Handling The Stress Of A New Diagnosis

It’s never easy to be diagnosed with a medical issue, no matter how seemingly ineffectual it may seem on the surface. No one enjoys hearing that they have a condition they must manage or at least be wary of so it’s no surprise that this can lead people to feel quite stressed and even panic stricken about their life going forward. Handling the stress of a new diagnosis can be challenging but it is achievable if it isn't dismissed or denied. The more we stand to rise, the more we can define ourselves, rather than allowing our conditions to define us. We see amazing examples of this every day. And there are real ways to help you manage the stress you may feel that will help you to relax and think more clearly.

Find Management And Empowerment Strategies
Management and empowerment strategies that help you manage a condition, such as managing tinnitus, can be tremendously helpful. When you can find ways to soothe your symptoms while also helping to make your good days better and your bad days more tolerable then you’re much more likely to feel as though this process is livable. You’d be surprised of the positive effect you can have with healthy living, and what this can do for your spirits.

Get Involved With The Community
No matter the diagnosis you have, someone else likely has it too. Never before has it been easier to connect with those who have both an experience and understanding of your situation and it may be as simple as registering at an online forum or joining a social media group to find them. This can help you discuss your diagnosis in an informal manner. It can also be helpful for finding tips for managing the day to day, or it may provide a place to vent. It's important not to take everything you read on the internet as gospel but if you find the right community, this can be a healthy approach.

Resist Overthinking And Over Researching Your Problem
It can be tough to avoid falling down the rabbit hole of searching for everything to do with your condition online but try to avoid doing so. The internet is full of information as well as misinformation and it could lead us needless worry and misleading conclusions particularly when we may feel vulnerable and are looking for answers. If you must, consider limiting yourself to only reading about your condition for ten minutes each day if so inclined, or maybe you can avoid doing this altogether and only follow the advice of your physician or specialist which is essential anyway. This can help you avoid troubling yourself unnecessarily.

Hopefully this advice can help handle the stress of a new diagnosis more easily going forward. Feeling confident in yourself at this tough time is so important.

This is a contributed post.

Photo: Vogue Korea