Catching sight of well-being despite a stress-related disorder

BACKGROUND: Stress-related disorders cause suffering and difficulties in managing occupations and relationships in everyday life. A previous study of women with stress-related disorders, who photographed well-being and talked about the photographs in interviews, showed that moments of well-being still exist but further knowledge is needed about their perceptions of participating in such a study.AIM: To describe how people with stress-related disorders experience taking photographs related to well-being in everyday life and reflecting on and talking about these photographs.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve women, 27-54 years with stress-related disorders were recruited from primary healthcare centres. They participated in interviews based on the photographs and qualitative content analysis was used.RESULTS: One theme 'catching a glimpse of and momentarily capturing well-being' and four categories were identified: 'Photographing moments of well-being visualizes well-being', 'Using photographs could either facilitate or complicate the narrative', 'Changing perspective in everyday life' and 'Creating recollections of well-being'.CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Introducing a focus on well-being in everyday life despite living with a stress-related disorder might contribute a valuable complement to stress rehabilitation for occupational therapists and other health professionals. Using photographs as a basis for reflections about everyday life and health/well-being also seems positive for this group.