What is it about ?
Adolescence is the developmental phase between childhood and adulthood, during which the young person develops physically and mentally to become an independent adult. This is the period during which the child learns to be physically and mentally independent; he detaches himself from his parents and builds his own identity. The young person also becomes aware of his sexual identity. The age category considered as adolescence differs between cultures: between 13 and 24 years old in the United States, between 10 and 20 years according to the World Health Organization.
Long-term illness is illness that lasts for more than 2 months. It can be cured or become chronic. Some examples of chronic conditions in adolescents include diabetes, the rheumatism, the’epilepsy, the’asthma, cancer and trauma that leave after-effects.
Chronic illness during puberty is a trying experience. Mental and physical changes specific to adolescence will influence the disease and vice versa.
How does chronic disease influence adolescent mental and physical development?
Some long-term illnesses cause delayed growth and puberty.
Adolescents, unlike children, are able to understand the true nature of their illness, for example, how the illness affects their ability to function, their career choices or their fertility.
Adolescents can become dependent on their parents and specialists because of their illness. This situation conflicts with the developmental phase of adolescence, which corresponds to growth towards autonomy. These adolescents also have to adapt to repeated treatments, possibly taking long-term medication and accepting sometimes trying functional limitations. Dependence on others and difficulty accepting restrictions often create problems for cooperation between adolescents and nurses.
Adolescents with chronic illness experience being different in the workforce, and they find it difficult to cope mentally with this situation. Relationships with young people their age can then deteriorate. Mental reactions are mainly adaptation problems and depressive feelings, the severity of which varies. Adolescents who are sad or slightly depressed or who rebel against treatment are not necessarily developing a mental illness. If their behavior puts their health at risk, it is justified to consult a youth psychiatrist. The young person may present with very serious psychological symptoms, such as suicide attempts.
What can you do ?
Talk realistically, explicitly, openly and caringly with teens, in addition to appropriate treatment for the underlying disease.
Adolescents will respond better to stress if they feel supported, if they can talk about the threats associated with their illness, and if they can gain a realistic view of the illness as part of their life. This will give them confidence in the future.
Thanks to a stable relationship with their personal physician, young patients can quickly seek help if they wish. Pay attention to this when the young person has to move from their pediatrician to other specialists for treatment.
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