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MONIQUE MAVRONICOLAS – COPING WITH CHRONIC HEALTH DISORDERS

1. Introduction

The main objective of this paper is to define chronic health disorders and the

strategies people instil in order to manage these disorders. The aim will be to

explore 4 different chronic health disorders and how individuals approach treatment,compliance and different coping methods whilst living with the disorder.

The American Heritage® Stedmans !edical "ictionar# defines disorder as $A

disturbance or derangement that affects the function of mind or bod#, such as an

eating disorder or the abuse of a drug. To disturb the normal ph#sical or mental

health of%. &hereas the &orld Health 'rganisation defines a disorder as a

noncomminicable disease ()*"s+ $)oncommunicable diseases ()*"s+, also nown

as chronic diseases, are not passed from person to person. The# are of long

duration and generall# slow progression. The four main t#pes of noncommunicable

diseases are cardiovascular diseases (lie heart attacs and stroe+, cancers,chronic respirator# diseases (such as chronic obstructed pulmonar# disease and

asthma+ and diabetes.%

 According to the -lobal Health 'rganisation data fact sheets, )*"s such as heart

disease, stroe, cancer, chronic respirator# diseases and diabetes, are the

foremost causes of death globall#. nfortunatel# most )*"/s is the imperceptible

widespread cause of povert# within families and communities. )*"/s affect all

age groups in all countries all over the globe, some however are regularl# related

with older age groups. 0n 1anuar# 235 &H' updated the following e# facts

regarding )*"/s6• 78 million people are illed each #ear due to )*"/s

• 9ow: and middle:income countries contribute almost three ;uarters of )*"

deaths : 28 million

• < million )*" deaths occur before the age of =3> 82? of these @premature@

deaths occurred in low: and middle:income countries.

• *ardiovascular diseases account for most )*" deaths, or =.5 million people

annuall#, followed b# cancers (8.2 million+, respirator# diseases (4 million+,

and diabetes (.5 million+.

• These 4 groups of diseases account for 82? of all )*" deaths.

• Tobacco use, ph#sical inactivit#, the harmful use of alcohol and unhealth#

diets all increase the ris of d#ing from an )*".

elow is an indication of where in the world most deaths occur due to )*"/s6 the

illustrated world map is according to age:standardiBed death rate (per 33

population+, both male and female recorded in 232.

(http6CCgamapserver.who.intCmap9ibrar#CDilesC!apsC-lobalE)*"EdeathsE232.png +

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MONIQUE MAVRONICOLAS – COPING WITH CHRONIC HEALTH DISORDERS

2. Psychology theories and coping strategies

Feople are often inclined to develop customar# characteristics and methods to

manage upsetting emotions andCor unwanted situations. Apart from a person/s

personalit# personae, the# often use these habitual approaches to calm themselvesin these stressful situations. "ue to the individualism and different circumstances in

upbringing and environment, these coping mechanisms does not alwa#s succeed in

assisting the person with dealing with problemCsituation. There is a definite affiliation

between one/s emotional ;uotient (G+ and the t#pe of coping methods one prefers.

0ndividuals with low G are inclined to select relativel# simple and often inefficient

coping methods, often reactive and unconscious rather than well though through.

&hilst individuals with a higher G often lean to more refined methods, responding

more deliberate and conscious which leads to more proactive methods in most

cases. These methods are often called defence mechanisms as described b#ps#chotherapists, through their ps#cholog# theories. Iarious ps#cholog# theories

explains the individuals approach to their situationCemotionCreactionCevent, these

include>

• ehavioural Theories J also nown as behaviourism, this theor# of learning is

founded on the idea that all behaviours are developed through habituation

advocated b# ps#chologists such as 1ohn . &atson and .D. Sinner.

• *ognitive Theories J these theories are focused on motivation, problem

solving, decision:maing, thining, and attention of the person.

• "evelopmental Theories : provide a framewor for thining about human

growth, development, and learning.

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MONIQUE MAVRONICOLAS – COPING WITH CHRONIC HEALTH DISORDERS

• Humanist Theories J focus on the basic goodness of human beings. Some of

the major humanist theorists include *arl Kogers and Abraham !aslow.

• Fersonalit# Theories : Fersonalit# ps#cholog# loos at the patterns of

thoughts, feelings, and behaviour that mae a person distinctive.

•

Social Fs#cholog# Theories J assist in understanding and explaining socialbehaviour, it is centred on exact social behavioural incident, including group

behaviour, social influence and love to name but a few.

