According to groundbreaking new research, millions of people suffering from chronically endangered illnesses are trapped in a frustrating cycle of trying to prove their illness is real, while navigating a medical system that often makes them feel fired and distrustful.
The study, published on March 17 in the Journal of Health Psychology, reveals how patients with persistent symptoms after the initial Covid-19 infection are trapped between medical uncertainty and psychological support, fearing that their condition is not physical.
“The problem is not people who have long-term refusal to refuse help – it’s about people’s deep demand for people. When patients feel fired, providing psychological support instead of medical services can be misunderstood as an insult.”
Research participants described a painful journey of medical skepticism, forcing them to become their own advocates, often spending countless hours studying the medical literature in a bid to find evidence that can prove its suffering.
One participant Emma caught a view shared by many: “I accepted everything about them [medical professionals] When they say “It’s all in your mind,” I say to it, I feel bad about it, it’s invalid, like I’m doing something wrong, it’s my fault. ”
The study involved in in-depth interviews with 14 British residents aged 27 to 63, experiencing long-term symptoms, and it identified three main themes: life uncertainty, breaking trust and desperate search for medical certification.
According to the National Office for Statistics, nearly 2 million people currently live in the UK for a long time and experience symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive difficulties and muscle pain that persist for weeks or months after the initial infection.
Many participants described how the invisible nature of the symptoms exacerbated their difficulties. Louise explains the relationship with her employer: “Occupational health doesn’t know one thing, and it’s not really trust me, my employer definitely isn’t, friends get more now, but don’t really get it because they see you on good days.”
The study shows that a disturbing pattern in which patients are fired by health care providers, turning to self-education through medical research to find physical explanations of symptoms. This often leads to a rejection of psychological support, as fear suggests that their illness is not “real”.
“We found that our participants lived uncertain lives and struggled to find treatments. People told us that because of the entire experience, some people said they lost trust in their doctors, social circles, and even their own bodies because of the entire experience, they lost trust.”
Many participants described a serious identity crisis as they worked hard to reconcile their limitations long ago. Poppy, one of the study participants, shared her experience: “In the spirit [I’m] Very down. Sometimes it’s very, very, very crying, very weak, just because it’s not me. I know it’s not me…you know where I used to make lunch and dinner, and I can have supper now. ”
The researchers found that the traditional separation of healthcare systems between physical and psychological care creates a false dichotomy that ultimately harms patients. This split forces people in long-term mutual businesses to feel that they have to choose between seeking physical therapy or psychological support in most cases.
Peck stressed: “Medical advice is crucial – but psychological support must be provided with caution. If it is seen as a replacement for medical help, it will feel dismissive.”
Some participants eventually found a middle ground that although their condition originated as psychological support, psychological support can help them cope with the challenge of having a chronic disease. This represents a key shift in asking “What is the reason?” Want “How do I deal with it?”
As Nicole, a study participant, explained: “Now that I have accepted good things, it’s just happening, we are… physical improvements because I think I’ve changed my mindset.”
Researchers recommend that healthcare providers acknowledge uncertainty about long-term common cause rather than eliminating symptoms, verifying patients’ life experiences, and providing psychological support instead of medical care.
For situations struggling with millions of people, the study provides hope that a better understanding can lead to more compassionate care that bridges the artificial divide between the mind and the body, treatment of the entire person, not just a set of symptoms.
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