BodyCope: Minds and Bodies in Illness and Health

Medical conditions and bodily change often spark anxiety and stress. This is true whether you or your family member receive a new, alarming medical diagnosis, seek to adjust to an acute or chronic condition, or are dealing with undiagnosed physical symptoms. Natural and predictable biological developments that are unexpectedly complicated can also be quite stressful. Routine adult physical experiences, such as pregnancy and menopause, can and often do trigger distressing changes in mood and sense of self. Whether in the course of normal development, or in the presence of illness or particular physical sensitivities, growing children’s changing bodily experiences and needs sometimes trigger stress in both child and parent, challenging parents' sense of competence. Occasionally, physical symptoms in children as well as in adult men and women persist even after being cleared by medical experts, and these, too, take their toll.

It is at unexpected, painful, frustrating or confusing times such as these that an individual, couple or entire family may benefit from an opportunity to discuss and explore worries and distressing feelings with professionals who are experienced with treating the psychological dimension of physical illness, body-related concerns, and life changes.