mesothelioma patients are no strangers to feelings of despair, loneliness and isolation, but also their caregivers subject to these negative emotional side effects of the disease, a new study shows.
study, published in the August 2013 and treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases, provides a detailed look at the emotional experiences of first degree mesothelioma caregivers. The researchers also noted specific personality traits and social trends that make caregivers more prone to these uncomfortable feelings.
Deception, Lack of confidence shared by patients, caregivers
repeated disappointment ?? which often leads to a lack of trust ?? was one of the most common complaints of patients and caregivers.
Surprisingly, much of this disenchantment stems from the origin of the disease itself. Because most patients were ill at their workplace, they (and their families) had to deal with the frustration that business leaders neglected the implementation of protective measures ?? despite the knowledge that asbestos could cause serious health problems.
Caregivers often experience these feelings as well, as they watch their loved ones fighting a disease that was completely preventable.
legal battles are also contributing to these feelings of disillusionment and mistrust. Lawyers powerful asbestos companies often hang tests for as long as possible, knowing that these patients face a shortened life expectancy. This maneuver may make patients and their caregivers feel even more advantage of during this exhausting time emotionally. It also reinforces the beliefs of caregivers that the objectives can not be achieved, and that the problems can be solved.
Distrust breeds cynicism
The researchers found that over time, this growing distrust likely put caregivers in a cynical frame of mind. Caregivers often felt as if the others were in bad faith when they tried to be helpful; they also had difficulty accepting offers of assistance, the study showed. Consequently, these struggles were most prone to burnout caregivers, and emotional negative side effects that accompany this exhaustion.
However, the study notes that this cynicism was more common among caregivers with a naturally pessimistic outlook on life. These caregivers tend to feel as if people in general are still looking for their own interests rather than the interests of others. Caregivers who disagreed with this statement were less likely to report increasing mistrust of other aid, although the majority of caregivers in the study reported lower opinions of others.
interference with the healthy functioning
Like most mental complications, these emotional challenges are quite limited in scope. the mesothelioma patients and their caregivers reported worse physical functioning than their healthy counterparts. Both groups reported a general feeling of physical weakness, poor concentration and inability to remember more specific memories.
Although patients were unlikely to address these issues during treatment, caregivers received less professional guidelines or not. Despite reports of higher levels of personal distress that patients, caregivers feel less informed and supported throughout the process. Because their struggles have largely neglected, many patients felt their fears ?? including anxiety that they too develop mesothelioma ?? interfered with their daily lives.
Despite the daunting nature of this study, it again emphasizes the positive benefits of emotional support.
Mental health professionals are increasingly aware of these challenges ?? and better equipped to help families cope with them. These support systems, whether virtual or real, are a crucial and free way for patients and their families to cope with the realities of their diagnosis of mesothelioma.
