Coping Emotionally with Lymphedema

Introduction

This article contains a brief excerpt from the book Overcoming the Emotional Challenges of Lymphedema by Elizabeth McMahon. Here Dr. McMahon helps the reader recognize normal and problematic responses to lymphedema. In addition she provides practice suggestions and worksheets to help the reader overcome the problematic responses. [1]

Lymphedema Isn’t Just Pysical

Being diagnosed with lymphedema is a life-altering event. Suddenly your body doesn’t function as t did before. It doesn’t look or feel the same. Your self-image and nteractions with others may change. You can’t do some of the things you used to do. The activities you took for granted, are now be difficult. In addition to your busy lifestyle, suddenly you also must cope with a daily routine of self-care.

Lymphedema has moved into your life uninvited and unwanted—and it’s not going to leave. Naturally, you have emotional reactions to this state of affairs! At times you may find yourself blind sided by emotional reactions. You can even feel as if you’ve been dropped into the middle of a minefield—without a map.

What to Expect

You want to know what to expect as a result of having lymphedema. In particular, you want to know when what you’re feeling is a normal and predictable emotional reaction. This knowledge is reassuring and comforting because it helps you realize that:

• You are not alone.
• You are not crazy.
• You are not weak.
• You do not have to criticize yourself for having normal emotional responses.
• You don’t have to beat yourself up about feeling bad.
• You do not have to worry on top of feeling distressed.

Normal Reactions: An Overview

When you are diagnosed with lymphedema, you may feel confused, sad, angry, and scared. You may feel trapped, helpless, hopeless, or betrayed. You may grapple with questions of why this happened to you. It may stir up old emotions from the past and it certainly can make you feel stressed in the present. These are normal reactions.

• The bad news is that these common, normal reactions are distressing. They can strain your relations with other people or make it harder for you to do what is needed to manage your lymphedema.
• The good news is that the more you know about what to expect, the less you will feel overwhelmed by your emotions. You can cope with these normal reactions.

Problematic Reactions: An Overview

Sometimes your emotional reactions, while understandable, may be less common and more problematic than the more predictable emotional reactions to lymphedema. For example, a normal, expected feeling can change into a problematic response if instead of improving it spirals into a vicious cycle and keeps getting worse.

Let’s talk a bit about what I mean by when I say, "Problematic reactions."

"Problematic emotional reactions are more long lasting, more severe, and/or more pervasive than the common, normal reactions. They interfere with your functioning in some important way. For example, if your normal feeling of anger or sadness becomes so strong or so ever-present that you end all your relationship or you completely stop caring for your lymphedema even though it is getting worse, then natural reactions have become problematic.

"Sometimes emotional reactions qualify as problematic not because they are particularly intense, but because they are a chronic, ongoing burden that eats away at you over time, undermining your happiness and your capacities."

Powerful Tools that Work

In the remainder of this book, Dr. McMahon identifies the Twelve Predictable Emotional Reactions. She suggests ways to manage them when they are “normal,” and what steps to be taken to overcome them should they become “abnormal.” In addition, there are specialized sections for family members, healthcare, and mental health professionals.

Reference

[1] Overcoming the Emotional Challenges of Lymphedema by Elizabeth McMahon PhD. Lymph Notes 2005, excepts from Chapter 1. Reprinted by permission

Additional Books Writtn by Dr. McMahon

[1] Living Well with Lymphedema by A. Ehrlich MA, A. Vinje-Harrwinjn PT CLT-LANA, and E. McMahon PhD. Lymph Notes 2005.

[2] Voices of Lymphedema edited by A. Ehrlich MA and E. McMahon PhD. Lymph Notes 2007. This book contains life stories as told by lymphedema patients as they share their experiences with honesty and humor.

[3] Lymphedema Caregiver's Guide by M.K. Kearse, PT, CLT-LANA, E. McMahon PhD., and A. Ehrlich MA Lymph Notes 2009.

© LymphNotes.com 2009. This information does not replace the advice of a qualified health care professional.

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Category: Living With Lymphedema Updated: 2009-11-13