Wize University Psychology Textbook > Stress & Health
Recognizing Illness
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Recognizing Illness
The ways illnesses are understood or diagnosed can vary depending on social and cultural factors
Many illnesses have overlapping symptoms, and many share a high degree of comorbidity — when illnesses often occur together (i.e. depression and anxiety)
Cultural norms or stigma can also prevent individuals from recognizing signs of an illness or from seeking care
Cognitive factors can also play a role in recognizing illness:
- How much pain is perceived?
- How much impairment of daily functioning is felt?
- How long have the symptoms been noticeable?
- How likely are you to seek support vs. feeling self-reliant?
- Does your social support system encourage or discourage help-seeking?
Public health campaigns, such as those encouraging screening and testing, can also increase the early detection of illnesses