Understanding and responding to the behavioral and psychological symptoms of serious illness such as Diabetes, Hypertension, Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Kidney Disease, Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Cancer & Long Haul Covid-19.
SERIOUS, LIFE-LIMITING ILLNESS COUNSELING & SUPPORT
Life before your diagnosis seems like a dream.
Now you find yourself up at night, worrying, comparing your old life and the lives of your friends to this new life of doctors’ appointments, medications, and a constant buzzing reminder in your mind that something is wrong with you. Covid-19 is probably intensifying your fears. If you’re like many people I see with a life-changing or life limiting illness you often:
Cringe when someone says, “How are you?”
Pretend things are OK.
Use a lot of energy to protect the people you love.
Hate the phrase “Accept your new normal.”
Agonize over each and every medical appointment.
Feel frustrated or angry that nothing feels normal.
Think about death, dying or leaving your loved ones behind.
Having a chronic illness does change your life,
…….but it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice who you are.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed or dealing with illness long-term, I can help you:
Make sense of your diagnosis.
Identify the triggers that worsen your symptoms so you can reduce your suffering and pain.
Recognize and learn to change the thoughts that contribute to the fear of progressing symptoms, disease, or death
Reduce your reactivity allowing you to sleep better, take care of yourself, and improve your relationships.
Learn and use awesome new tools, such as CBT, and mindfulness.
Get in touch with your values and needs so you can have the difficult conversations you’ve been ignoring.
Carry the weight of the fear of death and dying that you don’t think your friends and family can handle.
Bring balance back and get on with living.