Lupus: C.T.M.

 Lupus: C.T.M.

(Health One Family Medicine)

            Lupus is a lifestyle adjustment, it is silent and resilient. It gives the common phrase believe what one see and not what one hear true meaning. Lupus survivors are good at hiding what they feel. Silence is one of the coping mechanisms patients use to get through the day. This is also one of the reasons family, friends and spouses are not able to assist them when in need.  

Psychological Concepts

It is okay to believe that one can do it alone. Yet is not fact, a support system can help with mental stability. Being overwhelmed and stress will not assist a person in getting better. In fact it can do the exact opposite. Psychologically one must remain sound and know when to give up control and ask for help. Two of the main psychological disorders amongst Lupus recipients are anxiety and depression (Beckerman, Auerbach, & Blanco, 2011).  Stress brings its own set of ailments and having Lupus can trigger certain flare-ups to happen. These flare ups can range from becoming fatigue and lacking stamina because of a depressive state (Beckerman, Auerbach, & Blanco, 2011). Others can be lack of sleep and/or not eating well and failing to take SLE medication and therapy.  

Theories and Models

The Biomedical model teaches what is known or assume about disability. It gets to the core of how it controls and structures our ability to cope and process a disease. Yet the Functional and Environmental model gives information on how far one can go. It also assist in controlling what is allowed within the healing environment (Marini & Stebnick, 2018). Initially one would think the understanding of SLE would come primarily from these two models. However the sociopolitical model assists in understanding the day to day life of living with a disability (Marini & Stebnick, 2018). Lupus is still among the disabilities that are not considered a disability. When it comes to diagnosing and seeking disability assistance Lupus is hard to prove. With every ailment being closely related to others many suspect that a person is faking or does not appear sick. This is an imperative reason why the sociopolitical model is so essential to Lupus.

Social support is one of the many ways a person can remain healthy (Moldovan, Carr, & Nicassio, 2011). Yet this is also why many change their way of communication and began to limit interactions. Because many do not understand Lupus, it is difficult to explain when in pain if a person appears well to others. It can become mentally, physically and emotionally strenuous to have to continue to explain that one is sick. Depending on the side effects of a person’s SLE it is possible to bounce back and forth between being well and sick within hours or minutes (Moldovan, Carr, & Nicassio, 2011). Making others theorize that it is a selective disease and not real.

 

How Those in Their Environment Can Help

(Lupus Foundation of America, 2017)

Family, friends and spouses are the biggest and most important throughout the journey. It is important to be attentive and non-judgmental. While giving support strengthen to the individual with Lupus. It is also important for the SLE recipient to respond in the same kind. Sometimes it is hard to give care to someone and can become exhausting. Thus creating care plans will be a necessity in helping everyone. Allowing the family to become one and bringing families together (Lupus Foundation of America, 2017). Get to know the Lupus but care for the person and ask them how to help them through it all. Remember being aware of triggers and eliminating roadblocks will limit stress. Not only that but it can help the family as well by nurturing healthy relationships.

Reference

Beckerman, N. L., Auerbach, C., & Blanco, I. (2011, April 05). Psychosocial dimensions of SLE: implications for the health care team. Retrieved June 12, 2021, from NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3093952/

Health One Family Medicine. (n.d.). Lupus: Causes and Symptoms. Retrieved June 09, 2021, from Health One Family Medicine: https://www.healthonemedicine.com/blog/lupus-causes-and-symptoms

Lupus Foundation of America. (2017, August 15). Sharing the Journey: Social Support. Retrieved June 09, 2021, from Lupus Foundation of America: https://www.lupus.org/blog/sharing-the-journey-social-support#

Marini, I., & Stebnick, M. A. (2018). The Psychological and Social Impact of Illness and Disability 7th Ed. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

Moldovan, I., Carr, F. N., & Nicassio, P. M. (2011). An overview of psychological functioning in systemic. Retrieved June 12, 2021, from Future Medicine Ltd: https://www.openaccessjournals.com/articles/an-overview-of-psychological-functioning-in-systemic-lupus-erythematosus.pdf