My parent died from severe illness; how do I know that I won’t die from the same thing?
Feeling fearful that you are going to catch the same illness your parent had is a common and an understandable reaction, even if you know it is not likely to happen. You feel more vulnerable and scared; yet talking to a doctor may be helpful. Get facts to help you. Keep telling yourself, “I was told this isn’t likely to happen, but I just miss my parent so much that it scares me”.
Unfortunately, sometimes there is a likely chance that you too can get the illness, especially if the illness is hereditary. Talk to your doctor about this so you can get more information about what you can do, and how you can take the appropriate preventative measures to combat the illness. Getting a physician’s opinion is imperative, as he or she can give you valuable information you otherwise would not know. Moreover, talking about your fears is very important.
–Judy Schiffman
