Dealing with Major Illnesses & Diseases

Identifying and coping with major illness is the hardest thing a family can go through.  Whether it’s the declining health of an aging parent, or the unexpected and tragic illness of a child – diseases affect not only the patient, but each and every member of the family. Regardless of the condition, the first step in coping with illness is obtaining a full understanding of the disease and the options available for treatment and support.

One of the major categories of major illness that children suffer from is mental illness. Mental illness in children is such a broad category that some mental illnesses often go undetected. By definition, a mental illness is any disorder or disease that affects a child’s ability to live normally. This means any mental disorder or disease ranging from being bipolar to depression and beyond is considered a major illness and must be treated and dealt with by parents, classmates, teachers, doctors, and people in general who come in contact with a child who is suffering from a major illness.

Perhaps the greatest challenge is accepting that your child has a major illness. Many parents have trouble with denial and want to believe that stern discipline or an improved reward system will help their child behave normally when a major illness requiring medical attention is at the root of the problem. Thankfully, although some parents may remain in denial for a time, many school system have mandates that require school teachers to report cases where they suspect a child has a major illness that is untreated to social services or the governing child protective services agency in the area.

Many times even when parents are willing to accept that their child has a major illness, there are still many obstacles that present themselves. Some mental illnesses, in particular, cause deviant behavior in children. These children, who typically cannot help themselves, may pose a danger to themselves and others when not medicated and often have to be segregated from other children. Parents can feel segregated themselves, embarrassed, frustrated, angry, and exasperated.

Any parent who has to deal with a child who has a major illness should seek out support groups in the community or wherever they exist. There is no such thing as just one child that suffers and other children in the same area may be a part of a support network that offers counseling, babysitting rotations, group outings and more.

Once treatment has been sought, dealing with a major illness does not mean the illness will go away. Many major illnesses do not have a cure but can be medicated for noticeable improvements in the child’s behavior, temperament and overall personality. Be sure to review with your child’s pediatrician what the long term side effects are of the medications prescribed for your child.

When dealing with a child who has a major illness, sometimes it may seem overwhelming. It’s okay. Don’t try to be a superhero and carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You’re human and people expect you to behave as such. Take time to care for yourself and remember that you may be the greatest give your child will ever receive!