Madhu Chopra reflects on her most ‘vulnerable’ moment: ‘Felt I was being kept outside’

The late Ashok Chopra with Priyanka (Photo: Priyanka/Instagram)

She also expressed gratitude to her family, especially her sister-in-law, with whom she could confide. “I was surrounded by lots of people, great people. Eventually, I had to get somebody as my support person. That was my husband’s sister, who is very close to me. I made a phone call, and on the next flight, she was here from Delhi. She stood by me through the whole thing,” said Madhu.

The illness claimed his life, and he passed away in 2013.

When a partner is diagnosed with an illness, it can be emotionally taxing for the other partner.

“The fear of their well-being and the desire to support them while managing your emotions can be overwhelming. The one whose health is affected may try to be brave and may try to hide his/her struggles to prevent the other one from feeling stressed, but this can create a barrier to open communication,” said Dr Santosh Bangar, senior consultant psychiatrist, Gleneagles Hospitals Parel Mumbai.

According to him, the partners need to keep communication free and flowing during difficult times with empathy and honesty.

 

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“Let your partner know that they don’t have to protect you from the reality of their condition as you are in this together. It is important to have open conversations even about difficult topics to ease stress and anxiety,” said Dr Bangar.

He also stressed the importance of building a “strong support system with the help of friends, family, or even a therapist for emotional support,” allowing you to be there for your partner without feeling overwhelmed.

“The other partner, along with taking care of the one with illness, should also pay attention to his/her own physical and mental health through rest, exercise, and self-care,” said Dr Bangar.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.