Stimuli frame is the characteristics of the stimuli as perceived by the individual. Cognitive capacities is the patient's ability to process information. Structure providers is the health care providers or support group that can effect the patient either negatively or positively. Stimuli frame, cognitive capacities, and structure providers are all antecedents to uncertainty. Uncertainty can either be a positive or negative (or a danger or seen as an opportunity). Inference is how the patients sees themselves as part of the environment and illusion is how they want to be. Either of these can lead to danger making uncertainty a negative experience or to a opportunity as a positive. The use of coping mechanisms lead to adaptation to uncertainty of the illness. Some effective coping strategies are avoidance, priority promotion, and alteration of the stimuli.