How to Support Your Partner With a Chronic Illness
Be there, even if that means just listening to them.
Listen to your partner! We better process our thoughts and emotions by talking about them -- we might not always come to a conclusion or know every answer, but just talking it out can help. Remind them that it is okay to show their pain and what they are feeling because you will be there to listen, to learn, to understand, and to support them. Encourage an open line of communication and learning to best understand what it is they need to feel supported. Ask them if you aren’t sure!
Show your partner that you believe in them.
Try your best not to minimize their pain, and do not second guess how they are feeling. You may not always be able to see a chronic illness, but that doesn’t mean it is not there. Believe in your partner and be patient with them. So many people with chronic illness feel misunderstood as many people have denied their experiences, only making them feel more alone. Validate how they are feeling even if it feels unrelatable.
If you or your partner is interested in talking to someone about this in more detail, feel free to contact me and set up a consultation for chronic illness therapy.
Do your research and look up their diagnosis. Show them that you care by actively learning about it.
Find out how you can help. Learn more about your partner’s condition and do your best to understand it. Try to better understand the physical, emotional, social, and mental impacts that their chronic illness can have. You can even consider asking them if they would feel comfortable letting you join them at their next doctor’s appointment -- it’s a great way to allow you to get some of your questions answered and better understand their treatment and diagnosis. Not only will it deepen your understanding, but it may deepen your empathy if you can see firsthand what this illness will mean for them and for you. By supporting a partner with a chronic illness it can make us more empathetic, caring, and compassionate. The best way to do that is to listen, communicate, ask questions, and research.
Allow your partner space to heal.
Dating with a chronic illness can seem overwhelming. Give your partner space to heal, in whatever way you can. Allowing your partner space to heal not only shows your support, but it helps them a great deal. For some, this may include offering support around difficult topics to navigate such as work or social plans. For others, it could be cooking and cleaning so that your partner can rest.
Be empathetic! They need your love, not your criticism.
Chances are that you are not always going to want to deal with a chronic illness, as it is not always easy. As difficult as it is for you as the significant other, it is just as, if not more, difficult for them as the one actually experiencing it. Try and use empathic statements such as “ I know how hard this has been on you” or “ I can only imagine how this must feel right now.”
For more information or if you have any questions, feel free to contact me by clicking here.
