Words that Heal

What not to say

"You have it so good, why aren't you happy?"

"You have so many things to be thankful for, why are you depressed!"

"When you lose someone you love, you gain an angel you know" -- Unknown

"I give you this one thought to keep – I am with you still, I do not sleep…Do you think of me as gone – I am with you still, in each new dawn" -- Unknown

What can you do?

If you are the practical type firstly, don't ask "Is there is anything I can do?" You may mean it at the time – but get real, -- they aren't going to ASK!

How about: Organizing meals to be brought in? A word of warning, if you take this on, it needs to be organized properly or it can become stressful for you and the recipient.

One out of three people have ongoing - or chronic - illness to deal with ever day.  So what exactly is a chronic illness?   Very simply, it's a group of health conditions that last a long time. In fact, the root word of chronic is "chronos," which refers to time. And it's not just the length of time sufferers have to deal with a chronic illness, it often takes a long time for an accurate diagnosis followed by an even greater amount of time finding the right cocktail of medication to alleviate symptoms.

The patient's greatest need is to have the support of someone like you!

1. Keep communication open but be a good listener. Allow them to express their emotions without criticism.

When I ask you to listen to me and you start giving me advice, you have not done what I asked.

When I ask you to listen to me and you begin to tell me why I shouldn't feel that way, you are trampling on my feelings.

Call it what you want -- being laid off or downsized, getting dismissed or fired, losing your job hurts. Among a variety of life-altering events, such as death in the family, divorce, and serious illness, losing your job ranks among the highest in stress-causing situations

These 15 helpful hints are to help you take an active role in managing your health care. They are NOT INTENDED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult your physician.

1. Try to relax while taking treatment. Headphones or good conversation can take your mind off of the drugs. Embrace the drug. Don't think of it as toxic, let it do its work.