Long term conditions
Information about mental wellbeing and long term conditions.
Last reviewed 27 February 2024.
"Our physical and mental health are inextricably linked and people who live with a long-term physical condition - such as diabetes, arthritis or asthma - are also likely to experience mental ill-health, such as depression and anxiety." Mental Health Foundation.
There is a strong link between emotional well-being and general good health. Improving one will improve the other.
- Community Connections services in Surrey provide support/activities around healthy lifestyles/health improvement.
- Psychological therapy providers in Surrey offer support for coming to terms with a physical health/long term condition.
- Surrey Libraries offer a scheme called Reading Well for long term conditions - which provides books focusing on living well with a range of common long-term health conditions (including diabetes, arthritis, breathing difficulties, heart disease, angina, irritable bowel syndrome, sleeping problems and stroke) and books for carers.
- The Royal College of Psychiatrists website provide more information about coping with physical illness. Describing the relationship between physical illness and mental health, how you can help yourself, how friends and family can help and places to get support.
- The Royal College of Psychiatrists website also provides information on Children and young people who experience chronic physical illness and the effect this has on their mental health.
In Surrey there are free services available to support your mental health and wellbeing, including talking therapies, activities and workshops, that you can self refer to.
Please see the self-help resources and links for each condition.
Long term conditions
If you are living with arthritis, you may experience some factors that can be challenging, such as:
- On-going physical problems and pain
- Managing your medication
- Having to attend regular medical appointments
- Managing work and adjusting to an altered lifestyle
All of these factors can negatively affect your mental wellbeing and contribute emotional distress. Common symptoms of low mood and anxiety include loss of interest in pleasurable activities/lack of energy, feeling that the future is bleak, having trouble thinking clearly and feeling lonely and isolated.
There is a strong link between emotional well-being and general good health. Improving one can improve the other. For example it is important to keep active with arthritis (even if this means adapting your physical activity), as exercise has even been proven to help reduce the stiffness and pain of arthritis and improve function and helps strengthen the muscles that protect and support the joints.
- Versus Arthritis is a national charity with a helpline and online information and resources on different types of arthritis, exercise, eating well and treatments.
- Arthritis Action is a national charity that has useful information and self-management resources about arthritis, pain management, exercises and online exercise classes, dietary and mental wellbeing advice and a membership service that provides additional benefits/services.
- The NHS arthritis web page has information about different types of arthritis and living with arthritis.
Having cancer not only has an impact on your physical health, but can also affect your emotional and mental health.
Many aspects of living with cancer can be very difficult to deal with and you may find you are experiencing more negative moods and thoughts. You may feel a variety of things including anger, anxiety, low mood, depression or stress. In fact, depression is more common in patients with cancer than the general population.
It is important to recognise how you are feeling and know that it is normal and common to experience strong emotions during a difficult time. There is always help available to someone in emotional distress or with mental health problems and it is vital to get the help you need.
- Macmillan provides information and support around cancer including a free helpline.
There are many issues that people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or ME have to deal with such as:
- On-going physical problems
- Managing your medication
- Regular medical appointments
- Managing work and adjusting to an altered lifestyle
- Psychological issues linked to concerns about your future
All of these factors can contribute to a reduced quality of life and emotional distress. People with a chronic physical health problem are two to three times more likely to experience depression.
Common symptoms of low mood and anxiety include having trouble thinking clearly, seeing only the negative, feeling unable to cope or guilty about not coping, feeling lonely and isolated, change in appetite and/or sleep, usually irritable or tearful.
- The M.E Association has a helpline, details of which can be found on their website.
There are many issues that people with chronic pain have to deal with such as:
- On-going physical problems and pain
- Managing your medication
- Having to attend regular medical appointments
- Managing work and possible adjusting to a reduced income
Chronic pain is physically and psychologically stressful and tiring and its constant discomfort can lead to anger and frustration with yourself and your loved ones. Chronic pain can also increase the risk of depression. You may feel like you have no control over your pain, which can result in you feeling anxious and fearful. While doctors can provide treatment for the physical aspect of chronic pain, self-help techniques can help you manage the mental and emotional aspects.
- Pain Concern is a UK based charity that provides information and support, a helpline is available.
- Surrey Hospitals have Pain Management Services, your local GP should have information on how to be referred.
There are many different factors that can contribute to the development of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) such as smoking and high blood pressure but there is also evidence to suggest that mental health problems can play a part in it too.
It is likely that for some people stress and anxiety are contributing factors to getting CHD and one way that this could happen is that they have an effect on the other main risk factors. For example, when you are anxious your blood pressure may go up or when you are stressed you make smoke or drink more alcohol.
Mental health problems can also occur once you are diagnosed with heart disease, and many people can become anxious, stressed or depressed after a diagnosis.
- The British Heart Foundation has information resources, a helpline, online communities and support groups.
The symptoms of diabetes can significantly impact on your emotional and mental health because learning to live with a long term health condition like diabetes can be challenging.
For example this could be due to:
- On-going physical problems
- Managing your medication and diet
- Having to attend regular medical appointments
Being aware of this impact and learning helpful ways to improve your emotional health is therefore important. Because of the strong link between emotional health and general good physical health, improving one can improve the other.
