MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'bereavement'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:08:18 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642686&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=35451&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jung-at-heart.com%2Fjung_at_heart%2Fwho-decides.html Last week, Neuroskeptic did two excellent posts on bereavement and the proposal to eliminate the exclusion of bereavement from the diagnosis of depression in the DSM V. Currently, it is not the practice to diagnose bereavement as depression under the assumption that grief, whose symptoms look very like depression, is a normal response to loss, especially the death of a loved one.  But it is proposed to eliminate this exclusion and treat even bereavement as depression. I feel a kind of horror at this. Because grief follows its own course and it is painful and I can't see a benefit to medicating it and making feeling better the goal. It is spring in Maine, even though as I write this the temperature is just barely above freezing. In the next few days and weeks the ice on the lakes will begi... Jung At Heart blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642686 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:03:30 +0100 4642686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4631445&cid=t_100066_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F03%2F24%2Fnursing-times-2011-vol-107-no-11%2F This article explores the experiences of carers of patients dying at home, in particular their expectations and preparedness for the dying process. Contact the Library for a copy of this article. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Bereavement, Carers, Death, Dying Process, End of Life Care, Palliative Care (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4631445 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:15:42 +0100 4631445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4512430&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F23%2Fthe-two-worlds-of-grief-and-depression%2F Think back to the last time you suffered a major loss — particularly the death of a friend, loved one, or family member. You were knocked for a loop, of course. You cried. You felt a piercing, painful sense of loss and longing. Maybe you felt like the best part of you had been ripped away forever. You probably lost sleep, and didn’t feel much like eating. You may have felt this way for a few weeks, a few months, or even longer. All this belongs to the world of ordinary bereavement — not of clinical depression. Yet the two constructs of “normal grief” and major depression are a source of continued controversy and confusion — and not just among the general public. Many clinicians still find it hard to disentangle grief and depression, inspiring countless debates over ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4512430 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:46:26 +0100 4512430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460007&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F10%2Fcoping-with-grief-on-valentines-day%2F Losing a loved one stays with us forever. But holidays, in particular, can make the loss even tougher to handle. “Holidays tend to cause anniversary reactions,” according to George A. Bonanno, Ph.D, professor and chair of the Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College at Columbia University. Anniversary reactions occur on the anniversary of an important event or holiday. These times remind us of the person who’s no longer with us, which can cause the pain of grief, he said. “Even the most resilient people have this.” With its focus on love, relationships and romance, Valentine’s Day can be especially difficult. As Gloria Lloyd, bereavement community program educator at Mary Washington Hospice, said, it’s hard to escape the enthusiasm, because remin... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460007 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:00:35 +0100 4460007 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4272366&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2Fsurviving_the_holiday_blues.php Image via WikipediaThe holiday season is such a joyous time of year. Colored lights adorn houses and business. Thoughts of holidays past fill our minds and conversations. But not everyone can enjoy the holiday season. Some of us inevitably find as the holidays approach what is called the "holiday blues".The holiday blues are quite common. We expect to enjoy ourselves during the holidays. Those around us expect we will enjoy holiday celebrations and their company as well. We feel that pressure within ourselves and others. But sometimes what we really need is acceptance of ourselves and others. There are many things that may bother us during the holidays: a death in the family, financial set backs, separations from loved ones due to work, military deployment, or other reasons. There can be l... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4272366 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 01:14:15 +0100 4272366 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179363&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=34958&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.counsellingresource.