Physical conditions, especially ones that involve pain and fatigue, can have a huge impact on our mental health.
Looking after your mental health is as important as taking care of your physical health.
People with EDS and HSD experience mental health issues for various reasons. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Being socially isolated due to being unable to participate due to physical pain or fatigue
- Worrying about the progress of your condition
- Genetic factors that play a role in EDS and being predisposed to conditions such as anxiety
- Not being listened to (or not being heard) by professionals and/or friends & family
- Struggling to get a diagnosis and feeling disheartened
If you are struggling it’s important to seek help early as well as ensuring that you are taking care of yourself.
Self care can include (and you can add as many as you like):
- A relaxing bath
- Meditation
- A walk/wheel (if wheelchair user) in nature without your phone
- Reading a book
- Watching a film
- Spending time with friends and family
- Volunteering (helping others has great benefits for ourselves too)
- Eating well
- Creating a healthy sleeping schedule
- Ensuring that you have plenty of rest and downtime (block out time for yourself each day)
- Caring for a pet
- Go to a support group and speak to others who understand
Whilst these activities may seem like common sense, all too often we forget them when we are struggling, or we fill our days with commitments that eventually become too much to sustain.
Check your life’s balance and reflect on what is contributing to your low mood/anxiety/stress etc.
Add in some things you enjoy and, if possible, remove major triggers that impact negatively on you.
Speaking with a skilled listener like a counsellor or psychotherapist can help you talk freely, without fear of criticism and judgment, understand what is causing your problems and how to manage them.
There are many types of talking therapy, examples are:
- Cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) – Explores new ways for the client to cope with problems.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – This type of mental health counselling focuses on the ‘here and now’. It aims to change negative patterns of thinking and behaving.
- Creative therapies – Art therapy, drama therapy and music therapy are all types of creative therapy that offer alternative ways of channelling emotions.
- Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) – Teaches clients how to react normally to emotional triggers.
- Family therapy – Encourages the family to engage as a unit to solve problems that affect home life.
- Person-centred therapy – A client-led approach in which clients are empowered to make changes in their life through a reflective dialogue with a therapist.
- Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapy – Focuses on how our past has shaped us and how our early experiences carry over into adulthood and can often contribute to present issues.
It’s important not to get too concerned about the modality of therapy – the relationship with your therapist is of great importance. Some therapists offer a free chat before you commit to a first session, so you can contact a few to get a sense of how they work and ask questions.
It’s important to find a qualified therapist.
