Human Response to Illness
Introduction
Human response to illness means
refers to signs and symptoms, and
processes which denote the
individuals interaction with an actual
or potential health problem.
Response to illness
The patient response to Illness
includes:
i. Denial or disbelief
ii. Acceptance
iii. Recovery or rehabilitation
iv. Overdependence or Feelings of
helplessness
v. Fear
vi. Anxiety
Response to Illness
1. Denial / disbelief- this refers to a
person who has been just diagnosed and
being in a state of shock. The person
doesn’t belief that he/she has been
diagnosed with a chronic disease. The
person being overwhelmed, unimaginable
and sometimes in an unbearable state.
Response cont….
The person who receives positive test
results for life- threatening conditions
may question the results, seek second
opinions or may simply feel a sense of
disbelief psychologically even though
they know that the results are true.
HR….
2. Acceptance
Itis the situation where a client
confronts and accepts the results after
diagnosis. It is a state to accept and
bear the consequences and fight on
rebuilding their lives particularly health.
Sometimes, clients find that they could
live a life more fully than ever before,
when they realizing are in that stage.
Human response
3. Recovery and rehabilitation
Rehabilitation/recovery is a set of
interventions designed to optimize
functioning and reduce disability in
individuals with health conditions in
interaction with their environment.
According to WHO, it is an essential part of
universal health coverage along with
promotion of good health, prevention of
diseases, treatment and palliative care.
Human response…
Rehabilitation /recovery helps a person
to be independent as possible in every day
activities and enables participation in all
social-economic activities.
Rehabilitation is an important part of
universal coverage and is a key strategy
for achieving sustainable development
goal 3; that Ensure healthy lives and
promote well-being for all at all ages.
Human response ….
Globally,
an estimated 2.4 Billion
people are currently living with
health condition that may benefit
from rehabilitation (WHO, 2023).
Human response…..
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Stateof strain or tension. This situation
occurs when a client requires an
increased and often prolonged effort to
adjust.
Any factor that disturbs the physical,
psychological, or physiological
homoeostasis of the body may be
stressful. The physical signs of stress
include; ulcers, hair loss, insomnia etc
Human response
5. Over dependency or feelings of
helplessness
Over dependency is a response characterized by
feelings of helplessness while trying to search
for help and understanding (to an extent beyond
what is considered normal) (WHO, 2023).
Helplessness is a responsible characterized by
feelings of being unable to avoid an unpleasant
experience.
The overdependent patient may be fearful or
angry.
Human response…
6. Anxiety- an emotional response
characterized by feelings of uneasiness and
apprehension of a probable danger of
misfortune. The major causes are: Belief,
family and past experience.
The symptoms of a person with anxiety
include:
Fatigue, diarrhea/constipation
Excessive perspiration
Deep breath
Human response….
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Is an illness anxiety disorder, sometimes
called hypochondriasis or health anxiety,
is worrying excessively situation that you
are or may become seriously ill. You may
have no physical symptoms even if
sometimes the medical examination can
test or revel a little serious medical
condition.
EMOTIONAL RESPONSE TO ILLNESS
An emotion is a bodily state which
involves feelings that may be consciously or
unconsciously motivated.
How the emotions are expressed or
experienced depends upon person’s basic
personality, perception, situation and
extent to support it.
Emotions …
By knowing the emotional responses
to illness, physician can anticipate
different reactions and can
encourage the client and family to
express the feelings in a constructive
way.
Emotions ….
The emotion responses to illness
includes:
a) Fear
b) Overdependence
c) Anxiety
d) Hope
e) Anger and hostility
Emotions
1. Fear – is an emotion response
characterized by expectation of harm or
unpleasantness.
Normally, the body reacts by attempting
to avoid or withdraw from threat.
Patient with fear experiences it freely but
few explanations from the nurse can
alleviate the fear readily, on the other
hand some are reluctant to express fear.
Emotions…
2. Over dependence
During the period of illness, the dependence
and feelings of helplessness usually increase
up to the point they may be harmful for the
client.
Nurse can observe the over dependency in
patient and can assist the client to decrease it
in a manner compatible with patient’s
capabilities.
Emotions…
3. Anxiety
Illness results in anxiety; Anxiety leads to
insomnia, diarrhea, shift in BP, fatigue and
inadequate coping with diseases
conditions.
The physician should have proper
knowledge about anxiety level of the
clients and should know the interventions
to reduce worry.
Emetions…
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Mostly people hope for the best and expect a
long and healthy life.
Physical and emotional equilibrium gets
disturbed and even death may occur if a
person gives up the will to live.
Nurse can reinforce the hope and encourage
the client for a continuous struggle.
Emotions..
5. ANGER AND HOSTILITY
Angel is an emotion characteristically
associated frustrations and struggling with
an unpleasant situation.
It is commonly seen when the goal is
blocked or cannot be achieved, or the
respect for self has been lowered.
Emotions…
Hostility is an unfriendliness that is
associated with a desire for aggression.
Sarcasm, abusive remarks are the
expression of hostility.
Over demanding, unreasonable
aggressive and argumentative patients
may express their hostility through their
behavior.
Emotions ……
A physician should have complete
knowledge about all these emotions,
so that she/he can help the client to
adjust/ adapt to the situation.