The mindful body: A phenomenology of the body with multiple sclerosis

Hanneke van der Meide, Truus Teunissen, Pascal Collard, Merel Visse, Leo Visser

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)
138 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

For people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), one's own body may no longer be taken for granted but may become instead an insistent presence. In this article, we describe how the body experience of people with MS can reflect an ongoing oscillation between four experiential dimensions: bodily uncertainty, having a precious body, being a different body, and the mindful body. People with MS can become engaged in a mode of permanent bodily alertness and may demonstrate adaptive responses to their ill body. In contrast to many studies on health and illness, our study shows that the presence of the body may not necessarily result in alienation or discomfort. By focusing the attention on the body, a sense of well-being can be cultivated and the negative effects of MS only temporarily dominate experience. Rather than aiming at bodily dis-appearance, health care professionals should therefore consider ways to support bodily eu-appearance.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2239–2249
JournalQualitative Health Research
Volume28
Issue number14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Keywords

  • EXPERIENCES
  • IDENTITY
  • PEOPLE
  • embodiment
  • interview
  • lived experiences
  • multiple-sclerosis
  • phenomenology
  • qualitative
  • the Netherlands

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The mindful body: A phenomenology of the body with multiple sclerosis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this