PsychSense: Sensible Psychological Solutions

Right now I am going through some major changes in my life, retirement, relationships traveling, finances, what else is there?  All change, no matter how planned or positive brings some anxiety along with excitement. This article came to me just in time to give me a needed boost. Thanks to my terrific financial advisor Jay Cappon who wrote it.  Check him out at his great website

                                                  Change: How Best To Deal With It

Virginia Duffy is Heading To Africa

  I am am excited to tell you that I will be heading for Africa for 3 months to do volunteer work with children. This has been a long-term dream of combining my love of volunteer work with my desire to see this wonder continent and all its glory. As my grandchildren are growing up, I am also excited to spend some time with children. I will spend my 3 months in two different areas, with different projects. . My first 6 weeks will be at the orphanage Children of the Rising Sun, located in Malinda, which is in the Coast province of Kenya. Malinda is a beautiful area with white beaches and palm trees. It is a major tourist town with various historical sites.

Courage is not not being afraid. Courage is being afraid and doing it anyway. Ask James Bond.  Here is a great interview that can be a lesson in reality. Click on read more and share it if you like it.

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I just finished presenting four talks for the Pensylvania State Emergency Medical Services (EMS) conference in Harrisburg.

I spoke about

• Dealing with Emotions During Emergencies
• Dealing with the Angry Person and Preventing Escalation
• Dealing with the Confused Person
• Managing the Hysterical Patient.

Watch my site for postings on some of these topics.

 I want to share some of this great experience. First of all the people. All those who attended my workshops seemed truly interested in learning how to help their patients deal with the emotional stress of emergencies.  They were open to new ideas and had lots of experience and ideas themselves about what worked to calm people down.

I was pretty concerned  when I read this Time article about soldiers being medicated for burnout or compassion fatigue or stress and many other psychological concerns.

How can any thinking human being be in a battle zone, risking their life and seeing others killed not be distressed?  We are fooling outself if we think this is possible.  To  think that an antidepressant will help this kind of sadness and distress is just naive.  I am sure the prescribers know better.

My bigger concern in this article is the mention of Clonazepam (Klonopin) for anxiety and Ambien for sleep.