Psychology 2036A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Terminal Illness, Distressing

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2036A/B
• Professor: Doug Hazelwood

Document Summary

Helping people cope with chronic and terminal illness chapter 11 & 12. Chronic illnesses are long-term illnesses, often they have no cure. Chronic illnesses are among the leading causes of death in society. Part 1 initial reactions to chronic illness. Shock many questions, but no clear answers. Individual is likely to experience disorientation and being overwhelmed. They cannot think straight, a(cid:374)d (cid:272)a(cid:374)"t de(cid:448)elop (cid:272)lear pla(cid:374)s for (cid:272)opi(cid:374)g. May be denial of illness believe that the doctor has simply made a mistake. Denial of the duration of the illness believe that it is acute, or short-term and will eventually go away on its own. Denial of the severity of the illness believe that life will go on as usual, with no changes: denial can be harmful. If people do(cid:374)"t thi(cid:374)k sy(cid:373)pto(cid:373)s are serious, (cid:271)elie(cid:448)e they (cid:449)ill go a(cid:449)ay, or (cid:271)elie(cid:448)e they are (cid:374)ot ill, it is u(cid:374)likely for the i(cid:374)dividual to seek treatment.