It has been just over 8 months since Phillip donated his kidney to me. October 7th will always be a momentous day to us. It is special in ways I still cannot find words to describe. Some of life is the same. Some has changed. Here’s what’s different: I have…
Book Review: How to Manage Depression Without Drugs
Receiving a diagnosis seems to be the end of choice. Once you’re in the medical system, it can seem that many choices are made for you as you march between tests, specialists and medications. It is easy to become resigned to this fate. Give in. Get it over with. If…
Living Chronic Resilience
We have arrived, at last, at last, with our final post in our series on positive thinking. We began with where the modern positive thinking movement came from, followed that with the scientific and medical explorations around positive thinking, took a detour into my personal struggles with positive thinking, discussed…
Where did ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ come from?
You’ve probably seen the headlines: Power of a Super Attitude (USA Today, 2004) A Positive Attitude Might Improve Your Health, Longevity (U.S. News & World Report, 2009) Heal thyself: Think positive (New Scientist, 2011) And there is more…much more from Oprah show episodes, to PBS specials and the cover of…
The Comparison Trap
I recently had the pleasure of talking with the insightful Joan Friedlander, author of Business from Bed: The 6 Step Plan to Get Yourself Working Again After a Health Crisis. She has written a wonderful guide to creating a business or career that is in alignment with your values and…
8 Reasons to Participate in Clinical Trials
Participating in a clinical trial can be intimidating. There are certainly lots of things to consider based on what it being tested. That said, you can also participate in making history. During September of 2011, I traveled to the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland to participate in…
A Day of Letting Go
Illness requires us to let go of a lot of things. I sometimes think it’s a spiritual quest toward non-attachment. Priorities become clearer as we need to clear our plates to allow for healing. I had to let go of two things today. I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow where…
The Ridiculous Goal of ‘Get Healthy’
At New Years, or after a particularly glutinous meal, everyone says they want to “get healthy.” But what does that mean? Get healthy isn’t a good goal to have. At all. Becoming healthy is going to require you to do things you do not want to do. You will need…
Warrior Women: Charity & Kelly
Chronic Resilience is filled with stories from 9 amazing women. They are all coping with the same stresses that you and I do. They are also strong, resilient and completely inspiring. I’ve been introducing them here on the blog. Last week you met Sarah and Lauren. Today I’d like to…
5 Warning Signs of Chronic Stress
I have always felt like stressful situations come in groups. It’s not just that you’re having a flare-up, it’s that it’s happening just when your work project is due. As things pile on, it is easy to get caught in a cycle of chronic stress. Especially with illness, which is…