We had a 50-minute session today at the office. Client came in looking pretty exhausted and was really down about how hard it’s been managing their chronic illness lately. They said quote 'It’s like my illness controls every part of my life' unquote. They talked about how the physical symptoms have been draining, and it’s starting to affect their mental health, too. They mentioned feeling disconnected from things they used to enjoy because they just don’t have the energy anymore, and it’s also affecting their work and social life, which has them feeling even more stressed.
We spent some time talking about the emotional toll of chronic illness and how it’s okay to feel frustrated about how much it impacts daily life. We also discussed how important it is to find small things they can control, even when the illness feels overwhelming. I introduced some mindfulness techniques that could help them manage the emotional and physical stress of their condition. They seemed a little hesitant at first, but after we went through a short mindfulness exercise together, they said it made them feel a bit more grounded. Their homework is to practice one mindfulness exercise each day, even if it’s just for a few minutes, and to note how they feel afterward.
By the end of the session, they seemed a little more hopeful, like they finally had a way to cope with some of the emotional burden. We’ll meet again next week to see how they’re managing and if we need to adjust the approach.