Parents and the medical team should respect the adolescent's need for privacy and independence. Regular opportunities should be given to the young person to talk about concerns. These concerns may be based on misunderstandings which can be corrected. The reality is that having a chronic illness is an extra challenge that these young people face. With respectful support from family, friends and the health team they will do well in most cases.
Parents can act as coaches in times of stress such as flares, tests and physicians visits.
Techniques such as deep breathing, relaxation exercises, guided imagery and thought stopping are very helpful. Their greatest benefit is gained if they're practiced at home before they're needed. Information about these techniques can be obtained either from the clinic or the local library. Professionals who work with teens in health settings are becoming more aware of the benefit of maintaining peer support. Parents report that psychosocial problems increase as school absences increase.