Chronic illnesses: let’s talk about them. 

Some are progressive, some are not. Some are manageable, others debilitating. Some may get better, while others never do. But at their core, they’re all the same: a life-altering, daily burden that touches far more than a person’s physical wellbeing. 

For the billions of people around the world living with a chronic condition—often more than one—life never quite feels the same as it did before they got sick. Relationships, work, hobbies, identity—everything is impacted. 

Some may find themselves unable to do things they once enjoyed, forced to negotiate with their condition for moments of relief or joy amid bouts of pain or fatigue. Others with more manageable conditions may find it easier to weave their illness into daily life—only to face stigma and structural barriers that still limit their quality of life. 

No matter what specific challenges they face, one truth remains: chronic illness is just as much a test of mind as it is of body.  

Loss of control, ability, or energy. Strained friendships and social ties. Missed career opportunities. Special moments and major milestones lost. These are just some of the countless challenges people must navigate when living with a chronic illness.  

The Psychological Toll of Living with a Chronic Illness 

Mental health and chronic illness go hand in hand—each exacerbating the other. Research shows that around 40 percent of people living with a chronic condition have a comorbid mental illness like anxiety or depression, and are nearly three times more likely to report poor mental wellbeing compared to those without chronic diseases. 

The reasons for this are clear. Issues with self-esteem and self-efficacy that typically accompany declining health or impaired functioning—especially when illness develops later in life—can leave many feeling hopeless, despaired, or unable to cope with the daily stress that chronic illness brings.  

Then there’s the stigma and discrimination many face from friends, colleagues, employers—even family members and healthcare providers—as their conditions are questioned, downplayed, and ultimately ignored.  

Financial strain and job insecurity, too, weigh heavily on the mind, as people worry about how they will afford ongoing treatment, maintain a successful career, and stay well enough to work and earn an income.  

For others, it’s the loss of identity—of freedom, passion, drive, and spontaneity—that causes the most distress. In an able-bodied world, it’s easy for those with chronic conditions to feel reduced to their illness. Labels like “the chronically ill” or “disabled” certainly don’t help to dispel that perception. Shifts in energy or ability—whether cognitive or physical—make it harder to pursue passions, unlock potential, and achieve goals, further blurring the line between the person and the condition that shapes their life. 

Whatever the case may be, the fact remains that individuals living with chronic conditions are in need of far more than standard medical treatment. They need holistic, whole-person care that addresses not only their physical health but also their psychological, professional, and social wellbeing. 

Employers’ Role in Delivering Care: Two Pathways to Support 

With over three-quarters of those with chronic conditions remaining in the workforce, employers have a pivotal role to play in connecting their employees to this kind of support. 70 percent of employees with chronic diseases wish their organization offered better benefits to help them manage their condition—particularly with positive lifestyle changes rather than through medication alone.  

With so many experiencing chronic attendance and productivity issues, it’s clear that greater support is needed to help employees engage fully at work and avoid recurring declines in health and performance.  

This is exactly where Workplace Options (WPO) can make a meaningful difference. 

Rehabilitation, Return to Life and Work 

Especially for those newly diagnosed with a chronic condition, the psychosocial effects can be particularly pronounced. Going on sick leave often leaves individuals feeling vulnerable—worried about their future, potential changes in ability, the impact on their job, and more. Employers, too, face uncertainty once an employee returns from leave: Will the role need to be adapted? What accommodations are needed? How can they provide adequate support while maintaining performance expectations? 

It was with these realities in mind that WPO developed the Rehabilitation, Return to Life and Work Program—a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to occupational therapy offering psychosocial, professional, and physical support to employees returning from extended leave. The program is specifically designed to help those recovering from a recent health challenge restore their agency, achieve functional and emotional balance, and confidently step back into their roles. 

How it works is simple: A program coordinator conducts an initial needs assessment to evaluate the employee’s situation and develop a personalized, comprehensive intervention plan designed to guide them toward sustainable recovery and reintegration. From there: 

• A psychosocial counselor provides tailored emotional and relational support—helping the employee process the psychological effects of illness and long-term absence, build resilience through healthy coping strategies, and reclaim their sense of self and purpose in life and work. 
• An occupational counselor works with the employee—and with consent, their employer—to assess the employee’s current work situation, skill set, and goals, creating a supportive transition plan that balances wellbeing and productivity to ensure a confident, sustainable return. 
• A health and fitness coach partners with the employee to develop and implement a personalized wellness plan aimed at restoring overall health, function, and wellbeing.  

New international survey data shows that individuals with chronic illness fare better with personalized care, as symptoms and needs can vary widely from person to person. It’s not only pain and fatigue they’re managing, but also strained relationships, social isolation, and the emotional weight of shame, body image issues, and diminished self-confidence. Many must also adjust to changed routines, altered life plans, and new personal or professional goals—all of which can undermine coping and disease management when left unaddressed. 

Yet sadly, this is often the case within healthcare systems focused narrowly on treatment rather than the human experience of illness. WPO’s Rehabilitation program seeks to bridge that gap—integrating physical rehabilitation, emotional support, and socio-professional reintegration to help people reclaim not just their health, but their sense of self.  

Return to Work: Cancer Care Compass 

This kind of identity-centered support is shown to be especially beneficial for those affected by cancer, the nature and treatment of which can profoundly reshape one’s self-image, life direction, and social world—leaving many feeling detached from the life they knew before diagnosis. 

That’s why WPO also developed Cancer Care Compass—a holistic, human-centered, clinically guided program designed to support employees throughout the cancer journey, from diagnosis to work-life reintegration. Through the program, individuals facing cancer receive ongoing, personalized support for their mental, emotional, physical, social, and professional wellbeing—guaranteeing a full and sustainable return to life and work. 

Supporting the Whole Person, Not just the Condition 

The burden of chronic illness is far more than what meets the eye. 96 percent of those with chronic illnesses have what is known as an “invisible disability,” characterized by symptoms that cannot be seen, yet shape nearly every aspect of daily life. Hidden still is the emotional strain of living with a chronic illness—made worse by a world that remains largely ill-informed and ill-equipped to offer the understanding, opportunities, and support people with chronic conditions need to truly thrive. 

This emotional dimension of life with a chronic illness plays a defining role in how well a person is able to cope with and manage their condition. Strong mental and social wellbeing are proven to improve both quality of life and disease management. Feeling hopeful, capable, respected, and understood not only strengthens a person’s confidence in their ability to live with their condition—but their actual capacity to do so.  

Yet too often, individuals find themselves weighed down by perceived limitations—whether self-imposed or projected by others. Focusing on all that one cannot do, on things in one’s life that may have changed, or on things “lost” is a real concern for people living with chronic illness—and a major threat to their wellbeing. Yet with the right support, they can be guided to realize the full extent of their strength, potential, and abilities. 

It all starts with care that looks beyond the disease to see and support the whole person. 

Empower those in your workforce living with chronic conditions to reclaim their lives, wellbeing, and potential. Contact Workplace Options to learn more about our Rehabilitation and Cancer Care Compass programs.