Long term conditions are physical health conditions that require ongoing management over a period of years and includes diabetes, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, COPD, heart conditions, asthma, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, ME and arthritis. Visit www.nhs.uk for more information about your long-term health condition and the support that is available.
Many emotions and feelings can arise from living with a long-term health condition. You may feel frustrated, tired or worried.
There are many challenges involved, especially when dealing with difficult or unpleasant symptoms, procedures or treatments. It’s understandable that this can cause you to feel down, stressed or just not your usual self.
A long-term condition can affect all aspects of your life. You can struggle to manage the changes that a health condition requires of you or find it more difficult to cope with your usual daily activities.
• Maybe you feel frustrated about how your condition makes you feel
• Maybe you worry about when the next flare up may be
• You might feel down if you’re finding it difficult to adjust to your condition
• You might not feel as confident as you used to or reluctant to try things differently
• Maybe you feel alone and isolated with your condition.
Who does it affect? More than 15 million people in England live with one or more long term conditions, according to the Department of Health (2011) and more than four million will also struggle with their emotional wellbeing and experience depression and anxiety.
Our physical and mental health are inextricably linked and when both are affecting you, you may find yourself struggling to cope, feel alone or afraid of how your life can improve.
Social care and support guide If you need help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability or care for someone regularly because they’re ill, elderly or disabled – including family members the NHS guide to care and support explains your options and where you can get support.
Self-management is about finding ways, and learning techniques, which enable you to control your long-term health condition, rather than having it control you.
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust offer a self-management programme called Live Better to Feel Better: here
The Community Wellbeing Service is a free and confidential service for anyone over the age of 16. The aim of the service is to connect you to local services, organisations and groups that can help you to improve your general wellbeing and meet your wider social needs....
Stay Safe East provides specialist and holistic advocacy and support services to disabled people who are victims and survivors of domestic or sexual violence.
Inclusion Gloucestershire is a user-led self-advocacy organisation for people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autism or mental ill health.
Carers UK is a membership charity for carers, sharing experiences and offering support.
Guideposts Gloucestershire is a charity that supports people living with long-term conditions, disability or caring responsibilities to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Gloucestershire Community Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is a confidential service that provides information advice and support for patients, families and carers.
The teams offer advice and support when you feel you require an increased level of care, due to your mental health or due to emotional and psychological distress.
Shout is a 24/7 text service, supported by digital mental health charity, Mental Health Innovations.
If you or someone you know over the age of 11 needs help in a mental health crisis, call our crisis team – available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Community Wellbeing Service is a free and confidential service for anyone over the age of 16. The aim of the service is to connect you to local services, organisations and groups that can help you to improve your general wellbeing and meet your wider social needs....
Stay Safe East provides specialist and holistic advocacy and support services to disabled people who are victims and survivors of domestic or sexual violence.
Inclusion Gloucestershire is a user-led self-advocacy organisation for people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autism or mental ill health.
Carers UK is a membership charity for carers, sharing experiences and offering support.
Guideposts Gloucestershire is a charity that supports people living with long-term conditions, disability or caring responsibilities to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Gloucestershire Community Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is a confidential service that provides information advice and support for patients, families and carers.
The teams offer advice and support when you feel you require an increased level of care, due to your mental health or due to emotional and psychological distress.
Shout is a 24/7 text service, supported by digital mental health charity, Mental Health Innovations.
If you or someone you know over the age of 11 needs help in a mental health crisis, call our crisis team – available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
It can be hard to know where to turn when we’re struggling with our mental health but support is available, from NHS and council-commissioned services to local and national charities. Many services are free, confidential, and you can access them yourself without a referral from a professional.
Find out what support is available to you.
There is a wide range of support for children, young people and families in the county.
More information about additional support that is available for older people locally and nationally.
Getting help with issues you're struggling to deal with on your own is one of the most important things you can do
If you think you or your partner may be experiencing mental health difficulties, you can get expert help
The past year has been a particularly challenging time for everyone but whatever you’re worried about, please reach out for support – help is available
If you can’t find what you are looking for, please get in touch to let us know what mental health support information would be useful to you at this time
