Living with Chronic Illness
Episode Description
Many of us know someone who has been diagnosed with a chronic illness, or have been diagnosed with one ourselves. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, host Tim Unsinn talks with therapist April Morris about how chronic illness can impact daily living and mental health, as well as how to seek support if you have been diagnosed with a chronic illness.What to Expect
- What is a chronic illness?
- How chronic illness impacts mental health
- How to improve your quality of life
Resources: Learn More
- “Chronic Illness and Mental Health: Recognizing and Treating Depression” (nimh.nih.gov)
- “Support Groups: Make Connections, Get Help” (Mayo Clinic)
- “How to Be a Friend to Someone With Cancer,” by Tammy Noteboom (Dakota Family Services)
Things to Think About
- In addition to your support system of family and friends, finding specific illness-centered support groups in your community can also help you navigate a diagnosis.
- When dealing with a chronic illness, don’t measure your self-worth by what you can or can’t accomplish day-to-day.
About the Hosts
April Morris provides therapy for adolescents and adults. She enjoys working with clients from all walks of life, and is honored to join them on their mental health journey and help them build skills to adapt to life challenges. She loves building relationships with people and is dedicated to helping them become their best selves.
Transcript
Living with Chronic Illness
Featuring April Morris, LCSW, Dakota Family Services
Tim Unsinn:
Welcome to Mind Your Mind, a podcast presented by Dakota Family Services, an outpatient behavioral health clinic, located in Minot, Bismarck, and Fargo, North Dakota. In this podcast, I will talk with our experts about understanding and nurturing our mental health and wellness. I'm your host, Tim Unsinn. Join me each episode as we explore the intricacies of our minds, decrease the stigma of mental illness, learn practical tips for managing our mental health and wellbeing, and recognize when it's time to ask for help. Join me now to mind your mind. Welcome to this episode of Mind Your Mind. Our guest is April Morris. April is an outpatient therapist in Fargo and provides therapy for those over 12, primarily adults. April, great to have you on Mind Your Mind. Our topic is living with chronic illness. What a great topic. We'll get to that in just a moment, but before we start, something I ask all of our guests and that is why do you do what you do?
April Morris:
I think I've just always been a people person and enjoy supporting others and it's really humbling being part of their growth, whether it would be strengths or challenges.
Tim Unsinn:
Love that. Thank you. Alright, the topic is living with chronic illness and I really believe this is one of those topics that hits so many of us because there's, and we talk about chronic illness, I think of aches and pains as we go around the sun more times and more times it just happens, but it is a real thing living with chronic illness. So why is coping with chronic illness so difficult and where do I start?
April Morris:
Yes. I think first, just even clarifying how it's defined. So it's a condition that lasts one year or more and requires ongoing medical care and/or limits activities of daily living. So examples that people have probably heard about would be heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, cancer, and there's so many.
Tim Unsinn:
Yeah, that's a pretty long list.
April Morris:
Yes. And so I think it's really important to just think about it being difficult because it is not going to resolve. It is something that is going to just be part of your daily life and that often means needing to alter your day-to-day life, to have good quality of life. Sometimes I think when you think of these diseases that people are challenged by, you can't see them. Right? If I saw you on the street, I wouldn't know that you have lung disease per se. So I think sometimes people can get frustrated that it can be difficult explaining to other people what their limits are and managing their symptoms in that day-to-day life when you can't see what is actually going on. And this is where that Spoons Theory podcast that we did one other time would come in and really talks about some of these silent illnesses, if you will, that you can't see and what people might be challenged with as far as where to start. It really starts with learning more about your diagnosis and the recommendations on how you can best manage it outside of your medical care. Right? Of course, this includes medical visits with your provider, making sure that you feel like your provider's a good fit, that you guys can talk about emotional health needs within your physical health, and of course always the nutrition and physical activity that best fits with your illness.
Tim Unsinn:
Well, I'm thinking too, as you talk about chronic illness, you talk about, you know, over a year and knowing that every day that you get up it's gonna be with you. I mean there's things you can help to maybe ease some of that pain, but it's always going to be with you. So how does chronic illness then impact emotional health?
