People with chronic illness usually spend more time trying to live their previous lives and what they have lost in terms of structure and function rather than developing new experiences when living with chronic illness, this is termed ‘loss of self’ by Kathy Charmaz in Sociology of Health and Illness Vol. 5 No. 2 1983, this feeling usually very significant in the initial stages of the illness usually takes over the lives of those that do not come to terms with their new restrictions to daily life. The chronic illness experience is also associated with reduced self esteem as chronically ill persons often become dependent and lose control over their lives totally or partially.
These people also live restricted lives , with reduced mobilization and little or no choice in pursuing everyday activity allowing them more time to focus on their reduced self esteem due to their illness. They also experience social isolation as a result of the restricted life and fear of or the actual experience of being ignored in social settings. Closely related to this is discreditation by everyday contacts ,further dimishing self-image people with chronic illness. Becoming a burden, not only physically but also economically and psychologically which is often identified with immobility associted with chronic illness is a major contributor to loss of self. However feeling different after being diagnosed of a chronic illness is a choice.
