What Does it Take to Love Someone With a Chronic Health Condition?

When you commit to a partner you love them with all of your heart, as the saying goes- warts and all. Maybe your lover has had a chronic health issue since you met, or maybe it’s something that has developed since you were together. Either way, relationships can be complicated enough already so throw an extra thing into the mix and loving someone with a longstanding health issue can be tricky at times. However, there are ways to make things run as smoothly as possible for you, ensuring that you’re both happy and fulfilled.

Be open and communicate

Communication is important in any relationship. However when you’re dealing with chronic pain, it’s more important than ever to be able to communicate. Life isn’t always easy, the simplest tasks can require more effort and planning than most people would ever realise. Staying open about your feelings, your pain, what you’re capable of that day and more will all make both of your lives much easier.

Work out a realistic way to split chores

As someone with an illness or chronic pain, you might not be capable of doing the jobs that you once did. However, you don’t want to leave everything to your partner, while the duties might not be able to be split 50/50 you do want to show that you’re making an effort and doing what you can. Resentment can build otherwise, and it can also put a lot of strain onto your partner looking after you both with no help at all. Perhaps you could be responsible for the weekly shopping, this can all be ordered online these days so you can sort it from the comfort of your sofa. Perhaps you could cook a meal or more a week, things like perching stools are useful for those with disabilities that can’t stand for long. Check sites like Pinterest for recipes, even something simple can be made to taste delicious and it gives your partner one less thing to do.

Look into alternative therapies

While we live in an age where medicine is excellent, we’re a long way off being able to cure everyone. In the case of chronic pain and longstanding illnesses, often doctors are limited to what they can do, leaving you to an extent to just having to cope. Alternative therapies can be really useful, do check with your doctor first though. Aromatherapy, massage, acupuncture and the use of CBD oil have all had very promising results in pain patients- see this page for more information. Anything that can ease your symptoms or give you pain relief in a safe way can benefit you both.

When it comes down to it, all of us can be difficult to love in our own way. Having a longstanding or permanent health condition can add another dynamic to the relationship, but caring for someone can of course allow you to get closer too.

Do you or your partner have a chronic illness? How has it impacted your relationship?