Practice compassion. If you are walking around with a lot of self-criticism, chances are you are also directing this blame toward others. Show some compassion toward yourself. You’re human. And other people are, too. If you can show yourself a lot of self-love, then it becomes easier to let other people be who they are. […]
I am glad to see that the "swab" home HIV test has been approved, and that this test will very soon be available for individuals who want to test themselves at home, and hopefully at a reasonable price. On one hand, it is evidence that HIV is being viewed as a treatable chronic condition and not a death sentence. On the other hand, being diagnosed with HIV brings up a lot of feelings, and the stigma around HIV has dissipated but hasn’t disappeared. I am concerned that not everybody who receives an HIV+ result will know what to do with their emotional reaction, an
I had a call from someone recently who wanted to join a support group for caregivers. Unfortunately, she had a time conflict with my group.
I talk to so many people who are dealing wit some form of uncertainly in their lives. I am at the point where I feel like economic uncertainty is the universal condition. I don’t know anyone who isn’t either struggling or doing okay but conceerned about the future, or somewhere in between. That means we are all feeling a little, or lot of, anxiety. A medical diagnosis, adds yet another layer of uncertainty. Dealing uncertainty, and the frustrations of life, begins with admitting how you feel, not sugar-coating reality. Lif
I talk to so many people who are dealing wit some form of uncertainly in their lives. I am at the point where I feel like economic uncertainty is the universal condition. I don’t know anyone who isn’t either struggling or doing okay but conceerned about the future, or somewhere in between. That means we are all feeling a little, or lot of, anxiety. A medical diagnosis, adds yet another layer of uncertainty. Dealing uncertainty, and the frustrations of life, begins with admitting how you feel, not sugar-coating reality. Lif
I am heartbroken by the loss of a very good high school friend to cancer today, May 17. Throughout her treatment, she exhibited bravery, optimism, and a sense of humor. Another good friend of mine, Deborah Emin, has written a wonderful book, Scags at 18. If you buy Deborah’s book, she will make a donation to the Foundation for Women’s Cancer. How is that for synchronicity? Here is a link: http://sullivanstpress.com/products-page/e-books/scags-at-18-ebook/
Spring is here! With the sun coming streaming in through the windows a little earlier, and sticking around a little later, I have started to dig through the clutter around my home and office that seems to accumulate during the winter months. You know, spring cleaning. There is something empowering about spring cleaning. It is a way of putting the long, cold winter behind you, and opening your house up to the fresh air and sunshine. It gets you moving again. And it seems to give us a feeling of renewed well-being. A way of welcoming happier days into
My experiences in working with newly-diagnosed cancer patients has certainly taught me, over and over, how important it is to get help with your emotional reactions to your diagnosis. My experiences are also supported by scientific evidence. A recent study has shown that individuals who are newly diagnosed with cancer have a greatly increased risk of suicide and fatal heart attacks immediately after receiving their diagnosis. This study left me literally shaking. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you know what I am talking about.
Do you have people in your life that, the day you told them about your diagnosis, started relating to you as if you had (your diagnosis: diabetes, arthritis, cancer, HIV, etc.) tattooed on your forehead?