Why is it so important for patients who are diagnosed with a serious illness to deal with their feelings at an early stage?
A. Being upset about having a serious illness is perfectly normal and reasonable. Patients need to feel a sense of mourning, loss and fear — all of that is reasonable. The goal is to let them experience it and move through it then they can emerge stronger and are more likely to manage their negative emotions. If they feel they have to cover up every negative emotion, they can’t get beyond those feelings.
