Gift giving is difficult enough in the best of circumstances, but purchasing a present for someone who has a chronic health condition calls for extra thought. Chronic conditions are frequently misunderstood, and individuals who suffer from one might often feel the same way. It's good that you're trying to think carefully about your gift. After all, you don't want to buy them anything that causes them more agony than joy.
Certain gifts can possibly be physically harmful or cause symptoms in persons who suffer from a chronic condition or they may just be the "wrong" gifts to give.
In this article, we will list down some of the gifts you should NOT give to people with chronic illness.
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Food
We know. We love receiving food. Who doesn't? It's definitely one of the loveliest gestures.
However, people dealing with chronic illness, often have allergies and specific dietary requirements and even the slightest amount of certain foods can throw their bodies into flare-ups, which can take weeks or months to recover from.
As always, it's better to err on the side of caution.
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Self-help Books
While we realize how tough it is to see a loved one suffer from a chronic condition and not know what to do to help and make them feel better even a little bit, we do not believe that giving them self-help books as presents is the answer. We have no idea if it will make them feel better or worse. They're already dealing with a lot of worry, and we don't want to add to that. Unless they specifically requested a book.
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Perfumes
Some chronic conditions, such as migraines and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, are significantly influenced by scent. Scents can trigger flare-ups in patients suffering from several of these chronic conditions. Also, most colognes and perfumes often have ingredients that might irritate their skin. That’s why we do not recommend giving perfume as a gift.
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Work out clothes
People who live with chronic illness are battling against something that drains their energy. We do not recommend giving work out clothes as a gift. Exercise, although good for their bodies, is very difficult for people with chronic illness. Receiving work out clothes or any unsolicited exercise gears and not being able to use them might make them feel like a failure.
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A pet
Yes, pets are cute and brings joy. However, they also require maintenance. They require a lot of time and energy. Even expense. Lack of energy can make being a pet parent a burden.
The information shared in this blog post is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. Please consult your doctor.
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