Adjustment to Medical Illness Support in Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast QLD

By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist, Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast, QLD. Living with a medical illness can affect more than physical health. It can also affect mood, anxiety, identity, relationships, work, independence, sleep, confidence, and daily routines [1,2]. Psychology support can help people adjust to the emotional and practical impact of illness, especially when health changes are long-term, uncertain, painful, disabling, or life-limiting. At Hennessy Clinical Psychology, support is available for adolescents and adults adjusting to medical illness, chronic health conditions, health-related stress, and changes in functioning.

What Medical Illness Adjustment Can Involve

Adjustment to medical illness may involve learning to live with changes in the body, limits on energy, treatment demands, uncertainty about the future, grief for previous functioning, or frustration about reduced independence [1,2]. This is not the same as saying that symptoms are “all psychological.” Medical illness is real. Psychology support focuses on helping people cope with the emotional, behavioural, relational, and functional impact of illness.

Common Difficulties People May Experience

• Anxiety about symptoms, treatment, relapse, progression, or uncertainty
• Low mood, grief, anger, frustration, or loss of confidence
• Changes in identity, role, work, parenting, study, or relationships
• Difficulty pacing activity, resting, or accepting new limits
• Fear of becoming dependent on others
• Sleep disruption, fatigue, pain, or reduced motivation
• Withdrawal from social, work, or community activities
• Difficulty following treatment plans or health behaviour changes

How Psychology Can Help

Psychology support may assist with emotional adjustment, coping skills, behaviour change, communication, acceptance, self-management, and re-engagement with meaningful life activities [2,3]. Support may include cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness-based strategies, supportive psychotherapy, behavioural activation, pacing strategies, and values-based planning [3,4].

Support May Focus On

• Understanding the emotional impact of illness
• Managing anxiety, uncertainty, frustration, grief, or low mood
• Adjusting to changes in capacity, independence, or identity
• Improving communication with family, carers, employers, or health providers
• Building routines that support energy, pacing, rest, and participation
• Strengthening self-compassion and reducing shame or self-blame
• Clarifying values and realistic goals
• Supporting adjustment while working alongside medical care

When to Seek Support

Support may be helpful when illness is affecting mood, anxiety, relationships, motivation, confidence, sleep, work, study, independence, or participation in daily life. The aim is not to minimise the illness or suggest that coping is easy. The aim is to help people respond to difficult health changes with greater clarity, flexibility, support, and self-understanding.

Related Resources and Further Reading

• Physical Health Conditions – Explore psychology support for the emotional, behavioural, and functional impacts of physical health conditions.
• Living With Long-Term Health Conditions – Learn practical strategies for coping with chronic illness, uncertainty, changing health, and the emotional impact of long-term conditions.
• Chronic Pain – Understand how psychological approaches can support people living with persistent pain and pain-related disability.
• Sleep and Insomnia – Discover how sleep difficulties can affect physical and emotional wellbeing and explore evidence-based approaches to improving sleep.
• What Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)? – Learn how psychological flexibility, acceptance, and values-based action may support adjustment to health challenges.
• What Is Mindfulness-Based Therapy? – Explore mindfulness approaches that may assist with coping, emotional regulation, stress management, and living with uncertainty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Psychology Support Saying My Illness Is Psychological?

No. Psychology support does not deny the reality of medical illness. It helps with the emotional, behavioural, relational, and functional impact of living with illness.

Can Psychology Help With Chronic Health Conditions?

Yes. Psychology can support adjustment, coping, pacing, emotional regulation, treatment adherence, communication, and quality of life [2,3].

Is This The Same As Chronic Pain Therapy?

Not exactly. Chronic pain therapy focuses specifically on persistent pain. Medical illness adjustment support is broader and may include conditions such as cancer, cardiac illness, diabetes, autoimmune disease, neurological illness, and other long-term health conditions.

Can This Support Work Alongside Medical Treatment?

Yes. Psychology support is usually complementary to medical care and does not replace treatment from a GP, specialist, or allied health provider.

Do I Need A Diagnosis To Seek Support?

No. Support may be helpful whenever health changes are affecting wellbeing, functioning, relationships, or daily life.

References

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Chronic conditions. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/chronic-conditions
2. Stanton, A. L., Revenson, T. A., & Tennen, H. (2007). Health psychology: Psychological adjustment to chronic disease. Annual Review of Psychology, 58, 565–592. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.58.110405.085615
3. de Ridder, D., Geenen, R., Kuijer, R., & van Middendorp, H. (2008). Psychological adjustment to chronic disease. The Lancet, 372(9634), 246–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61078-8
4. Graham, C. D., Gouick, J., Krahe, C., & Gillanders, D. (2016). A systematic review of the use of acceptance and commitment therapy in chronic disease and long-term conditions. Clinical Psychology Review, 46, 46–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2016.04.009