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychology-philosophy%2F%7E3%2FVxkKEdXXRUM%2F Death and mourning are both ubiquitous and yet unique. We are all bound to go through it sooner or later, and for each of us, it will be a singular and individual experience. Yet modern life demands that the laying to rest of loved ones must, by necessity, proceed according to imposed schedules. And that can mean a clash between the needs of the individual for time to mourn and those of society to provide funeral services for all. Tags: bereavement, relationships, society (Source: Psychology, Philosophy and Real Life) Psychology, Philosophy and Real Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179363 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:53:00 +0100 4179363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013258&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F29%2Ffraser-kirk-and-adjustment-disorders%2F In Australia, David Jones’ publicist Kristy Fraser-Kirk is suing the company she works for and its former CEO Mark McInnes for sexual harassment. David Jones is sort of like Macy’s, except it’s based in Australia. According to news reports, Ms. Fraser-Kirk, 27, is suing David Jones, Mark McInnes and nine directors of the company. She is seeking compensation for a number of different claims, including breach of contract, as well as punitive damages of $37 million. Not exactly chump change. But then again, maybe that’s what it takes to send a clear message about how sexual harassment will not be tolerated in the modern workplace. But due to the publicity surrounding the case in Australia, she’s now making a new novel claim — that the publicity has led to a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013258 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 10:20:49 +0100 4013258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3933091&cid=t_100066_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-right-to-mourn%2F2010.09.03 I seem to have had a run on bereavement recently, in that I’ve had several patients who have lost loved ones. Some have wound up in my office for unrelated complaints, only to have the grief spill out. I’ve become aware of the struggles of others via Facebook. I’ve found this handout (from Family Practice Management several years ago) to be very useful. I keep copies in my office and hand them out when needed, but it occurs to me that having another way to disseminate this helpful information would be a good idea. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Musings of a Dinosaur* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3933091 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:14 +0100 3933091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753760&cid=t_100066_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F14%2Fnursing-times-2010-vol-106-no-27%2F This article is the first in a two-part unit on bereavement and last offices and discusses relatives’ grief reactions and caring for deceased patients, taking into account spiritual and cultural differences. Contact the Library for a copy of this article Filed under: Current Awareness, Journals, Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Bereavement, Cultural Differences, Culture, Death, Death & Dying (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753760 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:39:39 +0100 3753760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3153661&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fbereavement-and-inspiration-guest-post.html This is Sheila's Story of her love for her husband, Gary, pictured here, and of the bereavement and the inspirations that helped her to cope with the loss. Many thanks to you Sheila for emailing your story to me. Excerpts from Sheila's StoryWe had first met at Christian Teen Camp at Nanoose Bay, here on Vancouver Island, in mid July 1972. I was there, with 5 girlfriends as dishwashers, as none of our parents could afford the cost. He was standing quietly in front of the Lodge, with his bike, looking so very shy!I found myself wandering over, just to get a close look, as he was so very handsome. I asked if he was staying, & he replied 'no'. He had just ridden down from Powell River to see this place he'd heard so much about. And as he was working at the Mill there, for his Dad, he'd have to... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3153661 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:53:00 +0100 3153661 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3136735&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fholidays-and-bereavement-joy-memories.html Laughter can change to tears in a moment for those who are coming out of grief after losing a loved one. The holidays are a time of gratitude, hope, and new beginnings. But those who are bereaved, even many years ago, can be surprised when unexpectedly something triggers the twinges of the old grief. Those who are widows and widowers know the feeling.In the midst of the celebrations something touches off a memory and suddenly there is the sharp pain of missing the loved one. One's chest squeezes, one's throat chokes, and a few tears, or a waterfall of tears, seems to come out of nowhere. It could be in the grocery store, at a party, or driving by a familiar scene. Other people, who have not experienced deep bereavement and these waves of grief that well up unexpectedly, might wonder what t... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3136735 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:00:00 +0100 3136735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2981139&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F10%2F11-kinds-of-therapy-to-help-you-grieve-a-loss%2F Many readers are grieving loved ones, and the grief certainly contributes to their depression. A fantastic book I just came across is Solace: Finding Your Way Through Grief and Learning to Live Again by Roberta Temes, Ph.D., a noted psychotherapist and the author of “Living with an Empty Chair” and “The Tapping Cure.” I have reprinted with permission of her publisher 11 ways kinds of therapies, or activities, to help you grieve a loss. What can you do to feel better? Sometimes you need to take action. When you do something to relieve your feelings and to give yourself a sense of achievement, you are accomplishing your journey through bereavement. Here are some activities–and some behaviors you can do–that are therapeutic for you during your bereavement. ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2981139 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:27:10 +0100 2981139 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2807658&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F18%2Fintroducing-healing-together-for-couples-blog%2F I’m pleased to announce the introduction of a new Psych Central blog, Healing Together for Couples. This blog will explore helping couples in a committed relationship learn how to heal from their hurts and past trauma, and is based in part on the book, Healing Together, by Suzanne Phillips and Dianne Kane. Suzanne B. Phillips, Psy.D., ABPP is a licensed psychologist and an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Psychology in the Doctoral Program of Long Island University and on the faculty of the Post-Doctoral Programs of the Derner Institute of Adelphi University. As a psychologist she has worked with couples for over 25 years and in the aftermath of trauma has provided direct service to civilians and uniformed responders, trained other professionals, published on bereavement, trauma, unifor... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2807658 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:30:12 +0100 2807658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2670881&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fimproved_prolonged_grief_disorder_criteria_to_help_bereave.htm Andrew Hyde PLoS Medicine Identification of criteria for the detection of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) appear able to identify bereaved persons at heightened risk for enduring distress and dysfunction, says a new study in this week's open access journal PLoS Medicine. The results support the psychometric validity of the criteria for prolonged grief disorder and should be included in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V) and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11), say the authors. Dr Holly Prigerson from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts and her colleagues conducted a field trial to develop and evaluate algorithms for diagnosing prolonged grief disorder based on a set of sym... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2670881 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:47:00 +0100 2670881 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2368725&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fbereavement-series-finale-in-loving.html Love Is Eternal.In Loving Memory and Dedicated to William L. Hough, Sr., who loved wildlife and the wilderness. Thank you Bill for so many incredible times enjoying nature's beauty and for encouraging me to get started in multimedia on computers. The Beauty of the Oregon Coast Wilderness will always remind me of you. Kristi (Source: The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News) The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2368725 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:00:00 +0100 2368725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2342013&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fbereavement-series-learning-something.html Nothing and no one can replace the special uniqueness of the loved one you have lost.Personal growth, learning something new, doing something you've never done before, is a way to jumpstart life again.After losing my husband in 1996 to cancer, and now after losing my beloved friend Bill this year to heart surgery, I know I've got to pull myself up and get going. They would each want me to enjoy life, have adventures, and use my abilities to give something beautiful to the world and to others.I'm learning new computer programs, starting a new video project for the internet, and exploring the wilderness in Oregon. All the time I feel that the spirits of the ones I've lost are gently encouraging me forward and providing inspiration. (Source: The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, N... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2342013 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:58:00 +0100 2342013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2302502&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fbereavement-series-opening-to-new.html The empty places in life that were filled by a dear loved one mean that recreating the same life without that person won't work. Life looks like a piece of swiss cheese full of holes.Opening to new experiences, a willingness to try things you've never done before helps bring good things out of the pain of loss. Thinking of the inter-connectedness of all things, and of joining up again with the community of living things, is part of recovery from bereavement.Bereavement seems to be a solo journey of a seeker. No one can replace the unique essence of the person who is gone, and what the person meant to you.I could see I would need to be braver and venture out where I hadn't been before after I lost my husband. Now, after losing a dear companion, Bill, again I can see I need to go out into th... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2302502 Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:44:00 +0100 2302502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2302503&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fbereavement-series-pet-therapy-for.html When words cannot describe grief, the comfort of pets can be a blessing. Pets sense things that people may miss as we've seen on TV shows like Animal Planet. Changes in people's moods and health may be picked up by their pets.My own rescued dogs are now rescuing me during the time following my beloved friend Bill's death. Teddybear, my lab mix, looks at me and then brings his toy and uses body language to tell me to throw it in the air for him to catch. Heidi, my little 6 lb. "mystery mix" gazes into my eyes, and licks my hands and face, and frisks about clearly asking me to play.Sometimes animals can reach someone mentally and emotionally when people and words don't seem to work. The pets sense feelings and react with nurturing.They sense when people are not their usual selves. There are ... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2302503 Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:21:00 +0100 2302503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2302504&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fbereavement-series-river-of-life-flows.html There's a saying that life is like floating down a river and you never pass the same riverbanks twice. Sometimes I think there's a branch in the river of life and we part from others as we flow down a different fork.Now it's been 4 weeks since I last saw, spoke with, and touched my much loved gentleman friend who passed away following heart surgery. It's hard to believe it's been this long since I last talked to him in person. In my thoughts I still habitually start to anticipate telling him about something but then realize that he's not here. I know he's left this life to live another one that is beyond my limited human understanding.Like the river flowing downstream my life has kept moving to a different place, a different life. I like to think of him as flowing down a different river o... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2302504 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:53:00 +0100 2302504 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2302505&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fbereavement-series-ministry-of-presence.html Just your very presence nearby is a way to minister to those who are suffering. It says "I'm here and I care. You're not alone." A hug, squeeze of the hand, and soft eye contact communicates caring and can be soothing.If you know someone who is bereaved, the Ministry of Presence, just being there, is a way to provide comfort and say "I'm here and I care."During the end stage of a loved one's life, if you don't know what to do or say, you can keep a vigil by someone's side.A caring touch, a stroke of the hair, a foot massage or a hand massage can reach through the solitude that can come with illness. It says "You're not alone, I'm here and I care deeply."Soft eye contact also communicates when words cannot work. Often when someone is in the end stage, visitors unconsciously avoid eye contac... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2302505 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:18:00 +0100 2302505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2281499&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fbereavement-series-recovery-and-new.html Just as plants send out new shoots and buds, those of us with bereavement will have new growth as we recover. Learning new skills, meeting new people, seeing new places will occur and these do not mean we've left the memory of our loved one behind.The treasured memories of love and caring, of shared times, are eternal. The metaphor of Winter turning into Spring has been used often but it is true. From the dry twigs of Winter new buds and blossoms will appear again. After grief new life will appear. Yesterday I noticed small white flowers appearing on a fruit tree my loved one and I planted last Fall. Buds are coming out on some white birches that we planted too. It's mid-March and the grass is coming up green. The feelings of bereavement have gentled to the point I am feeling the beauty of... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2281499 Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:13:00 +0100 2281499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2281500&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fbereavement-series-complicated-grieving.html Some of the complications in grieving happened to me when I woke repeatedly after nightmarish dreams, with the circumstances of the death flashing by, feeling as if I were reliving it.This happened after my husband died from cancer in 1996. It has occured again now (2009), after my gentleman companion of the past 3 years has died following heart surgery.At 56 years old, with no siblings or children, I am alone. No relatives. It's all up to me to get through this bereavement and I will.Following my husband's death returning to work immediately was a necessity. I worked long hours frantically, making achievements, winning awards at work. But eventually it all caught up with me and I had to get medical and mental health attention, and find time to attend a Hospice Grief Group.Poor sleep, nigh... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2281500 Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:16:00 +0100 2281500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2281502&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fbereavement-series-grief-stages-and.html Elizabeth Kubler Ross never meant for her list of typical stages to be a model of rigid steps. A mixed emotional reaction often is felt. Also, the reactions can start while someone is still alive but ill.The reactions she listed were as follows.1. Denial Shock. Example: I can't believe that this is happening.2. Anger Frustration. Example: Why is this happening? It's unfair! She/he didn't deserve this!3. Bargaining Making promises to a higher power in exchange for this not to happen.4. Depression Feeling like you don't care anymore.5. Acceptance Preparing to go on with life, moving ahead to new interests, accepting what cannot be changed.Those of us who have lost someone very dear know it's possible to feel shock, anger, pain, bargaining or any combination of the above all at once.Dr. Rober... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2281502 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:12:00 +0100 2281502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2281504&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fbereavement-series-celebrating-your.html Looking back at your loved one's unique personality, affection, and the good times you shared together is a way of celebrating a life well lived. As humans we all have weaknesses and strengths. Remembering the strengths that made that person so special is a comfort.After my husband died, and more recently after losing a dear gentleman friend, I thought back and wished we had not disagreed at times, and said things we were sorry for later. If only I could go back and do it over it would be different this time.But it would be a dull world if everyone agreed all of the time, and of course that would not be realistic. So I decided not to berate myself for things I did or said that I wish I could undo.I know my loved ones understood deep inside that through it all my love was strong. I'm thankf... