Applying various personality types to my life with myasthenia gravis
I thought about how different aspects of my personality react to MG
Last weekend, I attended a training course on a psychological model that explains how each of us has different personality types depending on the situation we’re in, with one usually being predominant. As I listened, I couldn’t help but link it to my experience with myasthenia gravis (MG). So I asked myself: How do the different aspects of my personality react to MG?
According to the Process Communication Model (PCM), my predominant personality is “Promoter.” This type of person sees everything as an opportunity and focuses on making the best of every situation and person. I couldn’t help but smile when I learned that Promoters are highly adaptable. This is exactly what I try to share in most of my columns: a mindset of resilience, flexibility, and optimism in the face of MG.
But the fascinating part of this model is that it’s not just one personality type that defines us. We carry all of them within us, and depending on the situation, one can step forward more strongly than the others. Thinking back, I realized how true that is for me.
When I was diagnosed with MG, I felt wrecked and deeply emotional. I was craving love, care, and attention. That was me exploring the most sensitive personality type, the “Harmonizer.” And I can clearly see it now: how much I needed reassurance, comfort, and simple kindness in those moments.
When I’m around my friends, I often switch into a more reactive mode about MG. I try to make jokes about it, laugh at my own limits, and share my likes and dislikes without diving into heavy explanations. That’s the “Rebel” in me, using humor and spontaneity to make something difficult feel lighter.
I also see myself in the “Imaginer” type when I write about my various philosophies of treating MG. That’s the side of me that thrives on metaphors and abstract thinking, especially when I’m in distress and searching for answers. It’s a way of shifting from emotions into possibilities and perspectives.
Then there’s the “Persister” type, focused on beliefs and values. I find this side of me in my advocacy, when I write about the lack of representation and awareness of invisible disabilities. It’s the part of me that sticks to what I believe in, even when it’s hard.
Finally, there’s the “Thinker,” the personality that’s organized and grounded in facts, numbers, and statistics. I don’t explore this side of myself often in my writing, but I definitely use it at my medical appointments, where clarity and precision are essential.
Thinking of personalities this way feels like a healthy approach to me. It reminds me that we’re never just one thing, and that people with chronic illness can’t be addressed with the same tone or style all the time. We don’t always know which personality is at the forefront in a given moment. Our role, whether as patients or loved ones, is not to judge — but to simply be present and listen.
My biggest takeaway from this training is the importance of meeting people where they are and speaking in the same style they’re expressing in that moment, instead of trying to put them into a box.
We’re never just one type. We’re a little bit of everything, and in my opinion, that’s one of the beauties of humanity.
Note: Myasthenia Gravis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Myasthenia Gravis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to myasthenia gravis.
About the Author
Barb Duggan
Yes, I find myself with all these personality styles and roles also! Several could come forward thought any given day depending on my symptoms at the moment, who I am with, what I am doing and my own mental health at the time. We humans are complex creatures. MG is a complex disease and we are entitled to display which ever coping personality that is needed for that moment. No apologies, just the facts, ma'am.