Coping With Psoriasis & The Psychological Effects
Any damage to the skin is good enough a reason for a person's
self-esteem to take a nosedive. This happens most especially
when the lesions have spread all over the body which no amount
of clothing can conceal. The way the affected person looks at
himself may not differ much from how the world sees him. This
first, and probably the most important, step is to choose a
doctor that is not only intellectually fully-equipped but can
provide psychological guidance as well.
The patient must learn how to communicate with his doctor in
order to be able to make educated treatment decisions. This will
help a great deal in controlling one's psoriasis. Another step
is to accept the situation at hand. While it could prove to be
really difficult to accept the fact that ones physical makeup
will not be that of the norm anymore due to the lesions in his
body, it is very crucial to embrace the situation. When he
starts to recognize what is and what is not, that is when he
will be able to assess the situation at hand and start figuring
solutions out.
Aside from communication with the doctor, the patient should
also communicate well with family and friends. It is important
for one to feel that he is not isolated from the rest of the
world just because of the difference his lesions have created in
his look. Also, loved ones are the best people to provide a
support system for the patient. Family members and friends, on
the other hand, should learn to act towards the patient and make
sure that he does not lose his sense of self-worth.
Finally, the patient should learn how to ignore reactions from
the less discreet people who might react to the lesions
appearing on his skin.