• Having worries about the illness or condition
• Maybe feeling frightened or scared about what may happen next
• Having feelings of anger or sadness or frustration
• Feeling confused about things
• Maybe being in pain
• There may be feelings of being different and not the same as your friends

There are a lot of different thoughts and feelings that someone may feel and also find difficult to cope with – and sometimes, asking for help,  but not knowing what help you may need, or what help is available can be a bit scary. Hopefully, some of this information will help to explain some of these thoughts and feelings which may also help with understanding. It may also then help to show what to do next if more help is needed.

One of the most important things to remember when you are thinking and feeling all of these thoughts and emotions is this:-

‘These thoughts and emotions are what ANYONE would feel if they were also going through the same thing.’

And what we do know, from all the research gathered over the years is this:-

Mostly, you don’t have these worries and difficulties, or need help, all the time: – it is often just at certain times in your life that help is more needed. For instance:-

• At the very beginning when someone has just been diagnosed
• Maybe when beginning at school/ starting a new school or going into high school or college
• Perhaps when you are growing and your body is changing
• Some conditions cause pain and discomfort and this can be worse at different times (we will discuss this a bit later on…)
• Sometimes treatments can be changed or new ones started.

What is most important in your life is that you are able to enjoy life.

• to be able to go to school and to make friends
• to take part in activities that you love and to be able to cope with your condition whilst doing all of these  things.

Hopefully, some of the tips and ideas that we will discuss further on will help to give you some ideas about how best to manage with any worries or difficulties you might have.

You sometimes feel that everyone you know is just interested in your illness and how you feel and only ever ask about the illness. This can make you feel like the illness is taking over your life and that you are losing your sense of  identity, you may want to say –

 ‘I am not my illness- I am a person first’

Coping with illness, or a physical condition, having to have treatment – sometimes away from where your home is – can be stressful for the whole family.

• Mum and dad, brothers and sisters will be worried for you.
• Sometimes, all the appointments can mean that the normal routine of the family has gone and this can mean that all the family feel very anxious and confused.

Understanding things like –

– can then help you to come up with different ways of dealing and coping with it which can then help  with being able to carry on doing things that are part of everyday life and give pleasure and satisfaction.……