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Real Life Example Name: Sam Age: 8 years Pat, mother of Sam: "When Sam was 3 we went on holiday and when we came back I had a chest infection. The rest of the family caught it but Sam was the worst. He has had asthma since then and I feel very guilty. It's my fault he got asthma. If he had not caught the chest infection he would have been fine. My doctor says this is not the case and if it had not been that infection, something else would have brought out his asthma; that it was already there and the infection did not cause it, just triggered the symptoms. That doesn't stop me feeling that it's all my fault". Comments Feelings of blame and guilt are very common amongst parents of children with asthma. What did they do that caused the condition? Could it have been prevented? In this example, Pat feels responsible for Sam's asthma, even though her doctor has explained this is not the case. Sharing her feelings with other parents who feel the same may help Pat come to terms with this feeling of guilt. Contact with others can often be made through your local asthma society.

Topic "Society and Self" Updated 14th August 2003

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