The Anatomy of an Illness: How to Heal Yourself

Anatomy of illness as perceived by the patient is a narration by Norman Cousins who after making a trip to cold war Russia in 1964 falls sick and is bedridden. Cousins get admitted to a hospital and tests run upon him where he is diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis. He then narrates of the impacts of his depressing routine on his overall health outcome. This essay summarizes Cousins book through discussing how it relates to Kubler Ross stages; Maslow’s hierarchy of needs; Dr. D’s stages of adjustment; overall adjustment of disabilities, and a conclusion that synthesizes the theory and points out how the understanding will make me a better practitioner. 

Anatomy of an illness and Kubler Ross stages of adjustment 

Dr Elizabeth Kubler Ross developed a model that supports the counselling of personal trauma and also grief associated with death. In her model, she develops five stages which include denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. She argues that these stages occur to an individual in a situation that one faces death or in grief of a departed loved one. In Kubler’s model, she examines the emotion that feels an individual in the experience of dying. Her model encourages ordinary people to converse with the dying and also include scientific caring of such people. 

When confronted by situations like dying or death denial helps one cope and makes it possible for them to survive. Cousins were diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis which is a life threatening disease. In fact, the disease is fatal and does not have any cure. For many, that would mark their death sentences. Off course one would be in denial for a moment and so was Cousins. But after getting through the denial Norman Cousins gets depressed. The routine of the hospital life further causes him a depression which greatly affects his health and as such he needed to do something about it ( Cousins, 1976) . The result of it is a side effect that includes an aggravated condition. His life is increasingly getting in danger and his doctor said he would die in a few months. At this point he accepts himself and his condition and then makes a decision to something that will be of benefit to him. As a person who loves life Cousin agrees with the doctors to check out of the hospital and take a hotel room. The hotel was less expensive and more comfortable. The food served was better than in hospital and he could also watch movies while he medicates with high doses of Vitamin c. It is acceptance that enables Cousin to engage all the efforts to ensure that he gets well. That is why in only six months of his illness he was able to regain the full use of his limbs and in a record two years he was back to work as a journalist having suffered a disease that is fata and lacks a cure. In deed he defied the odds. 

Anatomy of an Illness and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs 

Abraham Maslow as a psychologist emphasized the need for a free will of a person. As such, he also emphasized their need to naturally strive in order to grow their inner potential. Maslow posits that behaviorism deeply emphasizing on behavior which is influenced by an individual’s surrounding conditions has the ability to undermine an individual’s freedom and dignity. In addition behaviorism takes one’s mechanistic view of nature. Maslow’s perspective is important in drawing one’s attention to the complexity of human psychological processes. In his theory, he derived a six stage hierarchy of needs that influences an individual’s behavior. They include physiological; safety and security; love and feelings of belonging; competence, prestige and esteem; self-actualization; and Curiosity and desire to understand in that order. 

At the bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a physiological or biological need. Such needs are basic to survival. For instance, when Norman Cousin falls sick, his desired needs are physiological or biological. He needs medical attention to survive. Such needs are basic to him at the moment. Such needs also include those of psychological nature. Psychological nature brings about primary level of motivation that satisfies the basic needs of seeking treatment to get oneself out of danger of disease. Secondly, Cousins also expresses the need for love and belonging. After his diagnosis, Cousins forms an unusual relationship with the physicians at the hospital ( Cousins, 1976). The kind of relationship they build falls under secondary level of motivation. They include companionship and achievement. The relationship enables Cousins to beat the odds. Through the relationship, the doctor could use his genius to help Cousins laugh, gain courage and tenacity that was instrumental in achieving a positive patient outcome. 

Anatomy of illness and contribution to overall adjustment to disabilities 

Norman Cousins suffered from ankylosing spondylitis an inflammatory disease that may result in the fusion of an individual’s vertebrae within the spine. Such fusion would make ones spine less flexible which may result in an individual having a hunched forward posture. However, the disease can also affect pones ribs resulting into difficulty in breathing. The disease can range in severity and is fatal. The disease does not have a cure and available treatments only lessen the symptoms severity. Also, the available treatment only slows the progression of the disease but do not offer any cure. After the long trip to Russia in 1964, Cousin felt pains on his back and would later lose the use of his limbs. The attack by ankylosing spondylitis had made him a disabled person. For six months, Cousins was a complete disabled individual who could not use his limbs and the doctors had no hope in his survival. Matter fact, after discovering his collagen was damaged; his doctor said who would only live a few months ( Cousins, 1976). The bottom line however is that the disease confined him to a wheelchair. He was unable to use his limbs to support him let alone move about. 

Cousin’s story provides a true inspiration to the disabled. A true reflection of what the inner self can do in shaping ones destiny. The power of positive emotions upon the people who have across their lives become disabled in changing their destiny is the powerful message of the book. Cousins’ story contributes to an overall adjustment to disabilities in the sense that their inner self plays a major role in their recovery and regaining their proper functionality. In six months Cousins was up on his feet. In just two years he was fully back to work, full time. The inner motivation can take one several miles in their recovery process. The extraordinary healing that one could gain from such natural techniques that are inert is indeed an inspiration to the disabled that the future is not bleak and they could change to better. 

In the medical field today, there are various adjustments in how medical practitioners handle those who get disabled due to medical conditions or accidents. The possibility of their complete wellbeing depends on their internal motivation. Even in cases of disabled patients’ rehabilitation, today motivation is appreciated as a very important determinant of the patient’s outcome. As such patient’s demeanor and internal motivation has become a significant consideration in treating those who have become disabled due to various diseases. 

Conclusion  

The essay has provided a summary of Cousins’ book through discussing how it relates to Kubler Ross stages; Maslow’s hierarchy of needs; Dr. D’s stages of adjustment; overall adjustment of disabilities. The above theories enables offer insights that can are useful in the practice of medicine. To begin with, Maslow’s theory of hierarchy of needs provides a fundamental point of how a patient’s inner world contributes to their overall wellbeing. The psychosocial aspect discussed as a need in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs underscores the need for an individual’s self-motivation as a principle determinant of their healing process. Motivation is important because it causes a person’s behavior. It therefore determines the reason why a patient may conduct themselves in particular way. However, the need for love and belonging can be described as social motives. It therefore offers motivation from ones environment. Such was evident in the story of Cousin when his doctor aided him in getting to laugh and be happy. The understanding and appreciation of the roles that they play in impacting overall patients’ outcome makes me a better practitioner since I can maximize the use of such mechanism in achieving patient care. Kubler Ross stages on the other end is a theory that enables understanding of the various stages that an individual goes through having realized their diagnosis or that of their loved one is life threatening. It helps me as a practitioner to understand how to guide a patient or their loved ones across these various stages as they come to terms with their conditions in their journey towards healing. Overall, the theories together inform on the best practices and their resultant outcomes and how they can be used in patient care towards improving their patients’ outcome. 

Reference  

Cousins, N. (1976). Anatomy of an illness (as perceived by the patient).    New England Journal of Medicine ,    295 (26), 1458-1463.