Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Essay

When someone is diagnosed with a life threatening disease, like cancer or IPF, they go through the seven stages of grief. Those stages are denial, guilt, anger, depression, the upward turn, reconstruction, and then expectance. For many, denial sets in quickly. They don’t believe that they are sick, and try to pretend that they are totally healthy. that phase only lasts for so long. Guilt and anger set in almost simultaneously, quickly followed by depression. Depression is the stage that causes the most harm.

Depression is “a mental condition characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt, often accompanied by lack of energy and disturbance of appetite and sleep” (Web

Patients and Doctors worldwide are realizing the symptoms, and accurately diagnosing patients with IPF. But Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a disease that deteriorates the patients physically, and emotionally. The shortness of breath, and thought of life coming to a close along with its multiple similarities to cancer, puts a tremendous amount of stress, and can cause other forms of mental health illness on the patient, and all of those involved. Cancer and IPF have been linked as “Uncontrolled preventative processes” (Bellaye, Kolb, 2015). Meaning they are both uncontrolled cells, that are not responding to the bodies natural functions. Both Cancer and IPF have low life expectancies (Lung cancer), and they are both hard on the patient and the family. And finally, the mental health on both the patient, and the family are put to the test. The change in lifestyle, adjustments to living on oxygen. Normal tasks like walking, cooking, cleaning become a daily struggle. And this loss of independence in many cases triggers depression, and in extreme cases bipolar disorder. In conclusion, IPF is not just another disease; it is a stimulus for other illnesses within the patient, that spreads to the family and friends, and every time a new case is diagnosed (just like cancer) the bonds of family are pulled tighter, religious reliance is depended on, and hope in the future is