April Morris:
Yes, absolutely. We know that physical and emotional health is so connected, there's a lot of overlapping symptoms, there's a lot of research talking about physical and emotional pain and so absolutely we know they're connected. I think the biggest thing to think about is how much it can force a person to shift their roles and their priorities and how that can impact people's purpose in life, their identity and their self-worth. For example, if it's somebody that over time is going to lose some physical independence, that can be really hard for people to learn to cope with. And often that is something that is a primary topic. When I'm seeing people in therapy, of course we know that chronic illness can often be connected and lead to higher rates of depression, anxiety, because there's a lot of fear of loss of control and our future being unpredictable with disease progression. I also think about just the impacts and the interconnectedness with sleep and exercise and nutrition. If we're having physical conditions that are impacting those things, we know then that's also going to impact our mood. We know how much our mood is impacted when we don't get enough sleep, when we don't eat right. And that's even when we're not maybe diagnosed with a specific mental health condition, they are so interconnected.
Tim Unsinn:
So what are the ways I can improve my quality of life?
April Morris:
That's a great question. I think you're gonna find a lot of little tidbits. I mean obviously primarily it's regular healthcare visits. Of course, taking medications as prescribed when you do already have an illness that you are managing. Staying active of course we just talked about improves our mental health and our sleep can improve our weight management, our pain, and just helping us keep our independence as long as possible. Physically eating healthy foods, engaging in pleasurable activities and hobbies. This is really where that piece can come in. Where if we're shifting our priorities, not focusing on the things that we can or can't do when it comes to maybe chores or household things, but really shift our priorities. What matters in life, you know, what gives us purpose and meaning? Is it just spending time with family? I think sometimes in a society, what did you do today gets connected to our self-worth and I think that's really important to think about when you're thinking about people that can't physically do a lot today, but that shouldn't connect. That's not what life should be about. Right? <Laugh>, I think about other things that are obviously helpful. Mindfulness, you know, stress relief activities, always avoiding alcohol, substance use, you know, even sometimes limiting caffeine and really just asking for help and looking at how that, that can even just validate your family saying they don't have those big expectations of you, they just want you to be happy.
Tim Unsinn:
When I think too is for us that know of somebody that has this, you know, chronic illness, maybe it's an opportunity for us to show extra kindness as opposed to, you know, what did you do today? What do you got going on? You know, be more empathetic, I guess is what I'm trying to say. And be more kind.
April Morris:
Absolutely. When working with people that were going through some of their cancer treatments, sometimes that was, they didn't wanna talk about that as much as the other person may want to genuinely know how they're doing and where things are at. That person going through it might just wanna talk about other things in life. I think there's some really good information out there too, on how you can support a loved one with chronic illness and yeah, it is not saying, let me know if I can do anything for you, right, is the statement, and we mean well, but actually asking something more specific because in the Midwest people have a hard time asking for help, so we have to keep that in mind. And so I think there's working on us asking for help as well as working on offering help in a specific way that can go both ways.
Tim Unsinn:
Well now we've got somebody that's got chronic illness, they've, they've got pain and there's so much more than just that pain getting up every morning. But the piece of the mental piece of that that we're thinking, okay, I can't do this and this and you know, my expectations and all that stuff. So at what point do we seek help and where do we look for that help?
April Morris:
Yeah, I think you kind of led into that when we're having a hard time adjusting those expectations of ourselves and reprioritizing obligations. If we are noticing, you know, anxiety and depression symptoms we're, we're feeling down really having a hard time enjoying some of those positives in our day, then yes, we should reach out and consider individual therapy. Couples and family therapy can be helpful too in these situations. If you have an immediate family member with chronic illness, I think about in addition to your support system in your life that you've selected, but looking at support groups and networks that are disease specific, right? Like the American Heart Association and different organizations where you can connect to others that are going through it. There's just so much validation that comes from that type of support that it's not going to be the same as family members or a therapist. And so like, I want it all, I want the family and friends. I want therapy and I want a good support network of somebody that is struggling with what I'm struggling with.
