Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T08:16:55.186Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 9 - Relationship Themes in Narrative Identity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2023

Dorthe Kirkegaard Thomsen
Affiliation:
Aarhus Universitet, Denmark
Tine Holm
Affiliation:
Aarhus Universitet, Denmark
Rikke Jensen
Affiliation:
Aarhus Universitet, Denmark
Majse Lind
Affiliation:
Aalborg University, Denmark
Anne Mai Pedersen
Affiliation:
Aarhus Universitet, Denmark
Get access

Summary

In Chapter 9, we unfold subthemes within the superordinate theme of relationships. When our participants constructed their narrative identities, they emphasized how mental illness had strained and ruptured relationships, that others did not understand or stigmatized them, and how they withdrew and felt lonely. These subthemes carry toxic identity conclusions, including “I am a burden” and “I am alone” and capture narrative identity processes involved in social alienation and self-stigmatization. Although rarer, storylines of positive impact included empathy with others in difficult circumstances and growth of relationships with adaptive identity conclusions including “I can help others in pain,” which may propel individuals to engage in peer support, one aspect of personal recovery. When our participants narrated well-being into their identities, they expanded on subthemes where other people were depicted as supportive, understanding, and helping. They shared stories about acceptance, feeling valued, togetherness, safety and stability, the possibility of giving to others, and love. These subthemes can give rise to positive identity conclusions, encompassing “I can love, and others can love me” and “I can help and support others,” narrative underpinnings of connectedness and positive identity, which are central to personal recovery.

Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×