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The Importance of Grief and Acceptance After a Diagnosis
By: Jori Hamilton
Almost any diagnosis can trigger stages of grief and acceptance. It’s vital to work through these feelings and make needed changes to better manage the condition.
I remember being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder as a teenager. Mostly, I felt relief to have an answer about what was wrong with me. I finally understood why I felt the way I was feeling and how my body was reacting. But I did not yet understand the role that grief and acceptance after my diagnosis would play in helping me to make the lifestyle changes I needed to better manage my condition.
My anxiety is well managed now but for a time it wreaked havoc on my body and my mind. I rebelled against my diagnosis. I allowed it to swallow me up. I was plagued with debilitating stomach aches, panic attacks, and rashes. I refused to take my medication or make the lifestyle changes that my doctor recommended. This pushed me into a depression and allowed my anxiety to run the show.
A diagnosis can trigger grief
Many people, after learning any type of serious diagnosis go through different stages of grief. Grief doesn’t just apply to death, it applies to other types of loss as well.