• 9earning Theories J these theories focus on how people learning and ac;uire

new nowledge.

The above listed theories are often accompanied b# a set of defence mechanisms or 

reactions the individual choses to use to $protect% themselves against the situation

the# find themselves in, some of these include6

• "enial : the inabilit# or refusal to accept the troubling aspect or realit#

• Fassive:aggression : a thought or feeling is not acceptable enough to a

person to be allowed direct expression.

• Dantas# J often da#dreaming about how things should be rather than doing

something about it

• "isplacement : an unacceptable feeling or thought about a person, place or

thing is redirected towards a safer target.

• 0solation : 'verwhelming feelings or thoughts about an event are handled b#

isolating their meaning from the feelings accompan#ing the meaning, and

focusing on the meaning in isolation.

• Keaction Dormation : react to uncomfortable, unacceptable feelings or ideas

that #ou have (but arent ;uite conscious of reall#+, b# forming the opposite

opinion.

• Suppression : a conscious form of repression, where one chooses not to

engage or tal about difficult feelings or thought and decide to put off dealing

with them till a later stage

•  Altruism : converting uncomfortable feelings and thoughts, b# helping others

suffering from similar feelings and thoughts who are less far along in dealing

with them than m#self.

• "istraction : intentionall# deciding to put off thining or feeling distressing

thoughts or feelings b# briefl# focusing #our attention towards something less

intimidating.

The above are but a few coping mechanisms that individuals use. Dor the purpose of 

this paper we will explain 4 different chronic health disorders (ph#siological as well

as ps#chological disorders+ and evaluate the different coping strategies individuals

use whilst living with the disorder.

2.Asthma

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MONIQUE MAVRONICOLAS – COPING WITH CHRONIC HEALTH DISORDERS

The definition of Asthma according to &H' is $Asthma attacs all age groups butoften starts in childhood. 0t is a disease characteriBed b# recurrent attacs ofbreathlessness and wheeBing, which var# in severit# and fre;uenc# from person

to person. 0n an individual, the# ma# occur from hour to hour and da# to da#.

This condition is due to inflammation of the air passages in the lungs and affectsthe sensitivit# of the nerve endings in the airwa#s so the# become easil# irritated.0n an attac, the lining of the passages swell causing the airwa#s to narrow andreducing the flow of air in and out of the lungs.%(http6CCwww.who.intCrespirator#CasthmaCdefinitionCenC+. 

0ndividuals who suffer from asthma are not often thought of as an individual that has

a chronic health disorder due to the wa# people have been managing their asthma in

order to enjo# ever#da# life. *hronic asthma however could cause pain, fatigue,

stress and a great disruption to ever#da# life.

 As in an# other chronic disorder, no one should be in denial about having asthma.

There are various coping methods one could use to manage the disorder6

2.. Gducation

The best wa# to manage ones chronic asthma is to educate oneself with regards

to the disorder. &hat triggers #our asthma, how are #ou affected b# the triggers,

do #ou re;uire medication to relieve the attac, what can #ou do to prevent the

attacs,

2..2 !edication2..7 Triggers2..4 Gxercise2..5 Support

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MONIQUE MAVRONICOLAS – COPING WITH CHRONIC HEALTH DISORDERS

Keferences

"isorder. (n.d.+. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary . Available at

http6CCdictionar#.reference.comCbrowseCdisorder  accessed on 4 Debruar# 235

)oncommunicable diseases J available at

http6CCwww.who.intCmediacentreCfactsheetsCfs755CenC accessed on 4 Debruar# 235

*oping Strategies and "efence !echanisms6 asic and 0ntermediate "efences J

available at http6CCwww.mentalhelp.netCpocCviewEdoc.phpLt#peMdocNidMO=O J

accessed on 4 Debruar# 235

Fs#cholog# theories J available at

http6CCps#cholog#.about.comCodCps#cholog#3CuCps#cholog#:theories.htm accessed

on 4 Debruar# 235

*oping with asthma as a chronic illness J available at

http6CCasthma.about.comClwCHealth:!edicineC*onditions:and:diseasesC*oping:with:

 Asthma:as:a:*hronic:0llness.htm accessed on 4 Debruar# 235

*hronic respirator# diseases, Asthma "efinition J available at

http6CCwww.who.intCrespirator#CasthmaCdefinitionCenC : accessed on 4 Debruar# 235

 Asthma J available at http6CCwww.nhs.uC*onditionsCAsthmaCFagesC0ntroduction.aspx

accessed on 4 Debruar# 235

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