Living and Loving through Chronic Illness
No one considers the effects of chronic illness on their relationship, but those who live with illness can tell you there is a big change. The sooner couples talk about their fear, anger, confusion and guilt to the more support and increase in intimacy they’ll experience. Sharing these feelings and concerns with your partner helps you and your partner feel more like a team and draws you closer. Infertility, impotence, a colostomy bag, the loss of a breast or in the case of Multiple Sclerosis not being able to feel or move your legs contribute to feelings of being only half a person.
The scars of the disease on the outside are many times minor compared to the scars left inside. It takes a loving partner to understand that illness is a temporary detour where adjustments need to be made in the way you express your love. Completely withdrawing love or affection leads to depression or feelings of hopelessness.
You may feel isolated or embarrassed because when asked how you’re feeling the expected “I’m fine” isn’t fine at all on the inside. Intimacy and sex are never something that should be avoided among couples, healthy or not. All humans enjoy and need intimacy to feel healthy and loved. These feelings help overcome the obstacles that chronic illness often inflicts. Below are suggestions for couples who suffer from chronic illness in their relationship. My intention is to help you get started. As you become more confident in your ability to express your feelings of love to your partner, I encourage you to seek continued counseling with a therapist of your choice.
Share the diagnosis. This simply means that you talk to your spouse and tell them that you are a team. Anything that affects their wellbeing will affect yours. This makes the “patient” (your spouse) feel loved and more confident with being able to endure their illness. It also provides an opportunity for you to help with routine care that may be necessary during this time.
Intimacy takes only minutes. Rather than thinking about a vacation or getaway, take advantage of “mini vacations.” Take advantage of moments you can be close, by holding hands, watching a funny movie, cuddling on the sofa, listening to old songs together or talking to one another. Many times, these are “miracle moments” that life’s busy pace robbed from you prior to the illness.
Rediscover the joys of “touch.” With chronic illness, skin sensations change. Chemotherapy, for example, can heighten sensitivity of the skin, whereas M.S. can deaden it. Take time to rediscover each other’s touch and allow your partner to set the pace.
Start in the tub or shower. Most of us are comfortable in warm water as it relaxes us and takes some of our pain away. Sitting in the tub with the one you love is an opportunity to relax, look at each other’s face, and talk. Washing each other’s back or feet is also a wonderful way to express love and intimacy to your partner. Many times, it is the intimate setting of a bath where partners are permitted to see and touch the scar. Your reaction will mean everything, and the best reaction is to thank your partner for showing you and reassure them that their scar makes you love them more.
The loss of a breast, body part, or one’s mobility is symbolic of a loss of their independence and sometimes their identity. The partner is often the most influential in determining how well their spouse deals with chronic illness. No one wants their partner to suffer, but if they do, remind yourself that you and you alone may provide the emotional healing your partner needs to reclaim their sexual and intimate self.