Chronic Illness - Essay Example

? Chronic Illness Affiliation: Introduction Cognitive adaptation theory has three reactions: search for meaning in the experience, attempts to regain mastery of their lives in general and finally restoration of self-esteem which happens through self-evaluation (Larsen and Lubkin, 2009). The four most common psychosocial factors that bring out a difference in recovery experience of not only patients with spinal cord injuries but also with other chronic illnesses are: emotions, cognition, self-esteem and social support (Lin, Cardenas, et al. 2003). 1. After the onset of a chronic illness most people begin to adjust to their situation. Using one theory, discuss how this might occur. (I want to choose Cognitive Adaptation Theory with its three reaction) This theory proposed by Taylor is a way for individuals who have suffered and who are still suffering chronic illnesses to deal with their traumatizing situations in the past or present. It can also be said to be a defence mechanism which prevents the reoccurrence of the trauma experienced as a result of the chronic illness (Buss, 2005). Cognitive adaption through its three themes allows for the patients to recover and bounce back to reality from their past. These three themes or reactions are steps through which the people who have experienced the chronic illnesses go through as an adjustment process before they fully recover or go back to their “normal self.” These three themes or reactions are: search for meaning in the experience, attempts to regain mastery of their lives in general and finally restoration of self-esteem which happens through self-evaluation. The first reaction of searching for meaning involves the patient trying to fully understand the chronic illness and get to know how and why it occurred and generally everything concerning the illness. This search also leads to the person understanding the significance of the illness in not only his or her life but to that of others as well. It is through this search for meaning that the patient with the chronic illness is able to make peace and get in terms with the situation facing him or her and also learn how to adapt and even make the necessary adjustments whether they are physical or psychological and also help the others make such adjustments as well. Other than understanding why the illness occurred, the person is able search for the implications of such a chronic illness to life and this mainly leads to bringing new meaning to the whole concept of life. This has especially been proven to be true for patients with cancer or those who have suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for a long time (Schwabish, 2009). The second reaction of gaining a sense of mastery involves gaining a sense of control over the situation (mentally and physically) now that the patient has already understood what the illness entails in terms of causes. The patient therefore in a process of recovering psychologically also starts changing lifestyle for the better to avoid the recurrence of the illness. These changes which are as a result of mastery of the illness include eating habits, exercises and change of other harmful lifestyle. For cancer patients for example, they start avoiding carcinogenic food and keep on with regular check-ups in the hospital. All this is possible because at this point, the patient has started gaining control of not only the illness but of life in general and psychologically, the patient is settled (Brennan and Moynihan, 2004). The last is the process of self-enhancement where now that the patient has taken control of his or her life, he or she seeks to restore self-esteem. This happens through self-evaluation where the patient seeks comparison with others who have gone through the illness but adjusted differently or also compares how he or she was at the onset of the illness and the psychological and physical state currently. The patient may also seek role models as a source of encouragement and for moral support in uplifting and restoring the self-esteem (Folkman, 2010). 2. Discuss some of the psychosocial factors which may explain why two people with spinal Cord injury experience post-trauma life very differently to each other. (Using four or more psychosocial factors. One of the strongest psychosocial factor that brings about a major difference between the two people is social support network and especially family. Family offers not only emotional but physical support to the patient which is what the patient requires more in order to recover. Those without a strong social support find they have to work despite their injuries in order to make ends meet. Others have to carry out even difficult tasks for themselves as they lack trusted and supportive people to help. In as much as the patient may have hired help, the hired person in most cases cannot put in extra effort or time or even support the person emotionally (Sisto, Druin and Sliwinski, 2008). The other is emotions. A person who has negative emotions like those of anger and even depression has constant unending pain and hence making the recovery not only slow but very painful. A person however with positive emotions of hope, satisfaction, happiness and joy has less pain making the recovery very quick and smooth (Summers, et al. 2000). Emotions are also accompanied with moods where people with mood swings marked by low mood most of the time also have a hard time recovering than those with high moods. Self-esteem is also another psychosocial factor which also brings about difference in recovery for two people with spinal cord injuries. Self-esteem is accompanied by feelings of self-worth which make the person psychologically want to heal or recover quickly. When a person has the spinal cord injury, people may give discouraging and hurtful comments that down not only the mood but also the person loses sense of life and may even stop fighting the pain and give up even the physiotherapy. Such a person’s self-esteem dwindles and hence the will power to fight the injury disappears making the recovery very slow. The opposite is however true for a person with high self-esteem. This kind of person does not take into heart or seriously discouragements, negative comments or even pity him or herself (Craig and Tran, 2009). The high self-esteem gives the person physical and emotional control and hence makes the recovery quicker. The individual with high self-esteem also wills himself or herself to recover faster in order to prove those who made negative comments wrong. Lastly, cognition also brings about a difference in the post traumatic experience. Cognition involves thoughts of a person. Those with positive thoughts of recovery have no time to be angry, sad, depressed or even intimidated. Instead, they cooperate fully with the doctors and therapists as they are led by reasoning and perceptions. They also try to learn more about the injury and experiences of others and how they made it. In such a case, the patient will recover faster. If a person however lacks cognition, they do not reason hence they even avoid taking medicine or attending therapies, they do not bother learning more about their situation and eventually they have a distorted perception about the illness and life in general which makes their recovery slower and more painful not to forget they will suffer alone with minimal or no emotional support (Harvey, 2008). Conclusion In order for patients to recover from their chronic illnesses, they need the above mentioned psychosocial factors as well as follow the three reactions/ themes proposed by Taylor in the cognitive adaptation theory. References Brennan, J. and Moynihan, C. (2004). Cancer in Context: A Practical Guide to Supportive Care. New York: Oxford University Press. Buss, D. (2005). The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Craig, A. and Tran, Y. (2009). Psychological Aspects Associated With Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: New Directions and Best Evidence. New York: Nova Science Pub Incorporated. Folkman, S. (2010). The Oxford Handbook of Stress, Health, and Coping. New York: Oxford University Press. Harvey, L. (2008). Management of Spinal Cord Injuries: A Guide for Physiotherapists. Elsevier Health Sciences. Larsen, P. and Lubkin, I. (2009). Chronic Illness: Impact and Intervention. New Jersey: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Lin, V. W., Cardenas, D. D, et al. (2003). Spinal Cord Medicine: Principles and Practice. New York: Demos Medial Publishing. Schwabish, S. D. (2009). Cognitive Adaptation Theory as a Means to PTSD Reduction amongst Cancer Pain Patients. California: Fielding Graduate University. Sisto, S. A., Druin, E. and Sliwinski, M. (2008). Spinal Cord Injuries: Management and Rehabilitation. Amsterdam: Elsevier Health Sciences. Summers, J. D, et al. (November, 2000) “Psychosocial factors in chronic spinal cord injury pain.” Elsevier, vol. 47 (2). Read More