In the paper “Loss of self: a fundamental form of suffering in the chronically ill”, Chamaz observes different difficulties that chronically ill patients face and major changes that occur in their life due to the disease.
The author outlines that the most significant sufferance that the chronically ill patients face is loss of self. They feel unnatural and downgraded and start losing their self- confidence and self- esteem.
The main part of the disturbances is due to psychological factors. For example, the 25 years patient said she could not meet up with friends for drinks anymore, which leads to isolation and psychological disturbance.
What attracted my attention is the difference in the reactions of the young and middle-aged patients compared to these of older patients regarding the time factor. For instance, the 25 years old patient was shocked and angry when she knew about her disease while the 70 years old patient said that she accepted the illness after she reached the 60s, as she realized that at this age she could have been ill with something more serious.
In general, most of the patients start perceiving themselves from another perspective and tend to become less socially and intellectually active. On the other hand, it is interesting to mention that with time most of the patients get used to their new condition and reshape their lives.
