What is the first stage of illness wherein the person starts to believe that something is wrong and also known as the transition phase from wellness to illness?

Symptom experience.

A favorite board question are stages of illness. When a person starts to believe something is wrong, that person is experiencing signs and symptoms of an illness. The patient will then assume that he is sick. this is called assumption of the sick role where the patient accepts he is ill and try to give up some activities. Since the client only assumes his illness, he will try to ask someone to validate if what he is experiencing is a disease, this is now called as medical care contact.

The client seeks professional advice for validation, reassurance, clarification and explanation of the symptoms he is experiencing. Client will then start his dependent patient role of receiving care from the health care providers. The last stage of illness is the recovery stage where the patient gives up the sick role and assumes the previous normal gunctions.