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 'grief and loss'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:55:30 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169572&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F27%2F5-tips-for-staying-calm-in-a-hurricane%2F When hurricanes or tropical storms are forecast to reach us, we often go into a panic and fear the worst about the coming storm. The uncertainty of the storm provokes a certain in anxiety in most of us. Some of those fears are very real, as government officials ask residents to evacuate areas directly in the path of the hurricane. Low-lying areas are especially at risk for flooding. Calm is a hard emotion to muster when our entire environment is turning against us. It is ever harder to remain calm when you’re asked to evacuate your home, and live in a shelter or with a family member for a few days. Will my home still be standing when I return? What about my most cherished possessions? Even folks who aren’t asked to evacuate fear the loss of electricity to their homes, and wheth... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169572 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:18:51 +0100 5169572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159198&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Fcan-religion-or-spirituality-help-ward-off-depression%2F People of all shapes, sizes, colors and nationalities get depression. There seems to be little rhyme or reason to whom it strikes and when. Many people swear by certain things to help them keep depression away. Some people use exercise, while others throw themselves more into their work. Others take a daily dose of a herb like St. John’s Wort or fish oil, because of the association these ingredients have had with a reduction in depression in some studies. But what about religion? Can a strong sense of spirituality or religion help you ward off depression? According to new research that followed a group of people over 10 years, the answer is a qualified “Yes.” The new longitudinal research out of Columbia University wanted to followup on previous research demonstrating th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159198 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:10:27 +0100 5159198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159199&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Fto-heal-after-an-affair-and-rebuild-the-relationship%2F “For many people, an affair is deeply traumatizing [and] some marriages can’t recover from it,” said Jason Seidel, PsyD, founder and director of The Colorado Center for Clinical Excellence in Denver. But if you decide to work on your relationship post-affair, you must accept a hard truth: Another affair can happen. This is the paradox of healing, Seidel said. Often, partners who’ve been cheated on will demand full access to their spouse’s email, cell phone records, Facebook and other accounts (or they’ll sneak around to get the access), he said. They see this as legitimate and essential to helping reestablish trust in the relationship. A common belief is “How could I ever trust you again unless you give me full access?” While this thinking is understandable, it simply doesn... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159199 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:40:21 +0100 5159199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159200&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F24%2Ffrom-end-to-beginning-navigating-a-transition-well%2F I’ve had transitions on my mind recently. A lot of clients I work with feel stuck in the middle of a transition they didn’t quite anticipate, or that felt thrust upon them, or whose ramifications they just couldn’t calculate at the outset of the change. Marriage, divorce, childbirth, graduating college, losing a job, moving back home: whether positive or negative, transitions can be messy. And they can also give birth to previously unforeseen opportunities for growth. Therapy is, after all, about change, so I guess it is no surprise that as a therapist I should be witness to transitions galore. William Bridges, author of a book aptly titled Transitions, writes that moving from here to there involves three distinct stages: endings, the middle ground, and beginnings. He emphasizes that... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159200 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:21:17 +0100 5159200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086262&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F30%2Fthe-new-grief-how-modern-medicine-has-transformed-death-and-grief%2F The realities of death and dying have changed profoundly in a relatively short period of time. Why? Thank the ongoing and remarkable advances in medical diagnosis and treatment. As a result of these advances, life expectancy in countries like ours continues to grow. We all die, but modern medicine is getting better and better at staving off death. And because of this the nature of grief has changed. In her groundbreaking 1970 book, On Death and Dying, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross identified a process which she believed individuals pass through when they are confronted with death. At the time, sudden and unexpected death was much more common than it is today. The grief associated with that kind of loss is captured powerfully in Joan Didion’s memoir, The Year of Magical Thinking, which recounts ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086262 Sat, 30 Jul 2011 13:44:25 +0100 5086262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028462&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F10%2Fbetty-ford-dies-at-age-93%2F Betty Ford, the former First Lady of the United States died Friday at the age of 93. Dr. William Van Ornum gives this succinct summary of her life in a tribute on the website of the American Mental Health Foundation (AMHF): Mrs. Ford was born in Chicago, grew up in modest circumstances, became a dancer, and married Mr. Ford shortly after he returned from the Navy in World War II. She thought she was signing up for a life with a mid-western lawyer; instead he chose politics and she was thrust into the role of a political wife, all the while raising 4 children and trying to keep her own interests as well. Political life became difficult for her and she felt an emptiness inside from which she sought solace in alcohol and prescription pills. She was open about her addiction at a time when othe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028462 Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:23:09 +0100 5028462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028463&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F09%2Fthoughts-on-memories-grief-and-loss%2F For the first few months after my dad’s passing, it was really hard to talk about him and even harder to recall memories, vivid, detailed descriptions of my father and poignant times past. Because with the memories came the obvious grasp that my dad is gone. It was the very definition of bittersweet. Sure, there might be laughter and the subtle shape of a smile, but inevitably there’d also be tears and the realization that this is where the memories ended. But as the months passed, remembering and recounting tidbits from my childhood, my dad’s sayings and jokes and other memories started doing the opposite: they started bringing me a sense of peace. Not an overwhelming wave of calm, but a small token of serenity. I also knew very well that talking about my dad meant honoring his memo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028463 Sat, 09 Jul 2011 15:45:05 +0100 5028463 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008307&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F07%2Fthe-psychology-of-the-casey-anthony-trial%2F So Casey Anthony was found not guilty of murder, meaning we can go back to our everyday, regular lives. On July 5, the jury found Casey Anthony not guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated child abuse (but found her guilty of four lesser, misdemeanor offenses related to her interrogations). What? You mean you “want answers” as to why she wasn’t found guilty? We all want answers in our lives. We yearn for answers. People spend years in therapy looking for answers. But life isn’t always so neat, nor does it always provide easy-to-understand answers to such a tragic series of events that led to the death of Casey Anthony’s toddler, Caylee. So the short answer is — there are no answers. You’re looking for justice in a worl... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008307 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:13:09 +0100 5008307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952994&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F17%2Ffatherless-on-fathers-day%2F {Holidays, 2008} This Father’s Day, I’ll be spending the day at my dad’s gravesite. It’ll be two years this August since my father passed away. I thought the wounds would heal by now. But they haven’t. Instead, it feels like the scar tissue is healing all wrong. The first year was a blur. Days dissolving into one another, melting like the clock in one of my father’s favorite Dali paintings. Days spent focused on checking off items on a to-do list. Months spent trying to carve out some sort of a routine in a half-empty house. Time heals all wounds; you hear that all the time. But I don’t think that’s true. Time tears off the Band-Aid, little by little, instead of ripping it off in one fell swoop. As the days, weeks, months and years go by, you just get caught... