Illness as crisis. Developmental changes during the illness

Abstract

A disease marks a difficult period in a person's life, causing stress and triggering mechanisms to fight it off, but it also constitutes a specific challenge, at times stimulating positive changes in the patient’s attitude to life. The paper presents the view of a disease in which it is perceived in terms of crisis instead of stressful situation. The authors believe that this point of view is a valuable supplement to the traditional concept of a disease as the stressor, since the crisis view allows the easier perception of a developmental potential in the disease and possibilities for positive changes it may lead to in the patient, particularly in his attitude towards himself and other people, life and fundamental values.

The authors also emphasise that drawing attention to the occurrence of positive developmental changes in the disease is of major importance for practical reasons. It thus directs the attention of doctors and nurses not only to the deficiencies and weaknesses of patients, but also forces them to seek the patients' resources and strengths, and, above all, to undertake measures that solidify the resources that may prove to be critical in launching the positive changes.