Psychological support
10. Problem-solving skills
Illness generates an unrelenting stream of practical problems. A repeatable method stops each one becoming a crisis.
PatientCaregiverFamily
The seven steps
- 1Write the problem in one specific sentence — 'I can't get to Thursday appointments', not 'everything is impossible'.
- 2Set a realistic goal for it.
- 3Brainstorm every option, including bad ones. Do not judge yet.
- 4For the best three, list pros, cons, cost and effort.
- 5Choose one and write the exact first step, with a day and time.
- 6Do it.
- 7Review: did it work? If not, return to the list rather than to despair.
Break big problems into their parts
'How will we manage?' cannot be solved. Its components can: transport, money, medication timing, who is home at 4pm, what happens if there is a hospital admission.
Split until each part has an owner and a next action.
Decide who owns which problem
- Medical problems belong to the care team — call them rather than researching for six hours.
- Money and entitlements belong to a social worker or financial adviser.
- Logistics can usually be delegated to the middle ring of your support system.
- Emotional problems are not solved by logistics — they need talking, not spreadsheets.
Where to go next
Afya Companion offers education and self-help support. It does not diagnose, treat or replace care from your doctor, nurse, psychologist or dietitian. If something in your health changes, speak to your care team.