When treated by your physician, especially for something serious, you want her or him to be alert and functioning on all cylinders, right? But what if your doc is seriously stressed out and unlikely to take care of himself? Does that mean you’ll suffer, too?

The medical journal The Lancet reported, “The emotional well-being of doctors is a major index of the quality of the health-care system as a whole.” This is a bit scary since this is also a profession with higher suicide, burnout, alcohol and substance abuse rates. “The baseline physician is walking around fairly burned out,” says Professor Dan Shapiro, chair of the department of humanities at Penn State College of Medicine. “We teach doctors that they have to be self-denying.” Besides, stress management isn’t taught in med school because physician stress isn’t recognized.

Dr. Suzanne Koven in a Psychology Today article says that doctors have a plethora of career-specific stress to deny, which can and does work against good mental health, such as:
* Those who get into and through medical school are likely competitive and perfectionists.
* Expectations within the field include toughing it out during difficult professional situations like exhaustive surgeries or very long hours. Shockingly, “a large majority of doctors in residency training say that they’d keep working if they had vomited all night, saw blood in their urine, or experienced extreme anxiety.” On occasion ignoring symptoms may be harmless but as a lifestyle over the years a physician can find herself in dire, physical and emotional shape.
* Other strains include long hours, sleep deprivation, medical school debt that pushes them to work harder, fear of being sued and of not performing perfectly, endless paperwork, meetings, etc. All of which can create chronic stress making them vulnerable to illness and disease development. In one survey 20% of medical trainees rated their mental health as “fair to poor.”
* Many have enormous workloads with great responsibilities while not practicing good stress management nor eating healthfully.
* To make a living, they have to see more patients in less time, defeating the reason they came into medicine. They’re chronically rushed and probably not focusing on patients as carefully as they should. “They’re like air traffic controllers with too many planes in the air,” Shapiro says.
* Shapiro points out that 75% of American health-care dollars goes to treating chronic illnesses leaving docs spending significant time caring for people who remain ill. This must be very frustrating and a serious contributor to burnout.

For these and other reasons too many doctors are hesitant to seek medical and psychiatric care. Additionally, this is a profession that operates with an unspoken code of silence so physicians are unlikely to report colleagues with substance abuse or psychological problems so they go untreated.

It’s in all of our best interests if those who care for our medical needs take better care of themselves. Physicians with improved self-care and less stress make for better patient care and presumably healthier patients, too.

Jacquelyn Ferguson, M. S., is an international speaker and a Stress and Wellness Coach.

Click here to order her book, Let Your Body Win: Stress Management Plain & Simple.

For more information on the book, Wellness Coaching, click here.

You know you’re a stressed out woman if your inner child want to be adopted by someone with more time to play.  If you get so anxious driving carpool that there are teeth marks on your steering wheel.  If your favorite pizza topping is antacid tablets.

If you have any of these symptoms, read on – these horoscopes are just for you.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) – You’re always a hard worker, but lately you’ve been overdoing it.  Now is the time to put aside your to-do list and take a nice deep breath.  But not so deep you inhale the kitty litter from across the room.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18) –Free-spirited Aquarius, you get stressed out by taking on too many projects and need to learn how to say NO.  Ask a three-year old, they’re usually very good at the word.  If you’re a single Aquarian, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start dating a massage therapist.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) – Are you looking for a great way to relax at the office?  Why not get a fish tank, dear Pisces, and let your worries float away?   The good thing about fish is that they never need to be driven to soccer practice or a ballet recital, so don’t even think about buying tiny waterproof cleats or tutus!

Aries (March 21-April 19) – You have to admit that you are often moody and impatient.  “Am not!”  “Are too!”  A great way for you to maintain a more even emotional keel is through aromatherapy.  Buy yourself some candles to set the mood you’d like to be in for the day, but resist your impulse to buy two opposing scents such as “Relaxed” and “Perky.”

Taurus (April 20-May 20) – Your tendency to get over-anxious in public can lead to trouble, like that time you bit off the fingernail’s of the woman sitting next to you on that long flight across country.  Try visualizing something that makes you feel peaceful inside – for example, an imaginary maid who leaves your house spotless every week without you lifting a finger.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) – Despite your pride in your ability to multi-task, there are some things you should never do at the same time.  Like meditating with your eyes closed while driving home from work.  Or preparing your taxes while taking a bubble bath.  However, since you are also psychic and intuitive, I really didn’t have to tell you any of this, did I?

