ABSTRACT
T – Time in life cycle Connecting the presenting problem, symptom or illness with the patient’s position in the life cycle of the family may be a way of understanding more. Acute and chronic illnesses do have different effects on the family at different times in the life cycle and are also more likely to occur at certain points. For example, the young child will be exposed to the risk of infection when entering school; a coronary is most likely at the time of multiple stresses (midlife crisis) and acute illness is more frequent in the frail elderly. However, this is only one dimension – and a rather superficial one. In the previous chapter we have described how life cycle transitions are points of potential and likely crises for individuals, couples and families. Using this frame can help to create a new perspective from which to view a specific problem and the dynamics surrounding it.
