Jana Rozenhalova in conversation with Jerome Carson
| Date | 13 November 2017 |
| Published date | 13 November 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-09-2017-0037 |
| Pages | 259-263 |
| Author | Jana Rozenhalova,Jerome Carson |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
Jana Rozenhalova in conversation with
Jerome Carson
Jana Rozenhalova and Jerome Carson
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Jana Rozenhalova.
Design/methodology/approach –Jana provides a short summary of her life and is then interviewed
by Jerome.
Findings –Jana tellsus about her long struggles witheating disorders and providesus with the metaphor that
it is like being a broken cup glued backtogether again. You have to be very careful it does not breakagain.
Research limitations/implications –Jana’s story is one, yet it offers us unique insights. She comments at
one point, “[…] if it was not for the eating disorders […] I would not be me”.
Practical implications –Jana notes that while she could see many reasons behind her eating disorders,
they did not really matter. What mattered was that she could overcome them.
Social implications –While Jana first thought hope was an empty word, she now realises in retrospect that
she was more hopeful than anyone she knew. As Patricia Deegan (1996) puts it, “Hope is not just a nice
sounding euphemism. Hope and biological life are inextricably intertwined”(p. 93).
Originality/value –Jana concludes her account saying she would like to be able to look back at her life and
feel that she had lived up to her potential. Most of us would also be happy with that outcome.
Keywords Positive psychology, Education, Recovery, Hope, Eating disorders, Anorexia
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Jana was one of those students who sat at the front of the class and always asked questions.
She completed her assignments before other students and handed in her final year project well in
advance of the deadline. These were signs of someone who was not only very intelligent but also
very well organised. In graduation, she worked on the university reception, but this was always only
going to be for a short period until she found something more suitable. She started preparing a PhD
research proposal to look at the application of positive psychology in the field of obesity and
following a presentation to the university vice chancellor, she was awarded a scholarship. She had in
fact wantedto study anorexia nervosa,but I persuaded her thatobesity was much more of a public
health concern. Eating disorders were, however, a major feature of her own past as she tells us…
Brief biography of Jana Rozenhalova
I strongly believe that everything in our lives happens for a reason. Every situation, every event
has a meaning and it is our decision, whether we choose to see the meaning or not. We are the
writers of our life book, designers of our environment, and creators of our relationships…
However, I have not always believed this. I was born as a second child and I have spent my entire
childhood living in the shadow of my elder brother, who seemed better and more fortunate in
every way. Although my parents have never made any differences between the two of us, I could
not help but feel less loved, or perhaps even unlovable. My brother was the first, he was a boy, he
was “the heir”, and me? I was just Jana. He was always the troublemaker but it did not seem to
matter to anyone…
Jana Rozenhalova is based
at the Department of
Psychology, University of
Bolton, Bolton, UK.
Jerome Carson is a
Professor of Psychology at the
Department of Psychology,
University of Bolton,
Bolton, UK.
DOI 10.1108/MHSI-09-2017-0037 VOL. 21 NO. 5 2017, pp. 259-263, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308
j
MENTALHEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
PAG E 25 9
To continue reading
Request your trial