By Doug Scott

 The causes of grief are countless and the types of grief are numerous. The death of a loved one is a common cause of grief. Divorce, loss of a job, and death or loss of a pet may also cause grief. But one cause of grief that is often overlooked but is in rapid increase throughout our society is grief over chronic illness. This type of grief is unique and rarely understood by people who have not yet experienced a chronic situation.


Types of chronic illness include cancer or any dehabilitating physical ailment such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's disease, and muscular dystrophy. Chronic illness can also include addictions such as alcohol or narcotics that over time dehabilitate the body and create dependency on a substance. Regardless of the disease, chronic illness brings a unique type of grief to those who are suffering from the illness and also to family members and friends who care for the chronically ill person.

For the chronically ill person, grief may come in the form of recognizing the various types of losses experienced with the particular illness. For example, loss of muscle control over time would mean losing your ability to write, speak, and feed yourself. Grieving these activities may take place for a chronically ill person as the events begin to happen. Also, the chronically ill person will most likely grieve the losses as a whole as he/she begins to realize how different life is becoming. Grieving both sets of losses at the same time can become very emotionally draining. Speaking with a counselor about these losses can be a beneficial way to manage chronic grief over the course of an illness. If you or anyone you know is suffering from a chronic illness, I encourage you to seek counseling support.

For the family members and friends of a person with a chronic illness, grief may come by recognizing that the future dreams you once had may not come true. You may also begin grieving the impending loss of your friend or family member while this person is still alive. Friends and family members may also grieve the loss of oneself as they give of themselves to care for the chronically ill person. The grief of family members and friends of a loved one with chronic illness is similar to the grief of the person with the chronic illness. This grief can become incredibly complicated over time, so I encourage anyone who is experiencing grief due to a loved one with chronic illness to seek Indianapolis counseling support.

If you are looking for a grief counselor in Indianapolis, I encourage you to begin by contacting numerous counselors and counseling centers to find out if they provide grief counseling. Be intentional about finding a counselor who understands chronic illness and the complicated grief created due to chronic illness. Then, when seeing a counselor, be open and honest about the grief you are experiencing. Many times, those who are caring for a loved one with chronic illness report guilt because they don't want to be selfish in times when their loved one needs them. The truth is that taking care of yourself through counseling or other healthy practices will make it much easier for you to care for your loved one.

The Lotus Group understands the complexity of chronic illness and would love to hear your experience of grief. If you are ready to speak with a counselor, please visit us at www.lotusgroup.biz and schedule an appointment. You owe it to yourself and your loved one.