Tim Unsinn:
Great information. Any other final thoughts on living with chronic illness?
April Morris:
No, there's, there's a lot in that topic, but I hope this was a good start.
Tim Unsinn:
It is. Excellent start. Thank you so much. April Morris, our guest on Mind Your Mind, and before we wrap up, always that final question and because there's so much that goes on in your day every day and you're helping people and that's a lot of stuff to have, what do you do personally to mind your mind?
April Morris:
I think just making sure that I can also engage in my hobbies and things I enjoy, like going to the lake and spending time with family and otherwise when I can do small mindfulness pieces here and there that really kind of just help, you know, stay grounded and manage stress to be able to support other people. Gotta do mindfulness.
Tim Unsinn:
Thank you. Thank you for sharing your time and talent with us here on Mind Your Mind.
Tim Unsinn:
Thank you for joining us for Mind Your Mind, a podcast presented by Dakota Family Services. You can't have health without behavioral health. Remember to mind your mind. For more information, links to additional resources, contact information, and much more, go to Dakotafamilyservices.org.
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Although the stigma surrounding mental health is gradually disappearing, it can still be tricky knowing how to talk about it. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, host Tim Unsinn and psychologist Megan Spencer explore how to have a conversation with someone about their mental health, including signs that you should talk to them, how to start the conversation, and some possible reactions to expect from the other person.;
The Benefits of Being Outside
Are you feeling cooped up indoors? Join host Tim Unsinn and therapist Lucas Mitzel in this episode of Mind Your Mind as they discuss the importance of getting outside on your mental health. Learn about the benefits of green and blue spaces, activities you can do while outside, and how being outside can help improve symptoms of different mental health diagnoses.;
Dealing With Burnout
In this episode of Mind Your Mind, Tim Unsinn talks with psychologist Dr. Hannah Baczynski about the signs of burnout, how to prevent it, and how to know if your burnout is related to general life stressors or a mental health disorder. They also talk about the difference between fatigue and burnout, as well as how to support yourself and alleviate burnout when you’re experiencing it.;
Bipolar Disorder: Understanding the Highs and Lows
Although the term ‘bipolar’ is sometimes used as slang to describe someone who is moody or indecisive, true bipolar disorder is a complex and sometimes severe mental health disorder that affects the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, host Tim Unsinn discusses bipolar disorder with nurse practitioner Amanda Daggett, touching on what the disorder is, what its symptoms look like, and how it can be treated.;
Social Media: Managing Emotions & Setting Boundaries
How much time do you spend each day looking at your phone? An hour or two? Multiple hours? In this episode of Mind Your Mind, host Tim Unsinn meets with therapist Christy Wilkie to discuss how social media use can impact our mental health, relationships, and behavior. Learn tips for monitoring your child’s internet use, as well as how to manage your own time spent on social media.;
Understanding OCD
While OCD is sometimes perceived as simply a desire to keep things neat and organized, it can actually have much more severe symptoms for those who experience it. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, host Tim Unsinn meets with psychologist Dr. Megan Spencer to talk about who Obsessive Compulsive Disorder affects, what its signs and symptoms are, and how to seek help if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with OCD.;
Breaking Bad Habits
Bad habits can be easy to start but sometimes very difficult to stop. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, host Tim Unsinn and therapist Falan Johnson talk about breaking bad habits, including where habits come from, how to know if a habit is bad, and steps you can take to stop it.;
Finding a Therapist
Are you looking for some help on your mental health journey? In this episode of Mind Your Mind, host Tim Unsinn and therapist Jessie Mertz talk about how to find a therapist, including what you should know when searching and what questions to ask when you meet a therapist for the first time. They also touch on what the letters after a therapist’s name mean, and how they apply to the type of services or treatment you might be looking for.;
Coping with Rejection
Whether it’s from asking someone on a date or applying for a job, we all experience rejection at some point in our lives. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, host Tim Unsinn talks with therapist April Morris about how to cope with rejection, including the common coping stages, the importance of acceptance, and how rejection can impact people differently.;
Borderline Personality Disorder
