LYME DISEASE           

Lyme and other Tick-Borne Diseases:

The Role of Psychotherapy and Family Support

Lyme disease, particularly if it is chronic, affects the lives of patients in many ways.  The debilitating, and often confusing symptoms, can have a profound affect on the functioning of the family, as well.  For adults, their jobs and social lives can be at risk.  For children, school and peer relationships are often at issue. 

The family might find the Lyme patient to be irritable and jumpy, depressed or anxious, and constantly complaining.  Fatigue, cognitive and mood problems may get in the way of daily functioning.  Disturbances in eating and sleeping patterns are common. 

Children with Lyme disease can be particularly vulnerable.  Profound fatigue can limit, or prevent socialization.  Children often complain about feeling isolated.  Peers may fail to understand the variations in the child’s levels of functioning, with symptoms changing on a daily basis, resulting in friends doubting the extent of their illness.

With adolescents, the role of hormones further complicates the picture.  Mood swings often accompany physical complaints.  School issues can be considerable, and vary from day to day.  Executive functioning problems, mimicking ADD or AD/HD symptoms, may have an impact on school attendance and academic performance.

The Lyme patient’s life is further complicated by trips to the doctor, pills he has to take, blood work and other diagnostics.  His experience of life sets him apart from peers, and the gap that is created can be very difficult to bridge.

Psychotherapy and family therapy with a Lyme-literate psychotherapist can help in the process of recovery from Lyme disease through developing in patients and parents:  

Ø     An understanding of the nature of the illness, and strategies to deal with it.

Ø     The ability to cope with the flare of symptoms and side effects of the medications, while functioning at the highest possible level.

Ø     The ability to advocate on the child’s behalf in school and in the community.  

Ø     Enhanced communications and problem-solving, within and outside of the family.

Ø     The ability to establish boundaries between the Lyme patient and those who lack an understanding of their illness.

In summary, Lyme disease is a medical illness that calls for non-medical strategies, to promote the growth and success of the Lyme patient and his/her family.

Note:  There is a lot to learn about the medical complexities of chronic Lyme disease.  The links I have provided will help patients and others develop a comprehensive understanding of this illness.

                                                                                                            SandyBerenbaum