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Common-Sense Ruminations on Illness, Essay Example

Pages: 1

Words: 412

Essay

Common-Sense Models (CSM) of illness are self-regulatory (Caltabiano et al., 2008). That makes sense on the face of it, because unless the problem is mental illness, each person will be the first to become aware of a symptom of illness, or the illness itself. We must each decide what to do or not to do. Even ignoring it requires a kind of decision, although it might only be a subconscious one. As self-regulators, we must think (or not) about what is causing a problem; find out what can be done and do it (or not); and then experience the results (if any).  There are five components to this process, given below. I will explain each by imagining two “ruminations” that might occur to Laura, a woman who has just discovered a lump in her breast.

Cognitive domain Ruminations/Thoughts

Illness identity: Possible breast cancer A possible serious disease-identity will be assigned to her: Laura is now someone with possible breast cancer. She should do a good self-examine. Two thoughts will occur to her: 1) if the lump seems non-cancerous, she can avoid the identity of breast-cancer victim for now; 2) if it seems possibly cancerous, the disease-identity may be temporary.
Causality: unknown The lump might not be cancer. If it is, breast cancer might be caused by cigarette smoking and various modern chemicals like birth-control pills and estrogen. Laura will probably reflect on 1) if she has any of those latest risk-factors and whether to stop them; and 2) her improved chances if she doesn’t and also lacks a cancer family history.
Timeline: unknown Breast cancer, like other cancers, become more common with age. We don’t know Laura’s age. If  young, she might reflect on her chances for a long life; if she is middle-aged or elderly, she might reflect on her chances for a high quality of life remaining.
(Possible) consequences: none, expensive, painful treatment, death. It will most likely be non-cancerous. If it is not, she is free to resume her life and this will be her first thought about it. If the lump is cancerous, she will need to reflect on practical steps to take.
Cure/control: watchful waiting, chemotherapy, surgery. Even if the lump is just that, it might require action, maybe a lumpendectomy. Two thoughts will no doubt be: 1) can I afford the treatment, and; what do I do if I can’t?

References

Caltabiano, M. L. (2008). Health Psychology: Biopsychosocial Interactions (2nd Australian ed.). Milton, Qld: John Wiley & Sons Australia.

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