Coping with a terminal illness

When you find out

Hearing that your illness cannot be cured would be daunting and frightening experience being told that you are going to die. You may not be able to take in the information. You may want to take a family member or friend in at follow up meetings unless you want to do this alone.

Each individual is unique and feelings can vary from shock, fear, numbness, anger, denial, helplessness, resentment, sadness, calm, relief and acceptance.

You may also feel alone, even if you have a good social network around you.

Whatever you feelings and emotions are, you do not have to go through it alone and can have support and someone to talk to and listen to your inner deep feelings and through support from Simply Therapy you can work through impartially what you want to happen with the rest of your life, what you want to do which might include sorting out the finances, family home, what you want from your family and friends and how you want the rest of your days to go which may not include family and friends pitying you, being miserable but being fun, positive and living the rest of your days in happiness to whatever degree you are able to and physical and emotional support.

Feeling uncertain

Knowing that you have a life-limiting condition leaves you living with uncertainty. You will have questions, such as how and when your body is going to change, the effect this will have on your independence and for those around you, what will happen at work, and  how much time you have left.

Not knowing exactly what is going to happen to you can feel overwhelming and upsetting. It is normal to feel like this, and it is OK to talk to people about how you are feeling.

It might also be helpful to talk about this with others who are in a similar situation, and to hear how they cope with these feelings.

Find someone to talk to

Not everybody wants to talk about what they are going through. Some people might not want to talk about it at all at first and others may want to talk to everyone as that is how they cope. Knowing you have a terminal can bring up worries and fears and being able to talk about these so that they do not start to feel impossible to deal. You may not want pity, sympathy from family and friends who do not know what to say and may wrap you in cotton wool. You may want to talk to someone less close to you where seeing a Counsellor at Simply Therapy who actually listens to you, supports you in working through and untangling your thoughts in a confidential non judgemental empathic manner may be exactly what you need.

 Feeling uncertain about the rest of your life

Knowing that you have a life-limiting condition inevitably leaves you living with uncertainty. You will probably have questions to which there are no definite answers, such as how and when your body is going to change, the effect this will have on your independence and your relationships, what will happen at work, and exactly how much time you have left.

Not knowing exactly what is going to happen to you can feel overwhelming and upsetting. It is normal to feel like this, and it is OK to talk to people about how you are feeling.

It might also be helpful to talk about this with others who are in a similar situation, and to hear how they cope with these feelings.

At Simply Therapy, I will provide a tailor made service by going through things one step at a time and therapy that is unique to your needs and will be non judgmental, listen to you, support you all the way in dealing with your terminal illness and death.  As a result you will regained control and composure, be able to plan how you want the rest of your life to be, put in measures to deal with practicalities such as finances, medication,where you would like to receive your care in the future, put in place time for activities you enjoy, to be directed to relevant complementary therapies such as aromatherapy. Being able to make the most of the rest of your life around those you love dearly. Not only can I give you support on a one to one basis I can work with other members of your family either separately or with you.

If you would like to find out more information on the counselling and psychotherapy support I can give you during this very traumatic time please visit our website: www.simplytherapy.co.uk or email info @simplytherapy.co.uk or call on 0161 2985 999

Simply Therapy, Ela Mill Business Complex, Bury, Greater Manchester, BL9 7DU, with an office in Greater Manchester and Rossendale, Lancashire