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Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe confides again on his physical changes, due to the two autoimmune diseases he suffers from, vitiligo and alopecia. How to accept such a transformation following an illness? What are the tools to put in place to better deal with it? The answers of Audrey Brun, health psychologist in Cabestany, in the eastern Pyrenees.
You have surely noticed it: the physical change of Edouard Philippe, former Prime Minister is striking. The 52-year-old man has never wanted to hide the autoimmune diseases that affect him and cause these physical changes. These are vitiligo, which made his beard progressively white, and alopecia, which caused him to lose his eyebrows.
Edouard Philippe, speaking of his hair loss, believes he is “lucky” because it happens when he is 52 years old. He has a thought for those to whom this happens earlier in life, during adolescence for example, a time of life when such a major physical change can be much more complicated to live with and to accept.
For health psychologist Audrey Brun, the mayor of Le Havre is right: “In addition to his age, Edouard Philippe also has the status of a public figure, so he is used to being asked about his physique.“.
But the mayor of Le Havre, like anyone undergoing a physical change, must learn to live with it. “However, in all situations where the body is going to change gradually, due to an illness, a grieving process comes into play, for which it will be necessary to go through different stages, starting with shock and then anger, between others, to finally arrive at acceptance, which will be the final phase in appropriating one’s new body” believes the psychologist.
“One of the first things to say is not to focus on the disease“explains Audrey Brun. And to avoid stigma, you have to talk about what’s going on.”The best way to raise questions, even mockery, is to say nothing. By explaining what is happening – as Edouard Philippe did, we lift the veil on what could be questionable and everything becomes clear” adds the psychologist.
“Then, the physical change, when it happens gradually, must be tamed” she adds. This involves various actions, which the patient can learn to implement, by finding coping strategies through projection. “It can go through theater and staging, but also humor: in any case, you have to work on self-esteem, self-confidence and self-affirmation”.
Good in your body, good in your head!
What support can those around you provide?
When we change, physically, the close entourage is often the first to notice the physical changes. It must therefore be a resource, a support to whom the person can turn. “Relatives can be a support to help face the outside” confirms the specialist. “But be careful not to be too protective of the sick person, who must be center stage. This is especially the case for children, when the parent becomes overprotective and prevents the child from learning to defend himself.” concludes Audrey Brun.