July 13, 2009 by Greg Katz
I just finished a paper for school. I’ve been thinking a lot about change since my class in May where we talked about the state of the world from an ecological point of view. The truth is that most of us don’t treat the earth any better than we treat our own bodies. Do you know how many people suffer from dehydration annually? Are you aware how many people don’t get enough rest in the same way we don’t allow fields to recover till they are worthless? It’s easy to determine what will get us to change environmentally because we’ll suffer greatly, but what will get you to change how you treat your body?
Will it take feeling confused and disoriented before someone realizes that your dehydrated? Do you have to be hospitalized for exhaustion because you won’t take time to rest, even if it means creating more problems down the road? Think long and hard before you answer these questions because I think the answers will surprise you. All to often it takes being hit by a bolt of lightning, both literally and/or figuratively before change happens. Why are we often so resistant to improving our own health, warding off disease, or promoting wellness?
Have we really become a culture that thrives on trying to overcome obstacles? Even if that’s the case, do you really want to play the odds with your health before you make the necessary changes that promote wellness? Are we becoming more resistant in the same way that insects are becoming resistant to our pesticides? That leaves us having to up the ante of trouble before you make any formidable changes…does that sound reasonable to you?
If you’re unsure about any of this start reading accounts by conservationists like Rachel Carson and see if it speaks to you. See if the problems described personally and environmentally inhibit your own growth physically, emotionally, and spiritually. You’ll be surprised how similar our stories really are when we take the time to listen to others!
Posted in Living with Illness, after the diagnosis, coping with chronic illness, coping with life threatening illness, living with chronic illness | Tagged coaching illness, conservation, ecology, environment, environmentalism and health, Greg Katz, illness coaching, patient empowerment, Rachel Carson | Leave a Comment »
July 10, 2009 by Greg Katz
Welcome to Caregiver Friday!!!
When we think about caregiving the first picture is role you take beside the patient; holding their hand, arranging for their care, and offering moral and emotional support. The truth is that just because someone receives a diagnosis for a chronic or life-threatening illness doesn’t mean they will need constant care. Often following the diagnosis there is an immediate call for care and then that need may reduce. Where does that leave you as the caregiver/wellness partner?
I guess the first question is how do you feel about being on call? I understand that you may live with the person you’re caring for, but they may not need your care as a caregiver so that role can get benched, hopefully a long time. If things change, it may require that you get called to action as the caregiver, sort of like being in the National Guard and being activated to serve.
How do you feel about being on call? For some it’s a blessing and for others it’s more stressful because you never know when you’ll be activated. Offering constant care may be easier for some because there’s no interruption in your concentration on being a caregiver. Others may really like the idea of being an intermittent caregiver. In fact, many prefer this because it signifies a level of health for the person you’re caring for.
No matter which direction your life takes you, being a caregiver is synonymous with grace. Your life will forever be changed by your caregiving experience.
Posted in Caregiving | Tagged care for the caregiver, caregiver burnout, caregiver empowerment, caregiver health, caregiver needs, caregiver stress, caregiver support, coaching caregivers, Greg Katz | Leave a Comment »
July 8, 2009 by Greg Katz
Ever wonder why part of the activities of the scouts is to be able to find their way in the wilderness? There are many methods that allow us to find our way in unfamiliar territory, some are scientific and others are more nature based or ritual based. Being uncertain of your direction leaves you disoriented and in a downward spiral looking for which way is up.
Following the diagnosis of a chronic or life-threatening illness is as if someone blindfolded you, spun you around fast and then made you try to walk a straight line. It’s hard to become centered when you’ve been sent spinning by the doctor. The amazing thing is that many people are able to find their way no matter how many distractions come their way.
No one is prepared for the disorientation that comes with a health challenge, but there are ways to reorient yourself to your surroundings so you can reach your destination, health and healing. It requires that you take some time to become familiar with your new surroundings. Orient yourself to the physical, emotional and spiritual that you are experiencing. Allow them to be your guiding stars and follow them to reach your destination.
It’s important that you find a system for find your way that is congruent with your beliefs and values. Don’t simply pick up a book and follow the directions. Wayfinding needs to be a natural process or you’ll become even more disoriented. Developing your internal compass is how you will screen all the information that serves to give you clues about where you are in the world.
Having the capacity to find your way will provide comfort as you face your health challenge. Giving yourself every possible tool to orient yourself to your new life will allow you to make better decisions. Becoming a wayfinder means that you are determined to find your way in the midst of the confusion. Finding your way amid the chaos is the goal of the wayfinder. Are you will to embark on that journey?
