What is your definition of self-concept and what happens when it's challenged? Being sick can assault the self-concept you have. You may think you're a healthy, vibrant person and suddenly you're ill. The self-concept you have is destroyed.

Much depends upon your personal definition of self-concept.

I remember being diagnosed with low bone density. I was shattered. Such a diagnosis did not fit the self-concept I had. I was young according to the self-concept I carried. Surely only old people had low bone density? I was strong according to the self-concept I held, how could my bones be fragile? Illness forced me to dramatically update the definition of self-concept I believed in.

Divorce, accidents and weight gain may also challenge our long-held definition of self-concept. So can childlessness. Don’t all women become mothers? No. This is a major blow to the self-concept of many women.

Your definition of self-concept can easily become out-of-date. When your definition of self-concept stops helping you it needs revision. You need to develop a new definition of self-concept in difficult times.

Discover the top strategies to gain a definition of self-concept that benefits you. Draw on my experiences in updating the self-concept I had so I became healthy again. Update the self-concept you have and let yourself shine.

Illness, trauma and self-concept | Blogs