In God We Trust: The Book Of Margery Kempe

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In God, We Trust:
In The Book of Margery Kempe, Kempe describes herself as having a close relationship with Jesus; throughout the autobiography Kempe confides in him as well as holds lengthy conversations with him. These conversations were extremely important to her, because they gave her the confidence to continue with making a change. Many see this as her participating in psychotic behavior, although it can also be viewed as Kempe using her conversations with Jesus as a coping mechanism. These conversations are considered part of an anxiety disorder; it would be classified under the General Anxiety Disorder. These talks whether they be long or short provided her an escape from the real world for a short period. As well as allowing Kempe to continue to push forward with her individuality. In Margery Kempe’s autobiography, The Book of Margery Kempe, using unconscious, symbol, and figurative literary language to …show more content…

Coping is defined as “[a] response to psychological stress - usually triggered by changes – in an effort to maintain mental health and emotional well-being” (UCLA). There are two main forms of coping adaptive coping and maladaptive coping. Adaptive coping helps the person improve their everyday functioning, whereas maladaptive coping provides short term relief and increases dysfunction (mental help). Kempe is using a form of maladaptive coping. Her conversations with Jesus provide her with a short break from the world but in the end the stress and apprehension come back to make life more hectic. Even though in this time anxiety had not been discovered it was a disorder that plagued many man or woman. Kempe did not understand that the stress she was feeling and the need to be an individual created anxiety. This anxiety therefore caused her to create her own coping mechanism, in the form of conversations with

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