Terri Ramsey Beavers When we choose to be with someone, we opt to stick with them through better and worse. It can be extremely difficult to see someone you love have to go through a difficult period with their overall health and wellbeing. Depending on their injury, illness, or condition, there are various different things that you can do in order to alleviate their suffering. So, here are a few different ideas to get on the right path to helping them out through whatever health condition they might be facing!
Mental Health Issues
As a society, we are becoming increasingly open about mental health concerns. Research and lessened social stigma mean that we understand mental health issues and are acknowledging their prevalence more than ever. If your partner is diagnosed with a mental health concern, make sure to do your research and look up the condition to help yourself understand what they’re experiencing. Find out different ways that you can help. This might be giving them a little space or being a bit more attentive. Ask your partner what is best, as different people prefer different things. Most importantly, make sure that you’re there to listen!
Chronic or Long Term Conditions
If your loved one has a condition that has been going on for a long time or that cannot be cured and will continue in the future, you may find that you are having to care for them around the clock. This can be demanding and extremely difficult if you have to find a means of generating an income. But not to worry. There are options out there. The first is to hire help. A nurse or carer could step in to look after your loved one while you are out of the house at work or meeting other commitments. Alternatively, you could make caring for your partner your career. With programs like FreedomCare, you could be paid for caring for your partner and meeting your needs. This is beneficial for you both, as you get to spend more time together without having to worry about financial difficulty.
Short Term Illness
Even if your loved one is only facing a short-term or common condition – something as simple as a cold or flu – make sure that you still show support. Make kind little gestures, such as cooking meals and taking care of the chores until they’re better. Pick them up some cough medicine. Make them drinks so their fluids are topped up. These are simple things to do but will make them feel much better.
As you can see, the most important thing is to be there for your loved ones when they are facing a difficult time. Hopefully, the above advice will help you to achieve this!
I couldn’t agree more. No matter what issue a person is facing, having support is incredibly important!
Those are lovely tips. It all comes down to empathy, doesn’t it? Thanks for sharing!
Really great post, It can take quite a toll when trying to support a partner with health issues and I think a lot of people can really benefit from all the information in this post!
Support from your loved ones most especially with your families will definitely helps an illness person to feel more comforted, love and to know that they are important.
I have experienced being sick and alone and it really sucks. Having someone by your side definitely brings comfort during your sick days.
Great post the best thing you stated was support! I work in mental health & there are so many people that deal with their struggles alone due to family feeling it’s “attention seeking” or not understanding it so not being empathetic to their loved ones. Very important topic to post on.
So true. It does say through sickness or in health. So you have to step up to the plate.
I love this. Right after I met my now husband, I came down with 5 plus years of unexpected nausea. This affected my everyday life. I couldn’t go to restaurants, I’d have to leave places early or cancel last minute. I would cry and get frustrated. He stuck by me through every moment and fell in love with me even through the struggles. Thank you for sharing this.
Most health advice focus on those who suffer from ailments so it’s great to see this from another perspective…Friends and family in the position of carers need help and advice too! Luckily, my husband is supportive of my existing health conditions, and after reading this, I feel even more thankful!
Such a nice post to read, I had witness this phase with one of my friend and it is much needed to be with a person in any kind of difficulty or illness. Thanks a lot for sharing this post.
Some great info here. I know quite a few dealing with this right now with older loved ones. Support and being there is so needed.
This is such a great advice. Being there for them during such difficult time is very important. Our family had gone through such time but we’re just so thankful that we have each other’s support.
Mental illness is a tough one. I know of friends who’ve been trying to overcome some of the issues they face on a daily basis.
We don’t have a big family support system, so we really rely on one another. Fortunately we have not had any major health issues, but even just being sick is tough to get through because we still have to watch the kids and pay the bills.
I feel like everyone can relate to this at some point! I’m going through this right now with parents growing older.
It is so important to be open and support your partner especially if there are health concerns. It is always important to put these concerns and needs first in any relationship.
It’s so important to have conversations when a loved one is sick. FreedomCare sounds like a great program for caregivers.
We are going through this right now with my in-laws. So hard, frustrating some days and sadden all the time. Just trying to make them as comfortable as possible.