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Achieving harmony with oneself: life with a chronic illness
Charlotte Delmar1, Trine Bøje, Dorrit Dylmer
1Aalborg Hospital, Arhus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. cd@aas.nja.dk
Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences
|August 17, 2005
Summary
Living with chronic illness involves finding harmony through acceptance, which is influenced by hope and life courage. Obstacles can lead to despair, highlighting the psychological challenges of long-term disease management.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sociology
- Psychology of Health
- Qualitative Research Methods
Background:
- Chronic illness presents significant challenges to patients' well-being and daily lives.
- Understanding patients' perspectives on health and disease is crucial for effective coping strategies.
- Acceptance of chronic suffering is a key aspect of adapting to long-term health conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the meaning of living with a chronic illness.
- To identify common themes in patients' views of health and disease across different chronic conditions.
- To understand how these views influence coping mechanisms in everyday life.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative research design utilizing a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach.
- Interviews conducted with 18 patients diagnosed with type I diabetes, colitis ulcerosa, or coronary occlusion.
- Inspired by Paul Ricoeur's philosophical methodology.
Main Results:
- Patients strive for harmony and acceptance of their chronic illness and suffering.
- Hope and life courage are essential for achieving self-harmony and acceptance.
- Doubts and life obstacles can impede acceptance, leading to hopelessness and despair.
Conclusions:
- Achieving harmony with oneself is a dynamic process in chronic illness, influenced by hope and despair.
- The patient's view of health and disease significantly impacts their ability to cope with daily life.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the psychological dimensions of chronic illness management.