Department or Program

Environmental Studies

Abstract

Lyme disease is a complex illness that is highly misunderstood. It reflects a human-environment relationship and is severely exacerbated by human-driven climate change. The warming climate increases the ranges and populations of ticks and their hosts, impacting the way humans are affected. By learning its effects on human populations, we can see the true cost of our actions. This disease may change the way people interact with each other and the land, altering relationships and shaping perceptions of the environment. Having been formally identified in 1981, it is still a novel disease that has been approached through a single lens. The range of symptoms and manifestations makes it extremely challenging to properly diagnose and treat. The lack of consensus and education around the disease creates barriers to scientific and medical development; the only way to break these barriers is to integrate different knowledge systems into this research. Personal narratives contribute to a greater understanding of the disease by providing stories of real experiences and emphasizing the human impact and complexities that are often unnoticed in statistical data. These narratives are critical for spreading awareness and changing current perceptions which lack humanistic elements. Acknowledging the shortcomings of current medical narratives while addressing personal testimonies will lead to a more successful journey of treatment and healing. We must broaden the lens that Lyme is researched through by combining both scientific evidence and personal narratives to create the most holistic solutions.

Level of Access

Restricted: Archival Copy [No Access]

First Advisor

Tyler Harper

Date of Graduation

5-2025

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Number of Pages

51

Components of Thesis

1 pdf file

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