When Health Crises Strike, We Must Focus on Healing

Unfortunately, the healing process is not always as straightforward as we’d like it to be. In fact, it can become quite exhausting and frustrating.

For example, perhaps after feeling unwell for some time due to an illness such as sickle cell disease, a person’s body may start to recover. They might begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, progress might be made, and maybe they’ll become hopeful. But then they’ll hit a brick wall, recovery will stop, and their health might even start to regress.

Sometimes a health crisis with sickle cell disease is an indication of something else going on in the body, such as an infection. In this case, a crisis might not dissipate until the infection clears. Moments like these can feel like an uphill battle, especially if the person starts to feel better and then flares up all over again.

I find that I am very selective about whom I talk to when I feel unwell. This is because sometimes, comments from others can be hurtful and demonstrate that the person making them might not understand the situation entirely. For example, someone might say, “I thought you were feeling better,” or, “But you just left the hospital, you shouldn’t have to go back!” Comments like these make it seem like we aren’t telling the truth about our health. 

When we’re going through experiences like these, we need to be patient with ourselves. We already have so much external pressure from our responsibilities and relationships, such as work, family, and friends, so it may not be the best idea to put more pressure on ourselves. Our bodies are doing the best they can, and continuing to add pressure or stress may cause our health to deteriorate.

We need to take comfort in the fact that our bodies are doing the best they can. All the actions we take should be done with the intention of aiding the recovery process, such as allowing ourselves to rest, eating well, and staying hydrated, irrespective of how long recovery takes or what anyone else says.

In situations where I’ve rushed my recovery and ignored the discomfort my body was in, I’d almost always end up in so much pain that I’d have no choice but to put everything else on hold to focus solely on getting better. This is more time-consuming than giving my body the attention it needs from the start.

Can you relate to this? Do you find the recovery process from sickle cell disease frustrating? If so, what do you do to help you get through it? Please share in the comments below.

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Note: Sickle Cell Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Sickle Cell Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to sickle cell disease.