Multiple Sclerosis
(Coping Strategies)
Multiple sclerosis is caused by the self triggered allergic reaction that scrubs away the myelin sheath that protects the nerve cells, creating plagues and fissures that cause problems with the normal functioning of the central nervous system. As with any chronic illness, being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis has a devastating effect on the lives of people. This degenerative nervous disorder alters the self-perception and self-identity of the individual and seriously compromises his/her relationship with the external world. Disease management is further complicated by the wide array of symptoms and their varying intensity. Symptoms may range from postural imbalance, tremor, weakness, incontinence, visual impairment to progressive decline in cognitive ability and serious disability. The diagnosis creates a stressful experience and coping with the disease particularly during the initial stages can be really frustrating. Let us discuss some important coping strategies for this debilitating disease.
Coping with Cognitive Decline (Psychotherapy)
Decline in cognitive ability is an observed symptom in around 40% to 70% of patients who have multiple sclerosis. Though cognitive decline is a serious problem available data indicate that only 10% of the people manifest acute cognitive degeneration and hence in majority of the people near normal functioning can be maintained. It is important for the patient and the families to realize the possibility of cognitive decline and prepare themselves to handle the situation. Patients may exhibit poor memory and indifferent attitude and the family members have to anticipate, understand and be supportive under the strange circumstances where the interactions and relationship with the person may be not be normal. Since in Multiple Sclerosis flaring up of cognitive symptoms is mainly temporary it would also be helpful from the patient perspective to understand, anticipate it and avoid being...
Chronic sorrow is a continuous, pervasive sadness and also permanent and intermittently intense. An individual often encounters loss experience because of their disability, relative or chronic illness (Isaksson, 2007, p. 18). Chronic sorrow as a concept was introduced by Olshansky (1962) while he was dealing with children with disability of various kinds and their parents or relatives. He noted that the children's parents showed what he referred to as a
Chronic Sorrow Chronic illness is a concept that was brought to the fore over 40 years ago by Olshansky. The term is used to describe the grief and sadness experience that parents of children with disabilities go through for a lifetime. The intensity of this experience varies from person to person, family member to family member and situation to situation. Olshansky chose to view the phenomenon as a normal and continuous
Coping Styles in Middle Aged Stroke Survivors Extant literature has been dedicated to coping styles in middle aged stroke survivors. Rochette et al. (2006) conducted a study to evaluate the adaptation process, participation as well as depression over a period of six moths in souses and fists-stroke individuals. In their study they described the changes in the process of adaptation (both coping and appraisal) within six months after the very fist
al, 396). The study is also important because it outlines predictors of dispositional behavior. These include among other things the patients emotional well-being, understanding of their illness, general perception of their health and familial support. Giltay, et. al, (2004) examine the relationship between dispositional optimism and all-cause mortality. Their findings suggest that a protective relationship exists between dispositional optimism and health. The study specifically found that of 941 subjects, the
Chronic Sorrow Theory The term 'chronic sorrow' may be described as sadness of a persistent, periodically severe, increasing, and lasting nature. This condition may be triggered in a person because of ongoing loss, arising from personal chronic disease, a loved one's illness, or personal disability (Isaksson, 2007, p. 18). Olshansky (1962) first put forward the "chronic sorrow" concept when working with children suffering from physical or mental disabilities and members
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