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2281504 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:53:00 +0100 2281504 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2269347&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fbereavement-series-whats-next.html In the aftermath of loss one of the questions is "what's next" in life. I am 56 years old. In 1996 I lost my husband, whom I had known for 25 years, to cancer. Recently I lost my dearly loved gentleman friend, who did not survive heart surgery. We had been together for 3 years, the best years since my husband's death in 1996. Sharing so many of life's moments with a dearly loved one and then losing that special person leaves a huge void.The love, hugs, affection and emotional sharing is gone. The companionship, conversation, shared goals, special meanings of life are gone. No one can fill that person's place and the future will be different.A widowed friend of mine said one of her favorite tips was to make something good come out of the loss and pain. A grief counselor once told me that in... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2269347 Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:33:00 +0100 2269347 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2261769&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fbereavement-series-staying-positive-and.html I learned an important lesson from the dear one who passed away recently. As health declined and heart surgery became a risky but necessary choice my loved one left me with another piece of his wisdom.Knowing he might not survive the surgery he decided to stay as positive and normal as possible. During the last week or so instead of psychological suffering he chose to live fully and enjoy each moment. He visited with friends and family, went out with me for drives, talked and joked almost as usual. We all followed his lead and fell into a pattern that felt somewhat natural despite the circumstances. My last memories of him are of his love and caring, his enjoyment of life and people, and his sense of peace in the midst of what could have been a stormy time of upset. It has helped me to hol... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2261769 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:44:00 +0100 2261769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2261770&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fbereavement-series-loss-is-multifaceted.html I recently lost someone very dear to me. The grief is multifaceted. Sharp pains of loss. Relief that my loved one did not suffer a long agonizing illness. Shock that one day I was speaking and touching my loved one and the next I was praying by his body. A sense of disorientation. Did this really happen? It has a dreamlike quality. Spiritual beliefs and philosophies are a source of comfort but of questions too. It is said that in every tragedy is a seed of opportunity. After a loss one can memorialize the loved one by making the world a better place through compassionate, charitable and humanitarian efforts. Through our lives the grief and losses change us and change the courses of our lives. Careers, activities and beliefs often change when we lose a close loved one. Love is eternal. Our ... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2261770 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:43:00 +0100 2261770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2223201&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fcomfort-for-those-grieving-loss-of-dear.html (Source: The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News) The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2223201 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:31:00 +0100 2223201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2081064&cid=t_100066_111_f&fid=34712&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdigitaldoorway.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Floss-and-bereavement.html Loss and bereavement can remind you sharply of what can happen when in life you do not show your love and appreciation, or ask for forgiveness, and so make you far more sensitive to your loved ones. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross said: ‘What I try to teach people is to live in such a way that you say those things while the other person can still hear it.” And Raymond Moody, after his life’s work in near-death research, wrote: “I have begun to realize how near to death we all are in our daily lives. More than ever now I am very careful to let each person I love know how I feel.”---Sogyal Rinpoche (Source: Digital Doorway) Digital Doorway blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2081064 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:32:00 +0100 2081064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1779132&cid=t_100066_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F09%2Fhelp-is-at-hand-a-resource-for-people-bereaved-by-suicide-and-other-sudden-traumatic-death%2F is aimed at the wide range of people who are affected by suicide or other sudden, traumatic death. It aims firstly to help people who are unexpectedly bereaved in this way. It also provides information for healthcare and other professionals who come into contact with bereaved people, to assist them in providing help and to suggest how they themselves may find support if they need it. (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1779132 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:52:21 +0100 1779132 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1538266&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fcraving_lost_love_the_brains_addictionreward_center_and_p.htm This study is the first to compare those with complicated and noncomplicated grief, and future research in this area may help psychologists do a better job of treating those with complicated grief, according to Mary-Frances O'Connor, UCLA assistant professor of psychiatry and lead author of the study. "The idea is that when our loved ones are alive, we get a rewarding cue from seeing them or things that remind us of them," O'Connor said. "After the loved one dies, those who adapt to the loss stop getting this neural reward. But those who don't adapt continue to crave it, because each time they do see a cue, they still get that neural reward. "Of course, all of this is outside of conscious thought, so there isn't an intention about it," she said. The study analyzed whether those with compli... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1538266 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:13:00 +0100 1538266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1497719&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__childhood_parental_loss_and_adult_hypothalamicpi.htm Conclusions: These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that early parental loss induces enduring changes in neuroendocrine function. Source... (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1497719 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:01:00 +0100 1497719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1400658&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=34753&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.relaxedtherapist.com%2Fmy-client-is-dead%2Fwhatif%2F Sooner or later, one of your clients will die. Waiting until it occurs to consider how this might affect you would be unwise. Death of clients might be inevitable (f you work in palliative care), an acknowledged risk (if you work in psychiatric settings) or very rare. The cause of death may be deliberate action, accidental or ambiguous. However hard you strive for “professional detachment”, the need to establish a rapport with your client means establishing a bond for which you may grieve when it is irrevocably lost. Inevitably, junior staff have more time to form such a bond, but have less experience to draw upon in dealing with the consequences. Considering in advance how the death of a client might affect you will help you better manage both your feelings & responsibil... The Relaxed Therapist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1400658 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:54:16 +0100 1400658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1358613&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fbereaved_children_may_develop_ptsd.htm Post traumatic stress disorder is commonly thought to effect victims of major trauma and those who witness violence, but a new University of Georgia study finds that it also can affect children who have lost a parent expectedly to diseases such as cancer. The study has major implications for helping children cope with grief, said lead author Rene Searles McClatchey. "Often children who have lost a parent are given grief therapy, and we've found that grief therapy doesn't help if you don't take care of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms first," said McClatchey, an adjunct professor in the UGA School of Social Work. McClatchey co-authored the study with UGA associate professor Elizabeth Vonk and University of California, Riverside assistant professor Gregory Palardy. McClatchey i... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1358613 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:44:00 +0100 1358613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1338156&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fcognitive_therapy_may_be_more_effective_than_grief_counselin.htm Strong feelings of grief are normal and healthy after the death of someone you love but recent research from UNSW suggests that some people grieve for so long that it becomes a significant mental illness. Estimates are that between 10 and 15 per cent of bereaved people experience an intense, prolonged sadness arising from longing or yearning for the deceased - so much so that their overall health is impaired, they withdraw socially, become depressed and even suicidal. As well, there's growing recognition that traditional grief counseling may not help. However, other recent findings suggest that such people can recover with Cognitive Behavior Therapy, an approach already shown to be more effective than medication for a range of psychological problems, including anxiety and traumatic stress.... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1338156 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:25:00 +0100 1338156 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1239190&cid=t_100066_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F02%2F18%2Fout-of-sight-out-of-mind-social-exclusion-behind-closed-doors%2F Looking at social exclusion in the elderly Age Concern have produced  Out of sight, out of mind: Social exclusion behind closed doors sets a number of challenges across both local and central government and for voluntary groups to ensure that older people are socially included.  These are: Develpment of a cross-departmental government commitment to help the most disadvantaged older people. Central and local government strategies for tackling social exclusion and neighbourhood renewal must include older people. Local authorities should revisit A Sure Start to Later Life and re-model their services to ensure they are joined-up, user-friendly, rooted in the community and flexible enough to reach out to vulnerable older people. The report recommends: For people who are over 80 and livi... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1239190 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:21:51 +0100 1239190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060731&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2007%2F12%2Fthe_process_of_grieving.php The Journal of the American Medical Association [February 21, 2007--Vol 297, No. 7] published an important article on grief, Maciejewski et al (2007). While it's hardly definitive research, it represents an exciting trend in research that I've seen in recent years. Researchers seem more willing to take some risks with the rigor of their research models to produce information that is immediately relevant to practice. While, we are a long way from having clear guidance towards an evidenced-based practice in psychotherapy, testing models in active use in the field provides immediately useful information. Grief is one of the most common issues that emerge in psychotherapy. Grief unfolds in a purposive and meaningful way from the first awareness of loss. The grief process guides us through the... