November 3, 2023, by apydj1
Are Illnesses a Transformative Experience
Illnesses are a normal part of our day-to-day human existential lives. One is expected to experience some form of it whether it’s through going clubbing during freshers or contracting the flu. Or it is simply in its mental form whereby you are undergoing depressive episodes, having mental breakdowns, anxiety, etc.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/09/arts/music/before-midnight-annie-mac.html
It can be short-term or long-term (chronic) but the underlying question remains the same.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/chemical-imbalance-explain-depression
The fact that any form of illness whether it’s somatic, mental, chronic, or temporary is said to be a transformative experience, as outlined by Laurie Paul who is the voice of transformative experiences itself. This is essentially enabled by seeing it in a philosophical way.
Philosophical Viewpoint of Illnesses
A philosophical perspective is explored to help distinguish and illustrate the different ways in which one is transformed through their experience of having an illness. It contrasts with the more objective medical definition of illnesses in the sense of illnesses being viewed subjectively.
It is hard to tell what one is experiencing, how they feel, and how they manage to live with the illness in a practical sense. For example, someone could have asthma but the person experiencing it will feel the illness differently and therefore, different values will be objectively transformed.
So for someone experiencing asthma, their life may be transformed in the sense that they find it unable to use certain fragrances due to particular scents triggering them, while for someone else doing strenuous exercises for a somewhat longer period of time can trigger them. Different lifestyle changes are made as a result and it is hard to understand the actual process of what someone is going through without experiencing it yourself, as Laurie Paul has described.
Moreover, let’s say someone gets recently diagnosed with cancer and they are told by the doctor they have a maximum of only six months left to live. That person’s priorities will seemingly change and they could choose to prioritize spending more time with their family and friends, therefore, opting to deepen their intimate relationships more.
Way Ahead
However, after undergoing illnesses, people tend to prioritize their health and well-being more as one is required to contemplate and self-reflect on their lifestyle choices, whilst they also tend to understand what their priorities in life are. This enables a process of transformation both in a psychological and mental way, as well as the physical manifestation of it via modifications in lifestyle choices.
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