Abandoned, Fearful, Lonely
Chaplain Liz Danielsen, arthritic, and blind in one eye, knows about chronic illnesses personally. “I understand the spiritual pain of the chronically ill. They feel abandoned, fearful, lonely,” she says.
Many people have the misconception that chronic illness only includes terminal illness. Chronic illness is any malady having a duration of three months or more such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease or cancer. Many chronic illnesses bring debilitating pain which will often lead to chronic depression. Breaking this cycle takes medical treatment, understanding, assistance and prayer.
Invisible Symptoms
“Symptoms like pain, fatigue, weakness, impaired vision and memory loss are often invisible,” Chaplain Liz says. “This can lead to a lack of understanding of what chronically ill people deal with. They lose their identities, careers, relationships and opportunities, and face rejection, loneliness, financial difficulties and estrangement from others. Sometimes the emotional and spiritual pain is worse than the physical pain.”
No Longer Alone
At SCSM, we realize that people with chronic illness frequently feel alone in their struggles. Unless you have experienced intense pain or had to alter your lifestyle to accommodate an illness, it is difficult to understand how that feels. If you suffer in this way or feel alone in this painful journey, SCSM is here to support you. You need never feel alone in your pain. Our Chronically Ill support group is here to offer understanding, comfort and prayer. You will meet others facing some of the same issues you face on a daily basis and you will no longer feel alone in these challenges. We offer one-on-one support for the chronically ill as well.
- AIDS
- Alzheimer’s
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Back Problems
- Cancer
- Cardiac Disorders
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Colitis
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Emphysema
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- Liver Disease
- Lupus
- Lyme Disease
- Mental Illness
- Migraines
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neurological Diseases
- Orphan Diseases
- Parkinson’s
- Renal Disease
- Stroke with Permanent Damage