- Diabetes UK is a national charity that has information, a support forum and a helpline.
There are many issues that people who have a chronic digestive condition have to deal with. You can experience many difficulties such as:
- On-going physical problems and pain such as bloating and discomfort
- Managing your medication
- Having to attend regular medical appointments
- Managing work and social activities, making time for regular breaks to the toilet
Having a digestive condition is physically and psychologically stressful and its constant discomfort can lead to anger and frustration with yourself and loved ones. You may feel like you have no control over your condition, which can result in you feeling anxious and fearful.
Overall, there seems to be some interaction between the nervous system in the gut and brain, emotional state and the immune system of the gut.
While doctors can provide treatment for some of the physical aspects of your condition, self-help techniques can help you manage the mental and emotional aspects. Often digestive problems (e.g. irritable bowl syndrome) can be exacerbated by stress, so taking steps to reduce your stress and using relaxation techniques can be of help.
- Core is a UK charity for digestive disorders that has information and resources.
Having HIV not only has an impact on your physical health, but can also affect your emotional wellbeing and mental health.
People can experience a variety of emotional difficulties or mental health problems after being diagnosed with HIV, such as feeling angry, feeling scared or having suicidal thoughts. Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health problems in the general population but rates for both of these are higher in people with HIV. There is help and support available for people living with HIV, their partners, family members or friends.
Having a mental health problem can also have negative effects on your physical health. For example, depression could lower your motivation to take your medication. Treatment adherence is very important and if you are having difficulties, you should talk to your HIV consultant.
The stigma around HIV can affect your physical, emotional and mental health. It can lead to feelings such as shame and worthlessness but may also stop people getting tested, telling friends or taking medication.
- The Terrence Higgins Trust is a UK HIV Charity that has information and a helpline, where advisers can provide emotional support if you are worried about your sexual health or have concerns about living with HIV.
The important thing to remember is that you are not alone, and there are people who can and want to help you. Start by talking to your HIV consultant or your GP, both of whom will be supportive and will help you.
There are many issues that people with Musculoskeletal disorders can be faced with, for example:
- On-going physical problems and pain
- Managing your medication and exercise programme
- Having to attend regular medical appointments
- Managing work and adjusting to an altered lifestyle
All of these factors can contribute to emotional distress. Pain is a common symptom of musculoskeletal conditions and depression is four time more common for those in persistent pain than those without. Common symptoms of low mood and depression include loss of interest in pleasurable activities, feeling the future is bleak, having trouble thinking clearly and feeling lonely and isolated.
As physical and mental health/wellbeing interact with each other, improving your emotional health can help improve your physical health.
- Surrey iMSK is an NHS service, provided by Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which provides a comprehensive musculoskeletal service to the local population in North West Surrey and beyond.
Living with a lung condition can be difficult and stressful. As well as having difficult physical symptoms that you must learn to cope with such as breathlessness and coughing, you may also experience more tiredness and may find that you are less active that before your diagnosis.
Lung conditions can also affect you in ways that you may not have thought about previously. For example, it may affect your ability to get a good nights sleep, you might find that you are not eating as well as you once used to, and this may lead to feelings of agitation, hopelessness and worry. You might also feel concerned about the future and how your condition will progress.
- The British Lung Foundation provide support and information for those living with lung conditions.
Like any other medical condition, erectile dysfunction (ED) often has specific causes and can usually be treated. It's estimated that at least half of all men between 40 and 70 will experience ED, but can be experienced by men of any age. Many men find it difficult to talk about, but as well as causing difficulties in the bedroom, ED can also be a symptom of other physical health problems such as heart disease, so it's important not to ignore it.
Sexual problems are a common side effect of emotional issues such as depression, anxiety or stress. It's also worth bearing in mind that ignoring sexual problems can lead to further emotional distress and can also have impact on relationships.
ED issues can also be the result of diet or the side effects of prescription medication as well as non-prescription drugs, cigarettes or alcohol.
It's often worth talking about it to your GP - they will not be shocked or judgemental and will be able to offer you the best course of treatment to resolve any issues or refer you to a specialist.
There is also a lot of information and advice available online; however caution needs to be taken to ensure that the site you use is reputable and safe. Please see our self help section for links to trustworthy health websites.
A stroke is a serious medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to the part of the brain is cut off.
Strokes can affect people in many ways depending on what area of the brain has been affected. There can be physical, cognitive (thinking), communication and emotional issues that the stroke survivor and those close to them have to deal with.
Common emotional issues following a stroke include, depression or low mood, anxiety, frustration and anger and feelings of isolation.
Improving emotional well-being can help with physical recovery and can also help you to lower the risk of having a further stroke.
- Stroke UK is the leading national charity and has information, online forums and a helpline.
Sleep problems
Living with certain long-term conditions can lead to poor sleep. In turn, poor sleep over a long period of time can increase the risk of long-term conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. There are small changes we can all make to improve our sleep, and there is local and national support available. More information can be found on our Sleep page.
Related articles
-
Diabetes
Information and resources about diabetes and managing the condition -
Children and young people with epilepsy
Information and education for you, your family and friends. -
Children and young people with diabetes
Information for children with diabetes, family and friends.