Chronic Illness Described as a ‘Bad Trip,’ Not a ‘Journey,’ Argues Yale Political Scientist
NEW HAVEN, CT – November 6, 2025 – The pervasive metaphor of chronic illness as a “journey” is deeply unhelpful, and even harmful, too those experiencing it, according to a new essay by Peter A. Swenson, professor emeritus in the Yale University Department of Political Science. Swenson, author of “Disorder: A History of Reform, reaction, and Money in American Medicine,” argues the framing minimizes the isolating and debilitating reality of chronic disease, rather suggesting a narrative of personal growth that frequently enough feels invalidating.
The debate over appropriate language surrounding illness gained traction online, particularly on platforms like Reddit, where sufferers frequently describe chronic disease not as a path with a destination, but as a confining and unwelcome state – a “cage,” a “prison,” or “a ditch on the side of the road of life.” Swenson’s essay explores this disconnect, drawing parallels to susan sontag’s description of illness as a “place,” specifically “the night-side of life” within “the kingdom of the sick.” He notes the sentiment is echoed in personal accounts like Meghan O’Rourke’s ”The Invisible Kingdom,” where the author describes feeling “locked away in the room alone” while battling chronic lyme disease and autoimmune thyroiditis.
Swenson acknowledges some patients find comfort in the “journey” metaphor, comparing it to finding solace in beliefs like “it’s all part of God’s plan” or experiencing an analgesic effect. However, he emphasizes a crucial boundary: “to each thier own – but not someone else’s. As one person wrote, ‘nobody who hasn’t been through it gets to call it a journey.'”
The essay also highlights a disparity in language use between healthcare providers and patients, citing a U.K. study led by Sheila Payne, a specialist in end-of-life care, which found providers used the “journey” euphemism only about 60% as often as patients. This suggests a potential disconnect in empathy and understanding. swenson concludes that while individuals are free to define their own experiences, the imposition of the “journey” narrative on others can be deeply dismissive and unhelpful.
