Advice for Coping with the Diagnosis of a Loved One

For many, it can be tougher to see a family member go through a health concern than to experience one personally. This might sound a little upside-down, but it’s incredible just how many stoic and enduring people manage health conditions on a day-to-day basis, accepting the tough times, enjoying the good days, and moving through the whole process with dignity. Most of them would rather go through it than see a relative inflicted with the same concern.

For that reason, it’s easy to see how watching someone you love go through a medical hardship can be frustrating, tiring, and highly emotional from beginning to end. Despite all the assistance we would love to rend, and despite wanting to adopt that person’s difficulty as our own, we implicitly understand that circumstances rarely play out that way.

It’s important, then, to learn how to cope and sustain yourself so you can better help your friend or loved one. This helps you remain a rock to rely on, someone who can give their support whenever it’s needed. In this article, we’ll discuss advice for coping with the diagnosis of a loved one, because yes, you need support, too.

Seek professional guidance & help

You don’t have to go this alone, and you don’t have to come up with all the solutions yourself. It’s healthy to ask for the help you need, because it frees you up the time you need to care how you can, and how you might prefer to. For example, a patient care coordinator can help your family and better arrange the services your loved one needs to see, lightening some of the burden from your shoulders. 

Create a routine that provides stable comfort

Days might not feel so comfortable when you have a difficult situation like this to manage. But creating a routine that provides stable comfort can work well in second place. If you wake up at the right time, prepare your day on a schedule, visit your friend when you can, plan out certain life activities like cooking for them three times a week, and attending physio with your friend every weekend, well, you have time you can spare for your friend, and then focus on yourself when necessary too. Creating this kind of routine helps you relax and feel better in yourself, because at a time of chaos, having some order to work with is ideal.

Engage in meaningful activities

Ultimately, spending time with your loved one is a reward in itself. If they’re capable, you might come and put on a breakfast spread and pour them tea, or play board games with them, or just enjoy the daily monotony that comes from coming and going to rush your daily errands. Meaningful activities that help you feel like you’re contributing can help you get over that worry you’re not doing enough, and it really does make a big difference to your outlook.

With this advice, you’re sure to better cope with the diagnosis of a loved one, as seemingly difficult as that can sound.