AYESHA HABIB KHAN , BISMA SHEIKH , TASKEEN MANSOOR , DR. AYESHA KHALID , NOOR.UL.AIN GILLANI
DOI: https://doi.org/Epilepsy, one of the most prevalent neurological disorders globally, continues to carry profound social and psychological implications, particularly in developing countries where illness is often intertwined with moral, religious, and social interpretations. The study used Interpretative phenomenology analysis (IPA) as its methodological approach to explore how individuals with epilepsy makes sense of their lived experience. By employing Klienman’s explanatory model, Goffman’s stigma theory and Lazarus & Folkman’s coping framework, the study examines how individuals interpret, negotiate, and cope with the illness experience within specific cultural and social contexts. In-depth interviews were conducted with 9 adults (both male and female), diagnosed with epilepsy in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling technique. Findings reveal that participants’ emotional responses to epilepsy are deeply embedded within family dynamics, social expectations, and religious frameworks. While some participants experienced feelings of shame, social withdrawal, and internalized stigma, others demonstrated resilience through faith-based acceptance and reframing their identity beyond illness. The study concludes that emotional adjustment among individuals with epilepsy is not merely a personal psychological process but a culturally and relationally mediated experience, influenced by shared beliefs, familial responsibilities, and religious interpretations. The findings also highlight the need for context-sensitive interventions that integrate psychosocial and cultural dimensions of healing, encouraging collaboration between medical, psychological, and faith-based institutions.
