Article by Dr.Nilesh Shah

Psychological aspects of chronically ill children and adolescents

Following points may be considered while dealing with chronically ill children and adolescents and their family members.

1. The trouble in the pot is known to the spoon stirring it; therefore

· Listen carefully

· Empathize

· Don’t be in hurry to advise

2. Assess and acknowledge

· The crucial decision

· ‘Poor me’ attitude, ‘Self pity’

· Feeling helpless

· Playing dumb

· Guilt feelings or blaming

3. Knowledge is power

· Educate yourself about your child’s illness

· Ask your doctor

· Read pamphlets

· Surf the net

· Attend self-help groups

4. Explain the illness to your child

· Be open and honest

· Provide information in simple language their child can understand

· Illness is not their fault or a punishment

5. Help the child to deal with his feeling about the illness

· It is difficult to predict the child’s reaction

· Help him to express his feelings or concerns without fear, or being judged negatively

· Keep in mind that the feelings of the child about illness may change from time to time

· Keep the lines of communication open

6. Prepare your child for medical procedure

· Medical procedures may cause quite a bit of anxiety and discomfort in a chronically ill child

· Prepare the child for an upcoming medical procedure

7. Let the child lead as normal life as possible

· Treat him like any other child, keeping in mind his special needs

· Encourage him to participate in all the regular activities

· Maintain regular family routine

8. Don’t be afraid to discipline

· Adequate discipline helps the child to control his own behavior

· Praise and reward appropriate behavior, withhold reward for undesirable behavior

· Avoid harsh physical punishment

9. Give responsibilities to the child

· Let him independently take care of himself

· Let him do his share of household work

· Let him continue his schooling

· Let him participate in all the appropriate recreational activities

· Allow him to choose and take decision

10. Identify and treat associated psychiatric disorders

· Depression is not very uncommon

· Do not see as an understandable reaction to the illness

· Treat the depression appropriately with drugs and counseling

11. Reactions of others

· Prepare yourself and the child for the reactions of others

· Handle advice from others appropriately

· Do not get carried-away

12. Take care of other siblings

· Pay attention to the needs of the other siblings as well

· Involve them in the treatment plan

· Help them to develop a healthy attitude towards their chronically ill sibling

13. Take care of burnout

· Parents may get stressed out

· They have to take care of their own physical and mental health

· Share the responsibilities

· Delegate the duties

· Do not try to be super-dad & super-mom, take help from others

· Take a break from time-to-time