Emotional Acceptance

Coping with Psoriasis

If you are a patient who is suffering from psoriasis, you may experience some emotional symptoms that coincide with your physical suffering.In today’s appearance driven society, it is easy to understand how living with psoriasis can make you feel like a pariah. People who suffer from psoriasis have reported feelings of depression and low self-esteem. If you experience these feelings, it is important to keep in mind that even though your disease may be life long, it is not a ”death sentence”. You can, and should, try to maintain a normal, healthy lifestyle.

In order to put things into perspective consider the following:

• Your disease is not contagious.Some people may shy away from you because they may be afraid of “getting what you’ve got.” Become the educator and let those around you know that it is not contagious.
• The stress from worrying about the disease can actually make the disease worse. Stress is a trigger for psoriasis. The more you think about it, the more aggravated your symptoms will become.
• Try to stay optimistic. Know that researchers are looking into ways to cure this disease.
• You are not alone. There are millions of people in the United States and the world who suffer from psoriasis. They are probably feeling the same way that you do. Ask your doctor if there is a support group in your area that you can join. (See Famous People with Psoriasis for some well known people through history who had/have psoriasis.)
• This disease has some genetic links.It is possible that your parents or grandparents may have had a similar experience to yours. If they are available, talk to them and see how they have learned to cope with their disease.

If you find the above suggestions futile or if you experience severe feelings of hopelessness, contact your health care professional immediately, so you can get the help that you need.