Understanding the Emotional Effects of Chronic Illnesses of Childhood

Understanding the Emotional Effects of Chronic Illnesses of Childhood

As adults, we understand how challenging chronic illnesses can be. The incessant aches, the inability to focus and concentrate, and the sheer exhaustion can be debilitating. However, it can be hard to comprehend what it must feel like to experience these problems at a young age, when one is still developing their understanding of the world.

Children living with chronic illnesses must bear immense physical and emotional pain. Below, we take a closer look at the emotional effects of chronic illnesses of childhood.

Feeling Different

When children fall ill, they tend to lay the blame on themselves, feeling different from their peers. It’s easy for them to feel like their bodies are not enough or that they’ve done something wrong. As a result, they may become withdrawn, experience anxiety, and develop feelings of depression.

Grief and Loss

Chronic illnesses and their treatments are often all-consuming, leaving little room for life’s fun little things. This way, children become anxious or stressed by the pure loss of a childhood that one sees in their peers, and feel like they were robbed of something vital. There’s a genuine sense of loss as they witness other children performing activities that are simply too difficult to participate in.

Unresolved Questions and Decisions

When diagnosed with a chronic illness, children are thrust into a world of specialists, examinations, and treatments that can be overwhelming. This can make them highly anxious and worried. For example, children who may have trouble understanding what’s happening to them might have ongoing questions that no one can straightforwardly answer, leaving them with uncertainties and worried.

Guilt and Shame

Children with chronic illnesses sometimes feel guilty for their condition, particularly if family members are constantly verbalizing the financial or emotional hardships that come with their illnesses. This guilt can be amplified when they have hope that their illness would magically disappear.

Disconnection from Other People

When children are forced to absent themselves from school or social events due to their illnesses, they will lack the friend and peer bonding that typically takes place. Such isolation leaves them helpless and disconnected from their age mates.

Conclusion

Chronic illnesses of childhood are a much more profound issue than many of us realize. We must show empathy and recognize the sheer emotional toll it takes on the little children. Parents, teachers, and society as a whole must also ensure that such children cared for and supported throughout their battle with illness. We must recognize that beyond the tremendous physical pain that children living with chronic illnesses experience, there is an equal amount of emotional pain.