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 'family members'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:43:30 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118709&cid=t_226959_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F11%2Fthe-ecstasy-of-crossing-something-off-the-list%2F Recently, my older daughter and I went to the post office to apply for her passport. I’d been dreading this trip for days. Every task associated with it filled me with anxiety — but nothing ended up being as hard as I expected. And as we walked out of the post office, I felt a giant surge of energy, happiness, and relief. Ah, the ecstasy of crossing something off the list! Even accomplishing the smallest task gives me a little jolt. This is my new Secret of Adulthood: Crossing something off the list is very cheering. (Also: Make sure you know where to find family members’ birth certificates. I was very happy when I found that document in the proper file.) (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118709 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:25:40 +0100 5118709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934334&cid=t_226959_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F14%2Flearning-how-to-die-the-handbook-for-mortals%2F In any bookstore, you will find aisles and aisles of self-help books coaching us how to live more fully, how to embrace life with passion, and how to age in a way that we aren’t getting older! But how to die? Are you kidding me? DEPRESSING! But we desperately need a teacher in this area. Because each of us is eventually going to perish, and how nice it would be to have a few guidelines as we are getting close. In their book, Handbook for Mortals: Guidance for People Facing Serious Illness, authors Joanne Lynn, MD, Joan Harrold, MD, and Janice Lynch Schuster, MFA discuss the topic of dying from several perspectives: living with serious illness, helping families make wise decisions, getting the help you need, controlling pain, planning ahead, and enduring loss. It is a comprehensive and in... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934334 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:12:29 +0100 4934334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507353&cid=t_226959_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F22%2Ftending-the-family-heart-our-new-parenting-book%2F Tending the Family Heart is a new e-book by Dr. Marie Hartwell-Walker that seeks to affirm the importance of family and validate the simple things parents can do every day to nurture the “heart part” of their family. The effects of the current economic recession and a divisive political climate, as well as changes in family structure and the ever-growing use of personal electronic devices are isolating family members from one another. Tending the Family Heart provides practical ways for parents to counteract these affects by building and nurturing warmth and connection within their family. “The ‘heart part’ of a family is what transforms the very ordinary and repetitious tasks of daily life into expressions of mutual support and care,” says Dr. Hartwell-Walker. “Parents will ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507353 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 11:30:49 +0100 4507353 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377613&cid=t_226959_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F20%2Fwhy-ruminating-is-unhealthy-and-how-to-stop%2F Ruminating is like a record that’s stuck and keeps repeating the same lyrics. It’s replaying an argument with a friend in your mind. It’s retracing past mistakes. When people ruminate, they over-think or obsess about situations or life events, such as work or relationships. Research has shown that rumination is associated with a variety of negative consequences, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, binge-drinking and binge-eating. Why does rumination lead to such harmful results? For some people, drinking or binge-eating becomes a way to cope with life and drown out their ruminations, according to Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, Ph.D, a psychologist and professor at Yale University. Not surprisingly, ruminating conjures up more negative thoughts. It becomes a cycle. ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377613 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:06:31 +0100 4377613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338024&cid=t_226959_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F11%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-january-11-2011%2F Today is 1/11/11. Maybe for you, it will be a day filled with firsts. The first time you sought therapy. The first step you took towards healing yourself. The first time you realized how far you’ve come and how much you have achieved towards your goals and your mental health. If so, I hope you will celebrate these firsts and remember them when times get tough. Because ever year brings with it a new challenge, an obstacle we didn’t foresee and with it an opportunity for self-growth and a chance for a better more balanced life. When that opportunity comes, will you take it? For me, I’ve finally come home. The holidays are over. And instead of being surrounded by the voices of my family members, I’m here sitting back at my home in silence. This Christmas was as chaotic... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338024 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:02:06 +0100 4338024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4322506&cid=t_226959_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdeath-why-are-we-so-afraid-of-it%2F2011.01.07 My cousin’s mother-in-law is in her late 90s. She had horrible osteoporosis and can barely move. She has little cognitive function left. She requires nearly 24-hour care and no one would even attempt to say she has any quality of life left. She told her son years ago that she was “ready to go,” and had had enough. And yet when I asked my cousin’s husband if his mother had any do-not-resuscitate orders, or had ever completed an advanced director  outlining her wishes of what kind of end-of-life care she wanted, he said no. His sister, he said, just wasn’t ready for that yet. So what, I asked, will you do when/if your mother gets pneumonia? Will you treat it with antibiotics? Will you put her on a respirator? If she is no longer able to eat, will you feed her t... