Living with a serious condition, looking for or participating in a clinical trial can be tough on the psyche and there is no one right way to handle that kind of distress. However, there are some things that relatives and friends can do to make things a little bit better for patients.<\/p>\n
1. Get informed.<\/strong> A study conducted by our talented graphic designer Borjana Krusteva shows that people suffering from chronic illness feel very lonely and isolated at times due to a number of factors such as stigmatization, stereotypes about their particular condition and people refusing to recognise them as individuals first and foremost and instead treating them differently (like they\u2019re fragile or contagious \u2013 due to misinformation about their condition).<\/p>\n So, if you have a loved one who lives with a chronic illness or has an otherwise life-altering medical condition, gather all the information you can find about their particular condition \u2013 ask doctors, look up online medical journals (don\u2019t forget to check your sources!), you can even check out FindMeCure<\/a>\u2019s database for treatments in development as that can be a source of hope not only for patients but for their friends and family too \u2013 seeing how far research has come and how many options are being explored can be the much needed light at the end of the tunnel.<\/p>\nFind Clinical Trials<\/a>\n 2. Talking about hope, that\u2019s a huge theme in the lives of people living with chronic or (for now) incurable medical conditions. It\u2019s important to know that new cures are found every day<\/strong>, there are many treatments may be just months away and scientific progress is happening now faster than ever. Staying hopeful and maintaining a positive mindset play a huge role in recovery. Speaking of positive mindset\u2026<\/p>\n 3. Borjana\u2019s study also shows that many people with serious medical conditions turn to religion or spirituality in their journey to recovery. You can be supportive of your loved one by taking interest in their inner spiritual experience and\/or their beliefs about the meaning and purpose of their current situation<\/strong> (it is immensely important to keep to yourself any nihilistic life views you might hold, as those can be very disheartening and many studies show that losing hope and a sense of meaning or purpose significantly limit the chances of recovery).<\/p>\n 4. Get into the mindset of your loved one.<\/strong> Depending on whether the illness is chronic or terminal, your loved one might either accept it as a part of their life (in the case of chronic conditions) or see it as an outside threat (as it\u2019s the case of cancer for example). It\u2019s important to get as much insight as possible and act accordingly.<\/p>\n 5. Don\u2019t expect them to be a certain way.<\/strong> Many people with life-altering conditions get frustrated by the stereotypes about their illness, so validation is crucial. Remember that their emotions, feelings and the way they see their situation are always valid and reasonable, so don\u2019t dismiss them or insist that they change to fit your expectations. Instead, offer your loved one your unjudgmental presence and a listening ear.<\/p>\n Too often our instinctual reaction is to say \u201cDon\u2019t think that way!\u201d, when someone expresses doubt in their recovery or their ability to stay calm and collected in the face of adversity, but such a reaction might make them less open to communication, and being able to confide in someone and openly share all their thoughts and fears is of huge importance in overcoming loneliness. Instead, try saying something like \u201cI see why you might feel that way\u201d to make them feel heard, as sometimes people might feel pressured to stay always cheerful in order not to scare their friends and family.<\/p>\n Remember that even though staying hopeful is important, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t going to be good and bad days. Be supportive by allowing your loved one to not always be strong and calm, and optimistic; to openly express all their emotions. There shouldn\u2019t be any taboo topics that they feel aren\u2019t allowed to talk about.<\/p>\n Subscribe for FindMeCure\u2019s blog (look to your upright\u00a0for the subscribe field) to get more news and views on health and clinical trials! Borjana\u2019s study on patients\u2019 needs will be soon published here. Don\u2019t miss it out!<\/strong><\/p>\n If you or your beloved one is looking for more treatment options, check out the available clinical trials on FindMeCure.<\/p>\n \u00a0Article by Nelly Katsarova<\/p>\n <\/p>\n