A Comprehensive Guide to Therapy for Health Issues and Chronic Illness in Seattle
Western society often metaphorically cuts the body off at the neck, separating physical and mental health. The reality is there’s a bi-directional relationship between our bodies and our minds. They aren’t separate, but dance together like partners in a tango. Because of this, our physical health impacts out mental health and our mental health can impact our physical health. You also don’t exist in a vacuum. You live within complex systems of society, family, friendships, jobs, and more. Your innate biology interacts with your environment to mold your experience. You can’t control what happens to you, but you do have choice in how you respond to live events both internally and externally. Before we go further, I want to address some key concepts that guide my work.
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Medical Misogyny:
The majority of the medical system is predicated on the idea that the ‘male’ body is the ‘norm.’ It doesn’t take much investigation to see the ways that the female body is seen as ‘foreign’ ‘strange’ or ‘unnatural.’ Do you know what the number #1 cause of death of women is? Cardiovascular disease. Both endometriosis and PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) put women at increased risk at earlier times in their lives. Absolutely crazy that this isn’t common knowledge. I’ve had clients say they’ve been told to have a glass of wine and relax when trying to communicate real physical problems, especially related to sex and reproductive health. Women are expected to quietly accept their physiology without making a scene or ‘complaining.’ Conditions specific to people with uteruses are often complicated and not well researched. Pain experienced by women, especially women of color is often dismissed or under treated. Women can literally end up dying by misogyny. Life situations including reproductive health issues, pregnancy and menopause are ripe with women’s experiences of the medical world not taking them seriously and often paying the ultimate price. I’m passionate about helping women like you navigate this insane world through empowerment, problem solving and knowledge. A great book recommendation is Unwell Women by Elinor Clenghorn if you’d like to read more about this subject.
Fatphobia:
Fatphobia is rampant in the medical world. Women, gender minorities and people of color are often dismissed for multiple reasons and being fat is unfortunately a common reason many peoples’ concerns aren’t taken seriously. Many fat people are told ‘just loose weight’ even when they’re going into the doctor for something like a cold or a broken arm. I believe people of all shapes and sizes deserve access to compassionate, effective care. Some of my favorite books on this subject include, Belly of the Beast by Da’Shaun L. Harrison, What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat and “You Just Need to Loose Weight” both by Aubrey Gordon, The Body Is Not An Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor. I also believe being “healthy” whatever that means to you, doesn’t make you morally superior. If this is something you’ve dealt with from the medical community, know that I work on continuing to dismantle internalized fat phobia and creating a safe place for all bodies to exist.
Psychological Effects of Chronic Illness and Health Issues:
Some common impacts of illness an health issues on the mind, include but are not limited to, depression, anxiety, isolation, trauma, obsession, fear, lack of trust, grief, internalized ableism, burnout and relational strain.
Depression/Anxiety
People dealing with health issues are at increased risk for depression and anxiety. Many times, they exist together. Of course, these emotions exist on a spectrum. You can be sad to clinically depressed or slightly worried to clinically anxious or have panic attacks.
Isolation
People coping with health issues often feel like no one understand what they’re going through, or worry they’ll be perceived as a burden if they ask for help. People can also struggle with mobility, physically isolating them to their home.
Trauma
Trauma can happen to anyone at anytime. Dealing with increased stressors and complexity puts you more at risk.
Obsession
It’s not uncommon for people to develop obsessions and engage in repetitive behavior as a way to self soothe stress from illness. This behavior also lies on a spectrum and can range from minor to severely impacting daily life.
Fear
The unknown is scary. Facing a future of the unknown naturally creates fear.
Lack of Trust
This can be within yourself or with others. Health issues often impact relationships which can lead to feelings of mistrust if not tended to.
Grief
Multiple types of grief can be experienced related to health issues. Disenfranchised grief, ambiguous grief, anticipatory grief, just to name a few.
Internalized Ableism
Ableism relates to privilege of people who don’t deal with health or disability challenges and discrimination of those that do. Just as people can internalize racism, homophobia or misogyny, people can struggle with shaming their own physical status often leading to more significant mental health struggles.
Burnout
Taking care of yourself when coping with health issues can feel like a full time job. It’s easy to experience burnout around appointments, treatment, and self care.
Relational Strain
Health challenges impact your relationship with yourself and those around you.
Chronic Illness and Trauma:
You can think of chronic conditions in terms of exposing your nervous system to ongoing signs of danger. As opposed to one and done traumas, such as a car crash, people dealing with chronic health conditions must face exposure to internal stress and stressful environments.
Most Effective Therapies for Health Issues:
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness based interventions are all evidence based interventions shown to create change for clients. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a helpful treatment for what we call ‘single event’ traumas. Brainspotting, which also uses eye movements is another effective treatment for breaking unhelpful patterns.
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How Therapy Can Help:
Learn how to regulate your nervous system
Accept and let go
Build support networks
Build communication skills
Build self advocacy
Increase self esteem, positive self talk
Navigate systemic challenges
Change the narrative
Build a value based life
Gain clarity on your priorities
Help with decision making
Connect with resources
Heal trauma
What’s a Holistic Approach to Health?
A holistic approach to health cares about the whole person, understanding that all aspects of your life impact your health. Health is multidimensional and multifaceted. It’s also only defined by you. Even though I work in ‘mental healthcare’ I help people build healthy mental, relational emotional, intellectual, vocational, and physical health. From my perspective, a holistic approach also identifies structural impacts on your wellbeing, especially oppressive systems, and modes of thought. I work from a fat-positive, anti-racist, lgbtq inclusive perspective and continuously am working on challenges internalized discrimination within myself.
What is a Chronic Illness Therapist?
A Chronic Illness Therapist or Therapist for Health Issues work with clients dealing with the impact of illness, injury or health challenges. This work can range from adjustment to treatment of mental health issues. Some examples of clients I’ve worked with include but aren’t limited to: cancer, degenerative diseases, auto-immune diseases, neurological issues, reproductive health issues, dementia, spinal cord injuries, chronic fatigue, Lyme disease, pots, mobility issues, people nervous about a procedure or surgery, and high risk pregnancies.
Effects of health issues on the system (family, friends, etc):
Health challenges create a wave of influence over entire systems. The ‘identified patient’ might be receiving treatment, but it effects the loved ones too. Here are a handful of ways loved ones might be impacted by illness, injury, or health challenges.
·Trauma: Loved ones may be the one to access interventions or call for help.
·Stay Strong: Loved ones might feel like they have to be strong for the identified patient and can’t show weakness.
·Caregiving: If loved ones need to provider care giving, that can be challenging both physically and emotionally.
·Pull away: Some loved ones might pull away out of feeling awkward or not knowing how to help.
·Financial Stress: Loved ones might take on the bulk of financial stressors related to health.
·Self neglect: Loved ones might start neglecting their own self care to focus on the identified patient.
·Lack of ability to focus on other developmental milestones
·Other mental health struggles
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Coping Strategies for Health Issues:
Peer support
Nervous system regulation
Self-soothing techniques
Relational support
Movement
Social engagement
Meaning making
Pets
Art/Personal Expression
Music
Writing
If you want to maximize your wellbeing while dealing with health challenges or chronic illness, reach out and schedule a free consultation today. Check out my other blogs related to therapy for health issues:
Therapy for Health Issues and Chronic Illness Seattle: My Health Story
Navigating Adversity: Grief Counseling in Seattle for Coping with Medical Gaslighting
Seattle Grief Counseling: Validating Your Experience with Chronic Illness
Check out my other specialties: grief, medical trauma, infertility, pregnancy loss.