosis and treatment. It can help reduce the stress you face and improve your quality of life.
Dementia
Dementia may not be physically painful, nor does it affect a person’s appearance or mobility, yet it is a condition that changes a person’s personality. This change can often leave them unrecognisable to loved ones. If you are faced with dementia yourself, or for a close family member, you may find that therapy allows you to speak frankly about your feelings and work out ways to live with the condition.
Bereavement
There are fewer events in life more distressing than the death of a friend or family member. Bereavement therapy can be useful if you are struggling to come to terms with your loss, especially if you believe the mental and emotional effects of a person’s death is affecting your ability to function during the day.