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952994 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:11:12 +0100 4952994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934334&cid=t_356372_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=4934337&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F13%2Fwhen-my-mother-died-she-told-me-to-try-to-enjoy-life-more%2F Happiness interview: Meghan O’Rourke. Meghan O’Rourke is a writer in many incarnations — an essayist, poet, critic, and editor. I got to know Meghan during the time that this blog appeared on Slate , and I was very eager to get my hands on her new book. The Long Goodbye is a memoir of her mother’s death from cancer in 2008, at the age of 55, when Meghan was 32 years old. Going through great unhappiness is one of the best, and most difficult, teachers of happiness, so I was very interested to hear what Meghan had to say. Gretchen: What’s a simple activity that consistently makes you happier? Meghan: Taking a walk. I used to run a lot, and that always made me happier (even if I was unhappy lacing up my shoes to do it). But I tore the cartilage in my right hip and n... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934337 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:34:15 +0100 4934337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883677&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F30%2Fremembering-those-who-died-for-us-2011%2F It’s hard to repay the debt of a human life. Yet today in the United States, we remember those who died for us, fighting in wars to keep our freedoms safe from those who would take them away from us. War still rages around us, soldiers still fight today. And every month, soldiers die fighting for us. For our democracy. For our country. I’m not sure how to repay that debt. All I can do is remember and give thanks to those who fell in battle, because without their sacrifice, I’m not sure I’d be here living in one of the world’s greatest democracies. Memorial Day’s roots can be traced back to the Civil War, when people who honor those who fought in that bloody war by decorating the graves of the dead. After WWI, it was expanded to recognize the sacrifices g... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883677 Mon, 30 May 2011 12:26:30 +0100 4883677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789334&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F04%2Fpsych-central-roundup-the-death-of-osama-bin-laden%2F By now, you know the news: Osama bin Laden is no more. Whether he died in a blazing gunfight or was taken out by surprise (the reports are a little vague here), Seal Team 6 completed their mission. And for some people, that completed mission was cause for celebration.  Last Sunday evening and Monday morning, American flags were hoisted into the air, people stood out on the streets cheering and the internet was buzzing with elation. If you owned a Twitter or Facebook account, you saw it.  I certainly did.  In fact, I learned about bin Laden’s death before the President even announced it: I was Facebook chatting with the very friend who was sitting next to me almost 10 years ago when the twin towers came down and suddenly, status updates were exploding. “I think Osama bin La... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789334 Wed, 04 May 2011 20:52:45 +0100 4789334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775432&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F02%2Fmental-health-needs-of-older-americans%2F As the baby boomers age here in the U.S., they are going to swell the ranks of seniors. And senior care — especially mental health care — is one of the most ignored in America. We act as though seniors don’t matter much, and few health care and mental health care professionals go into specializations, such as geriatric psychology, that can help senior citizens. Perhaps that will change, with more attention and focus provided on this group of people. Because as we age, we often face many of the same difficulties as we did earlier in life. Except these difficulties are often amplified, because of the loss of social support — our friends — and isolation — most often from our own family. The New York Times profiles Marc E. Agronin, M.D., a geriatric psychiat... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775432 Mon, 02 May 2011 13:50:19 +0100 4775432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4696687&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F10%2Fwhat-not-to-say-to-a-grieving-family%2F Harold Kushner explains what not to say to a grieving family in his classic “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” using as an illustration the story of Job (the faithful, righteous, and pious man who loses his livestock, house, servants, and children, and is afflicted with boils all over his body). Having lost his own son, the rabbi knows all too well what helps and what hurts when trying to comfort a friend or relative. The three friends who came to console Job got terrible scores, and here’s why, according to Kushner… Because the friends had never been in Job’s position, they could not realize how unhelpful, how offensive it was for them to be judging Job, to be telling him he should not cry and complain so much. Even if they themselves had experienced si... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4696687 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 11:00:27 +0100 4696687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642676&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F27%2F8-survival-tips-for-the-spouse-of-a-terminally-ill-person%2F The other day, I had the honor of interviewing Owen Stanley Surman, M.D., a practicing hospital psychiatrist known internationally for his work on psychiatric and ethical aspects of solid organ transplantation. Following the death of his wife, Dr. Surman devoted six years to writer a memoir, The Wrong Side of an Illness: A Doctor’s Love Story, which includes a deeply personal and unique view of events both tragic and transcendent. He now lives in Boston with his new wife. Question: What words of wisdom would you give the spouse of a person struggling with chronic illness or terminally ill? Dr. Surman: Chronic illness and terminal illness have a pervasive impact on how we live our lives and in our sense of identity. Loss of a loved one affects the part of ourselves that has led us to ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642676 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 15:02:30 +0100 4642676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4512430&cid=t_356372_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=4495248&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F18%2F10-tips-to-mend-a-broken-heart%2F Bess Myerson once wrote that “to fall in love is awfully simple, but to fall out of love is simply awful.” Especially if you are the one who wanted the relationship to last. Mending a broken heart is never easy. There is no quick way to stop your heart from hurting so much. To stop loving isn’t an option. Author Henri Nouwen writes, “When those you love deeply reject you, leave you, or die, your heart will be broken. But that should not hold you back from loving deeply. The pain that comes from deep love makes your love ever more fruitful.” But how do we get beyond the pain? Here are 10 tips I’ve gathered from experts and from conversations with friends on how they patched up their heart and tried, ever so gradually, to move on. 1. Go through it, not ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495248 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:56:05 +0100 4495248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460007&cid=t_356372_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=4394528&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F25%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-january-25-2011%2F Almost a decade ago, I had a conversation with a friend that made me both infuriated and grateful. I don’t know how it started, but somehow we got to talking about depression. Essentially, he told me that depression was a made up disorder that helped put money in the pockets of mental health professionals. He didn’t see the need for medication and thought people should just buck up and be happy instead of feeling sad. Having a grandfather who suffered from depression, I was certain that depression was not only real, but a serious illness. And I was not only disturbed by his reaction, but angry. Although it’s been 10 years since the conversation, I often think about it. I’m not as upset as I was before. Although I still don’t agree with his statement, I ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394528 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:43:59 +0100 4394528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4331056&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F11%2Fthe-arizona-shootings-a-recurrent-american-tragedy%2F For many of us in the mental health field, the January 8 shooting in Tucson, Arizona was like a darker version of the movie, “Groundhog Day.” Surely we had seen this all before: the “senseless, horrific attack” on innocent persons; the “mentally disturbed young man” charged with murder; the ever-recurring polemical arguments between supporters and opponents of gun control. While the facts are still unfolding, and the accused shooter’s motivations — Jared Lee Loughner — still unclear, the murders in Arizona have once again raised a number of troubling questions: what if any link is there between violence and mental illness? Which problems in our health care system may contribute to untreated or inadequately treated mental illness? How should we balance civil libert... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4331056 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:25:52 +0100 4331056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4272366&cid=t_356372_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=4207336&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F28%2Fthe-man-who-did-not-take-his-medicine-and-the-dog-who-saved-him%2F Today’s guest post is by Dr. Olajide Williams, a general neurologist with special interest in stroke. He is Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at Columbia University. The following story is an excerpt from his book, “Stroke Diaries,” which is a collection of his experiences, both somber and hopeful. I find this piece on Oxford University Press’s blog, which you can get to by clicking here. Pedro was lying on the bathroom floor next to the toilet bowl. Water was still running from rusty faucet, overflowing the sink, and pooling around his body as he lay limp on wet porcelain tiles. Lucy was standing over him and whining. The young black Labrador retriever had not left her owner’s side since the previous night. It was as if she had predicted it, as if sh... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4207336 Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:50:34 +0100 4207336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4142808&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F06%2Fon-mourning-the-death-of-a-pet%2F My friend, Priscilla, just lost her best friend (okay, after her husband, Jimmy). On her blog, she writes: Our beloved golden retriever died this morning, peacefully, after spending a wonderful week by our side on Martha’s Vineyard, at the beach, where she ran into the ocean, and in the woods, where she took a long walk with me. She was 14 years old, my zen teacher, and my most constant meditation partner. We loved her so much. I know how traumatic losing a pet can be. I’m bracing for it myself, as one or both of our two Retriever-Chow mutts could go in the next two years. I found the Pet Loss Support Page online, which includes “Ten Tips on Coping with Pet Loss” from Moira Anderson Allen, M.Ed. I’ve excerpted the first five below. Anyone who considers a pet ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4142808 Sat, 06 Nov 2010 16:01:32 +0100 4142808 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4077320&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F17%2Flet-me-live-until-i-die-an-interview-with-thea-bowman%2F Following are excerpts from an interview with Thea Bowman, a Franciscan Sister who became a huge inspiration to black Catholic communities, and to wider circles for her joy and gratitude, her nobility of spirit, and her very real spirituality. The interview, published in Praying magazine and US Catholic, was conducted shortly before she died from cancer, in March 1990, at the age of 53. For me, she is the picture of courage and perseverance of a person living gracefully with pain. Question: What kind of changes have you had to make in your life because of the cancer? Thea Bowman: Part of my approach to my illness has been to say I want to choose life, I want to keep going, I want to live fully until I die … I don’t know what my future holds. In the meantime, I am making a cons... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4077320 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 13:21:40 +0100 4077320 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031306&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F04%2Fmental-health-awareness-week%2F So this is the 20th anniversary since Congress first established Mental Health Awareness Week as the first week in October. The effort to increase awareness about mental health is based in the history of numerous government reports and well-meaning workgroups and such that have found that stigma still exists surrounding the diagnosis of mental disorders. Surprise, surprise. Of course it still exists. People who’ve never encountered someone living with a mental illness still believe it’s the kind of thing that “happens to other people.” But it happens to a lot more “other people” than anyone realizes. In our lifetime, 1 in 5 Americans will have a diagnosable mental disorder. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just announced last week that ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031306 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:30:31 +0100 4031306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4027212&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F03%2F8-ways-to-manage-anxiety-on-an-anniversary%2F Most of us circle a few days of the calendar year that we know will be difficult to get through: the anniversary of a death, traumatic event, or even happy occasion. These dates are charged with emotion. Sometimes we feel trapped by these dates — like there’s nothing we can do to stop them. The approaching date creates a sense of panic and anxiety in many of us, and we can feel out of control. The one benefit from anniversary anxiety is that we can predict it and therefore prepare for it. Here are 8 ways to do just that. 1. Forecast your emotions. You’ve circled the day. You know it’s coming. Now get honest with yourself about how you might feel on that day. If it’s the anniversary of a death of a loved one, get ready to celebrate that person’s life wit... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4027212 Sun, 03 Oct 2010 13:30:09 +0100 4027212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003293&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F27%2F10-challenges-for-parents-with-chronic-illness%2F In the Parents Magazine article, “Mommy Isn’t Feeling Well Today,” Sarah Mahoney interviews many experts: professionals, parents who have chronic illness and sometimes, as in my case, people who are both. I was honored to be among them. The article is impressive in how it covers many of the challenges parents face every day rearing their children while their health is seriously compromised. Below, I summarize the article’s most salient points and add my comments: 1. “Handling chronic illness is about learning to live in balance,” said Rosalind Doran, Psy.D. Many of us learn the hard way that if we don’t pay attention to what and how much we do in all spheres of our lives we can quickly over-do. The result is the same as when the tires on our car a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003293 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:50:47 +0100 4003293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3954308&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F09%2Fan-emotional-timeline-of-911%2F As we approach the ninth anniversary of 9/11, researchers writing in Psychological Science this week analyzed 85,000 text pages sent through pagers during the 2 hours before and 18 hours after 9/11 took place. (You do remember what a pager is, don’t you?) WikiLeaks, the website in the news lately for other reasons, has made the 573,000 lines consisting of 6.4 million words freely available on its website for the past year. What would these 85,000 pages tell us about the human emotion that people were expressing during those 20 hours? Researchers’ favorite tool when it comes to text analysis is the good ole Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC). So it’s no surprise that’s what these researchers also turned to to analyze the word content of these communications for... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3954308 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:30:44 +0100 3954308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3924942&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F01%2F9-tips-for-coping-with-a-hurricane%2F With another hurricane on the warpath up the East Coast of the U.S. this week, many people are scrambling for shelter and safety. Evacuations are taking place, and while everyone is rightfully focused on their physical safety, our emotional health is at risk during times of increased stress too. There are ways you can better cope emotionally with an impending hurricane — to brace yourself emotionally from the significant amounts of stress you’re about to endure. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that a hurricane is a fairly short natural event. For most people, it means having to deal with a couple of days of moving out of the area and then moving back. While the effects of the hurricane may endure much longer — especially if your home was damaged or des... