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Living with a chronic condition: Supporting yourself as a caregiverLLiving with a chronic condition: Supporting yourself as a caregiverLiving with a chronic condition: Supporting yourself as a caregiverEnglishPsychiatryChild (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)NANAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2018-11-26T05:00:00Z9.1000000000000063.6000000000000540.000000000000Flat ContentHealth A-Z<p>Learn how to support your own mental health and wellbeing and how to cope with emotions following the diagnosis of a child’s chronic condition. </p><p>​Following a diagnosis of a child's <a href="/Article?contentid=3400&language=English">chronic condition</a>, it is normal to feel a range of emotions such as guilt, sadness, anger or relief. These emotions might be directed at yourself, your partner, your child, the healthcare team or the world in general.<br></p><h2>Key points</h2><ul><li>​It is natural to feel a range of emotions when your child is diagnosed with a chronic condition.</li><li>Try to use positive coping methods such as exercise, keeping up with hobbies and staying connected with family and friends. This will help you and set a good example for your child.</li><li>Ask your child's healthcare team about social supports that are specific to your child's condition.</li><li>Speak to a trusted friend or healthcare professional if you feel on edge, have ongoing sleep difficulties or no longer enjoy hobbies or other activities.</li></ul><h2>Further information</h2><p>For more information on parenting a child or teen with a chronic condition, please see the following pages:</p><p> <a href="https://akhpub.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3400&language=English">Living with a chronic condition: Overview</a><br></p><p> <a href="https://akhpub.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3401&language=English">Living with a chronic condition: Helping your child manage their health</a></p><p> <a href="https://akhpub.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3402&language=English">Living with a chronic condition: Maintaining your child's everyday routines</a> <br></p> <br><p></p> <div class="row"><div class="col-md-6"> <a href="https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/podcast"> <img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/foundation_banners/SKF%20Logo-%28Standard%29_New_Small_FINAL.jpg" alt="SickKids VS Podcast link" style="margin-top:1rem;" /> </a> <p></p></div><div class="col-md-6"><p>SickKids VS takes you to the frontlines in the fight for child health, where big questions drive big breakthroughs: Where do we start when a child’s disease is unknown? Can we heal the brain? How should we talk to kids about dying? Behind each quest, is a remarkable family and story. <a href="https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/podcast">Listen now</a> and subscribe.</p><p><a href="https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/podcast/parentstress_1">ARE THE PARENTS ALRIGHT? SickKids VS Parent Stress (Part 1)</a></p></div></div>
Vivre avec une maladie chronique : obtenir du soutien pour soi-même lorsqu’on s’occupe d’un enfantVVivre avec une maladie chronique : obtenir du soutien pour soi-même lorsqu’on s’occupe d’un enfantLiving with a chronic condition: Supporting yourself as a caregiverFrenchPsychiatryChild (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)NANAConditions and diseasesAdult (19+) CaregiversNA2018-11-26T05:00:00Z9.1000000000000063.6000000000000715.000000000000Flat ContentHealth A-Z<p>Apprenez comment protéger votre propre santé mentale et votre bien-être tout en faisant face aux émotions engendrées par le diagnostic d’une maladie chronique chez un enfant.</p><p>À la suite d’un diagnostic de <a href="/Article?contentid=3400&language=French">maladie chronique</a> chez un enfant, il est normal de ressentir toute une gamme d’émotions comme de la culpabilité, de la tristesse, de la colère ou du soulagement. Ces émotions peuvent être dirigées vers vous, votre partenaire, votre enfant, l’équipe de soins de santé ou le monde en général.</p><h2>À retenir</h2><ul><li>Il est naturel de ressentir toute une gamme d’émotions lorsque votre enfant reçoit un diagnostic de maladie chronique.</li><li>Essayez d’employer des stratégies d’adaptation positives comme faire de l’exercice, pratiquer des passe-temps et garder le contact avec la famille et les amis. Cela vous aidera et donnera le bon exemple à votre enfant.</li><li>Renseignez-vous auprès de l’équipe de soins de santé de votre enfant sur les groupes de soutien sociaux portant spécifiquement sur sa maladie.</li><li>Discutez avec un ami en qui vous avez confiance ou avec un professionnel de la santé si vous vous sentez énervé, que vous éprouvez des troubles du sommeil qui perdurent ou si vous avez perdu intérêt à vos passe-temps ou à vos autres activités.</li></ul>

 

 

 

 

