Living with long-term illness
People with long-term physical health conditions have an increased risk of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Mental health problems can then make it harder for you to cope with your physical health condition.
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with a long-term illness you may be feeling shocked, scared and overwhelmed.
Living with an illness can be all-encompassing and it can be difficult to cope with new demands and limitations put on your life, and fear of the future. The important thing is to try and take life slowly, and recognise there will be good days and bad days.
Some of the emotions you might be feeling may include:
- stress
- grief
- anger
- fear
- depression
- anxiety
- loneliness
- frustration
- resentment
- sadness
- denial
- helplessness
Looking after your mental health
If you are experiencing these feelings it’s vital to acknowledge them and talk about how you are feeling. Often people can try to suppress their feelings so as not to upset others, but this can be detrimental to your mental wellbeing and be a huge burden for you to carry on your own. Asking for support from family and friends will help you get through the difficult days ahead.
If you are feeling depressed or anxious and unable to cope you may want to seek professional help from your GP or a trained counsellor.
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Coping with difficult emotions
As well as talking to someone you might like to try some different ways of managing these feelings such as:
- Writing them down
- Meditation
- Deep breathing
- Listening to music
- Spending time in nature
- Exercise or stretching if you are able
- Finding support groups
- Setting small, achievable goals
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Coping with pain
If you are in pain, cognitive behaviour therapy may be able to help you manage your response to this.
We're here to listen...without judgement
Contact our free, confidential, emotional support service for the legal sector
0800 279 6888
Your Stories
Real stories of people in the legal community who have experienced stress, depression, anxiety and more.
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How I coped with anxiety
"I felt really unwell – heart rate rising, breathing out of control, nausea, and an overwhelming desire to get out of the car."
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How I coped with stress
"I collapsed in the office mid-deal, suffering from exhaustion."
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How I sorted out my sleep
"I would wake up four or five times a night, brain racing with thoughts and often would manage only 2 or 3 hours sleep. I was exhausted."
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My journey to an ADHD and autism diagnosis
"As a woman, I, like many other autistic and ADHD women, learnt to mask my traits and so I went undiagnosed for 32 years."
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