Each patient, along with the family, usually goes through four phases of re covery following an accident or illness that results in loss of function of an important part of the body. Only the time required for each phase varies. Knowledge of the four phases of recovery is essential. They are:
1. The Shock Phase - The period of psychological impact. Probably you remember nothing of this phase after your operation. Nevertheless, it is a phase that requires lots of support.
2. The Defensive Retreat Phase -The period in which you defend against the implication of the crisis. You avoid reality. Characteristics in this period are wishful thinking, or denial or repression of your actual condition. For ex ample, an ostomate believes that his/her entire colon is still there and will be reconnected later.
3. The Phase of Acknowledgment - In this period you face reality. As you give up the existing old structure, you may enter into a period, at least tem porarily, of depression, of apathy, of agitation, of bitterness, and of high anxiety. You hate your stoma, yourself, cry a lot, pity or condemn yourself. You may not eat, be unable to sleep, or want to be left alone to die. In this phase you need all the support that can be mustered.
4. The Phase of Adaptation - Now you actively cope with the situation in a constructive manner. You adopt, during a shorter or longer period, the ad justments that are necessary. You begin to establish new structures and de velop a new sense of worth. With the aid of an enterostomal therapist/nurse and the ostomy visitor, you learn about living with a stoma. Aided by your physician, social workers, ostomy association and family you go about rebuilding and alter the life that was brought about this condition.
via Oshawa Ostomy Assoc.