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3924942 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:30:09 +0100 3924942 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3876715&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F17%2Fwhere-do-friends-go-when-youre-coping-with-a-crisis%2F Have you ever noticed that when something bad happens to you or to someone close to you in your life (like a son or daughter, or a parent), some friends might offer help, while others disappear? This seemingly becomes more the case as we get older. I was reading this interesting essay in The New York Times today and stumbled upon an explanation for this behavior — the guy quoted in the article called it “stiff arming” or “pseudo-care.” A friend offers help to you in your time of need, but then disappears. Why do people do this? Are they afraid bad luck is “catching”? The author of this essay describes how both her daughters suffered serious health problems in the same year — one from a rare disease, and the other from anorexia. Then she notic... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3876715 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:11:01 +0100 3876715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3743555&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F11%2Fwhy-suicide-an-interview-with-eric-marcus%2F Today I have the pleasure of interviewing New York Times bestselling author Eric Marcus on the important topic of suicide. Eric is the author of several books, including “Is It A Choice?, Making Gay History,” and “Together Forever.” He is also co-author of “Breaking the Surface,” the #1 New York Times bestselling autobiography of Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis. For more information, please visit: www.ericmarcus.com and www.whysuicidebook.com. Question: Why did you write “Why Suicide?” Eric: When I started work on the original edition of “Why Suicide?” in 1987, I knew that I wanted to write the kind of book that I wish had been available to my mother when my father killed himself in 1970 so she would have known what to say a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3743555 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:29:28 +0100 3743555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3666020&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F16%2Fif-you-build-it-he-will-come-on-pursuing-our-dreams%2F “If you build it, he will come” is the famous line in the classic 1989 flick, “Field of Dreams.” When Iowa corn farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) starts hearing voices to build a baseball diamond in his fields — sacrificing all the income from his crop — everyone thinks he’s gone mad. He has. Sort of. But then he sees Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) on the field, and the details begin to fall into place. It’s funny how you pick up different things in a movie depending on where you are in life. The movie came out just as I was graduating from high school and figuring out how to live my life sober. My vision was very black and white then. It has to be in the early days of sobriety, or else you’ll end up drunk. So I remember the &#8220... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3666020 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:29:10 +0100 3666020 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648599&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F10%2Fhow-do-you-heal-loneliness%2F If I had to name the most common complaint I hear among people with depression, it is that they are lonely. Just a little while back, I replied on a thread within Group Beyond Blue to a woman who started a thread called “Who Do I Turn To?” She wants so badly to connect with another woman — as the anchors in her life, her mother and friends, have either passed on or moved. So many of us are lonely. It is at the core of so many disorders and illnesses. Not just the imaginary ones made up in our psyches (or so many think), but heart disease and immunity functions and nervous system disorders. Many of our health issues in this country stem from loneliness. In his PsychCentral blog entry, “Loneliness Is Not a DSM-5 Disorder, But It Still Hurts,” Psychiatrist Ron Pi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648599 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:05:27 +0100 3648599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607556&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F28%2Fnow-what-depression-at-graduation-or-any-transition%2F I read somewhere that a large number of Nobel Prize winners become depressed after receiving their honor because their sense of purpose has been taken away. They have to grieve their pre-Nobel Prize life and find a new way of being, something to get excited about that will get you out of bed in the morning. The same is true, to some extent, when you graduate. With Commencement often comes an emptiness, a sense of loss. Much joy and relief, yes. But also a “what the hell do I do now?” response. For highly sensitive persons like myself, every kind of life transition — be it graduation, a new job, a baby — comes with a few challenges and their offspring. How to gracefully maneuver between point A and point B? Like you would with any other mourning process. Because yo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607556 Fri, 28 May 2010 15:45:17 +0100 3607556 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3599491&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F26%2Fon-losing-a-child%2F Cindy Haines, Chief Medical Officer of HealthDay and Managing Editor of Physician’s Briefing recently remarked that “Grief is an inevitable component of life lived fully. It is a rare soul, indeed, who passes through unscathed. But losing a child ranks at the top of the hardest to bear.” I have thought about this so often: What I would do if one of my kids died before me? I can’t begin to appreciate the pain, the heartache, a bereaved mother or father must feel, and the reserve of strength and determination that is needed to forge ahead. I know that many of my readers have mourned the loss of their children. Several have asked me to write on this topic. However, as I am a mental-health blogger with two healthy children, I thought it best to get some help from a woma... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3599491 Wed, 26 May 2010 10:01:18 +0100 3599491 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060655&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2Fthe_two_darts_of_suffering_pain_is_inevitable_suff.php This is the sixth in a series of articles about emotional intelligence for personal growth. In keeping with the idea that emotional intelligence is one of the foundational concepts of mental health, I dedicate this installment to May, Mental Health Month. It is often said that life is suffering. Some of that suffering is unavoidable. Life has a way of throwing us adversity. The pain of physical distress and illness as well as the psychological pain of loss is unavoidable. This is the first "Dart" and might be called pain. Pain serves an adaptive function in human life and allows us to appraise our experience and prepare to act in ways to maintain favorable conditions or to change unfavorable conditions (Egloff et al., 2006). Positive emotions encourage us to maintain that which evoked our... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060655 Mon, 10 May 2010 00:36:05 +0100 4060655 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3546894&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F09%2Flife-lessons-from-a-mentally-ill-mom%2F This is my 22nd Mother’s Day. Or my first, depending on how you look at it. You can read my experiences with being a birthmom here and here. Part 3 is rather happier: This is the first Mother’s Day following my ridiculously blissful reunion with my wonderful son and his equally wonderful parents. It’s hard to say much, mostly because the memories of those few days in December are so intensely personal and the emotions still so raw. I’m not quite ready to let the world in on them. What I will say is that, as magical as it all was, and as healing as it all was, it wasn’t a cure-all. Right now, I’m on my third antidepressant combo in two months, trying to get out of the most recent episode, just so you know that even really joyous events don’t instantly cure longstanding... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3546894 Sun, 09 May 2010 09:55:17 +0100 3546894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3519503&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F30%2F7-ways-to-beat-depression-if-youre-unemployed%2F The unemployment rate today has skyrocketed to approximately 10 percent and is forecast to stay above 9.5 percent for the rest of 2010. For the first time in American history, more women are working than men because close to 80 percent of the people laid off in the recent recession were men. According to a recent study published in the “International Journal of Epidemiology,” unemployment is a major risk factor for depression, even in people without previous vulnerability. Because my husband is an architect — the housing market is dead, remember — whose work has slowed down substantially, I have an invested interest in this topic and wanted to know what I could do to help him stay physically and emotionally healthy, since, theoretically, one of us should be. Here, ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3519503 Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:30:00 +0100 3519503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3370473&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F16%2F7-ways-to-beat-depression-for-seniors%2F Roughly a quarter of people age 65 or older suffer from depression. More than half of doctor’s visits by the elderly involve complaints of emotional distress. Twenty percent of suicides in this country are committed by seniors, with the highest success rate belonging to older, white men. According to a recent report in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, depression is one of the major causes of decline in the health-related quality of life for senior citizens. Why all the depression? Rafi Kevorkian, M.D. calls them the five D’s: disability, decline, diminished quality of life, demand on caregivers, and dementia. To combat senior depression, then, requires coming up with creative methods to counter the five D’s. Here are 7 strategies to do just that, to help pe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3370473 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:09:10 +0100 3370473 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3331350&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F04%2Fwhy-are-so-many-teens-depressed%2F Entertainment Tonight recently reported that TV and music star Marie Osmond’s 18-year-old son, Michael Blosil, committed suicide last Friday in Los Angeles. In his suicide note, he described a life-long battle with depression, the reason for his suicide. Osmond said Michael became depressed after she and her ex-husband, Brian Blosil, separated, and that he entered rehab in November 2007. According to suicide.org, a teen takes his or her own life every 100 minutes. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. Approximately 20 percent of teens experience depression before they reach adulthood, and between 10 to 15 percent suffer from symptoms at any one time. Only 30 percent of depressed teens are being treated for it.Some teens are more at risk for teen ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3331350 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:24:54 +0100 3331350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3322412&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F01%2Fsuicide-celebrity-and-young-adulthood%2F With the recent spate of celebrity-related suicides — Alexander McQueen (a fashion designer), Andrew Koenig (from the TV series, Growing Pains), and now Michael Blosil, Marie Osmond’s 18-year-old son — it seems like a sad but appropriate time to weigh in on this tragic outcome of untreated (or under-treated) depression, which is the leading cause of suicide. Alicia Sparks, blogging over at Celebrity Psychings, notes recommendations for the media when reporting on suicide, because suicide contagion is a real phenomenon. That is, there is a small but statistically significant increase in suicide deaths after a reported suicide makes the media rounds. Especially when the person who died by suicide is a celebrity. While suicide feels like a very personal and intense situation tha... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3322412 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:05:32 +0100 3322412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3269716&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F13%2Fwhat-to-do-when-life-falls-apart-the-essential-6-step-program%2F What constitutes life falling apart? The death of a beloved spouse or family member? A marriage or relationship that has withered away or perhaps ended abruptly? A job loss potentially leading to financial ruin (or so you might think right now)? Whichever situation is closest to yours, there are some steps that you must go through to come out the other side with your heart — and new life — intact.   The 6 Steps Wallow in it. This step is essential. Repeat everything you went and are still going through many times to anyone who will listen. Good friends and family will be very patient with this part of the process. If your big life change included a cheating spouse, self-righteous indignation is appropriate at this point. Part of this step includes getting out of bed and... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3269716 Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:22:56 +0100 3269716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262647&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F10%2Fwhat-two-poles%2F He looks as if he got confused when dressing this morning in his Eddie Bauer hiking boots and his Armani suit. Then I remember the snow and slush I schlepped through on the way to his office. Always ill prepared for wintry weather, or just too stubborn to buy hideous boots, I sit on his leather couch, nervously shaking my wet, tennis shoed foot, legs crossed, pillow clutched protectively in front of me and my demons. For $135, we are reviewing my meds today. On more than one occasion, it’s been pointed out that I “present” well. This psychological jargon translates into: me, looking just fine. By some unconscious effort, perhaps I do act in that manner. Still, no Oscar, or the riches that accompany it, arrives in my mail box. Go figure. Indeed, I am in grand shape. This is the only s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262647 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:15:45 +0100 3262647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212378&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F26%2F10-ways-to-find-a-good-therapist%2F When we want to improve our bodies we pretty much know where to find help. This time of year the gyms are full and the meeting rooms at Weight Watchers are packed. But what do we do when we want to improve our inner selves, our relationships, or want to find help with depression or anxiety? Making the decision to find help is hard enough. Why should you have to get even more stressed out hunting for the right therapist? It’s like searching for a needle in a haystack unless you have some guidance. So here are a few tips: 1. Forget the yellow pages. A yellow pages listing is expensive so a lot of good people aren’t there. I’m not. Plus there is no oversight or regulation of who can list. 2. Ask a professional you already work with and trust. Your accountant, lawyer, dentist... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212378 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:30:39 +0100 3212378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142625&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F05%2Fthis-emotional-life-losing-a-brother-to-suicide%2F Harvard psychologist and bestselling author Daniel Gilbert has teamed up with Vulcan Productions and the NOVA/WGBH Science Unit to create a multimedia project called This Emotional Life. The second part of this 3-part documentary airs tonight on PBS, but you should also check out their website which features expert bloggers and clips from the series. Featured in the second episode is Robert Antonioni, a state senator in Massachusetts who faced up to his own depression after the suicide of his brother. His personal experience has strengthened his own position as a key policymaker in Massachusetts. I had the opportunity to interview him. Question: How did the suicide of your brother strengthen your position as a key policymaker in Massachusetts? Robert Antonioni: I gradually came to realize,... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142625 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:07:47 +0100 3142625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3075571&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F10%2Fthe-7-kinds-of-hope%2F Awhile back Anthony Scioli, coauthor of “Hope in the Age of Anxiety” discussed nine forms of hopelessness and how you can overcome them. This week, I’ve invited Julie Neraas, author of “Apprenticed to Hope: A Sourcebook for Difficult Times,” to tell us about the different kinds of hope. Julie is an ordained minister, spiritual director and associate professor at Hamline University, and speaks regularly about hope, where it can guide you, how it can sustain you, and what meaning it can bring to your life. For more information visit www.julieneraas.com. Here’s Julie … Not all hopes are alike. There are many different kinds like daily hopes — that rain won’t spoil the picnic, that the dentist will not find cavities. Or still larger hopes,... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3075571 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:24:34 +0100 3075571 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3019064&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F22%2Fsigns-of-suicide-from-kathryn-goetzke%2F Kathryn Goetzke is a depression survivor that began a non-profit organization for depression called iFred (the International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression) dedicated to encouraging research on depression and reducing the stigma associated with the disease. Kathryn lost both her father and her aunt to untreated depression — both tragically ending their lives in suicide. Kathryn herself experienced multiple depressive episodes before getting treatment. She began the organization in 2005, and it has attempted to bring more attention the impact that depression — and its untreated effects, such as suicide — has on families and society. Recently, the Chicago CBS affiliate interviewed her briefly for a story about the signs of suicide, after the suicide of ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3019064 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:01:01 +0100 3019064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015323&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F21%2Fsurviving-the-suicide-of-someone-you-love%2F My brother’s childhood best friend committed suicide. I was 16 years old at the time, Mark (not his real name) was 21. Mark’s parents were close friends of my parents; we played together as little kids, he was my first crush. We drifted apart as we grew up. Mark was a Kennedy-esque figure to me, handsome and smart. Everyone expected great things when he went off to an Ivy League law school. Then he was dead. I have a vivid memory of walking around the neighborhood with Mark’s brother at night. The adults were sitting shiva and he had to get away. Suddenly he grabbed a fallen branch and wailed it on the trunk of a tree. Raw anger. This family did heal. Before support groups or national days of recognition they talked about the conflicting emotions pain, anger, guilt. The ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015323 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:19:11 +0100 3015323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3003821&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F18%2Fholiday-blues-with-some-shades-of-grey%2F Meagan really wanted this Christmas to be “extra special” — not like last year, when the family dinner turned nasty and Uncle Fred left in a huff. But as Christmas approached, the shopping chores multiplied, and the savings account dwindled, Meagan became increasingly anxious and dejected. Paul, her husband, wasn’t of much help — he was preoccupied with his job search, after having been laid off two months ago. Meagan was left to deal with three school-age kids and a part-time “temp” job as a secretary. And all this, at a time Meagan strongly associated with her late mother, who always used to help with the holiday cooking — and who had passed away at about this time last year. In the past few days, Meagan had found it increasingly hard to fall asleep, ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3003821 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:24:58 +0100 3003821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2981138&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F11%2Fin-honor-of-veterans-2009%2F This Veterans Day, as we honor the sacrifices made by soldiers who’ve served and those who continue to do so, we mark the 91st anniversary of the end of World War I. It seems so long ago to most of us — ancient history. Yet history is a teacher and if we don’t listen, we’re bound to repeat the same mistakes. The mistake we’re repeating today is not doing enough to recognize and take care of veterans’ mental health needs. This isn’t some feel good mantra. This is a very real need that the military continues to have problems meeting. A professional, nonprofit that represents 1,600 behavioral healthcare organizations released a press release yesterday detailing some of the continuing issues. “For instance, while the Veterans Mental Health Act wa... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2981138 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:46:09 +0100 2981138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2981139&cid=t_356372_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=2977337&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F09%2Fthe-psychology-of-hasan-the-ft-hood-shooter%2F I’ve held off in writing anything about the tragic Ft. Hood shooting, allowing some time for details to emerge and for emotions to settle. Random acts of violence always leave us all scratching our heads, but sometimes the violence seems so extreme, the act so irrational, one can’t help but turn and ask, “Why did he do it?” Major Nidal Malik Hasan is now apparently conscious and talking in his hospital bed, after being shot multiple times by Sgt. Kim Munley, a civilian police officer, who selflessly and heroically put herself in harm’s way in order to save countless of others’ lives. Munley is in stable but good condition and is very upbeat, according to news reports. Virginia Tech helped guide Munley’s aggressive response to Hasan’s shooting... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977337 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:52:07 +0100 2977337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2967341&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F06%2Fhow-do-you-treat-empty-nest-depression%2F Several mom friends of mine have lately come down with a bad case of “empty-nest depression” — moms who just dropped off their youngest offspring to college, or moms having difficulty keeping busy now that the youngest is in kindergarten all day. I googled the term “empty-nest depression” to see what I could find on this topic. I was surprised to see the Beyond Blue post I wrote in 2007 at the top of the search results. But, after reading it, I can see why it was so popular. I merely asked a question, and all of you answered it. On the comment box of that post are written different kinds of compassionate and insightful responses to my question: How do you treat empty-nest depression? Beyond Blue reader Barbara initiated the discussion with this practical piec... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2967341 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:27:41 +0100 2967341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2809717&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F19%2F8-survival-tips-for-the-spouse-of-a-terminally-ill-person-an-interview-with-owen-surman-md%2F Recently I had the honor of interviewing Owen Stanley Surman, M.D., a practicing hospital psychiatrist known internationally for his work on psychiatric and ethical aspects of solid organ transplantation. Following the death of his wife, Dr. Surman devoted six years to writer a memoir, “The Wrong Side of an Illness: A Doctor’s Love Story,” which includes a deeply personal and unique view of events both tragic and transcendent. He now lives in Boston with his new wife.   Question: What words of wisdom would you give the spouse of a person struggling with chronic illness or terminally ill? Dr. Surman: Chronic illness and terminal illness have a pervasive impact on how we live our lives and in our sense of identity. Loss of a loved one affects the part of ourselves that... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2809717 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:55:18 +0100 2809717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2807659&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F18%2Fsuicide-rates-unchanged-but-lots-more-think-about-it%2F Thanks to Philip over at Furious Seasons, we find that suicide rates for 2006 (the last year the government has data for) remain virtually unchanged from 2005 and 2004. Despite the dire warnings we heard about the decline of antidepressant medications (due to an FDA-mandated “black box” warning) leading to a huge spike in suicide rates, it appears not to be the case. The real story here is that the pundits and experts warning of such spikes were all wrong, and that the suicide rates have basically remained stable for the past few years. Antidepressant medications are a valuable treatment option for the millions of Americans who take them. But they are not the only treatment option, and most people realize that (if not at first, then eventually when they get frustrated by the l... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2807659 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:06:40 +0100 2807659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2785976&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F10%2F7-ways-to-manage-anxiety-on-an-anniversary%2F Most of us circle a few days of the calendar year that we know will be difficult to get through: the anniversary of a death, traumatic event, or even happy occasion. These dates are charged with emotion. September 11 falls under that category for most of us, and especially those living in New York or surrounding areas and families and loved ones of those killed in the terrorist attacks. The one benefit from anniversary anxiety is that we can predict it and therefore prepare for it. Here are 8 ways to do just that. 1. Forecast your emotions. You’ve circled the day. You know it’s coming. Now get honest with yourself about how you might feel on that day. If it’s the anniversary of a death of a loved one, get ready to celebrate that person’s life with joy and sadness. ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2785976 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:40:44 +0100 2785976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2772560&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F07%2Fthe-irony-of-labor-day-in-todays-economy%2F For millions of people getting the day off on Labor Day isn’t a problem. The unemployment numbers are in the double digits in many states, 9.7 at latest count for the United States. Sadly, as pointed out in the New York Times article Out of Work and Too Down to Search On, these statistics don’t capture the people who have given up. In the most direct measure of job market hopelessness, the [Bureau of Labor Statistics] has a narrow definition of a group it classifies as “discouraged workers.” These are people who have looked for work at some point in the past year but have not looked in the last four weeks because they believe that no jobs are available or that they would not qualify, among other reasons. In August, there were roughly 758,000 discouraged workers nationally, compare... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2772560 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:29:44 +0100 2772560 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2747985&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F30%2Fthe-miracle-worker-edward-m-kennedy%2F Senator Edward Kennedy pushed for equality among the underprivileged and desired reform for America’s mental health system. He was a gift from God — it was as if God had reached down from heaven through Sen. Kennedy to influence the very pinnacle of change. Following the funeral held August 29, 2009 that immersed America in sorrow — yet also in gratitude — the torch shall remain lit and glow brighter as people work in his name to finish the efforts he began in 1962. As President Obama said at his funeral, Senator Kennedy was “a champion for those who had none [...] a kind and tender hero.” If it were not for the service of the Kennedys and for their endless dedication to equality for mental and physical disabilities, Congress would not have passed the Mental... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2747985 Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:03:56 +0100 2747985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2613899&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F18%2Fhow-does-a-person-live-and-cope-with-a-dysfunctional-family-an-interview-with-nancy-bachrach%2F Today’s interview is somewhat untraditional, but I think you’ll enjoy it. After I read the hilarious anecdotes in Nancy Bachrach’s newly released memoir, “The Center of the Universe,” I knew I had to dig a little more on how, exactly, she copes with a dysfunctional family. Nancy formerly worked in advertising in New York and Paris, where she got to “spin hot air like cotton candy, glorifying her clients’ beloved denture adhesives and powdered orange-juice substitutes.” Before that? She was a “clumsy waitress at Howard Johnson’s, an overzealous customer-service rep fired for making genuine apologies, a stenographer for an insomniac poet, and a teaching assistant in the philosophy department at Brandeis University, where she was one... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2613899 Sat, 18 Jul 2009 10:19:47 +0100 2613899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2584216&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F08%2Fmichael-jacksons-brain-and-the-false-narrative%2F Since the news media seems to be unable to tear itself away from the Michael Jackson story, we learn about every fascinating detail about his life, and his death. Including the details of standard autopsy procedures, as though they were new or bizarre. The latest, of course, is that Michael Jackson’s body is being buried without his brain. But this is not unusual in an autopsy where the cause of death isn’t certain and the brain is suspected to carry some clues. The brain needs to harden, in order to perform the later slicing needed in the autopsy procedure: It involves removing the brain from the skull and leaving it to soak in a diluted mixture of formaldehyde and water called formalin. This soaking process usually takes four weeks and the brain genuinely does harden. Vaug... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2584216 Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:24:00 +0100 2584216 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2576651&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F06%2Fguilt-shame-and-public-life%2F Several public figures passed away last week, including Ed McMahon, Billy Mays, Farrah Fawcett and of course, Michael Jackson. Each of them made a difference for people and we don’t have to go into how they were important. The point is, they were and will remain important for years to come. When I consider the tragic life that Michael Jackson led, and how he told his former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, that he was afraid he would die the way her father Elvis did, one wonders how many other people have had the internal struggles that Jackson did. People get addicted to innumerable things. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, food, sex, shopping, video games—each is problematic and each can lead to destruction. But in Jackson’s case it was a combination of problems. He struggled with self-este... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2576651 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:38:00 +0100 2576651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2527857&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F26%2Fthe-loss-of-3-entertainment-icons-jackson-fawcett-mcmahon%2F It’s been a rough week in the entertainment world, with the loss of three stars in music, Hollywood and television. With the passing of Michael Jackson (music, mostly in the 1980s), Farrah Fawcett (movies), and Ed McMahon (The Tonight Show and Star Search), the world has lost some significant talent. Each, in their own way, contributed something special and unique to their field. You couldn’t have grown up in the 1980s and not been affected by Michael Jackson’s music (regardless of whether you liked him or not, doubtless one of your friends or girlfriend/boyfriend did). The later recriminations against Michael Jackson and his alleged interest in young boys no doubt will tarnish his otherwise popular rock career. Farrah Fawcett was, for better or worse, an icon of female ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2527857 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:01:10 +0100 2527857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511155&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F24%2Ftips-to-find-a-good-enough-doctor%2F When you have a chronic illness your relationship with your doctor is second only to your spouse or your parents. Being honest (and you must be honest!) with that person means being able to trust them to hear you. In my CI career I fired three highly recommended specialists because they were rude poopy heads. Thankfully I’ve also had wonderful physicians who literally saved my life and my mind. Not uncommonly for people with chronic illness, the path to find a good-enough doctor is an odyssey. Laura Hillenbrand, author of the fabulous book Seabiscuit: An American Legend, was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome but not before she was put through all kinds of humiliation by physicians who out of ignorance did not listen to her. “The doctor I found waved me into a chair and began ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511155 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:11:33 +0100 2511155 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060685&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2Fforgiveness_therapy_endorsed_by_a_skeptic.php Since I heard of all the excitement in the therapy literature about forgiveness therapy, I've been a skeptic. I've worked with a lot of people who have experienced unforgivable abuse. Often they are tortured by their feelings of anger, resentment, helplessness, violation, and shame for allowing themselves to be a victim. They also feel guilt about their anger with the perpetrator so much so they feel morally obligated to forgive the perpetrator. When they do, they seem to feel no personal relief from forgiveness except for less anger and guilt and a better relationship with the perpetrator. But they seem no closer to recovery than before. I work with persons with depression and anxiety, as well as long standing serious problems with relationships (personality disorder) due to growing up ... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060685 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:01:41 +0100 4060685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313546&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F03%2Ftwitter-saves-a-life-but-suicide-remains-serious-online-problem%2F I’m sorry, but I’m a bit aghast at this story of someone randomly twittering their suicidal thought to Demi Moore, and then a bunch of people who saw it retweeted by Demi called the police. The police found the person who said they were going to kill themselves, and that person is now under psychiatric evaluation. I guess this is “news” because someone sent it to Demi Moore. Demi Moore is a celebrity, so anything that touches her is defacto “news.” Does this mean the only way we can get attention/help for mental health issues in the U.S. is by tweeting a celebrity? Really, has it come to that? Meanwhile, the web has been saving (and in some cases, not saving) lives for 15+ years. The Samaritans, a nonprofit charity dedicated to helping suicidal people m... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313546 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:25:44 +0100 2313546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2287235&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2F22%2Fmad-as-hell-anger-amp-the-economy-part-three%2F Coping with Anger For the Long Haul Maybe you’ve seen these headlines recently: “As the Public Simmers…” “…Anger Boils Over” “The Outrage Factor” “Rage Could End Up Hurting Us” And my personal favorite, “Anger Mismanagement” which appeared last Saturday on the New York Times Op-Ed page. Charles M. Blow wrote: “All the tumult is couched in a jumble of jargon that is confusing and infuriating. In laymen’s terms, the financial industry gambled and lost. This damaged the economy. And if we don’t save Wall Street, the world will implode. Meanwhile, the worlds of many Americans are already imploding… It’s a mess. Then came…the A.I.G. bonus imbroglio. Employees [at A.I.G. who] caused much of the problem were paid $165 million in bonuses. This... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2287235 Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:41:43 +0100 2287235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060688&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2Fpsycportcom_virginias_suicide_hot_lines_see_spike.php Image via WikipediaAccording to The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va, calls to crisis lines in Virginia have jumped 20 percent in the past two months. "People say the economy is pushing them to the edge -- and some are contemplating going over. Widespread financial stress has long been linked to an increase in suicides. Job loss is at the heart of it, kick-starting a "chain of adversity" that feels too heavy for some to bear. [..] Most people, he said, won't crumble in times like these. "This may well get them down, but they'll weather it." For the chronically depressed, however, or those prone to suicidal thoughts: "This could be the tipping point." Christy Letsom runs a crisis hot line in downtown Norfolk that collects calls from across the region. Volume there holds steady at around 55... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060688 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:05:45 +0100 4060688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2232545&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2F02%2Fwashington-state-allows-assisted-suicide%2F Those who are terminally ill with less than 6 months to live no longer have to travel to a foreign country or hope they can find a medical practitioner in Oregon who will look the other way and let them die with dignity. Washington state has become only the second U.S. state to allow assisted suicide, otherwise known as a death with dignity law. It’s meant to stop the prolonging of a life simply because we can — medical technology and advances making it possible. But we still have a ways to go, as the law doesn’t mandate such prescriptions when requested by a patient. Doctors can opt-out of the law’s requirements, meaning one has to doctor-shop to find a physician willing to write the deadly prescription. In fact, entire hospitals will be banning the practice: Und... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2232545 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:00:44 +0100 2232545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2227166&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2F02%2Fmad-as-hell-anger-and-the-economy-part-two%2F “The hardest part of all this is my loss of security and my lack of control over my own finances and future. I feel vulnerable and completely powerless to change any of this. It angers me that other people are determining my fate. Especially since they are doing such a pathetic job of it.” ~Dawn Carter’s comment on Mad As Hell Part 1 In last week’s post I said we have a right to our anger if it’s there. Here’s the rub: How do we keep it from going nuclear, or imploding into depression? Anger Management is about doing the following three things effectively: 1) The healthiest way to express anger is in an assertive, direct and not aggressive manner. How? ➢ Clearly define what you are angry about and tell, directly, those who need to know. “I am really angry because now ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2227166 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:00:14 +0100 2227166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2222493&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F02%2F28%2Fhow-indifference-can-kill-a-relationship%2F Sometimes the killer of relationships isn’t a lack of trust, a lack of communication or arguing with your significant other. It’s simple indifference. A relationship can survive most things if both people involved in it are committed to the other person and act with respect toward the other. It can survive the death of our parents or the birth of a child. It can sometimes even survive an indiscretion (although such a behavior shows a shocking lack of respect for one’s partner). It can survive layoffs and career changes, of going back to school, or buying your first home together. It usually can even survive the wedding, one of the most stressful things adults go through in their lives. A relationship can survive angry tirades and arguments that span endless lonely days an... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2222493 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:32:51 +0100 2222493 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2228353&cid=t_356372_167_f&fid=37833&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition.edublogs.org%2F2009%2F02%2F19%2Fliving-with-loss-ebook-improving-wellness%2F While not normally a Nutrition topic, the eBook Living with Loss is a wellness topic. This eBook is a good resource for improving or maintaining wellness in the face of a loss, a death or a significant life changing event. The Living with Loss By Understanding Grief eBook is a complementary resource that I helped write, design, create and get published as part of the Tuolumne County Working Group for Loss & Grief Education and Support. The booklet was written by Dr. Dyer in 2008 with input from Working Group Members which included a cross section of those interested in Grief and Loss within Tuolumne County. Download a copy of the eBook by clicking on the eBook image at the left or on the image in the right side bar. You can find out more about the Living with Loss eBook and even view a... Nutrition and Wellness Biology 50 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2228353 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:46:20 +0100 2228353 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060706&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F08%2Fis_sadness_the_same_as_depression.php This article examines the assumption that major depression is a specific illness, that it is rapidly increasing, and that a medical response is justified. I argue that major depression is not a natural entity and does not identify a homogenous group of patients. The apparent increase in major depression results from: confusing those who are ill with those who share their symptoms; the surveying of symptoms out of context; the benefits that accrue from such a diagnosis to drug companies, researchers, and clinicians; and changing social constructions around sadness and distress. Standardized medical treatment of all these individuals is neither possible nor desirable. The major depression category should be replaced by a clinical staging strategy that acknowledges the continuous distribution... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060706 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:04:24 +0100 4060706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060731&cid=t_356372_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=4060804&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2006%2F08%2Fperceptions_have_more_to_do_wi.php From the outstanding site of Anxiety Insights, there is a summary of a recent research study that produces results questioning conventional wisdom about income, poverty and depression. None of the socio-economic indicators studied was found to be significantly associated with an episode of common mental disorder at follow-up, after baseline psychiatric illness was taken into account. The analysis of separate diagnostic categories showed that subjective financial difficulties at baseline were independently associated with depression at follow-up in both groups. In other words, it's the subjective experience of stress rather than the experience of poverty that predicts a higher rate of depression. That is consistent with my own clinical and life experiences. I teach my clients that we co... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060804 Sat, 05 Aug 2006 17:06:30 +0100 4060804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060826&cid=t_356372_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2006%2F05%2Fhow_do_you_get_up_in_the_morni.php shrinkette You go on. You go on. You bring the person you love inside you. That is how you cope. You make him or her live within you. The whole experience I had with my children is in me. It is nowhere else I can see. I can see a photograph, I can feel sad, I can read a poem, but the experience of having them within myself is what matters. Sometimes there is just nothing more to say. (Source: Ψ Dare To Dream...) Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060826 Fri, 05 May 2006 03:24:43 +0100 4060826