Mental health
Eight steps for coping with a chronic illness diagnosis
By Dr Becky Spelman, psychologist and founder at Private Therapy Clinic
A chronic illness diagnosis can disrupt every aspect of someone’s life.
Emotionally, a diagnosis may cause fear, anxiety, sadness, and frustration. Physically, it can lead to changes in a person’s daily routine, limitations in activities and the need for ongoing medical assistance.
Socially, it may result in isolation, as the person may feel misunderstood or unable to take part in certain activities. Financially, the cost of treatments and medications can add additional stress to individuals and families.
Increasingly, younger women are being diagnosed with long-term conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis and autoimmune diseases, which occur far more in women than men.
Coping with the psychological effects of a chronic illness, however, is just as important as managing the physical symptoms. Here, we explore some healthy ways that may help.
Knowledge is power
Take some time to research your condition, its symptoms and treatment options. You can ask your medical provider to provide you with the relevant information and head to reputable websites such as the NHS website. Understanding your chronic illness can help you to alleviate anxiety and gain a sense of control
Be kind to yourself
It is essential to show yourself kindness and compassion when you’re living with a chronic illness. Know that it is okay to have bad days and that you are doing your best. Make time for self-care activities, rest when you can and be patient with yourself as you adjust to your new reality.
Surround yourself with support
You don’t have to go through this alone. Call on trusted friends, families or a therapist who can provide you with emotional support at this time. Tell them about the diagnosis and any worries you have, it can be therapeutic to express your emotions to others.
Make time for self-care
Self-care, such as exercise or mindfulness, can help you to cope with a chronic illness by promoting emotional wellbeing, reducing stress and providing a sense of control and empowerment.
Try journaling
Journaling is a great way to acknowledge and process the emotions surrounding your diagnosis. It can help to prevent them from becoming overwhelming and impacting your mental health.
Manage your expectations
You may have to alter your goals and manage your expectations after being diagnosed with a chronic illness, and these should align with your capabilities and limitations.
Accept that some tasks may take longer to complete, and celebrate every achievement along the way. This will help you to stay motivated as you navigate life after a diagnosis.
Seek therapy
Therapy can be immensely beneficial for someone coping with a chronic illness diagnosis. A therapist can provide a supportive and non-judgmental space for you to process your emotions, fears and anxieties related to the condition.
They can also offer coping strategies, tools and techniques and diagnose any underlying mental health concerns that may arise, such as depression or anxiety and provide further guidance.
Stay positive
A positive mindset, including focusing on gratitude, can also help to enhance your overall mental health and quality of life.
The diagnosis of a chronic illness can profoundly impact a person’s life. Regularly utilising strategies to navigate the emotional journey of living with a chronic illness can significantly improve a person’s life.
Dr Becky Spelman is a psychologist and founder of Private Therapy Clinic.
Ageing anxiety may accelerate biological ageing in women, with fears about worsening health linked to faster epigenetic ageing, according to new research.
The study found that greater anxiety about growing old was associated with accelerated epigenetic ageing, as measured by the DunedinPACE clock, based on biological markers in blood samples.
Epigenetic changes are shifts in how genes are switched on or off without altering DNA itself, which can influence how the body ages and functions.
“Our research suggests that subjective experiences may be driving objective measures of ageing,” said Mariana Rodrigues, a PhD student and the first author of the study.
“Ageing-related anxiety is not merely a psychological concern, but may leave a mark on the body with real health consequences.”
Researchers analysed data from 726 women in the Midlife in the US study.
Participants were asked how much they worried about becoming less attractive with age, having more health issues and being too old to have children.
Blood samples were used to assess ageing with two epigenetic clocks: DunedinPACE, which estimates the pace of biological ageing, and GrimAge2, which estimates cumulative biological damage.
The study was conducted by researchers at NYU School of Global Public Health.
Worrying about declining health showed the strongest links with epigenetic ageing, while anxiety about attractiveness and fertility was not significantly associated with biological markers.
The authors suggest health worries are more common and persist over time, whereas concerns about appearance and reproduction may fade with age.
“Women in midlife may also be multiple in roles, including caring for their ageing parents,” Rodrigues said.