Living with a chronic condition: Supporting yourself as a caregiver3403.00000000000Living with a chronic condition: Supporting yourself as a caregiverLiving with a chronic condition: Supporting yourself as a caregiverLEnglishPsychiatryChild (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)NANAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2018-11-26T05:00:00Z9.1000000000000063.6000000000000540.000000000000Flat ContentHealth A-Z<p>Learn how to support your own mental health and wellbeing and how to cope with emotions following the diagnosis of a child’s chronic condition. </p><p>​Following a diagnosis of a child's <a href="/Article?contentid=3400&language=English">chronic condition</a>, it is normal to feel a range of emotions such as guilt, sadness, anger or relief. These emotions might be directed at yourself, your partner, your child, the healthcare team or the world in general.<br></p><h2>Key points</h2><ul><li>​It is natural to feel a range of emotions when your child is diagnosed with a chronic condition.</li><li>Try to use positive coping methods such as exercise, keeping up with hobbies and staying connected with family and friends. This will help you and set a good example for your child.</li><li>Ask your child's healthcare team about social supports that are specific to your child's condition.</li><li>Speak to a trusted friend or healthcare professional if you feel on edge, have ongoing sleep difficulties or no longer enjoy hobbies or other activities.</li></ul><p>Avoid the tendency to ignore your emotions and reactions to your child’s condition. Instead, take care of yourself and use some positive coping methods such as:<br></p><ul><li>going for a walk or doing other exercise</li><li>getting enough sleep</li><li>eating a balanced diet</li><li>continuing with enjoyable activities and hobbies</li><li>staying connected to friends and family.</li></ul><p>This approach helps you not only manage your stress levels but also better care for your child. In fact, research has shown that parents who improve their own stress levels have a positive impact on their child’s health.</p><p>Your child’s healthcare team can help recommend <a href="/Article?contentid=3402&language=English">coping strategies</a> to help both you and your child. This might include meeting others with the same diagnosis as your child or joining a community specific to the chronic condition. These social supports can:</p><ul><li>help you adapt to raising a child with a chronic condition</li><li>offer realistic tips and tricks to manage your time and appointments and manage your child’s symptoms or any medication side effects.</li></ul><p>However, it is always important to talk to your child’s healthcare team before changing anything in your child’s healthcare routine.</p><h2>Setting a positive example for your child or teen</h2><p>As a parent, you are a role model for positive coping, asking for help when you need it and advocating for your child’s or teen’s needs in the healthcare system. Your child will learn how to manage their chronic condition by watching how you cope with it.</p><p>Sometimes you might need to explain why and how a chosen activity is a coping strategy. Tell your child, for instance, if you are going for a walk or run to help with stress or talking about your emotions with close friends to help ease your concerns. When your child sees you making healthy choices and coping well, they are more likely to do the same themselves.</p><h2>Warning signs to seek support for yourself</h2><p>Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you may find it difficult to cope with the reality of a child’s chronic condition. You might need to seek specific support for yourself if you:</p><ul><li>find it hard to understand or remember what healthcare providers are telling you</li><li>cannot fall asleep or stay asleep during the night</li><li>almost always have a feeling of being on edge</li><li>feel resentful towards your child</li><li>find it difficult to enjoy activities that you used to enjoy.</li></ul><p>In these cases, it can be helpful to speak to a trusted friend or professional for support.<br></p><h2>Further information</h2><p>For more information on parenting a child or teen with a chronic condition, please see the following pages:</p><p> <a href="https://akhpub.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3400&language=English">Living with a chronic condition: Overview</a><br></p><p> <a href="https://akhpub.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3401&language=English">Living with a chronic condition: Helping your child manage their health</a></p><p> <a href="https://akhpub.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3402&language=English">Living with a chronic condition: Maintaining your child's everyday routines</a> <br></p> <br><p></p> <div class="row"><div class="col-md-6"> <a href="https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/podcast"> <img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/foundation_banners/SKF%20Logo-%28Standard%29_New_Small_FINAL.jpg" alt="SickKids VS Podcast link" style="margin-top:1rem;" /> </a> <p></p></div><div class="col-md-6"><p>SickKids VS takes you to the frontlines in the fight for child health, where big questions drive big breakthroughs: Where do we start when a child’s disease is unknown? Can we heal the brain? How should we talk to kids about dying? Behind each quest, is a remarkable family and story. <a href="https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/podcast">Listen now</a> and subscribe.</p><p><a href="https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/podcast/parentstress_1">ARE THE PARENTS ALRIGHT? SickKids VS Parent Stress (Part 1)</a></p></div></div>https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/iCanCopeSCD/duration_location_frequency_SCD_J4T.jpgLiving with a chronic condition: Supporting yourself as a caregiverFalseSupporting yourself as a caregiver

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