Loss of Identity

Who am I now?-Video highlights:

A disease will cause patients to question their identity apart from their illness.
Their life, as they know it, has changed dramatically.
Patients struggle to accept the loss of "who I was."
Their struggle for self-acceptance creates mental and physical distress.
The goal is to help patients learn to accept their illnesses as part of their lives.

Identities can be impacted by

Who we thought we were and who we thought we would remain

Community Role

"I used to be the one everyone came to when they needed help, but all I am now is a burden."

Health social worker can:

Explore the patient self-identified community role.
Identify the patient's view of the importance of their community relationships.
Process new ways to maintain relationships and status in their community.

For example: If your patient used to volunteer at a local organization in the church thrift shop but was unable to continue due to illness, perhaps alternatives can be done, such as packaging flyers at home, sorting, tagging clothes, etc.

Family Role

"Every Sunday, I brought the family together with my amazing meals. We had laughs and enjoy each others companies. Now Sundays are silent."

Health social worker can:

Explore the patient's self-identified role in the family.
Aid the patient to create a new role in the family not defined by their illness.

For example: If they cannot work consistently, perhaps they can contribute to keeping track of bill payments, the home with organizing events, driving, etc.

Future Aspiration Role

"It wasn't suppose to happen this way. I was suppose to walk my daughter down that aisle."

Health social worker can:

Help their patients name their loss of the vision they had for their lives before the illness.
Encourage the patient to identify new future-oriented goals.

For example: If they can no longer able to play a sport, perhaps they stay involved through coaching, mentoring, refereeing, etc.

Loss of Control