Dealing with illness and chronic pain is difficult enough as it is, but it can often come hand-in-hand with mental health and financial challenges. If you suffer with anything that limits your ability to function day-to-day, it can come with a host of feelings like regret, resentment, bitterness, and sadness. When your energy is low as it is, it’s hard to find the strength to deal with anything else.

The impact

It isn’t just your body that is impacted. You may struggle with a complete shift of identity, as you learn to be someone less able than they were before. You might experience grief, frustration or fear, and your relationships may suffer. Very often, physical illness can come with depression and anxiety. Please visit our mental health page for more support.

Financial worries

If illness or chronic pain has stopped you from being able to work, you are going to feel a huge amount of money pressure. Maybe you have a family to feed, or you’re worried about how you’ll pay for treatment. This adds stress to an already challenging situation, and now your physical problem has become financial and mental as well.

We know how difficult this feels. At Lighthouse, we’re here to help bring some ease. Scroll down to call and tell us your situation – there are many ways we can help.

Ways to cope

Seek Support

People need connection, and your illness might make you feel cut off from friends and family. A great way to connect is to find people who understand what you’re going through. Try support groups or online communities, or share with a good friend.

Find joy in small things

Try to focus on simple happy moments that are nothing to do with your illness. That first sip of coffee, a great song, sunlight coming in the window. This will feel impossible some days, and here’s your permission to find joy in telling us to stick joy up… well, you know.

'strength'

Don’t let the idea of ‘being strong’ make you struggle on through hard days. Strength is knowing when you need to rest, listening to your needs, and asking for help when you need it. Battling on and ‘not making a fuss’ will only burn you out in the end.