Emotional Health during HCV Infection and Treatment -- from Deb :)

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http://www.hepatitisneighborhood.com

Emotional Health during HCV Infection and TreatmentArticle Date: 10/6/2003

Coping with a chronic illness or a rigorous medication therapy program or regimen can create a great deal of emotional stress. Learning to cope with fear, anger and anxiety constructively can improve your quality of life and increase your chances of recovery.Your Emotions Learning you have hepatitis can be confusing and frightening. Hepatitis can affect more than just your liver; sometimes it affects your whole life, from how you see it to how you live it. The more you know about hepatitis, the better you can control how it affects you both physically and mentally. In this section, you'll learn how your emotional state can influence your overall health.An experienced counselor or a support group can help you turn your negative feelings into a positive form of strength. Also, helping others in the same situation not only takes your mind off of your own problems, but it helps you to feel good about yourself.Coping with angerNo matter how you contracted hepatitis, or how long you had it before you were diagnosed, it can leave you feeling angry at the world. Maybe you were always careful about your health, but ended up getting sick after a blood transfusion. Maybe you discovered that your partner infected you during sex. If you suddenly learn that you've had the disease for years, you may be angry with yourself because you feel that somehow you should have known. All kinds of troubling thoughts may cross your mind.It is important for you to get help so you can look forward. An experienced counselor or a structured, professionally run support group can help you turn your negative feelings into a positive form of strength, and help you to accept having the disease. You can turn your anger into strength and put it to work for you through physical activities (such as a moderate exercise program or organizing your home).Your body affects your mindThe physical effects of the virus can leave you feeling tired and emotionally drained. Side effects of medication as well as symptoms of the disease can make you irritable or dull your thinking power, leaving you feeling confused.You may have to limit or even give up activities you've always enjoyed. You can't get it out of your mind. Although having hepatitis might mean you have to make some changes in your life, it doesn't mean you have to stop living your life. You just have to find your way past the feelings that get in the way of progress, such as anger and fear, and start taking the steps you need to improve your life, despite the disease.Your mind affects your bodyYour feelings can affect your actions. If you're upset about being sick, you might not want to take the necessary steps to get better. Stress can weaken your body's immune system, lowering its ability to fight off the disease. Many of the bad feelings that go along with having hepatitis, such as grief and depression, anger, fear, and anxiety come from not knowing what to expect. You can change that by thinking positively.Coping with fear and anxietyMuch of your fear has to do with not knowing. Some of the questions you may be asking yourself include, “What's going to happen next? Will I be all right? What will people think of me? How will my friends treat me now?” You may also have fears that others will reject you. “Whom should I tell? What should I say? When should I break the news to the person I'm dating, who might be at risk? Will they be more or less supportive of me? How will it affect my job?”Even the feeling of fear itself can be frightening. But the physical effects of fear - the pounding heart, trembling, and troubled sleep - can be controlled. Sometimes, these symptoms are just the side effects of medications or drugs unrelated to your illness. However, they may also be related to some of the medications you're taking to treat your hepatitis. Remember to speak to your doctor about any symptoms that you think may be caused by medication side effects. Anxiety is a lot like fear: a feeling of uneasiness or tension in response to a real or imaginary threat. The signs and symptoms are mental and physical.Mental symptoms can include impatience, restlessness, inability to relax, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, and lack of enjoyment of things or activities you once enjoyed. Physical symptoms can include dry mouth, nausea, sweating, dizziness, diarrhea, constipation, muscle aches, sexual difficulties, rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath.Mild anxiety may have a beneficial effect if it prompts you to take better care of yourself. But if it continues, anxiety can do harm. Again, finding out the answers to many of your questions can be the first step. Many times we imagine the worst, and the reality is not as bad as we thought it would be. Also, by finding out the answers, you learn that there are things you can do to make the situation better. Talking can help, as well as . taking steps to decrease the symptoms of anxiety. You first need to identify the symptoms you have, and then, with help, find ways to combat them.How can I take care of myself?Feeling as though you're the only one in the world who's going through this can make everything seem worse. Support groups, when available, can help, not only by putting you in touch with others in your situation, but by keeping you up-to-date on helpful information about the disease. Some support groups follow a formal structure, and include health care professionals specifically trained to help with the anger, depression, fear, and other emotional issues that a hepatitis diagnosis can prompt. Others who can be helpful include more informal groups of people with hepatitis or with any other chronic illness, who share their experiences in an effort to help others while helping themselves.Support groups can offer important emotional help by allowing you to blow off steam in a safe place where others who can relate to what you're going through accept you without being critical. They can relate to the fatigue or the overall sense of just feeling bad that family, friends, and coworkers may not fully understand. Unfortunately, it may,be difficult for you to find a support group in your area, but it is still worthwhile to try.Being active in a support group can also help by allowing you to help others. Supporting others in the same situation not only takes your mind off your own problems, it helps you feel good about yourself. The Support Group Search tab on this website may help you find a support group in your community, or you may want to consider starting one of your own. Your doctor and nurses may also serve as resources to find a support group among their patients. Finally, a local mental health clinic or professional in this field may sponsor such groups; these may require a fee to participate. The important thing to remember is that YOU must be the one to reach out for support. You can take some specific action to take care of yourself.Start by taking controlLearn everything you can about the virus, from how it affects millions of people in all walks of life, to how new treatments are offering greater hope for a cure. You took the first step by seeking reliable information at your fingertips in the Hepatitis Neighborhood. Find a physician who knows about the disease, such as a gastroenterologist (a specialist in diseases of the stomach, intestines, and liver) or hepatologist (a specialist in liver disease), and talk to him or her about treatment options. Get answers from people who are experts in hepatitis infection and treatment. Organizing your financial and legal papers can help you better manage your finances and be prepared if you need documents to support your request for time off or government aid. These are things you can do that can have a positive effect on your life, and may make you feel better.Making a simple to-do list, in which you check off items as they are done, or setting up a chart that shows your progress can be good to help yourself feel positive about accomplishments and stay motivated.