“As they see older family members grow older and become sick, they may worry about whether the same thing will happen to them.”
The authors caution that the study offers a snapshot in time and other factors may influence these biological changes.
When analyses were adjusted for health behaviours such as smoking and alcohol use, the link between ageing anxiety and epigenetic ageing decreased and was no longer significant.
“Our research identifies ageing anxiety as a measurable and modifiable psychological determinant that seems to be shaping ageing biology,” said Adolfo Cuevas, associate professor of social and behavioural sciences and the study’s senior author.
They call for more research to clarify how this anxiety influences ageing over time, to guide support for those experiencing ageing anxiety.
“Ageing is a universal experience.” Rodrigues said.
“We need to start a discourse about how we as a society, through our norms, structural factors and interpersonal relationships, address the challenges of ageing.”
Women with ADHD are nearly twice as likely to experience perimenopause symptoms compared with women without ADHD, new research has revealed.
The study reported 54 per cent of women with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder had perimenopausal symptoms, compared with 30 per cent without the condition.
Among perimenopausal women with ADHD, 59 per cent reported psychological symptoms such as anxiety, low mood, irritability and fatigue.
Physical symptoms, including hot flushes, headaches or palpitations (a rapid or irregular heartbeat), occurred in 30 per cent with ADHD versus 14 per cent without.
Published in 2025, the research also found symptoms tended to start earlier for women with ADHD, peaking around ages 35 to 39, while those without ADHD reported their most severe symptoms around age 45.
The study suggests two explanations for the increased burden among women with ADHD.
Firstly, anxiety and lower socio-economic status are known risk factors for perimenopausal symptoms; both are more common among women with ADHD and chronic stress may amplify risk.
Secondly, oestrogen helps modulate ADHD symptoms.
Women with ADHD are at higher risk of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and other cycle-related issues because ADHD symptoms can intensify when oestrogen levels fall.
During perimenopause, oestrogen naturally declines, so women with ADHD may experience both typical perimenopausal symptoms and a worsening of ADHD symptoms at the same time.
The research also found a higher prevalence of lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among women with ADHD.
When this factor was accounted for, women with ADHD who did not have PTSD still faced increased risks, though both risk and symptom intensity were reduced.
These findings suggest that interventions which reduce chronic stress and inflammatory responses could help women with ADHD navigate perimenopause more effectively.
Rapidly scaling startups often make rushed hiring choices that disadvantage women, a recent study has found.
The findings draw on more than 31,000 new ventures founded in Sweden between 2004 and 2018.
Researchers at the Stockholm School of Economics report that in male-led startups, scaling reduces the odds of hiring a woman by about 18 per cent, and the odds of appointing a woman to a managerial post by 22 per cent.
Mohamed Genedy is co-author and postdoctoral fellow at the House of Innovation, Stockholm School of Economics.
Genedy said: “During those moments of rapid growth, even well-intentioned leaders can fall back on familiar stereotypes when assessing who they believe is best suited for the role.”
The patterns emerge even in Sweden, regarded as a highly gender-equal national context.
Founders with human resources-related education counteract these challenges.
In ventures led by founders with HR training, the odds of hiring a woman increase by more than 30 per cent, and the odds of appointing a woman to a managerial role increase by 14 per cent for the same level of growth.
Genedy said: “When founders have experience with structured hiring practices, the gender gaps shrink, and in some cases even reverse.
“This shows that getting the basics of HR right early on really pays off.
“When things start moving fast, founders with HR knowledge are less likely to rely on biased instincts and more likely to hire from a broader talent pool.”
Prior experience in companies with established HR practices also helps, though to a lesser degree.
It raises the likelihood of hiring women as ventures scale, but does not significantly affect managerial appointments.
The study additionally shows these patterns are not driven by founder gender alone.
Even solo female-led ventures display similar tendencies when growing rapidly, though to a somewhat lesser degree.
In female-dominated industries, rapid growth increases the hiring of women for regular roles but still reduces the likelihood that women are appointed to managerial positions.
“When scaling accelerates, cognitive bias kicks in for everyone. Female founders are not immune to these patterns,” said Genedy.
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