terminal illness
INTRODUCTION
Finding out that you have a terminal illness can be emotionally and physically very painful.
People respond differently when they are newly diagnosed with a condition that has a poor prognosis. The general reaction of the patient involved is one of shock or disbelief however the experience is unique for each person and their family or loved ones. This essay will discuss the varying responses a patient undergoes once newly diagnosed with a condition that has a poor prognosis. The areas covered will involve their physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioural responses. It will also analyse the differing stages of ‘coping’ with chronic disease those being denial, anxiety, anger fear and depression. Some responses come in stages but can also co exist at the same time. It will also look briefly into the ideas of Hope and Religion and measure their importance in a patients care and coping management. As it can be seen that through this process and journey some people might try to resolve and reconnect with family and friends and or alternatively start searching for a sense of spirit or religion in their life. This may help patients to cope better with disease and dying (Candy et al., 2012).
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BODY
The coping with terminal illness is challenging for the patient because it is a traumatic event but also has a big impact on the patients’ family members and friends. The term ‘coping’ has been defined as a process whereby behavioural and cognitive efforts are constantly changing in order to manage or meet specific internal or external demands that have been assessed to be physically or mentally demanding for the individual involved (Corr et al., 2012).Once diagnosed with a terminal illness a patient undergoes their own process of coping with the illness and the poor prognosis. This act of coping is a response that changes cognitive and behavioural efforts of the patient. Corr et al. (2012) explains there
Finding out that you have a terminal illness can be emotionally and physically very painful.
People respond differently when they are newly diagnosed with a condition that has a poor prognosis. The general reaction of the patient involved is one of shock or disbelief however the experience is unique for each person and their family or loved ones. This essay will discuss the varying responses a patient undergoes once newly diagnosed with a condition that has a poor prognosis. The areas covered will involve their physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioural responses. It will also analyse the differing stages of ‘coping’ with chronic disease those being denial, anxiety, anger fear and depression. Some responses come in stages but can also co exist at the same time. It will also look briefly into the ideas of Hope and Religion and measure their importance in a patients care and coping management. As it can be seen that through this process and journey some people might try to resolve and reconnect with family and friends and or alternatively start searching for a sense of spirit or religion in their life. This may help patients to cope better with disease and dying (Candy et al., 2012).
ͲͲͳͷͻʹ
ͳ
BODY
The coping with terminal illness is challenging for the patient because it is a traumatic event but also has a big impact on the patients’ family members and friends. The term ‘coping’ has been defined as a process whereby behavioural and cognitive efforts are constantly changing in order to manage or meet specific internal or external demands that have been assessed to be physically or mentally demanding for the individual involved (Corr et al., 2012).Once diagnosed with a terminal illness a patient undergoes their own process of coping with the illness and the poor prognosis. This act of coping is a response that changes cognitive and behavioural efforts of the patient. Corr et al. (2012) explains there