Reconstructing a sense of self in patients with chronic mental illness

Abstract

TOPIC. The loss and reconstruction of self in patients with a chronic mental illness. PURPOSE. To describe the loss of self and its reconstruction. SOURCES. The authors' own clinical work and review of the literature. CONCLUSIONS. Nurses can help patients who have undergone a loss of self to discover a more active sense of self, take stock of the self, put the self into action, and use the enhanced self as a refuge. This process involves the fostering of hope.