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    How To Talk To Sick People

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    Zhang_Jin_Dmm
    This document provides tips for talking to people with ongoing illnesses rather than short-term conditions. [1] Don't assume they are feeling better - ask how they are doing and let them share without pressure. [2] Avoid dismissive comments about pushing through pain with willpower or pretending to be happy. [3] Offer specific help like errands or company, rather than leaving it open-ended. [4] Have other topics to discuss besides their illness if they seem tired of that subject. [5] Only share information or suggestions if they ask, and accept it if they say no further details are wanted.

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    How To Talk To Sick People

    Uploaded by

    Zhang_Jin_Dmm
    42 views2 pages
    This document provides tips for talking to people with ongoing illnesses rather than short-term conditions. [1] Don't assume they are feeling better - ask how they are doing and let them share without pressure. [2] Avoid dismissive comments about pushing through pain with willpower or pretending to be happy. [3] Offer specific help like errands or company, rather than leaving it open-ended. [4] Have other topics to discuss besides their illness if they seem tired of that subject. [5] Only share information or suggestions if they ask, and accept it if they say no further details are wanted.

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    Communication skills

    Original Title

    How to talk to sick people

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    This document provides tips for talking to people with ongoing illnesses rather than short-term conditions. [1] Don't assume they are feeling better - ask how they are doing and let them share without pressure. [2] Avoid dismissive comments about pushing through pain with willpower or pretending to be happy. [3] Offer specific help like errands or company, rather than leaving it open-ended. [4] Have other topics to discuss besides their illness if they seem tired of that subject. [5] Only share information or suggestions if they ask, and accept it if they say no further details are wanted.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as txt, pdf, or txt
    42 views2 pages

    How To Talk To Sick People

    Uploaded by

    Zhang_Jin_Dmm
    This document provides tips for talking to people with ongoing illnesses rather than short-term conditions. [1] Don't assume they are feeling better - ask how they are doing and let them share without pressure. [2] Avoid dismissive comments about pushing through pain with willpower or pretending to be happy. [3] Offer specific help like errands or company, rather than leaving it open-ended. [4] Have other topics to discuss besides their illness if they seem tired of that subject. [5] Only share information or suggestions if they ask, and accept it if they say no further details are wanted.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as txt, pdf, or txt
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    How To Talk To Sick People (Stop saying "I Hope You Feel Better!

    " )
    

    As someone with friends/family who are going through some shit, and who struggles
    with depression, I would pass these thoughts along. This is not for someone who has
    a 24-hour stomach bug or a cold.

    These tips are for people with ongoing illnesses, whether it's schizophrenia or
    cancer or lyme disease. The shit that's still there tomorrow, you know?

    1. Don't say " I Hope You're Feeling Better!!"


    Instead ask: How Are You Feeling? or What's Going On Today? What's Doing With You?"
    Let the sick person tell you how they are.

    I'm sure you DO hope that they are feeling better. But what seems to come across is
    that you sure don't want to hear it/can't handle it if they don't. If they are
    feeling better they will tell you. They also need the freedom to say if they are
    not feeling better.

    They have shared with you that they don't feel well, that puts them in a vulnerable
    position. Treat that as a gift.

    2. Quit the mind over matter shit. Someone told my friend with horrible arthritis
    that if she just didn't think about it, she'd feel better.

    When you're in pain, you can't NOT think about it. (my mother once said that to me
    about a migraine - that I should just push the pain away. HAHAHA. no. I vomited all
    over her car shortly thereafter)

    3. Don't ever say to someone with a mental illness - "snap out of it!" or "Just
    pretend to be happy and you'll be happy." If they could snap out of it, they would.
    They can (and do) pretend to be happy to make you happy. It does not make them
    happy.

    4. Instead of "Let me know if there's anything you need." That puts the onus on
    them to ask and they don't want to be a burden. Say " I can do XX YY and ZZ, does
    any of that work for you?" 具体的に提案

    Here are a few specific suggestions:


    - Laundry -Grocery Shopping - Housecleaning -Babysitting -Company during Chemo
    -Meal delivery -Gardening -Animal Care -Pick-up/Drop-off

    5. Have other things to talk about


    My friend who went through chemo just wanted company through the treatments. Her
    one request was that we not talk about cancer or chemo unless she brought it up.
    Funny stories were requested. She said she was just so tired of the "How ARE you"
    cancer chronicles. She just didn't want to talk about being sick all the time.

    6. Ask before you send links/info/quackery. (Does she need it?) My friend with
    cancer was endlessly receiving books and emails and crap from people who swore that
    if she just ate more blueberries, her cancer would go away. She was doing
    acupuncture and massage and working with her doctor. That was her plan.

    Ask. I can look up some clinical trials if you're interested. My friend also had
    breast cancer and she got a lot of relief from mouth sores from XXX, do you want me
    to find out more?
    If they say no, STOP. Do not continue badgering the patient. They know you have
    good intentions.

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