Respiratory diseases and mental health

Respiratory diseases should also be addressed by mental health professionals, as these usually cause ravages at an emotional level. These diseases affect a large part of the population; The most frequent are the asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea, lung cancer and lung fibrous.

These diseases, which bring a strong difficulty breathing, end up limiting the quality of life of the person who suffers them, In addition to affecting your mood. In many cases, caregivers also suffer emotional problems derived from this situation.

The role of the professional health professional in respiratory diseases

Chronic respiratory diseases are usually conditions that persist over time, usually more than six months. These diseases affect the respiratory system, hindering the contribution of oxygen to the body, so it ends up impacting the rest of the health, often in the form of fatigue.

Similarly, Some of these diseases can be progressive and take the patient to death, So it is a situation that can compromise the mental health of those who live them and their caregivers.

For example, according to Repetto, Bernanles and Gonzales, in their study on the psychological aspects of pulmonary rehabilitation, It is common that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) usually feel anxiety and depression, concomitant with basic pathology. That is why the symptoms of depression and anxiety in these patients should be evaluated. In those cases in which depression is severe, the patient would need to be referred to another specialist.

It is natural that any respiratory disease, especially if it is chronic, requires treatment and, Although the psychologist does not intervene in healing, it can be support to improve the quality of life. This is responsible for professionals dedicated to the field of health psychology, since it is a Area of ​​psychology focused on promotion, prevention, maintenance and treatment of diseases, cooperating with the improvement of the health system.

Thus, the treatment for respiratory diseases, regardless of what is treated, should contemplate health education, provided support for the patient to be involved both in their health and in treatment.

A classic example of this is the respiratory difficulty, which usually occurs with symptoms of anxiety, which, in turn, aggravates this difficulty. In this sense, the health psychologist can teach the patient certain respiration, relaxation and calm maintenance techniques to provide support.

In it Area of ​​Prevention, The psychologist can be a support for the patient to stop smoking, create healthy habits, such as physical exercise, keep a balanced diet, follow his own state of health, among others.

In it Treatment case, The health professional can support the emotional management of the disease, as well as its consequences, contributing to recover the quality of life, accept the support of other people, despair is attenuated; Listen to the patient when he does not want to talk to other people, promote that the doctor's recommendations are followed, foster communication with the family and even prepare for the end of life, if it is the case.

The health professional and caregivers of chronic patients

In those cases in which there is a progressive chronic disease, in general, the patient ends depending on other people. The unit usually begins with certain activities, such as going to the doctor or driving the car, but can affect other activities that are basic, such as going to the bathroom, eating, showering, etc.

This situation not only affects the patient, who can feel useless in losing his autonomy and intimacy, but also the caregivers due to the work overload that generate care.

Taking care of a chronic patient is not a simple task. This usually falls on a family member, who must dedicate many hours of the day for care and attend other details, such as remember.

This can also make the caregiver live with great stress and feeling that it fails to meet all needs. They even reach Feel that your life revolves only around the task of serving your relative, coming to show fear of leaving home and leaving alone to his relative, even if it's little time, since something will happen in his absence.

Some recommendations for caregivers are the following:

• To procure that the patient does everything he can do for himself, reducing dependence on those activities in which it is not actually dependent.
• Request help from other relatives Not to assume all the work.
• Allow moments to get distracted, either to take free time, go to dinner, go to the cinema, meet other people, among others.
• Understand that you can make mistakes and not cover everything, Well, he is only a human and his abilities are limited.
• Talk with other people who are also taking care of a sick relative, since their advice can be useful. Many times, caregivers are associated and support.

If this is not enough to reduce the caregiver's stress, then it is recommended that you go for professional help.

Antigone complex: caregiver syndrome

Bibliography

• Guadalupe, l. TO. EITHER. (2006). Chronic Health and Diseases Psychology. Psicom Editores.
• Repetto, p. (2011). Psychological aspects of pulmonary rehabilitation in the patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chilean Journal of Respiratory Diseases, 27(2), 144-152.
• VINACCIA, s., & Quiceno, J. M. (2011). Quality of life related to health and psychological factors: a study from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-EPOC. Psychological therapy, 29(1), 65-75.