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Relationships can be challenging even when all parties involved are completely healthy.
Open conversations about your own needs and concerns are essential.
Let your partner choose what personal information theywant to disclose.
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Asking someone endless questions about their health may feel invasive.
Use their answers to discern if this is a relationship that you would be up for or not.
Dating someone with a chronic illness can come with challenges that you should recognize and address.
If the initial discussions of someone’s health issues feel overwhelming, be honest with them and yourself.
Marriage vows usually state “in sickness and in health” for precisely that reason.
What Are Their Needs?
Your partner should clearly tell you their caretaking needs and their needs in the relationship.
What Are Your Needs?
Also, you won’t allow your partner to meet those needs without knowing and expressing them clearly.
What Are Your Boundaries?
If you feel comfortable, share your plans with them.
It can be beneficial for connection and can help them feel relieved about your wellness.
This is best discussed with a partner, especially if they need round-the-clock or frequent care in advance.
Set a scheduled time for yourself as often as is feasible and viable for your situation.
Someself-care activity choicesinclude a massage, seeing friends, or meditating.
Craft a list of what you like best and then schedule those activities into your life.
Being a support systemfor someone else is a valiant thing, but it doesn’t meanyouneed any less support.
Regular check-ins for yourself are also important.
Your needs and self-care may need to be adjusted along the way.
It is important for you to become aware of those needed changes before it starts to impact your relationship.
Changes may need to be made at points, and needs may evolve.
Martire LM, Helgeson VS.Close relationships and the management of chronic illness: Associations and interventions.Am Psychol.
doi:10.1007/s10880-023-09956-2
Karraker A, Latham K.In sickness and in health?
Physical illness as a risk factor for marital dissolution in later life.J Health Soc Behav.
2003 Jul;39(11):1517-24. doi: 10.1016/s0959-8049(03)00309-5