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060731 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 03:23:22 +0100 4060731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1106392&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F12%2Fchristmas-and-bereavement.html Coping with the loss of a loved one and with holidays at the same time can be one of the most isolating and painful situations. While red bows and words of joy are part of the decorations everywhere, the grieving person feels many mixed emotions. People who are bereaved can feel pain over loss, sometimes guilt over being here without the loved one, relief that someone is no longer suffering, and isolation from the cheerful shoppers and festive music and events. It can be a roller coaster emotionally.Hospice all over America provides workshops as the holidays are coming up to help bereaved people cope. There are grief groups for every type of loss. In a typical group each member might introduce herself or himself, and describe the loss and the loved one. Facilitators from Hospice provide gu... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1106392 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:02:00 +0100 1106392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1013536&cid=t_100066_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fcaregivers-who-are-grieving-can-turn-to.html In 1996 when my husband died from cancer, I was not aware of the many types of bereavement groups, educational activities, and counseling that are available from Hospice. Today, I'm very familiar with our local Hospice in San Luis Obispo , California, both from my own experience and from my work.Family members, caregivers and friends who are grieving can go to the website for the Hospice Foundation to locate a Hospice nearby for grief support. Hospice of San Luis Obispo County is located at 1304 Pacific Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, and the phone number is (805) 544-2266 or (805) 434-1164. The website is at hospiceslo.org.The variety of grief support programs range from special events to prepare for getting through the holidays without a loved one, to multi-cultural events such as Dia... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1013536 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 03:07:00 +0100 1013536 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=769215&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fflawed_science_behind_claims_grief_counseling_harmful.htm Despite frequent claims to the contrary, there is no empirical or statistical evidence to suggest that grief counseling is harmful to clients, or that clients who are "normally" bereaved are at special risk if they receive grief counseling, according to a new look at the scientific literature on grief counseling published in the August issue of Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. A report published in 2000 claiming that 38 percent of clients (and close to 50 percent of so-called "normal" grievers) deteriorate as a result of grief counseling has been frequently cited in the scientific literature. The new review, by co-authors Dale G. Larson, PhD, of Santa Clara University and William T. Hoyt, PhD, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found that the data on which these figures... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=769215 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 07:33:00 +0100 769215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=734459&cid=t_100066_116_f&fid=34686&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pallimed.org%2F2007%2F07%2Ffor-friday.html A couple of quick items for the end of a nice summer week (in Kansas City at least):The Washington Post has an article on Palliative Care at GWU Hospital. First national PC piece that I have seen that quotes Cameron Muir, current AAHPM president, which is nice to see. It also includes the go-to quote getters for most national PC articles: Diane Meier, Sean Morrison, but surprisingly no Ira Byock. When is the West Coast or Midwest going to get some love? Good to see PC getting any good press though of course. It is surprising that they chose a palliative care team that does not have a strong MD component. The physician input is from residents/fellows or occasionally some geriatricians with PC cert who come into the hospital when needed. What I am curious about is the article was written by ... Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=734459 Sat, 14 Jul 2007 03:43:00 +0100 734459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=611631&cid=t_100066_116_f&fid=34686&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pallimed.org%2F2007%2F05%2Foxycontin-guilty-pleas-1-year-morality.html 1)If you haven't heard already, several top executives for Purdue Pharma have plead guilty to criminal charges from misleading doctors about the safety of OxyContin. NY Times has a pretty good story about it here. Some of the article's rhetoric is a little off - "OxyContin is a pure, high-strength version of a long-used narcotic, oxycodone," and suggests there is something uniquely sinister about OxyContin. There isn't, except in the way it was promoted, and I'm glad there will be some accountability for it.2)The American Journal of Medicine has published a prognostic model for predicting 1-year mortality in hospitalized adults. Specifically it used prospectively gathered data from a single institution and looked at adults over 65 years, admitted to a general medical ward, who survived to... Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=611631 Sat, 12 May 2007 15:10:00 +0100 611631 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=463974&cid=t_100066_116_f&fid=34686&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pallimed.org%2F2007%2F02%2Fchristians-wed-post.html Early this week I was getting really bummed because I was thinking I had nothing to write about for Pallimed, and then BOOM! it all came at me at once. Enjoy!1) The NOLA case against a physician (Dr. Anna Pou) and 2 nurses (Lori Budo and Cheri Landry) being charged with murder/euthanasia is currently getting ready to go to the Grand Jury investigation. The jury was selected but the trial was delayed by Mardi Gras. (Seriously.)Interestingly the coroner submitted the deaths as 'undetermined' early in February, and said there was not enough evidence for homicide after consulting with leading forensics experts. Apparently this has not deterred the District Attorney, and the Grand Jury will proceed.One connection to a previous Pallimed post was that there was an outcry by supporters of Pou, Bud... Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=463974 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 04:27:00 +0100 463974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=463976&cid=t_100066_116_f&fid=34686&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pallimed.org%2F2007%2F02%2Fadvance-directives-maybe-do-something.html Two from the latest JAGS and one from Journal of Medical Ethics...1)First is a mortality follow-back study on advance directives and quality of terminal care. I have expressed skepticism about AD's on this blog before--wondering whether they really improve end of life care etc.--and I'm happy to report that here is a bit of data proving me wrong. The study was a typical, solid Teno mortality follow-back survey of ~1500 bereaved family members. About 70% of patients had AD's before they died; those with AD's were more likely to be older, female, and white. AD's were definitely associated with 'better' terminal care:"For decedents with written ADs, the last place of care was most likely to be a nursing home. Those with an AD used less life-sustaining treatment in the last month of life, beca... Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=463976 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 23:26:00 +0100 463976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=463977&cid=t_100066_116_f&fid=34686&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pallimed.org%2F2007%2F02%2Fgood-grief-jama-and-newsweek-time.html In this study the mean time to first interview was 6.3 months post-loss. Hopefully with active bereavement groups in hospices this could be started a little earlier. The authors do comment on the difficulty in obtaining IRB for bereavement studies out of fear of causing harm in discussing loss.It should also be noted that this study excluded those who met criteria for complicated grief and the the majority of participants were white (97%), females (71%) over 65 (54%) who lost their spouse (84%). So your mileage may vary with your population that you see. Obviously A 24yo Laotian father who loses his son may not have the same sort of grief. Which brings up the point to study the stage theory of grief in vastly different populations to see if it is the humanity that gives us a commonality or... Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=463977 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 21:00:00 +0100 463977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=463991&cid=t_100066_116_f&fid=34686&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pallimed.org%2F2007%2F02%2Fcongressman-to-seek-hospice-and-young.html Charlie Norwood, a congressman from Georgia, had a press release yesterday that he is foregoing further treatment for his NSCLC. He is a 7-term Republican who is not resigning his seat, and has said in some new reports that he may consider further treatment if he becomes better. The press release states that he will also receive 24-hour nursing care at his home.I am glad to see the public mention of hospice care for public figures. I always have wondered when you hear about a famous person dying at home if they had hospice services or if they were able to hire their own nurses and physicians to come and visit them. I wished that the hospice philosophy could benefit from more public mentions like this and Art Buchwald.(Although it should be noted that 24-hour in-home nursing care is not par... Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=463991 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 03:53:00 +0100 463991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2561327&cid=t_100066_109_f&fid=34753&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.relaxedtherapist.com%2F%3Fp%3D63 Sooner or later, one of your clients will die. Waiting until it occurs to consider how this might affect you would be unwise. Death of clients might be inevitable (f you work in palliative care), an acknowledged risk (if you work in psychiatric settings) or very rare. The cause of death may be deliberate action, accidental or ambiguous. However hard you strive for “professional detachment”, the need to establish a rapport with your client means establishing a bond for which you may grieve when it is irrevocably lost. Inevitably, junior staff have more time to form such a bond, but have less experience to draw upon in dealing with the consequences. Considering in advance how the death of a client might affect you will help you better manage both your feelings & responsibil... The Relaxed Therapist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2561327 Fri, 03 Nov 2006 07:00:10 +0100 2561327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=463995&cid=t_100066_116_f&fid=34686&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pallimed.org%2F2005%2F11%2Fnew-and-lingering-controversies-in.html My wife is a pediatric emergency physician (done with fellowship in 2006!) and so I get the pleasure of perusing her Pediatrics journal when it is delivered to our mailbox monthly. Well the October 2005 Issue was particularly exciting because my wife was the lead author on the first paper. (Not a palliative med article)But since anyone reading this blog is unlikely to be primarily concerned about the correlation between HSV and the signs of pediatric abuse, I will get to the 2 palliative medicine minded articles that were in this issue. I will focus here on one of them.The first article highlighted 6 controversies in Pediatric EOL care and the knowledge of these issues from residents, attendings and nurses. Now in reading this I thought these are just as relevant in adult EOL care and I th... Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=463995 Sat, 19 Nov 2005 04:20:00 +0100 463995