Helping a loved one who is depressed can be very difficult. Sometimes caregivers feel helpless and unsure of what to say or do. Fear can cause helpers to be overbearing, hovering and treat the depressed person like a child. This is not particularly helpful for either the depressed person or the helper.
Here are some principles to keep in mind when someone you love is depressed.
1. Listen, listen, and listen.
2. Be non-judgmental but give honest responses
3. Avoid platitudes or cliches.
4.... Read Full Story
Question
Dear Dr Duffy,
i was hoping if you would be able to advise me about a friend that i have who seems to be lying about things. i believe that he has a mental problem and that i believe that he does not realise what he is saying. i have known him for 3 years, and he has lied with alot of confidence for example lying about countries that he has visited, when he obvious has not, jobs he has had, etc. i just want to be sure that if whether this is true or not. should i ask him further que... Read Full Story
The Grief Process
This is a guest post by Richard Moyle from the Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. Asbestos.com is committed to providing the latest, up-to-date information to our visitors in the hopes of spreading awareness about the dangers of asbestos cancer.
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. This type of cancer has an unusually long latency period and symptoms do not begin to show for at least 25 years after exposure. Because of this, the... Read Full Story
The Children of Chazon Children Center in Molo Kenya and Virginia
More about Kenya Outreach Projects
Mission of Virginia J. Duffy and Asbury First United Methodist Church Rochester, NY
I recently returned from a month in Kenya. I visited Watoto Wa Baraka (WWB) the orphanage where our Sunday school children’s penpals live. This is where we used your donations from Easter to build a water tank tower to store precious water. It was so good to see the kids, they are terrific. (see pic... Read Full Story
Have no fear this is really not a political post.
I have been thinking about how people know who to believe without doing the original research themselves ?
I remember a quote I read awhile ago that helps me with this question, maybe it will help you.
A quote attributed to Buddha seems appropriate here. “Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it ... Read Full Story
According to a great article in the NY times, “If you have the awful sensation that your body’s stress response has taken on a self-replicating and ultimately self-defeating life of its own, congratulations. You are very perceptive. It has.”
This article needs concentration when trying to understand it, but it well worth it. It explains how your stressed brain tends to be susceptible to further stress due to its’ own reaction. But the good news is that is also assures y... Read Full Story
I have always been thrifty as I grew up in a poor family. As a professional I used to be somewhat embarrassed at my thriftiness. NO MORE! I am now personally cutting back even more in my life, downsizing and trying to not WASTE money. It is nice to know I am not alone. I am sorry for those who are being forced to downsize due to the economy, but I sense that some of us are enjoying it also.
It now is no shame to look for bargains, shop in the second hand stores and compare bargain... Read Full Story
Recently I was talking with some friends about empathy. They seemed to want to know more. I wondered if my readers felt the same way. I decided to publish a selection from my book Behavioral First Aid that I thought you might find helpful.
Empathy is the most effective and important communication skill of all.
Basic empathy has two components. The first component is the ability to “walk in another’s shoes- that is, to understand the experience and feelings of another person ... Read Full Story
The NY Times this morning reports that the rising toll of suicides in the military has hit a National Guard unit particularly hard: four soldiers, out of roughly 175 members, have committed suicide.
Why are people so surprised about the high rate of suicide in the military? When are we going to wake up? Denial is so rampant in this country; few will face the fact that our culture of war, aggression and greed leaves most of us (except those who benefit from it at the cost of everyone else) f... Read Full Story