Posted in Living with Illness, after the diagnosis, coping with chronic illness, coping with life threatening illness, living with chronic illness | Tagged coaching illness, Greg Katz, illness coaching, patient empowerment, spiritual wellness, Spirituality and Health | Leave a Comment »
July 7, 2009 by Greg Katz
No matter your age, gender, ethnicity, etc. it’s important to have a tribe. I’m a fiber artist so I love all things fiber. One of the community website is the Men Who Knit (MWK), www.menwhoknit.com, website. Male knitters from around the globe post pictures of their work, ask technical questions and share resources. Little did any of us know that we’d be sharing more than just knitting. A young man known to us as Jason1978 shared in the spring that he was fighting metastatic testicular cancer. His positive attitude was infectious and we all believed he’d be able to fight the illness. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case and Jason died this past weekend.
What amazed me was not only his own positive attitude, but the well wishes and healing energy sent to Jason from the entire MWK community. Once Jason’s partner posted the notice about his death I would visit the post to see who had responded and overwhelmingly the words were gentle, kind and full of love. They offered comfort and support to his partner Jonathan who was with him till the end. The frightening part of all this is that Jason was only 30 and his partner Jonathan a mere 22.
We’re never prepared for people to die much less die at such and early age. It’s amazing that his caregiver/wellness partner is so young and so ready to take his place beside someone he loved. Having a community that continuously check in and wants to know how you’re doing, even when the news isn’t good is powerful. It brings you out of the depths of isolation and fills your soul with a sense of belonging. Knowing that you are in the consciousness of others means you have touched their hearts and tattooed your name and your energy in their soul.
It’s sad that such a young life ended. I commend the Men Who Knit community for being ready to support Jason every step of the way. They even put out a call for knitted squares that were sewn together to make a healing blanket for him. Once all the squares were in and the blanket completed it was shipped to Jason in Vienna. The global community heard the call and responded. Isn’t that the type of community you want for yourself when facing a health challenge? Seek it out and feel the love; it will do you a world of good and will brighten even the darkest days.
Posted in Living with Illness, after the diagnosis, coping with chronic illness, coping with life threatening illness, living with chronic illness | Tagged art and healing, coaching illness, Community Support, creating a legacy, Greg Katz, illness coaching, knitting, knitting and healing, men who knit, overcoming adversity, patient empowerment | Leave a Comment »
July 6, 2009 by Greg Katz
Stress isn’t good for the mind, body or soul even when you’re healthy; but when you’re facing a health challenge the results can be devastating. Like the footage we’ve seen from bridges, we think that in the body that stress causes the cracks. Unfortunately, following your diagnosis with a chronic or life-threatening illness, it accentuates the cracks. That means in your day-to-day life the stress you live is your greatest nemesis.
The idea that when the body, particularly the bones, are under tremendous stress as seen by those who are athletes the stress fracture is minute, but can have a huge impact on their performance. What we know about stress is that it can cause illness, but we think once the damage is done what more can stress do? The fact is that when you continually put stress on something; a joint, a muscle, a bone, even your soul it will eventually give out from the pressure. A stress fracture may be small, but it’s impact can be huge and that obstacle is not one you need when you’re hope is regain your health.
Having control over your stress level seems easy, but if stress has been your drug of choice it can be a difficult transition. Stress in our culture is often the topic of conversation and many people use it to play, “can you top this”. The interesting thing is that stress isn’t something to brag about and wearing it like a red badge of courage is detrimental on your journey to wellness.
Wouldn’t you rather accentuate other attributes in your life besides stress? Aren’t there qualities you’d like to put in the spotlight that will promote health instead of detracting from it? Can you think of one benefit stress has on your mind, body, or soul when facing a health challenge? If you have the answer please share it because the world is waiting with baited breath for the benefits of stress. Don’t get caught up in the illusion that stress is good. See stress for what it is; something that robs you of the energy you need for health and healing.
Posted in Living with Illness, after the diagnosis, coping with chronic illness, coping with life threatening illness, living with chronic illness | Tagged coaching illness, Greg Katz, health and stress, illness coaching, impact of stress on healing, mind body connection, patient empowerment, stress | Leave a Comment »
July 3, 2009 by Greg Katz
Welcome to Caregiver Friday!
