 previous article in this issue | next article in this issue  |
Preview first page |
Document Details : Title: Going through a Dark Night Subtitle: Existential Crisis in Cancer Patients - Effective Coping as a Psycho-spiritual Process Embedded in the Vulnerability of the Body Author(s): YANG, William , STAPS, Ton , HIJMANS, Ellen Journal: Studies in Spirituality Volume: 22 Date: 2012 Pages: 311-339 DOI: 10.2143/SIS.22.0.2182857 Abstract : An existential crisis may occur in cancer patients when they realize that their death may be imminent. In the first research cycle we uncovered the characteristics of an existential crisis and the phases in the process of effectively coping with it. We now report the second research cycle in which we reanalyzed the data to demonstrate that coping with an existential crisis is essentially a psycho-spiritual process. For oncological patients the body plays a vital role in the unfolding of this psychospiritual process, adding a strong physical dimension to the sometimes ephemeral concept of spirituality. This physico-psycho- spiritual process has its own inner dynamism, which at the same time turns out to be a process of individuation. Coping with their existential crisis, cancer patients are going through a process that can be considered as a present day form of ‘lived spirituality’. This perspective opens up a new approach for health care workers’ support of cancer patients struggling with their existential crisis. |
|
