Not a day goes by without me appreciating the commitment and effort my boyfriend exemplified during my withdrawal. I am now over seven months TSW and am living a life filled with gratitude and joy! As a caregiver, telling friends or family that “we're struggling with TSW” rather than “he/she has TSW”, or “we're healing from TSW” rather than “he/she is healing” makes the sufferer feel like they are not fighting alone and that they are a part of a team. The waiting game is definitely one of the hardest aspects of TSW, so why not take this opportunity to start a new hobby together, immerse yourselves in a new documentary series, or simply talk to each other!Ĭhanging the terminology of TSW also impacts the mental state of the sufferer. TSW is a long, hard process, which will test both the caregiver and the sufferer to their absolute limits! Celebrate the little victories, and try to find solutions to any problems as they come up.
Small acts of kindness like foot massages, making dinner, or popcorn-movie nights made a huge difference to my healing. I knew that even if my body changed completely over night, the one constant would be his love. During the worst parts of my TSW, my boyfriend’s expressions of care gave me comfort and hope. Show that your love is constant and unwavering. As a caregiver, please express your unconditional love and support! Let us know you're there for us. Each day can bring a new set of obstacles and physical difficulties. TSW causes a person’s body and environment to change. (photo: Caroline and friend on a night out) Let your loved one grieve, let them feel sad about their inability to go out, and offer to stay with them rather than leaving them alone. Understand that there's likely to be a period of time when their personality might change, and they might become a home-body. As a caregiver, try to understand what's going on when your loved one cancels social outings, and changes plans. Our inability to live a carefree life is crushing, and the fear of another flare hangs over day-to-day activities. Sufferers often reminisce about their old life and mourn their pre-TSW selves. Understand that your loved one is grieving Let us vent! TSW conversations may become repetitive, but when a we share our feelings and are really heard, the trust between the two of us is strengthened. In that moment we're at our most vulnerable, and all we want is to feel heard. When a sufferer opens up to a caregiver and discusses their pain, anger, and sadness… listen. When we're suffering, it is so infuriating when someone denies or ignores the existence of TSW, and begins to lecture about ‘bad eczema flares’. These strategies are crucial in easing the inevitable mental battle of TSW! Listen to your loved one I encourage any TSW caregiver to try the following four actions:
When I reflect on my journey, I realize that my boyfriend adopted certain behaviours which calmed me down and smoothed out the rocky process. The condition pushes you to your limits while testing your patience and hope. There were moments where it wasn't easy, and times where TSW proved to be more difficult than usual. However, without his care my withdrawal process would have been completely different and excruciatingly painful. I felt like a patient rather than a girlfriend and would often feel guilty for needing his help. My boyfriend was by my side during the darkest stages of my TSW.
#ALL ALONE TOGETHER TSW HOW TO#
You avoid all interactions and frankly, you just want to be alone.Īs a caregiver or friend, this is extremely frustrating! You see your loved one struggling but are unsure of how to help.
You become a shell of a person who is no longer excited by social outings or weekend expeditions. Maintaining any relationship while suffering with TSW is hard. But there are definitely things you can do to help! Unless you have personally suffered with topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) you will not be able to fully understand the constant battle and pain of the condition. A guest blog by Caroline Szczuka about the ways in which partners, friends & family members can help suppport their loved ones going through TSW.