I was reviewing the events for July at my favorite independent bookstore and saw that Larry Dossey will be speaking. I’ve read lots of Dossey’s work on prayer and healing and it got me thinking about prayer. Dossey’s research has shown that prayer heals. His studies included prayer groups praying long distance for some cardiac care patients and another group receiving no prayers. The group receiving the prayers had less complications and fewer deaths. It’s clear that in our busy world many of us do not pray on a regular basis. It was always interesting on family shows in the 70’s how many kids prayed before they went to sleep. Unfortunately, for many of us, prayer only enters our lives during times of crisis or times of want.
I guess what I’m wondering is, as a caregiver/wellness partner, do you pray? What do you pray for? I could be presumptuous and just state that you pray for the patients health, but I think it goes much deeper than simply praying for health. In some cases I’ve spoken with caregivers who pray for a peaceful death at a time when the patient is in hospice. I’ve witnessed caregivers praying for incremental changes instead of simply asking for the miracle of cure. It’s highly personal but no less powerful no matter how you pray or what you pray for.
We have these visions in our heads about what it means to pray. Depending on your religion you may kneel or bow. Some clasp their hands while others open their hands to the heavens. Some people pray by asking God to communicate with them in a dialogue and some very simply set an intention. The amazing thing about prayer is that it’s highly individual and private. In fact, I believe many people pray and don’t even know they are praying. Prayer is comforting and in times of uncertainty provide moments of quiet and peace.
The next time you are experiencing something on a deeply emotional level see if you catch yourself praying. Find how prayer can elevate your level of spiritual, emotional and physical health as well as spiritual stamina. Who wouldn’t want more stamina when engaged in the powerful role of caregiving?
Posted in Caregiving | Tagged care for the caregiver, caregiver burnout, caregiver empowerment, caregiver health, caregiver needs, caregiver stress, caregiver support, coaching caregivers, Larry Dossey, Prayer and Healing, spiritual stamina, spiritual wellness, Spirituality and Health | Leave a Comment »
July 1, 2009 by Greg Katz
Ever notice how busy life has become? We’re all trying to do more with less and that is frustrating. One of our most precious commodities is time and that too seems to be in short supply. The question is can it be in shorter supply than if you didn’t have any time, like those who have died? Today was the funeral for Farrah Fawcett. She documented her journey with cancer not to sensationalize her life, but to show people that they too can put all their effort and energy into life. She documented the realities of setting priorities and the importance of having friends and family with you at all times.
It’s convenient to believe that you’ll get to your list someday, but are you guaranteed a someday? Another plane crash took the lives of all but one passenger on a jet today. Do you think that each of them got on the plane thinking they still had a someday? You bet they did, but unfortunately fate had other plans.
Is it that we’re nonchalant about having plenty of time to accomplish everything on our life to-do list? Or are we really just living lives of arrogance and playing roulette with our lives? What’s wrong with today? Is today not meeting up to your standards? Do you really have standards on what each day should be like? I bet you didn’t think about it before your diagnosis, but are you thinking about it now? Are you making sure your authentic in your communications? Are you placating others to fit in or are you using your voice and making your voice heard in a world that needs as many solutions as possible?
Someday is an illusion. For those facing a health challenge, someday is the hope that keeps you fighting, but can it really take the place of living today; in the moment? Are you willing to sacrifice what might be a someday, for the reality of the world you’re living today? Let me know how the idea of “someday” plays into your plans on your journey to wellness.
Posted in Living with Illness, after the diagnosis, coping with chronic illness, coping with life threatening illness, living with chronic illness | Tagged Airbus, coaching illness, Farah Fawcett, Greg Katz, illness coaching, mindfulness, patient empowerment, Plane Crash, self-empowerment, survivors | Leave a Comment »
June 30, 2009 by Greg Katz
Everyone feels confident when they are employing the use of an instruction manual. They provide detailed information on how to take care of any issue in digestible steps. I love when the instructions read “so easy a child can do it” because that’s when I enlist the help of friends with PhD’s in engineering to help with the task. What may seem easy to some can be very difficult for others depending on whether you’re a left or right brain dominant individual. Left brain people are more analytical and technical in their thought patterns. Right brain people are often more creative and big picture types. Either way the instruction manual is something you seek because it makes life easier; that is until you got your illness diagnosis.
Ever go to a bookstore and look at all the books that tell you “how to” tackle a health issue? The problem comes when you try and juggle too many of these at the same time and you feel conflicted because the opinions may be contradictory to one another. You have to remember that those writing the book are speaking of their experience. When the books are written in the first person what you’re reading is their experience and it may not be generalizable to anyone outside of themselves.
