Initial Reactions to Chronic Illness 😱
Three Stages (Shontz):
- Shock 😱: Stunned! Can't think clearly! Feeling detached!
- Encounter 😰: Reality hits! Feelings of loss & despair!
- Retreat 🚪: Using denial to cope! Avoiding reality!
Crisis Theory (Rudolf Moos) 📊
Three factors affect adjustment:
1. Illness-Related Factors 🤒
- How dangerous is it? ⚠️
- Is there disfigurement? 😔
- How much pain? 😣
- What treatment is needed? 💊
2. Background & Personal Factors 👤
- Age, gender! 👶👴
- Personality! 🧠
- Resilience (hardiness)! 💎
3. Environment Factors 🏠
- Hospital environment! 🏥
- Home accessibility! 🏠♿
- Social support! 👥❤️
Important Points 💡
- Denial helps at FIRST but hurts if too much! 🙈
- Facial disfigurement is hardest! 😔
- Men struggle with dependency! 👨➡️🛋️
- Family support is CRUCIAL! 👨👩👧❤️
Key Terms 📚
- Crisis Theory: Model explaining how people adjust to health crises!
- Tertiary Prevention: Slowing disease, preventing disability, rehab!
Key Takeaways 🔑
- People go through stages: Shock → Encounter → Retreat! 😱😰🚪
- Many factors affect how you adjust! 📊
- Support from family & friends helps most! 👥❤️
- Some denial is OK, too much is bad! 🙈⚖️