Illness stories: themes emerging through narrative

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the use of narrative as a tool to understand the experience of chronic illness. The study is phenomenological in nature, using elements of grounded theory and social constructionism to consider the data collected. As examples of the issues raised using the narrative approach, the paper describes four themes that were pervasive in the first-person accounts of these individuals: 1. Emotional reaction to the diagnosis--Because of both the form and content in the narratives, these are described as 'peak experiences'; 2. Impact of stress--As a precipitator of symptoms or illness, as an ongoing aggravator of the chronic illness, or as a factor in overall coping with the chronic illness; 3. View of death--Named by all four individuals as it relates to their view of life; 4. Illness meaning--Coined by two of the individuals as 'philosophy of life.' These themes were interpreted in terms of their implications for therapeutic relationships with people with disabilities and chronic illnesses.