Bodies in lockdown: Young women's narratives of falling severely ill with ME/CFS during childhood and adolescence

Health Care Women Int. 2023 Sep;44(9):1155-1177. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2022.2043862. Epub 2022 Apr 11.

Abstract

Thirteen women (16-30 years) storied their experiences about the process of falling severely ill with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome during childhood and adolescence. We performed a narrative analysis informed by phenomenology which yielded three central themes: The active and meaningful life I used to live; gradually developing unhomeliness and feeling pushed toward the edge; and left abandoned on the sidelines. Out of the incomprehensible and unpredictable emerges an understanding of the scale of their ordeal, along with advice that may have made it worse. This portrays a gradual developing uncertain, unhomely life situation with no outlooks for future recovery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Emotions
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Narration
  • Young Adult