INTERRUPTED BODY NARRATIVE

Abstract

This article traces a personal trauma that occurred suddenly, interrupting an academic'ssuccessful career, body narrative and self concept. It applies Adler and Adler's(1989) concept of "glorified self" to the identity dilemmas that sudden disruption the previously taken for granted, operating body brings.The author argues that the "Cartesian" view of the self as a thinking, reasoning, consciously choosing entity is challenged by sudden illness in ways which demand a restorying of the selfand identity. Only now, four years after the event, can she review the learning done as positive.