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4322506 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 22:00:00 +0100 4322506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302859&cid=t_226959_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-holidays-and-the-circle-of-life%2F2011.01.01 The holiday season is a time of both joy and sorrow. Tomorrow a childhood friend will be laid to rest — one of my favorite artists, Teena Marie, died unexpectedly two days ago and at least six other people have made their transitions as well. My own father died unexpectedly on Christmas Eve in 1981 leaving a great void in our family life. Why do people leave us during the holiday season? It has been said because they want to be remembered. While I lamented about all the transitions that occurred in the past two weeks, one of my best friends announced that she had a new granddaughter that was born on Christmas Day. She stated that this was part of the “life cycle” or “circle of life.” Her comments gave me reason to pause and reflect. (more…) *This blog p... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302859 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 17:00:47 +0100 4302859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275390&cid=t_226959_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F20%2F7-tips-to-smooth-over-your-holiday-stress%2F Ahh, the holidays. Christmastime is here, and many will be traveling this week to rejoin loved ones and family members. We’ll be traveling too, as we often do during the holidays, to visit with long-distance family. Wouldn’t you like your holidays to be a bit smoother? Me too. So here are some tips to help smooth over your holiday stress and make this time of the year more enjoyable for you and those you’ll be visiting. 1. Plan early. Well, it’s a little late for this one. If your trip isn’t yet planned, I can’t help you. But this is good information for next year, as sometimes people wait until the last minute to plan their travel or where exactly they’ll be and when, when visiting the family. These tips can also help you reduce stress about holid... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275390 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:59:58 +0100 4275390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225371&cid=t_226959_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F03%2Fhow-to-be-a-successful-psychic-tell-em-what-they-want-to-hear%2F You couldn’t tell by looking at me, but I moonlight as a tarot card reader for a 1-800 network. Honestly. A lot of people are surprised by this tidbit of information whenever they hear it — apparently most of us think the majority of psychics own hundreds of cats and reek of patchouli. But it’s been a good source of income for me for about a year now. Everyone has their own opinion about cards and clairvoyance, but in my world, these things are simply tools to help us along the highway of life. My opinions on the matter aside (believe me, I’ve had the “it’s real / it’s not real” debate one too many times with family members and annoying strangers alike), I’ve recently noticed a psychological trend that’s made me rethink the way I ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225371 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 18:27:12 +0100 4225371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003292&cid=t_226959_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F27%2Fsoldiers-dont-trust-the-military-to-help-with-suicide%2F From the “Not really surprising” file… Returning soldiers and military veterans don’t really hold much hope or trust in the military to help them with their mental health needs — especially suicidal thoughts — according to a new report. And why would they? The military is their employer. Would you feel comfortable talking to your bosses about all of your mental health issues? And not just mild stuff either, this is the serious depression, “I want to kill myself” stuff. Most of us would be extremely uncomfortable with such a conversation. We would be even more uncomfortable with such a conversation knowing it is being recorded in our work record, and will follow us around for the rest of our professional career. This is exactly what happens ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003292 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:36:28 +0100 4003292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3740596&cid=t_226959_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-reason-i-stayed-a-doctor%2F2010.07.09 This week I traveled to a small town outside Chicago to help my mother with her move from an assisted living facility to Alabama so she can live with my sister. I suspect many people, thanks to current economic times, have realized that the savings that were supposed to be there are not and change must happen. Such is the case with my mother. It’s sure to be an emotional time, one which both of us had hoped to avoid. For her, she will be moving from the region of her childhood, her college, her marriage, her first home, her dream home, her caldron of first-grade student graduates and her dearest friends. For me, I will miss our spontaneous visits, morning coffee conversations, trips to the local restaurant in the town of my childhood, her gentle smile, and her helpful advice. But th... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3740596 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:00:00 +0100 3740596 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3546846&cid=t_226959_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwondering-if-mom-is-safe-finethanx-calls-and-checks-for-you%2F2010.05.09 FineThanx is a new automated phone system that automatically calls your sick or elderly family members at home to check on how they’re doing. The system can check in with loved ones once or twice a day, and if no one answers or the person is unwell, the system calls a member of his or her ”care circle.” If everything is fine, the FineThanx system will send you a report by email, so you can continue working or finish those 18 holes of golf, then check in for reassurance on your iPhone or personal computer afterwards. Listen to a sample call here. *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3546846 Sun, 09 May 2010 11:50:20 +0100 3546846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3545633&cid=t_226959_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fmommys-gone-to-treatment%2F Mommy’s Gone to Treatment Addiction is a devastating and all-embracing disease. Family members are often as profoundly affected by the illness as the person who suffers from it. Imagine what a child must think watching a parent descend deep into addiction, changing from a loving and nurturing mother into a hostile, screaming stranger. But there is hope for addicts and their families. This book is about Janey, a young girl whose mother has entered a center for addiction treatment. Written in easy-to-understand language with brightly colored illustrations, Mommy’s Gone to Treatment addresses issues children often face when an addicted parent seeks help. Included is a parent’s guide with important talking points on easing a child’s apprehension when someone they lov... