ALL ABOUT MS The
role of the family (Part 15)
Life
in accordance with the disease
By importance, the support
and assistance of the family environment of MS patients do not differ from
healthy people, nor from those suffering from other chronic and progressive
diseases. Their families are similar to most families affected by a stressful
life situation that necessarily leads to changes in family relationships, which
in turn requires a complete adjustment to the resulting changes. When one
member suffers from a chronic illness, at least for some time the family gets
out of balance and the atmosphere feels emotionally in a special way. It is a
natural need to re-establish the system, which requires additional effort from
the family. The length of adjustment to the new situation is different in each
family, and depends on its ability to accept changes. It is therefore necessary
that family relationships be harmonized and envied by emotions. A family that
includes warmth, love, support and care for their member will be a great
support for a person suffering from MS.
Most
common reactions to MS
The most natural reactions
to the diagnosis of any chronic illness, including MS, are shock, unbelief,
fear and sorrow. There are many questions and dilemmas that are troubling the
family during adapting to illness. Family members are, understandably, scared
and very concerned about the diseased, and there is also fear that they will be
able to settle in altered conditions and if everything is going to react to
their social environment. After the adjustment period comes to some of the most
common types of family response to illness.
A family that does not
accept illness or denies the existence of illness and obvious symptoms can
endanger the person with MS because there is no openness in conversation or
proper communication. A family that responds depressively (prevalent of
emotions of sorrow) experiences illness as a failure and punishment, so the
somatic health of one member is endangered, and a fantasy of future loss as
well as a feeling of worthlessness, diversity in relation to other families
that work happily and satisfactorily; self-esteem is hurt, treatment is
considered meaningless, it is very often ill with an over-protection, and the
family is withdrawn from social relations together with it. The family that is
adapted to accept MS, continues to live with the necessary changes, and
relations are open, the exchange is intense, which is extremely important for
the patient.
In addition to these basic
types of response, there are a variety of subtypes that are a combination of
individual response modes. At the same time, these may be the stages through
which the family is going through adapting to the disease.
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