Illness is a highly personal experience. The “how to” in illness is often in the medical arena where there are gold standard treatments for each diagnosis. Even with science, not everyone will be helped by the treatments because each person is uniquely unique. So where do you turn if the “how to” isn’t the place to find the answers? Turning within is where you will find an unlimited supply of love and energy. It’s the place that is a wellspring of questions focused on getting you to think deeper about your own level of consciousness and it’s impact on your health.
Too many people are looking for what meaning their illness holds and I’m not sure that meaning is the goal. I believe that self-understanding is the goal. The illness, if you are a conscious being, asks deep questions you may not have considered since childhood. These inquiries are not to discourage you, but to challenge you to think more expansively about your life. When facing a health challenge, do you really want a “how to” book? You’re much more resourceful so keep asking the questions and listen closely for the answers.
Posted in Living with Illness, after the diagnosis, coping with chronic illness, coping with life threatening illness, living with chronic illness | Tagged attributing meaning to bad events, coaching illness, Greg Katz, How to, illness coaching, meaning of life, patient empowerment | 1 Comment »
June 29, 2009 by Greg Katz
Well let’s hope that this week is better than last week regarding the death of some of America’s most prominent personalities. It’s amazing that even when someone is ill; their death is a surprise. It’s not about denial but the hope that we can actually revel in the possibility of being wrong.
They say that tragedy occurs in threes so last week we had the death of Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson. The first two the public knew that death wasn’t too far based on news stories. Obviously for the world, the death of Michael Jackson came as a complete surprise, except to him (according to blog posts by Lisa Marie Presley).
What can we understand when an 80 year old, 60 year old, and 50 year old die? We learn that none of us were guaranteed a certain number of years to live. We are shown that the rich and famous all have to die just like the rest of us. We become curious about not only the cause of death, but how we as humans understand what death entails and how we hope we would respond if in the same situation.
The stories of the three celebrities demonstrates both the journey of the long struggle and the instantaneous nature of death. Depending on your age you may become scared because if it could happen to a 50 year old and you’re approaching the big “5″ “0″ then you may begin wondering about your own mortality.
When facing a health challenge whether it be chronic or life-threatening we wonder if we can endure all the test that will be presented to us on our journey to wellness. It doesn’t matter what your response as long as you have a response. It’s like opinions, everyone has one. Your reaction means you’re still in the land of the living. It means that you are fortified with the hope that health is still possible. You’re ability to take these deaths as lessons not as forecasting your own future means you get to rewrite your story today!
Posted in Living with Illness, after the diagnosis, coping with chronic illness, coping with life threatening illness, living with chronic illness | Tagged Cancer, coaching illness, Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett, Greg Katz, illness coaching, Michael Jackson, patient empowerment, Sudden Death | Leave a Comment »
June 26, 2009 by Greg Katz
Welcome to Caregiver Friday!
Who wouldn’t like a little R & R? We love the idea but even in the best of times we find ways to fill our days with endless chores and activities. When caring for someone with a chronic or life-threatening illness the idea of R & R takes on a whole new meaning. It’s no longer simply for fun; we’re talking about sanity.
It’s not unusual for caregivers/wellness partners whose loved one is in hospice to receive respite care. The truth is that respite is always important whether the person is newly diagnosed or on their death bed. It’s about being able to step away knowing that the person is cared for and for a moment in time, however brief, you’re not responsible. Can you hear me….for a moment in time you can release the reins and just be you, not the role you play as a caregiver.
I know that many caregivers feel guilty about respite. When we got respite care for my mother-in-law so she could go out leaving a trained professional with my father-in-law we were shocked by the outcome. She would sit at home while the respite worker was there. It wasn’t because she didn’t trust the respite worker; I don’t think she knew what to do with herself or where to go. She’d already been caring for my father-in-law at home for ten years. The idea of having freedom was daunting.
Don’t wait until you’re at wits end to look into some type of respite care. It doesn’t reflect on your intention or ability as a caregiver. I’m not sure the saying what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger is always accurate. In a lot of cases I think what doesn’t kill you leaves you totally exhausted. If you’re that’ tired who are you really able to help?
Embrace respite care as your lifeline. It will provide you time and opportunity to recharge your battery, relax, and who knows maybe even go out and have a good time doing something you love. Martyrdom isn’t attractive; learn to use the resources that are available in the community. You’ll be doing everyone involved a favor!
Posted in Caregiving | Tagged care for the caregiver, caregiver burnout, caregiver empowerment, caregiver health, caregiver needs, caregiver stress, caregiver support, coaching caregivers, Greg Katz, patient-caregiver relationship, respite care | Leave a Comment »
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