Like other personality disorders, borderline personality disorder is a commonly misunderstood and stigmatized mental illness. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, host Tim Unsinn talks with Lucas Mitzel, a therapist at Dakota Family Services, about what BPD is, how it affects someone’s behavior, and where to seek treatment if your child has been diagnosed with BPD.;
Psychological Assessments: What to Expect
Do you think you might be suffering from an undiagnosed mental disorder? If so, a psychological assessment might be able to help. In this episode of Mind Your Mind, psychologist Dr. Hannah Baczynski and host Tim Unsinn talk about what to expect from a psychological assessment, including what an assessment might include, what information you might receive from the psychologist, and what you should communicate with your psychologist before and after receiving an assessment.;
Supplements in Psychiatry
In this episode of Mind Your Mind, host Tim Unsinn and Amanda Daggett explore the topic of using supplements for mental health. In addition to talking about some of the most commonly used supplements like melatonin and St. John’s Wort, they also discuss the benefits, the risks, and the research surrounding various supplements.;
Seasonal Affective Disorder (Community Chat Series)
Feeling like you’ve got the winter blues? If you’re noticing symptoms of depression with the change of seasons, it may be a sign that you’re suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. In this special Community Chat episode of Mind Your Mind, therapists Christy Wilkie and Lucas Mitzel discuss the common symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, how it can affect other mental health disorders, and some useful tips, tricks, and resources for managing symptoms of SAD.;
Trying New Things With Confidence
Join Christy and Lucas, therapists at Dakota Family Services, as they share practical tips for building confidence when trying new things. From managing self-doubt to building resilience, this episode will empower you to approach new experiences with a positive mindset.;
Relationships are Hard
In this episode, Christy and Lucas explore why relationships can be so hard. Join them as they discuss the characteristics of both healthy and toxic relationships, talk about the difference between normal conflict and abuse, and help you discover your love languages so you and your partner can best express your love to each other.;
Is Everybody Anxious?
In this episode, Christy and Lucas explore anxiety. Join them as they discuss the signs and symptoms of an anxiety disorder, what you can do to decrease your anxiety, and how to best help loved ones struggling with anxiety.;
Is Everyone Feeling Sad
In this episode, Christy and Lucas explore depression. Join them as they discuss the signs and symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder, what you can do to help yourself feel better, and what you can do to help your loved ones. They will talk about coping strategies, therapy interventions, and ways to help you identify when your child might need extra help.;
Change is Hard
Change is inevitable. Join Christy and Lucas as they explore big and small changes and how they impact you. Learn why change can be so hard, even good change, and discover ways to manage it effectively.;
We Need to Talk About Suicide
In this episode of "Is It Just Me," Christy and Lucas discuss the very important topic of suicide. Listen to learn about risk factors, warning signs, and what you can do to help a loved one who is struggling. Remember, you are not alone. If you need immediate assistance, call 911. If you need to talk to someone, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.;
Do We Need to Get Outside?
Join Lucas and Christy as they explore the power of spending time outdoors on mental and emotional well-being. Discover practical tips, personal anecdotes, and expert insights on the benefits of getting outside and reconnecting with nature.;
Exploring ADHD
In this episode of "Is It Just Me?" Lucas and Christy discuss ADHD, shedding light on its prevalence and impact on daily life. Learn practical strategies for managing symptoms and understand why your friend or loved one with ADHD does the things they do.;
Internet Safety and Mental Health
In this episode of "Is It Just Me?", join our hosts Christy and Lucas as they delve into the complex relationship between the internet and mental health. With the digital age bringing information and social connections to our fingertips, it also presents unique challenges and opportunities for our safety and psychological well-being.;
Boosting Self-Esteem: From Marathons to Daily Triumphs
In this episode of "Is It Just Me?", Christy and Lucas discuss how common it is for people to see themselves differently from others. Using their own personal triumphs and challenges as examples, they outline the things that shape our self-esteem. Additionally, they share simple daily practices to help listeners recognize and celebrate their own personal victories. This episode is filled with tips and engaging stories aimed at encouraging listeners to undertake challenges that foster self-growth and personal confidence.;