{"id":12291,"date":"2025-08-28T02:02:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T07:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mickeylieberman.com\/medical\/?p=12291"},"modified":"2025-04-20T10:23:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-20T15:23:29","slug":"how-do-you-live-with-a-terminal-illness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mickeylieberman.com\/medical\/how-do-you-live-with-a-terminal-illness\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do You Live with a Terminal Illness?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Live with a Terminal Illness<\/span><\/p>\n

Grief is common in people facing the end of their lives as a result of a terminal illness.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a feeling that can cause terminally ill persons to experience even more pain than they do from their illness. However, it\u2019s considered a normal reaction to their situation.<\/span><\/p>\n

But in many terminally ill people, grief evolves into depression.<\/span><\/p>\n

Experts say the risks of depression increase as the disease advances and causes more painful or uncomfortable symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

The more a person\u2019s body changes, the less control they feel over their lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, some people who are terminally ill have more risk factors for depression<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

These include:<\/span><\/p>\n

history of depression<\/span>
\npast attempts at suicide<\/span>
\nsocial stress<\/span>
\nProblems with substance abuse<\/span>
\naddiction<\/span>
\nfamily history of depression<\/span><\/p>\n

Some medications may also contribute to depression.<\/span><\/p>\n

Depression is a serious mental condition, but it can be treated. Treating depression in people with a terminal illness can significantly increase their quality of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Symptoms Are Considered \u201cNormal\u201d for Someone with a Terminal Illness?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

There is no \u201cright\u201d way for people to feel at the end of their lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Any combination of the following symptoms is considered \u201cnormal\u201d in terminally ill people<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

disbelief<\/span>
\npanic<\/span>
\nanxiety<\/span>
\nanger<\/span>
\nbitterness<\/span>
\ndenial<\/span>
\nvulnerability<\/span>
\nsadness<\/span>
\nfrustration<\/span>
\nloneliness<\/span>
\npeace<\/span>
\nacceptance<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is Considered Depression?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Depression is classified as having the following experiences that last for at least two weeks, and are severe enough to interfere with everyday life:<\/span><\/p>\n

sadness<\/span>
\nfrustration<\/span>
\nanxiety<\/span>
\ndepressed mood<\/span>
\nReduced interest in activities<\/span>
\nchange in sleep routine<\/span>
\nchange in weight<\/span>
\nloss of energy<\/span>
\ntrouble making decisions<\/span>
\nchange in eating habits<\/span>
\nRecurring thoughts of death or suicide, or a suicide attempt<\/span><\/p>\n

In the terminally ill, it can sometimes be hard to tell whether some of these symptoms are caused by the person\u2019s primary illness or by depression.<\/span><\/p>\n

A subtle sign of depression in the terminally ill is pain that doesn\u2019t respond to treatment as expected.<\/span><\/p>\n

People who think or attempt suicide are thought to be suffering from depression. They may also repeatedly request that doctors help hasten their deaths.<\/span><\/p>\n

This kind of request, however, may be a person\u2019s attempt to exercise autonomy over how they live and not depression.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Is Depression Diagnosed in Someone with a Terminal Illness?<\/span><\/p>\n

Because depression is not always clearly identified, it tends to be underdiagnosed in people with terminal illnesses. This means many terminally ill people with depression are left untreated.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important for doctors to carefully examine terminally ill people for depression if they show symptoms. <\/span><\/p>\n

A doctor will make a diagnosis of depression by doing the following:<\/span><\/p>\n

Taking a medical history<\/span>
\ndoing a physical exam<\/span>
\nsometimes performing lab tests, such as blood and imaging tests<\/span><\/p>\n

What Types of Treatments Are Available for Someone Who Is Depressed and Terminally Ill?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Early diagnosis and treatment of depression in people with terminal illnesses is the goal. <\/span><\/p>\n

Treatments for depression in the terminally ill are generally the same as for the general population:<\/span><\/p>\n

psychotherapy<\/span>
\nlifestyle modifications<\/span>
\nmedication<\/span>
\na combination of treatments<\/span><\/p>\n

Psychotherapy<\/span><\/p>\n

Psychotherapy involves attending sessions with a therapist who offers support and advice.<\/span><\/p>\n

A therapist can help a person with a terminal illness better understand their condition and how to come to terms with the end of their life. This understanding can help reduce their depressive symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifestyle Modifications<\/span><\/p>\n

Adding certain habits to the lifestyle of a person with a terminal illness can be beneficial.<\/span><\/p>\n

Medication<\/span><\/p>\n

Both pain relievers and antidepressants appear to help alleviate depression in the terminally ill. <\/span><\/p>\n

Several types of pain medications and antidepressants can help. Some common antidepressants include<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)<\/span>
\nserotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)<\/span>
\nnorepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)<\/span>
\ntricyclic antidepressants<\/span>
\nmonoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)<\/span>
\nmood stabilizers<\/span>
\nantipsychotics<\/span><\/p>\n

Some antidepressants and pain medications can interact with other drugs or can worsen certain medical conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Doctors should thoroughly review a terminally ill person\u2019s medical history before prescribing any medications for depression.<\/span><\/p>\n

Coping with Depression and Terminal Illness<\/span><\/p>\n

Those with a terminal illness may find it helpful to talk to friends and loved ones about their condition. It can benefit the terminally ill for relatives, friends, and caregivers to offer an empathetic ear.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it can be painful and challenging for the listeners. Those close to the terminally ill person may find it hard to talk about that person\u2019s illness.<\/span><\/p>\n

In that case, it can be helpful to seek out support groups for the terminally ill person.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hearing the stories of those in a similar situation can often help the terminally ill person better cope with their illness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Doctors can recommend support groups, or you can research groups online. If you find a group online, monitor the group discussion to ensure it is appropriate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Others with terminal illnesses find it helpful to express their feelings creatively. Being creative can ward off feelings of depression. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some forms of creative expression include<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

keeping a journal<\/span>
\npainting<\/span>
\nplaying an instrument<\/span><\/p>\n

It may not be possible to fully stop a terminally ill person from feeling grief, but it is possible to prevent and treat their depression.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alleviating depression in terminally ill people can greatly increase their quality of life.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Live with a Terminal Illness Grief is common in people facing the end of their lives as a result of a terminal illness. It\u2019s a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-medical-topics","wpcat-2-id"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t