When a sick person is admitted to the hospital, the stay away from home can be a very stressful and challenging experience. As a physician, I've observed the disruption illness can bring to the lives of my patients. Often times patients don't know what to do during the hospitalization, and are left with long intervals of time, often resulting in watching television in between hospital staff interactions, diagnostic tests and receiving visitors.
This article includes 5 powerful tips that can improve your love one's hospital stay and recovery:
1. First and foremost it is imperative for you to take good care of yourself. Frequently care givers overlook their own health and well-being while taking care of others. This is a very difficult and stressful time for all involved. If you're not well rested, not getting your sleep, it is virtually impossible for you to be able to provide the assistance and support your loved one needs. Sometimes this requires difficult choices, but the bottom line remains. You must take care of you first!
2. Encourage and support their decision to get well. Far too often, patients tend to focus on wanting to get over their illness, it is crucial to encourage your loved one to focus on what's working. During a hospital stay, many patients tend to focus on not wanting to be sick, rather than getting well. Even though the difference between the two may seem subtle but it is very important. A focus on health, essentially stimulates the body to improve and to heal. An intention to get well, in very important and measurable ways helps the body.
3. Help them to ignore all dire predictions -Use them as a catalyst, as a challenge to overcome whatever disease you are facing. Despite the odds, others have lived you're your special one can, too! I've witnessed many patients defy their doctor's predictions. Unfortunately, doctors are trained not to give "false hope," and often give patients dire predictions - that appear to be credible predictions based on statistics involving other patients. Of course such bleak predictions will have a very negative impact on recovery and health.
Many patients have proven to me over the years that we all possess the ability to survive, thrive and overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Regardless of the diagnosis and prognosis you are facing, please know all is not lost. Men and women like you have faced the challenges of living with and overcoming serious and potentially fatal diseases. These experiences led me to believe that you, too, can get well , too!
Usually predictions are based on statistics that reflect the experience of other people. The will to live, the desire to get well, has a tremendous impact on our bodies and can mean the difference, literally between recovery and illness, health and disease and life and death. They can't accurately predict how long you will live. Remember: all statistics are about the experience of others! They may not necessarily predict yours unless you allow them to by putting faith in them.
4. Help them to become more self-aware, through exploring their secret thoughts and emotions. How do you feel about this experience called "disease"? Does it create fear, anxiety, denial, and constant thoughts? That's normal. All of these emotions are a part of the disease process. You can work your way through all of them, with awareness and patience.
Pay attention to your feelings and emotions, honestly allow yourself to experience them. Sometimes you're frightened, anxious, distressed. Also, lonely, pain, fatigues That's very normal. Acknowledge them
5. Stay informed- With the patient's permission, ask the treating physician pertinent questions. Ask about options, second and even third opinions, if the patient isn't comfortable with the doctor's recommendations. Write the patient's questions down, and act as an advocate. The internet has great health information resources. Use them!
This article includes 5 powerful tips that can improve your love one's hospital stay and recovery:
1. First and foremost it is imperative for you to take good care of yourself. Frequently care givers overlook their own health and well-being while taking care of others. This is a very difficult and stressful time for all involved. If you're not well rested, not getting your sleep, it is virtually impossible for you to be able to provide the assistance and support your loved one needs. Sometimes this requires difficult choices, but the bottom line remains. You must take care of you first!
2. Encourage and support their decision to get well. Far too often, patients tend to focus on wanting to get over their illness, it is crucial to encourage your loved one to focus on what's working. During a hospital stay, many patients tend to focus on not wanting to be sick, rather than getting well. Even though the difference between the two may seem subtle but it is very important. A focus on health, essentially stimulates the body to improve and to heal. An intention to get well, in very important and measurable ways helps the body.
3. Help them to ignore all dire predictions -Use them as a catalyst, as a challenge to overcome whatever disease you are facing. Despite the odds, others have lived you're your special one can, too! I've witnessed many patients defy their doctor's predictions. Unfortunately, doctors are trained not to give "false hope," and often give patients dire predictions - that appear to be credible predictions based on statistics involving other patients. Of course such bleak predictions will have a very negative impact on recovery and health.
Many patients have proven to me over the years that we all possess the ability to survive, thrive and overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Regardless of the diagnosis and prognosis you are facing, please know all is not lost. Men and women like you have faced the challenges of living with and overcoming serious and potentially fatal diseases. These experiences led me to believe that you, too, can get well , too!
Usually predictions are based on statistics that reflect the experience of other people. The will to live, the desire to get well, has a tremendous impact on our bodies and can mean the difference, literally between recovery and illness, health and disease and life and death. They can't accurately predict how long you will live. Remember: all statistics are about the experience of others! They may not necessarily predict yours unless you allow them to by putting faith in them.
4. Help them to become more self-aware, through exploring their secret thoughts and emotions. How do you feel about this experience called "disease"? Does it create fear, anxiety, denial, and constant thoughts? That's normal. All of these emotions are a part of the disease process. You can work your way through all of them, with awareness and patience.
Pay attention to your feelings and emotions, honestly allow yourself to experience them. Sometimes you're frightened, anxious, distressed. Also, lonely, pain, fatigues That's very normal. Acknowledge them
5. Stay informed- With the patient's permission, ask the treating physician pertinent questions. Ask about options, second and even third opinions, if the patient isn't comfortable with the doctor's recommendations. Write the patient's questions down, and act as an advocate. The internet has great health information resources. Use them!
About the Author:
Learn more about how to get well faster. Stop by Elaine R. Ferguson, MD's site where you can find out all about holistic patient information and what it can do for you.
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