With the advent of many new medicines, treatments and surgical interventions many more of us are living long and productive lives unimagined by our forebears.
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On the other side of the coin, we are also living with many chronic and recurring conditions that take a toll on our day-to-day living.
Conditions such as arthritis, heart disease and respiratory illnesses mean we now may live an extended part of our lives with a medical treatment that impacts upon our quality of our life.
Long term conditions obviously have a direct impact upon our physical health. Loss of mobility, low grade pain and associated restrictions or an inability to look after ourselves can cause loss of living standards and self-care.
What many of us don’t know is that physical health has a direct effect on our mental health. I don’t just mean feeling a little sad because you may not feel well. I mean year after year of chronic pain or life limiting conditions that eventually lead to severe mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression and perhaps self-harm.
All people with a chronic physical condition should consider talking with a mental health professional. Not only will this address what the person is concerned about now, but better mental health means we are able to deal with physical conditions much more efficiently.
Pain control is better in those people with good mental health and sometimes less medications need to be used.
- Stephen Carroll is a mental health nurse, psychotherapist and counsellor. For information call 0403 981 055
