'Unlike a Rock, a Tree, a Horse or an Angel ...' Reflections on the Struggle for Meaning through Writing during the Process of Cancer Diagnosis
Willig, C. (2009). 'Unlike a Rock, a Tree, a Horse or an Angel ...' Reflections on the Struggle for Meaning through Writing during the Process of Cancer Diagnosis. Journal of Health Psychology, 14(2), pp. 181-189. doi: 10.1177/1359105308100202
Abstract
In this article I present some reflections on my experience of the process of wresting meaning from meaninglessness. My reflections are both personal and scholarly in that I trace my own experience of struggling with meaning-making and attempt to illuminate them with reference to published work, drawing on concepts from existentialist philosophy in particular. Much of what is contained in this article is based upon reflections recorded in my personal diary written during the process of being diagnosed with cancer. As such, the article itself constitutes an example of the kind of writing that this special section is concerned with. I quote verbatim from my diary throughout this article in order to demonstrate the process of meaning-making through writing.
| Publication Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Copyright Sage 2009 |
| Publisher Keywords: | cancer diagnosis, existential perspective, facing mortality, meaning-making, narrative |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology (including Cancer) |
| Departments: | School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Psychology |
| Related URLs: | |
| SWORD Depositor: |
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