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3545633 Thu, 06 May 2010 16:02:00 +0100 3545633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3524110&cid=t_226959_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwondering-if-mom-is-safe-finethanx-calls-and-checks-for-you%2F2010.05.02 FineThanx is a new automated phone system that automatically calls your sick or elderly family members at home to check on how they’re doing. The system can check in with loved ones once or twice a day, and if no one answers or the person is unwell, the system calls a member of his or her ”care circle.” If everything is fine, the FineThanx system will send you a report by email, so you can continue working or finish those 18 holes of golf, then check in for reassurance on your iPhone or personal computer afterwards. Listen to a sample call here. *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3524110 Sun, 02 May 2010 14:00:20 +0100 3524110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3411291&cid=t_226959_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FjMPXlnm3cUo%2F The dynamics of the healthy family. In previous articles I have talked about Dysfunctional Families, Goals for ACOA’s in Recovery, Al-Anon, Dysfunctional Rules of Codependency and Alcoholic Family Roles. In a healthy family system, family members openly acknowledge their problems, discuss them openly, and work toward change. They believe change is acceptable, and actively solicit workable solutions from other family members. Children in these families are free to express their needs and wants. Family members can talk about feelings and traits in themselves that they feel should be changed: shame and embarrassment do not immobilize them. There is permission to express appropriate anger. The adults of the family model healthy, congruent behavior for their children: what they tell the... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3411291 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:39:22 +0100 3411291 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3084827&cid=t_226959_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F14%2F5-ways-to-show-you-care%2F Wondering how you can show someone in your life that you care about them? Here’s a few suggestions that may help you do just that. 1. Do It, Don’t Say It. You know that old common wisdom, “Actions speak louder than words”? Well, it’s true. While you can apologize for not doing something until you’re blue in the face, you’ll gain so much more appreciation by another in your life by simply doing it in the first place. Yes, it means you have to work harder to keep on top of things to begin with, even with simple things like taking out the trash or running that errand you said you would. But the reward is that your loved one will know you care because you just did it without being asked or reminded to do so. 2. Refuse to Argue and Pick Your Battles. Ar... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3084827 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:35:31 +0100 3084827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3048174&cid=t_226959_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F01%2Floneliness-may-be-contagious%2F A year ago, nearly exactly to the date, researcher Nicholas Christakis and colleagues released a study demonstrating how our moods might be contagious within our social network (sorry, this research pertains primarily to traditional social networks; it’s not known whether it’s generalizable to online social networks). Specifically, Christakis found that happiness is a little contagious within our small group of friends and family. That old study found that “when a person becomes happy, a friend living close by has a 25 percent higher chance of becoming happy themselves. A spouse experiences an 8 percent increased chance and for next-door neighbors, it’s 34 percent.” In other words, happiness can be a little contagious. Today, we discover the logical extension... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3048174 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:01:59 +0100 3048174 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2959016&cid=t_226959_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fwayback-wednesday-when-a-family-member-gets-it.html In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, I’m trying to re-examine perspectives on this illness from all different angles.  I ran this across this post at the Mayo Clinic blog reminding me of how difficult a new diagnosis can be on family members. And yet, for adults newly diagnosed with diabetes, so many family members [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2959016 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0100 2959016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2630175&cid=t_226959_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F22%2Foops-did-i-have-those-cho-records%2F You may remember the Virginia Tech tragedy more than two years ago, when a student at the university, Seung-Hui Cho, opened fire one day on his classmates, killing 32 people and himself on April 16, 2007. What you may not have known is that Cho’s mental health records from when he was seen at the university’s counseling center went missing and were never located. Until now. Mental health records for Virginia Tech gunman Seung-Hui Cho that were missing for more than two years have been discovered in the home of the university clinic’s former director, according to a state memo shared with victims’ family members. Cho killed 32 people on April 16, 2007, then committed suicide as police closed in. His mental health treatment has been a major issue in the vast investig... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2630175 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:50:19 +0100 2630175 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2200495&cid=t_226959_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F02%2F19%2Fsocial-networking-harms-health-lol%2F Just when you think journalism from respected news organizations couldn’t sink any lower, the BBC (amongst many other news agencies) is reporting today that “Online networking ‘harms health:’” People’s health could be harmed by social networking sites because they reduce levels of face-to-face contact, an expert claims. The rest of the article (which bears no byline) is a one-sided, biased piece of reporting that doesn’t even raise a single skeptical eyebrow. Had it bothered to do any, well, actual journalism, the reporter may have discovered that Aric Sigman’s (2009) hypothesis relies on a flimsy connection — that Internet relationships are less real and result in greater social isolation and loneliness for people who increasingly t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2200495 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:35:12 +0100 2200495