🔑 Key Definitions
Terminal Illness: Disease that cannot be cured and will lead to death
Palliative Care: Care focused on comfort rather than cure
Systematic Desensitization: Gradual exposure with relaxation to reduce anxiety
Ornish Program: Comprehensive lifestyle intervention for heart disease
Palliative Care: Care focused on comfort rather than cure
Systematic Desensitization: Gradual exposure with relaxation to reduce anxiety
Ornish Program: Comprehensive lifestyle intervention for heart disease
🧠 Interventions by Disease Type
- Stroke: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy
- Heart Disease: ECG monitoring, stress management, Ornish Program
- AIDS: Stress management, exercise, cognitive therapy
- Cancer: Relaxation training, systematic desensitization (for chemo nausea)
📊 Three Types of Terminal Illness Stress
- Physical effects: Symptoms, pain, disability from disease
- Lifestyle restrictions: Loss of activities, independence
- Death awareness: Confronting mortality
🛠 Coping with Terminal Illness
- Denial: Principal coping mechanism - protects from overwhelming fear
- Finding meaning: Making sense of the experience
- Maintaining relationships: Connection with loved ones
👤 Factors for Better Adaptation
- Minimal physical pain
- Strong social support
- Life satisfaction
- Good previous coping history
💡 Exam Tips
- DENIAL is the PRINCIPAL coping mechanism for terminal illness
- Systematic desensitization = relaxation + gradual exposure
- Ornish Program = diet + exercise + stress management
- Terminal illness stress has 3 components: physical, lifestyle, death awareness
- Social support is crucial for adaptation