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

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

Document Summary

Part 1: initial reactions: shock (many questions but no clear answers); Disorientation & being overwhelmed (can"t think straight, can"t develop plans for coping: denial. Of illness duration (just short term symptoms, they"ll go away on their own) Of illness severity: denial can be harmful. May not adhere to treatment regimens: denial can be beneficial. Serves as emotional buffer (helps people control their emotional responses: anxiety and depression (p. 333-335) Part 2: challenges faced by chronologically ill: specific illness-related challenges, symptoms of illness (e. g. , pain, weakness, disfigurement, paralysis) Feel self-conscious; stigmatized; withdraw from social interactions. Embarrassing changes to body functions: the treatment process (painful, inconvenient, requires major changes to lifestyles, the treatment setting. Part 1: thinking of death when we"re healthy: denial (avoid thinking about it, anxiety (the death anxiety scale) Why: death is less unexpected, have made preparations for death, have achieved goals in life (or accept that not all goals will be achieved, acceptance.