Cancer (June 21-July 23) – A yoga class would be a great idea right about now, but be sure to stretch out first – you have been kind of tense lately and don’t want to get stuck in the lotus position and have to call the paramedics to bring the Jaws of Life to get you out.

Leo (July 24-August 22) – You pride yourself on your intelligence, so why not put your stress in check by checking out one of the latest books on the subject?  You can’t go wrong with What Color is My Blood Pressure; Men are from Mars, Women Have to Clean it Up; or Chicken Soup Someone Else Made Always Tastes Better.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) – Your desire to take care of others is admirable, but please stop going into your neighbor’s house when they are away and dusting.  It just adds one more thing to your list; well, two, if you count dealing with the police after you set off their alarm.  Re-channel your energy into exercise.  And no, twitching doesn’t count as exercise.

Libra (September 23-October 22) – Let’s face it, you’re too darned busy.  It’s okay to use press-on nails, but press-on clothes?  That’s a little too much.  And aren’t you tired of eating your Lean Cuisine™ frozen?  Take a few things off your to-do list and enjoy your life.  Maybe you’ll even find time to pull your pantyhose all the way up before you leave for work in the morning.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) – Your coffee habit isn’t healthy.  Especially now that you’ve taken to chewing used coffee grounds for your afternoon pick-me-up.  Try water instead.  You’ll be less jittery and your pupils may return to their original size.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) – You’ve got to slow down.  Is it really necessary to fast-forward through those sounds of nature tapes you bought to relax to?  Maybe it’s time for a vacation:  sand, surf, sun anyone?  And try not to run any marathons while you’re away.

by Leigh Anne Jasheway

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Prestigious Ben Franklin Award

Welcome Them Home Help Them Heal: Pastoral Care and Ministry with Service Members Returning from War by John Sippola, Chaplain, LTC, ret., MDiv, Amy Blumenshine, MSW, MA, Donald A Tubesing, PhD, MDiv, and Valerie Yancey, PhD, RN has been named a winner in the 22nd annual Benjamin Franklin Awards ™ from IBPA, the Independent Book Publishers Association in recognition of excellence in independent publishing.

IBPA, the Independent Book Publishers Association, recently honored the best books in 50 categories at the Benjamin Franklin Awards™ in New York City on May 24, 2010, prior to the BookExpo America tradeshow. Welcome Them Home Help Them Heal won first place in the Religion category. Judged by a panel of book industry experts including buyers at wholesale and retail levels, librarians, book critics, design experts, and independent publishing consultants, these books have been scrutinized by individuals involved in the very markets in which the books are competing.

Welcome Them Home was written to equip the growing number of pastors, parish nurses, counselors, and caregivers in churches across the country to support and advocate for veterans and their loved ones. It expands the reader’s knowledge of how to provide physical, mental, and spiritual care for veterans and sparks a spirit of willingness and hope. A practical guide for ministering to veterans offering an understanding of the nature of the Iraq/Afghanistan wars, the challenges soldiers face when returning home, and the physical, psychological, and spiritual wounds of war. It defines the role of the church, discussing the basic principles for outreach, guidelines for creating a welcoming and safe environment, and presenting ideas for activating the healing rituals of the church year. It provides a wealth of resources: agencies that serve veterans, tips for making effective referrals, quick screening tools for PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injury, and a comprehensive Wounds of War assessment. The Ben Franklin Award recognized that Welcome Them Home Help Them Heal was the most successful book in achieving its purpose and meeting its audience’s needs.

Named in honor of America’s cherished publisher and printer, the Benjamin Franklin Award recognizes excellence in independent publishing. Books are grouped by genre and are judged on editorial and design merit by top practitioners in each field. A panel of 150 judges from throughout the publishing industry weighed and evaluated close to 1,300 submissions in 50 categories to create the list of more than 150 finalists for the 2009 publishing year. Publishers large and small competed for the coveted Benjamin Franklin Awards.

IBPA, with more than 3,200 members, is the largest trade association representing independent publishers. Founded in 1983, its mission is to advance the professional interests of independent publishers

For more information, contact Carlene Sippola (800-247-6789) at Whole Person Associates. For a complete listing of finalists and to view the award winners in each of the 50 categories, check out the IBPA website at www.IBPA-online.org.

