Introduction
Individuals’ health state changes throughout life and determines their satisfaction with it. Various modifications in well-being of people are caused by specific triggers connected to the environment, nutrition, age, genetics, and psychological problems. In order to illustrate the process of change and adaptation, medical specialists developed a specific concept called the health-illness continuum. In general, the model shows how and when individuals experience different conditions of health and illness that tend to fluctuate during life. It is generally claimed that the continuum is useful and relevant to patient care and gives human beings a possibility to control their condition and determine future perspectives. Therefore, the following paper will discuss this concept and how it helps me as a healthcare provider and relates to my personal well-being.
Main body
It can be stated that the health-illness continuum is a fundamental approach that helps people to understand their diseases, problems, and satisfaction with life. As mentioned by Berglund et al. (2015), the model suggests that the overall well-being of people is composed of their mental consciousness, psychological state, and diseases and other chronic problems that they have. For this reason, understanding the health-illness continuum is vital for the creation of effective treatment programs and support for the patients. Healthcare specialists have to enrich their knowledge about the fact that the crucial role of the continuum is determining how satisfied with the care they receive and life in general the patients are (Berglund et al., 2015). Thus, in case nursing professionals are aware of the elements and the distinguishing features of the continuum, they are more likely to be supportive of the sick individuals and encourage them to be positive.
I personally refer to the health-illness continuum as a critical tool that helps me in my daily operations. While the healthcare industry is extremely concerned with the development of innovative medications and the enhancement of traditional treatment procedures, it forgets about the importance of patients’ emotional well-being. It is not a secret that the psychological state of sick people contributes to the effectiveness of the care provided to them. If patients are not motivated to manage their health issues and are pessimistic about the outcomes, even the highest quality care will not be able to help them. Hence, the health-illness continuum is useful for me in these situations. The model allows to communicate with patients and explain the necessity of mental consciousness. The continuum promotes the application of certain values and teaches people to spread this knowledge to others, encouraging human flourishing.
Talking about my personal health state, I would say that I am satisfied with it. Luckily, I do not possess any serious chronic illnesses, do not suffer from depression or fatigue, and have a large amount of physical and intellectual energy. Some of the behaviors that support my well-being are drinking enough water in order to diminish the concentration of toxins in the body, having a precise sleep schedule, and thinking positively. On the other hand, I would like to bring some changes to my nutrition since the current menu can have a negative long-term effect on my health. I feel I need to cut on fast food and drinks and pursue a more balanced diet. Such nutrition would have a positive influence on my body and digestive processes. Thus, currently I can place myself in the “good health” section of the continuum since it still requires some improvements.
I believe that there are many resources available for individuals that want to move towards better health and feel satisfied with their life. For instance, it is suggested that practicing yoga is one of the best ways to improve an individual’s health state. Kishan (2020) states that yoga is a systematic method “with a spirituality approaching practice to help the human consciousness to get command over the mind and the body” (p. 413). Consequently, yoga helps people to establish harmony in their body and work for its advancement. In addition, another option that can help me achieve wellness is learning to develop balance in all aspects of life (Black, 2019). The established harmony should concern relationships, studying, work, leisure, and other life areas (Black, 2019). If I feel as if I am not pressured to do something or do not experience anxiety while communicating with a large group of people, it means I was able to attain balance. There are numerous options and techniques to be totally healthy; therefore, people just have to learn to implement them.
Conclusion
Overall, the health-illness continuum is an essential tool not only for medical professionals but also for people who want to improve their health state. The leading idea of this concept is that people have to be aware of their illnesses, accept and adapt to them, and be optimistic about the future perspectives of the treatment. I also find the continuum essential for me since it significantly helps determine what I have to work on.
References
Black, B. (2019). Professional nursing e-book: Concepts & challenges (9th ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences.
Berglund, H., Hasson, H., Kjellgren, K., & Wilhelmson, K. (2015). Effects of a continuum of care intervention on frail older persons’ life satisfaction: A randomized controlled study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 24(7-8), 1079-1090.
Kishan, P. (2020). Yoga and spirituality in mental health: Illness to wellness. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 42(5), 411-420.