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Proventus
It is important to remember that MS is only one part of a person and not the person.
MS does not represent them, it is not their identity, they are as normal as the next person.
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Teenager
The
teenage years - an important period during the social and emotional development of
a young adult.
Those diagnosed with MS can experience a grief reaction. Emotions and behavioural disorder may occur over time which includes;
- Anger.
- Anxiety.
- Denial -
Initially denial of the illness can sometimes be a healthy reaction by a teenager when first told they have MS, particularly when the manner in which they are informed occurs in a brutal and somewhat unsympathetic manner. (IT HAPPENS) - Depression.
- Loneliness.
- Possible suicidal tendencies.
- Sadness.
- Self-
doubt. - Withdrawal.
Teenagers view life as an adventure, before them lay many avenues to explore, experiences to be had, the fun and joy of life is before them as they reach out with avid eagerness to explore. They are as the chrysalis emerging as the butterfly.
Diagnosed with MS teenagers can encounter challenges to their expectation of a normal life;
- Change in their identity.
- Changes in their abilities
- Change in their sense of self.
- They may feel labelled by their disease.
- They may feel a loss of control over their life.
- Friendships may change, existing friend ships can become stronger or they may be lost while new friendships are developed.
- Experiencing unpredictable and little understood symptoms will prove challenging.
- The use of unknown and little understood medications can be intimidating.
Diagnosis
Parents of children diagnosed with MS may ask themselves “should I tell them the
diagnosis”? And want to ensure they get the answer to the question right. A parent-
- Honesty
- Trust.
- Reliability.
- Dependency -
more so in younger years.
Their children will already aware that something is not quite right! They they know that most children do not undergo MRI or lumbar puncture, have regular visits to strangers in clinics and hospitals.
Provide honest information in a caring, gentle compassionate manner to those diagnosed with MS is better than avoiding the issue.
- Tell them that the diagnosis makes you feel sad because they will already of sensed that.
- Tell them that they are not dying.
- Tell them that MS is not their fault
These are some of the issues they may worry about.
Information is empowering -
If the parents panic the child will panic -
Support
Social support and interaction amongst their peers is part of a teenagers growing awareness of independency and is as important for creating positive adjustment to MS as the emotional support they receive from their parents. Teenagers develop their own social structures as they mature and the relationships they develop has as much value as the caring, loving relationship which is part of family life.
Supportive friendships enable a MS teenager experience feeling of normality, distracting them from any physical problems they may encounter, helping them with mobility problems, providing a listening ear, just being there for them.
Teenagers may become guarded in sharing their emotions and anxiety with their parents in an effort to allay any worry it may cause them. It is essential for parents to have an open dialogue with their children, encouraging them to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to the MS, but only when their child is ready and comfortable to do so.
Parents should also be aware that if they have other siblings they may secretly worry about whether they may develop MS. In certain circumstances such an underlying worry can cause them to avoid social contact with their brother / sister creating division with the family structure. At the right opportunity MS should be fully explained to them.