The Impact of Illness on Relationships

Relationships, Divorces and Sex: How does illness impact one’s well-being towards relationships? The personal experiences of those who have not only suffered the challenges of ill health and sickness, now have to face the possibility of lost relationships for various reasons: from emotional disconnect to insecurities and loss of confidence due to image concerns, just to name a few.?

“The reality is that chronic illness happens frequently in marriage. There is no way to get around that—only?through it.” Increasingly, a diagnosis of chronic illness occurs in midlife.?

Women in their forties and fifties are particularly vulnerable to a range of disorders, including auto-immune diseases. The numbers are imposing. If up to 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce for a myriad of non-cancer-related reasons, it’s easy to acknowledge the extra stress cancer imposes upon even the strongest couples: loss of routine, loss of dignity, loss (or erosion) of job security, insurance, and savings.?

Plus, a loss of romance and intimacy, amid all the pain and uncertainty. Having some key tools or talking points with which to cope can make a huge difference in both qualities of life and quality of relationship. Support groups for both patients and couples are now routinely offered at cancer centers and hospitals nationwide.?

Financial resources are discussed to assist in der situations due to hardships resulting in job lost or employment. Finding resources and support that’s right for you, and how to reach out to them are a part of this discussion in our up coming "Womenz Straight Talk" health, and lifestyles episode. Season (1) episode aired fall 2018.