Tools for Life - Supporting Your Teenager
From "Living With Addison's Disease: An Owner's Manual"
published by the
Addison's Disease Self-Help Group in the United Kingdom.
Developing a chronic illness during the teenage
years can be doubly challenging for both the teenager and their parents.
Particularly where the teenager has been severely ill before diagnosis, they
will have experienced anxieties and emotions which are difficult for them to
describe or resolve. Recognizing this fact can make it easier to move on. It
may help your teenager if you are able to explain your own emotions in a
straightforward way.
A teenager is preparing to become an adult and
take full responsibility for managing their own health, but they have not
yet become that adult person.
As a parent, you need to be able to step back
where appropriate and move in again when they need more practical help from
you.
- Encourage your teenager to educate themselves as fully as possible
about the disease.
- Make sure they understand the potential consequences of skipping
doses.
- Help them become competent to give themselves an emergency injection.
During their growth spurt, your teenager's medication may need to be
adjusted more frequently. Again, you need to be alert to the early warning
signs that they are running low on steroid cover and raise any important
changes in their general health with their endocrinologist.
A Message from Katie:
"I am a 17 year old girl who has recently been
diagnosed with Addison's. I also have several other autoimmune
complications. I have some advice for you on how to handle your children's
illnesses."
"Please be as strong as you can for them and
make sure you talk about it. My mother tried hard but I ended up having to
be the strong one and 'protect' my parents when I was very ill. I never felt
I could talk about it with my family because they would cry uncontrollably."
"And please make sure your children know that
you don't think they're doing it to themselves when they are ill, because
after a while of people telling you it's all in your head, you start to
believe them."
Addison's Disease Self Help Group www.adshg.org.uk
21 George Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4NP
Telephone C/O Mrs Deana Kenward: 01483 830 673
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