Welcome Them Home Help Them Heal:

Pastoral Care and Ministry with Service Members Returning from War

Written by: John Sippola, Chaplain, LTC, ret., MDiv; Amy Blumenshine, MSW, MA; Donald A Tubesing, PhD, MDiv; Valerie Yancey, PhD, RN
No. of pages: 112
Softcover:  Price $12.00
ISBN: 978-1-57025-246-4
Publication date: 2009

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-Belleruth Naparstek

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Father Joe O’Keeffe, a Roman Catholic chaplain in the VA, was the first key advocate of WTH – HTH within the VA. Last month he just gave a major presentation in Washington, D.C. at a Department of Defense (DOD) conference. During his presentation he used the Wounds of War assessment which was very well received.  In an email to Amy Blumenshine here’s what he wrote:

Amy, The DOD/VA Suicide Prevention Conference last week was an amazing event with over 1000 participants. My presentation on Sunday afternoon was well received and chaplain Michael Pollitt provided me with 125 copies of your book, which we gave out free to Active Duty and VA Chaplains, Social workers and mental health workers.  I expect you will be getting a lot of calls for additional copies.  Again Thanks to you and the other team members for an insightful and spiritually moving book.  Sincerely, Fr. Joe O’Keeffe.

Fr. O’Keeffe just ordered another 30 books.

This workbook helps you learn the basics of Positive Attitude Development (PAD). You can use it on your own or use it as a tool in a PAD group.

The introduction gives you an overall sense of our perspective on Positive Attitude Development. The chapters are designed to be read and used in order, since each chapter builds on concepts in the pervious chapter(s).

At the end of each chapter are BrainWork activities—mental exercises related to the subject of the chapter. These exercises don’t have right or wrong answers—they are designed to get you thinking in new ways.

When you come upon the BrainWork symbol in the text, go to the end of the chapter and complete that particular BrainWork exercise. When you’ve completed the exercise, go back to the text and keep reading.

Once you’ve completed a chapter, turn to the back of the book to read some reflections on the chapter’s BrainWork exercises. Don’t use the back of the book to figure out how many answers you got right. Instead think about your responses in light of the end-of-the-book reflections, and see what insights you gain.

At first, some BrainWork questions may seem strange and difficult. That is intentional. Each question is meant to require you to think differently. As you work through each BrainWork, remember that Positive Attitude Development comes only through daily repetition of powerful mental exercises.

In fact, we encourage you to use the BrainWork exercises over and over as you practice and keep building your Positive Attitude Development.

We hope you enjoy your adventure.

-from page 5 of The Positive Attitude Development Workbook, by Lyle Wildes with Joe Kelly

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Ready? Those three little words are: “Can you play?”

Remember when you were young and a kid would show up at your door and ask “Can you play?” It was exciting and fun. It meant you had a friend, and you could finally get out of the house, away from the stuffy grown-ups!

If you’ve forgotten just how magical those three words can be, stand outside an elementary school during recess and listen to the giggles, the songs, and the shouts of glee coming from the playground. When was the last time you felt the urge to make joyful noises so loud they could be heard down the block? And as a presenter or trainer, when was the last time you were able to help any group of people feel that way? A few weeks ago? A year? Never?

Play isn’t kids’ stuff. It’s a vital way of bonding with other people, of communicating messages that get remembered, and of leaving a good lasting impression. Unfortunately, in our rush to grow up and get serious, we forget how a playful attitude can make almost anything easier. People who speak and teach for a living forget this lesson too. That’s why so many of them stand behind a podium and lecture with PowerPoint – or as I call it “I’m not interesting, look at this slide!” But unless the point of a presentation is to bore an audience to tears or drive them to spend their time secretly text messaging the office on their Blackberries or cell phones, there are better ways to get a message across.

-from the Introduction to Are You Playing With Me?, by Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant, MPH

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GriefWork ~ Healing from Loss is for therapists, counselors, group facilitators and other professionals working to help grieving people heal from their losses. Everyone experiences loss. We refer to the psychological process of coping with a significant loss as grief work. The range of behaviors, emotions and attitudes is huge. Throughout the book we use the terms normalize and New Normal to convey that everyone’s grief has a unique expression and is that particular person’s ‘normal.’

The handouts in GriefWork ~ Healing from Loss will engage those who grieve and encourage them to identify, internalize and/or verbalize personal feelings whileworking through the grieving process.

GriefWork ~ Healing from Loss contains activity and educational handouts and journaling pages which can be used in individual counseling sessions, educational settings and support groups. We strongly suggest that before sharing the handouts in this book, you complete them yourself, remembering a loss you have experienced. By doing the activities you will better understand the value, and some of the reactions to the activity. It will also increase your comfort level and your confidence in using the handouts. It is possible and quite probable that you, as well as your clients, will grow emotionally and spiritually while doing this important work.

-from page 7 of GriefWork ~ Healing from Loss, by Fran Zamore, LISW, IMFT & Ester Leutenberg

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