Have you had a good day lately? And if you did, what made it good? You might be thinking: Why not just be thankful when a good day comes along? What’s the value in trying to analyze it? Well, that’s a good question. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, right? But here’s why: […]
The decision to stop treatment is a difficult one. If you, or a loved one, are ever in that position, here are some thoughts to help guide you. Ultimately, it’s your decision. After all, it’s your life. While the desires of loved ones may be factors in your decision, you have the right to decide […]
My clients often talk to me about their frustrations and fears when they are on a regimen that is now working. They talk about how they did everything they could to stay compliant, how their physician had assured them that this regimen should be successful. But it wasn’t. These clients are living with conditions like cancer, […]
I recently spoke to a group of employees at a large hospital in New York City on the topic of compassion fatigue. As you probably already know, healthcare workers, like therapists, are at risk for compassion fatigue. Especially if they aren’t taking care of themselves, trying to live a balanced life, spending time with people […]
Clients often want to talk to me about having better self-esteem. And living with a chronic condition can certainly impact your self-esteem. I encourage them to think of self-esteem as a quality that they can build by taking actions in their life that increase their self-esteem. In other words, better self-esteem isn’t just about understanding […]
Feeling anxious is part of being human. It’s certainly part of living with a chronic condition. And while feeling anxious is uncomfortable, we can learn to live with it, and not “get anxious about getting anxious.” And here’s something else I talk to my clients about: Anxiety can be useful if we learn how to […]
Being able to communicate with your doctor is important, that’s for sure. A collegial, friendly relationship enhances trust. And when you and your doctor trust each other, you are more likely to be open and honest in your communication. That’s all good. But is it love? And if you do love your doctor, are there times […]
There is a lot to be said for being aware of where we are in life. That doesn’t mean we always like where we are, that’s for sure. I don’t think anyone is more aware of life’s GPS than those of us who are living with a chronic condition. The ups, the downs, the responsibilities, […]
Welcome to the human mind. Those thoughts keep coming at us. Some we dismiss, others we grab onto and go for the ride. And what a ride that can be! So a question. What thoughts are you grabbing onto and going for the ride? And where are they taking you? Someplace good or someplace not so […]
Are you aware of the formal definition of advocate? Dictionary.com defines an advocate as a person who “speaks or writes in support or defense of a person or a cause.” In my mind, that definition pretty much covers the water in terms of the examples of advocacy that I provided. What I would say is […]