9 Positive Responses to Manage a Difficult Diagnosis

One minute you’re going about your daily life, the next, you receive health news you never wanted, or expected, to hear. It can knock you for six! At times like this, what you do and say and who you turn to, can make all the difference to restoring your confidence and helping you navigate the journey ahead. The following tips have helped many in the same situation:

Count to 10 (or more)

Receiving a difficult diagnosis can send you into a state of shock. And with your pulse racing, your muscles tensing, and your feelings oscillating between anger and fear, it’s no wonder you can’t think straight. That’s why, after receiving a diagnosis, it’s so important to take time out – whether it’s through making yourself a hot drink, going for a walk, seeking a hug from a loved one, or simply doing some deep breathing.

Voicing the positives

Remaining positive in the face of difficult news can impact our lives in the days ahead. This includes the language we use to describe what we’re facing. Others, for example, have found it helpful to say, “I have osteoporosis and I’m doing special exercises to strengthen my bones,” rather than: “I have osteoporosis and my fracture risk is high.” Look for the positives, and speak them aloud.

Acceptance

Remaining positive doesn’t mean denying your emotions. In the face of a diagnosis, it’s important to accept, rather than push away, difficult feelings. Providing you avoid despair, anger and regret can actually drive you toward making changes that can assist you. So, for example, accept the sadness that comes with knowing you’ll no longer be able to engage in a chosen activity, and look, with enthusiasm, for another to take its place.

Don’t rush to share

It can be helpful to confide in a close friend or family member about a diagnosis, but in the early days, at least, be wary of sharing widely with others. Until you have all the information you need about your condition, you may risk unnecessarily upsetting others or giving them false hopes.

Embrace the builder-uppers

Sharing a diagnosis is not an invitation to others to regale you with their negative experiences, or to offer advice you didn’t ask for. Be polite, but firm and clear if you encounter such situations. It can be as simple as saying: “I’d rather talk about something else, if you don’t mind. I need a break from medical matters.”

Be informed

Understanding your diagnosis is one way of staying in control and feeling as confident as you can. Be sure to access information from reputable sources only. Ask your GP or specialist for brochures, online sites, and societies you can turn to in order to educate yourself about your condition.

Schedule treats

If we’re not careful, a diagnosis can become all-consuming. As soon as it can be managed, start scheduling treats to look forward to, whether it’s a short break away between treatments, dinner out, a spa afternoon, or a fishing trip.

Professional support

Sometimes, all it takes to get through a difficult diagnosis is the love and support of friends and family. For others, a regular check-in with a counsellor, clergy member, or therapist is what works best. Knowing you have a regular appointment with a professional can help you to feel calmer. It can also help those who are caring for you to feel supported.

Routine is everything

Humans are creatures of habit, and provided those habits are healthy, the routine involved in carrying them out is what keeps us functioning on an even keel. So unless your diagnosis demands you give it up, don’t stop walking the dog, doing the garden, putting on your makeup,  cleaning the car, or socialising. These sorts of activities keep us grounded.

No one is saying a difficult diagnosis is easy, but when we respond in helpful ways, we have the best chance of maintaining, and even improving, our quality of life.