There are a number of actions you can take to get yourself into the right frame of mind. And having a good mindset, as mentioned earlier, can help you physically, as well as emotionally. Work as many of the following suggestions as you can into your daily life.

Get enough rest - 6 to 10 hours a night.

Eat small, well-balanced meals throughout the day.

Try to get some form of regular exercise, following your doctor's advice.

Have very little caffeine and no alcohol. Drink plenty of water - 4 to 8 glasses a day.

Talk things out with a counselor, friend, priest, rabbi, or support-group peers.

Avoid stressful situations. If there's too much for you to handle at work, ask for help. If a relative’s concern is causing your stress instead of reducing it, stay away, or find a way to accept and appreciate his or her concern and let them help you.

Seek out positive-minded people and activities, such as listening to music, walking, and developing hobbies.

Find an outlet for angry feelings, such as new hobbies or activities.

Use relaxation techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing.

Remember, there are many things you can focus on to lift your mood, and even clinical depression is usually treatable today. Once you have taken care of such problems, and learned positive ways to control troubling feelings, you'll be in a better position to improve your overall health. Of course, how your family and friends react can have a big effect on how you face this challenging time.

Cut yourself some slack, but don't wallow in self-pity. Make a list of things you can do to improve your situation or make a set of health goals that include exercise and better nutrition. You're facing a major change in your life, and it will take time to get used to it.

Talk to friends, or try stress-reduction activities like meditation or yoga to see what works for you.

Look for a support group to join, or ask your doctor if he or she can suggest how to find one.

Make changes to your lifestyle one step at a time. Eat a balanced diet, get more rest, and start exercising lightly. Don't drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes, and cut back on your caffeine intake.

Help someone else. You have something to offer, and by helping others you help yourself, too. You can get involved in fundraising or other activities, perhaps through the American Liver Foundation, or other local public health organizations.