How can you show empathy when practicing active listening with patients who have chronic illnesses?

It is important to say that you may not understand what they are going through day to day however you are there to bring support in other was to help them. Support and help can come from many different avenues and the impact of that support can cause a positive trickle effect to other concerns they have.

In my experience, I have found that it is important to meet people where they are. Chronic conditions are so challenging to navigate, and how someone feels changes minute by minute. Being adaptable in how we communicate and support these individuals is incredibly important.

The most important thing we should do when communicating with someone who has a chronic illness is validating their feelings. We cannot put ourselves in their shoes, nor do we know what it is like to be in their position. We must listen to only listen and not to reply. Sometimes all someone needs is just an ear to hear them out.

It is important to say that you may not understand what they are going through day to day however you are there to bring support in other was to help them. Support and help can come from many different avenues and the impact of that support can cause a positive trickle effect to other concerns they have.

I think the best way to start with is to make the client feel that he/she is going to be dealt with in the same manner as that of a normal person. The second one maybe that the client feels there is a different person who is "interested" to listening what all he/she has to say. It is a step forward to getting involved in the patient's causes for worry, emotional catastrophe or anxiety. Only after having the client in a condition of being fallen in to the lap of confidence with the Counselor can he initiate the process of exploring the problem and its causes through informal free talk. There is sheer difference between "being patient" and "getting interested".

It’s important to address everyone with an open mind and understand that although chronic illnesses and the complications are universal, not everyone is affected the same. You may encounter one individual who has a good social group to assist them with managing their care and another who lives outside the city limits and struggle with finding transportation to some doctor appointments which can lead to setbacks on their journey to a positive health outcome. When working with individuals who have chronic illnesses, it’s important to not only consider how their illness affects them but also how social determinants of health play a part also. Asking those key questions and understanding their day to day battle beyond their diagnosis is key.

Many have been taught to listen to respond. Although, there are times to be responsive, we forget the actual art of listening. My response does not have to be verbal, it could be a gesture, a smile, a hug. If you are truly listening to a patient, you will remember. Your vision sees these how the body reacts when you are not interrupting. Your heart feels the emotion, that someone is sharing. Your ears hear the words and it is where our brain decides to respond let that person be the most important to you at that time. People can sense if some one is truly listening to them. As professionals and compassionate people, our job is for that sense to feel comfort.

Some of the best ways: 1. Patiently listening to their concerns. 2. Motivating them by positive acceptance and successful stories. 3. Healing by writing about their feelings and helping them to see life from different perspective. 4. Art therapies and introducing them to the people who fought the same thing and how they combat this situation.

This is the best way to show your empathy with patients. We always need to listen our patients with curiosity. Because The secret to understanding a patient's presentation and "illness-behavior," or, to put it another way, the driving force behind a patient's reaction to a problem or disease, is to show curiosity and interest in them.

This is one of my favorite parts of being in Healthcare, asking questions. In Hospice, one of my very first questions, is "What is the most important thing to you know I should know about?" In clinic, while asking questions and receiving answers I like to ask clarifying phrases like, "So I make sure I'm understanding you correctly..." or "When you said... did you mean?". This allows patients to feel heard, and understood.

Validating feelings takes practice to get good at. It is well intended to try and guide someone’s feeling towards something the we think would be healthier, such as, “Don’t feel that way, it wasn’t on purpose.”; or my favorite when I hear someone say “Happiness is a choice” right when someone is feeling low. When the conversation gets to that point, offering alternative perspectives can be valuable. However, effective validation, demonstrating that as the listener we have heard, understand, and accept what has been told to us usually needs to come first. Don’t get frustrated if you don’t get the opportunity to “solve” their problem. A little validation may have been all that was needed.

Everyone is entitled to their feelings and we can’t make judgement for how they feel. Let them know that you are listening and while you can’t fix everything you are there for them.

It is so important for the nurse to be truly present. By validating the patient's feelings and emotions, the nurse is displaying the best way to show genuine empathy.

One thing I have found helpful is being open, and honest, with statements like "I don't know how it would feel to be going, through this, it must be be very hard." Tend to get the best results in establishing a therapeutic relationship with patients.

Another way to support someone is sit in silence with them. Not everything needs a verbal response. Being comfortable in silence allows the patient and advocate both to reflect, and contemplate further response or discussion. It takes practice like any thing else.

I find letting people know that you are there to help, and that you are always available to listen, is very important for people to know, that you are ready to support them when they need it. Then after supporting them let them know you are proud, and greatful that they approached you for support. This tends to get the best results in building a trusting relationship with patients and families.