Emotional Reaction to Physical Illness
An interesting and significant area is how people respond to diagnosis of physical health problems. It is of particular interest where long term illnesses can result in hospitalisation and impinge upon the finances of an individual.
Reactions to loss of a limb, the outcome of stroke or terminal illness all have notable psychological effects and how we are told about the diagnosis can have a substantial impact. When we receive bad news, this can be an intense and acute stressor for a person. For example, being told that you have cancer or you are about to lose a limb due to an injury or that you have had a miscarriage. When we are told bad news, this becomes a crisis to the person, which can result in extreme anxiety, confusion, feelings of helplessness, uncertainty, a feeling of a lack of control. The way that a person is told can also impact upon how they feel about the news. And also, other events that are happening around a person’s life.
The response to illness can vary among individuals depending on other factors such as age, gender and culture. For instance, a 99 year old man who is informed that he has inoperable cancer might not be as distraught as a 36 year old man who is given the same news and who has a wife and three young children he will be leaving behind. Of course, one should not assume that this is the case.
Often when people are given bad news they begin the grieving process. There are different theories as to how people grieve. Some involve stages of grief and a well-respected one is the five stage model of Elizabeth Kübler-Ross. She stated that we pass through five stages of grief:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
When we are told bad news, such as that we are dying, we may pass through these very same stages.
- When we first hear the news, we are in shock. We might see the doctor expecting them to tell us that there is really nothing wrong with us. We may not actually expect the bad news. We may not believe that the doctor cannot do anything for us and so it may be denied. "Perhaps it’s a mistake, it cannot be true." We may seek a second opinion.
- We might become angry. "Why has this happened to me? It's so unfair!"
- Then we might bargain. "I will be a good person if you let this illness go away."
- Depression may set in. "What is the point in trying anymore? I give up."
- Then hopefully we may come to accept what is happening to us. "I guess I'll have to prepare. Everyone has to die sometime."
Acceptance is the ideal. Of course, some people will not come to accept what is happening to them. Sometimes attaining acceptance can be a protracted process.
Example
Brian started to feel slightly numb in his leg. He went to the doctors and was sent immediately to hospital. He was told that the veins in his legs were collapsing and they would remove veins from elsewhere. He was in surgery for eight hours. The doctors were not able to save the leg and with his wife’s consent, they amputated his leg. Brian went into the theatre expecting to be operated on and made better, he woke up with one leg amputated.
We can only imagine how he feels - his shock at waking up in a condition like this. He then has to come to terms with the physical changes that have occurred - getting around with only one leg, using a wheelchair, changing how he dresses, bathes, and so on. He may have to become accustomed to using an artificial limb. At the same time he also has to cope with his emotions, all the thoughts and feelings about what has happened to him and how his future might unfold.
