Everything changes when you’re diagnosed with a serious, chronic or life-threatening physical illness. Coping with your new reality can be challenging, especially when you feel isolated or alone. You are valued. There are 5 helplines in New York, United States where you can confide in volunteers or counselors for support when you feel:

Self-hate over what you’ve become or what feel you must have done to deserve it.
That you are struggling to cope with the unpredictable or disabling aspects of your illness.
Unsure how to process the reality of death or come to terms with your mortality.
Guilt about the burden your physical illness has placed on your family and friends.
Worried about how you’ll look after your family when you are sick, you lose your job, or become disabled.
Afraid of what the future holds, including the pain you may feel, disabilities or death.
Isolated from friends and family due to the physical and mental effects of your condition.
That life isn’t worth living, given the limitations and pain associated with your medical condition.

Physical illness can disrupt your sleep patterns, family life, social life, work life, and your ability to function as normal. Medication, pain and exhaustion can make it difficult to think straight or process your feelings. A bad diagnosis can feel devastating.

You have the potential to face the challenges of illness with resilience and grace – but you do need support. By reaching to a helpline in New York, United States, you can talk with counselor or volunteer who understands the unspoken, emotional effects of physical illness. Contacting a helpline doesn't mean you're weak – it simply shows that you are human.