Chapter 9 - Pathograhy and Enabling Myths

Chapter 9 takes on a new side of writing and healing we haven't really talked about in detail yet. Anne Hunsaker Hawkins wants to address pathography, the act of writing about disease or illness, and its connection to writing as a tool for healing. This is obviously one of the most easily identifiable venues for writing and healing, as people who are writing pathographies are in most cases attempting to heal themselves physically. Hawkins believes that just as medical records and documentation are important to the physical healing process, a narrative account of the mental journey to wellness is important to healing as well. It's important to note that Hawkins' idea of pathography is not just a straight account of the events that occur over the course of a serious illness, but a more nebulous and wandering summary of the feelings and experiences that people encounter when sick at this level.

Hawkins believes that the most primary benefit of pathography is that it gives the patient a voice during a time where they often feel most powerless. Being treated for a serious illness often means constantly being managed by others and medical professionals, and this can grate on patients. Writing about their journey through illness is a way to feel powerful and in control of their experience. It also allows a space for commentary, questions, and concerns that they might not feel are appropriate to voice to their doctors of family members. Pathography reminds the patient that this is their life and their story and all of their feelings are valid and worth being explored.

Hawkins also places importance on the idea of mythic thinking. Not in a delusional or fantasy sense, but channelling the idea of myth-like storytelling into pathography to attempt to learn and heal more. Mythic stories often contain more meaning and symbols than traditional narratives, and because of this we are trained to learn and grow from myths more as we know they are disguising a lesson. Hawkins believes that if sick people incorporate a mythic style to their pathography they will heighten the introspective nature of writing about their experience and might be enabled to glean more from what they're going through.

Lastly, Hawkins addresses the idea of formulation, and reformulation through mythic pathography. This is similar to what we keep coming back to with how traumatic events get stored in our memory. Pathography allows us to reform how we perceive what has happened to us when we're sick or how we perceive the combined physical and mental healing process. Formulation takes all of the scattered emotions and events and turns them into something artistic and whole. This concept is why Hawkins believes pathography can truly aid in a patients healing process, specifically mentally, but also physically.