Treatment
This stage of having a chronic health condition starts just after diagnosis as you determine and begin treatment for your illness.
Treatment can still be an "unknown zone." Going in and out of doctors' offices, constant changes in powerful medications, side effects experienced from medications, and periodic trips to the ER. You may feel a sense of hopelessness. Your doctor may make recommendations to try medications for depression (to help you cope). Treatment can be both a positive (in terms of your long-term health) and dehumanizing experience.
Treatment is the time to marshal your advocates and allies and tell them clearly, "This is what I need right now." Most people want to help. They are often just at a loss as to how to help you. It's your job to tell them clearly what you need and don't need.
If you see an issue below that captures your situation, click on the tool that is suggested to think it through and find an action.
Issues:
- You want to develop positive working relationship with health care providers and specialists.
- You want to be seen as more than a diagnosis by your doctor (for example: a "neuropathy", an "ulcerative colitis", a "severe migraine").
- You want to explain how others can support you during treatment.
Try the 
and the 
.
- You are making decisions about treatment, selecting physicians, procedures.
Try the 
.
- You are struggling with changing your lifestyle to treat your chronic health condition (for example: new required diet, medication regimen, exercise, stress reduction, side-effects from treatment).
- Your treatment and medical appointments interfere with your productivity at work.
Try using the 
and the 
tools.
- You need help getting through treatment: (for example: organizing all the information, getting to appointments, coping with side effects).
Try using the 
tool.
