Emotional Map for Chronic Illness™
by Michelle Irving
What this framework is
The Emotional Map for Chronic Illness™ is commonly introduced when someone feels emotionally disoriented following diagnosis, health disruption, or a significant change in capacity.
It provides a clear structure for understanding emotional responses that are often misinterpreted as personal failure, lack of motivation, or psychological weakness.
The map identifies distinct emotional stages that commonly arise when living with chronic illness and offers language to describe where someone is, without pressure to move forward before they are ready.
When this framework is used
The Emotional Map for Chronic Illness™ is commonly introduced when someone feels emotionally disoriented or unsure how to interpret what they are experiencing.
It is often used during periods of diagnosis, relapse, health instability, or life disruption, when emotional experience becomes harder to name and harder to navigate.
It can also be used when someone is functioning externally, but feels internally unsteady, disconnected, or uncertain about what they can trust.
Who this framework is for
This framework is designed for people living with chronic illness who are:
- newly diagnosed or navigating health uncertainty
- experiencing emotional overwhelm, numbness, or confusion
- adjusting to loss of capacity, identity, or stability
- seeking orientation and gentle solutions
It is also used as a foundational reference within structured programs delivered through Career & Chronic and Chronic Illness At Work.
Core elements of the framework
The Emotional Map for Chronic Illness™ describes four distinct emotional stages, each with its own internal logic, needs, and decision context:
- Out in the Sea of the Unknown
- Wash Up on the Beach of Survival
- Moving Through the Forest of New
- Share Your Wisdom with the World
The framework is stage-based rather than linear, reflecting that emotional stages may repeat, overlap, or return over time.
How this framework is applied
The Emotional Map for Chronic Illness™ is applied through:
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identifying the current emotional stage and its dominant themes
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recognising what is normal in that stage rather than pathologising it
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making decisions that match the stage’s reality and capacity
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building language that supports self-reference and emotional stability
It is not a diagnostic or medical tool.
It is an emotional orientation and decision-support framework.
Where this framework is used:
The Emotional Map for Chronic Illness™ is used within:
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Emotional Map programs and resources
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Return to Work programs
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Career & Chronic Map™ program contexts
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Leadership and advisory work
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Corporate programs delivered through Chronic Illness At Work
It functions as a foundational reference across individual and organisational contexts.
It can only be used with expressed permission or licence.
