Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) psychological impact

Grief is what people experience when they are mourning people, things, or aspects of themselves that they have lost. Grief includes most of the emotions described above, especially sadness, as well as a kind of yearning for what has been lost (in other words, you wish you could have it back). In the case of illness this might include previous roles and responsibilities, previously enjoyed activities, fertility, certain freedoms and choices, health and vitality. As grief is a normal response to loss, it cannot be rationalised away. Loss is something that people can learn to live with – and cope with – over time, especially as they adapt to their changed circumstances and engage with other aspects of life.

Coping strategies:

• Although grief is a normal process, preoccupation with certain types of negative thoughts and beliefs will make it worse and keep it going e.g. “I cannot cope without X, my life isn’t worth living now”.
• It can help to write down and challenge thoughts like this.
• It is especially helpful if you can talk about your feelings and about what, or who, has been lost. For a while, many people who are grieving need to be able to ‘tell their stories’ again and again.