The lived experience of exhaustion disorder: a gradual loss of one´s homelikeness

• The lived experience of exhaustion disorder: A gradual loss of one’s homelikeness Background. Stress-related ill health is a major problem in contemporary western society. Fatigue, exhaustion disorder, psychological distress, burnout, mental ill health and psychological ill health are some of the terminology used within the area of stress-related ill health. We will use the term ‘‘exhaustion disorder’’ including ‘‘depression due to exhaustion disorder’’. To prevent the accelerating development of exhaustion disorder and long-term sick leave, it is crucial to help people at an early stage. Parallel presentations 21 Int J Qual Stud Health Well-B Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Goteborgs University For personal use only. Exploring personal lived experience of the process of exhaustion can help us to better understand its complexity and recognize early signs and life patterns leading to exhaustion. Aim. The aim of the present study was to explore the lived experiences of the process leading to exhaustion. Method. Within a hermeneutic phenomenological perspective, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven individuals being on sick leave due to exhaustion disorder. Results. The results were interpreted as a process of five states of losing one’s homelikeness in the body and the familiar world, (1) the body calling for attention; (2) not recognizing oneself; (3) uncanniness; (4) fighting for survival; (5) existential breakdown. The lived experience of exhaustion disorder understood as a process of increasing unhomelikeness can help us to identify early signs of exhaustion disorder. The results highlight the need for working with the patients’ bodily experience and regaining of homelikeness in the body in the rehabilitation process.

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MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Sjukgymnastik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Physiotherapy (hsv//eng)

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