Comments and reviews on article "Helping people cope with their chronic illness"

Long term illness is very hard to deal with for both the sufferer and for the friends and family members. It is very easy for the sufferer to retreat away from support for exactly the reasons stated in this article.

It is also very easy for friends and family to slowly stop supporting - it's a very trying time for everyone! Particularly if there is no end in sight.

I am mostly housebound due to chronic illnesses. I'm from overseas, 40yrs old, married with a loving supportative husband, thank goodness!! As I have none from anyone else. I live nr Jo'burg South Africa and there are no support groups, therapy, or counselling. I have no friends and no social life. No-one visits and it seems to be something the South African people do not do is visit sick people in their homes to support & encourage them. Its not really the illnessess that make my life difficult [even tho I struggle a lot with pain, fatigue, etc] but the lack of 'LIFE' in all areas!! I'm dying inside [not from sickness] but from a lack of friends & socializing, from having other humans around me. So what do I do in this situation [and believe me I have tried various things like inviting people for supper, which has caused even more stress on my husband & I, and Oh yes!! the so called friends turn up for supper - but we never see them or hear from them again unless we call them first!! So jst don't bother anymre!!]

Real friends will invite themselves and bring joy. Sickness can rob you of your joy if you let it. Stay cheerful and bright. Encourage yourselves. This a forum that will bring nicer people your way. I have a chronic illness and hated the isolation. I got new friends and the differences is amazing.