Each year during nurse’s week I like to reflect upon individuals that have truly made an impact into the culture and staff here at the hospital. Kudos to you, as your engaging talk...[read more]
Working with Dr. Christina has given me the chance to be revisit my assumptions and see my life from a very different perspective. She has helped me see new opportunities for development and solutions for current challenges. She brings light, love, and joy into every...[read more]
Dr. Christina is a calming force in a world gone crazy. Her passion for the wellness of every living creature is a blessing to all those she comes in contact with. There are not many people who are willing to reach for their dreams at any age, but Dr. Christina has...[read more]
The thoughts of being successful as well actually achieving success can be very empowering, yet there are those who truly fear success. Long-held goals and dreams may wait quietly, even dormant, on the bucket list of things one desires to achieve because fear of failure as well as success overshadows any efforts at all. I would like to invite you on a journey toward success. The difference between success and failure really comes down to the small actions we take on a daily basis. Ask yourself, "Are the things I'm doing, people I'm meeting, contributions I'm making, and the patterns of my thought moving me toward my goals, my dreams...my destiny?"
I believe we all know how horrible the feeling that accompanies "Oh no, what have I done?" Just trying to reach the point of mustering enough courage to admit making a mistake of some kind can cause most of us to become physically sick.. No matter who you are or where you have been, we all know these feelings. I have been there and I am now here to share with you that it's not the feelings nor the mistake that should get the forever focus. The most important thing is how we deal with them.Mistakes ignored or taken for granted can lead down the path of them being made again. Mistakes acknowledged and dealt with constructively can pave the way for a legacy.
Dear Dr. Christina, My husband and I have been married for 5 years, and he is a wonderful man. I am concerned because for the past three months he has been peeing blood off and on. I have been telling him that he needs to go to the doctor. He just jokes about it and tells me he strained himself on the job and that it is nothing I should worry about. I cannot help it. I told him I would go with him and that I would make the appointment for him. He tells me that I am making something out of nothing. I do not want to nag him, but something in my gut is telling me that I am not wrong. I love him and I do not want anything to happen to him. Please tell me if I am being too protective.
Fathers come in all ages, shapes and sizes. It does not matter if you are a step dad, an adoptive dad, uncle, brother, or just a man in a child’s life. This is your day to strut your stuff! You are the one who can make such a difference to a child just by showing your love for them. I am reminded of a quote that was written anonymously which said, “Anyone can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a dad.” How true is that? There are so many children out there that have no real father figures, yet they continue to seek out any men who show their interest and compassion.
Getting your man to the doctor is nothing to joke about because men’s health habits are horrible. Many men suffer from “denial”, meaning that sickness cannot happen to them or that illness may be seen as a weakness. For many men, years pass before they go to visit their doctor. They continue to deny any symptoms or problems they may be having. Some men think that their symptoms are really not that bad or that they will pass. When other men finally go to see their doctors, they find that they now have more than one problem...
Being present is the most important facet of being alive. It helps to serve our true purpose in life. You are unable to do anything about your past, but you must remember that you have been able to survive what life has thrown at you. Above all, be grateful that you have not just survived, but that you have thrived in the face of it all. You must take that as a win, for you were able to go against all odds to be here now.
As summer approaches, many of us begin to feel uncomfortable with our bodies because of our society’s notion of what is beautiful. It is culturally impossible to attain the images we see. Women may begin to worry about how they look, their weight, and their age and signs of aging. Men, on the other hand, may worry about their hairlines, height, muscular body, and finances. For many of us, our sense of self-worth may hinge on one fact: that we identify with our bodies. However, you are so much more than what you see or, for that matter, what is defined by a number on your scale, the number of wrinkles you have, or by the shape of your body. Having self-esteem is more than just how you feel about your body. It in fact is your total being, which includes your personality, values, and everything that makes you perfect just the way you are at this very moment. It is about what and who you really are inside that counts.
Dear Dr. Christina, I am in high school and I have never been asked out on a date. I doubt I will ever start dating because when I see the other girls in my class, especially in gym class, I do not think I am pretty enough. They look so perfect. My parents do not let me wear any makeup or dress up in any trendy clothes. My parents say they are just too expensive to buy so I just get my sister’s hand-me-downs. I do have a problem with acne and I am overweight. I hate to look at myself in the mirror. I hate to get caught when my friends take pictures of me because I feel so fat. My mom says it is only “baby fat”, whatever that means, but I am not a baby. I feel like such a dork and I know I’m just plain fat. I see all those pictures in the teen magazines and on TV and I just want to drool. I just feel I don’t have a chance. Is there anything I can do to help myself? Dolly
Dear Dr. Christina, I am writing to you because it is that time of year again to celebrate Mother’s Day. Last year, I lost my mom to cancer and my great grandmother to old age. I am not sure how I can celebrate this day without them. Just last year we were four generations (great grandmother, grandmother, Mother and me). Now there is only my grandmother and me left. I feel so sad and I don’t know if I will be able to handle this holiday. We were a very close family and I miss them so much. How can I pay any sort of tribute to this holiday when I am still grieving their losses? Mother’s Day will never be the same, and I am unsure if I can get over the fact that they are gone, even on the other days of the year. Can you please give me some ideas for how to just get through this holiday? Suzi
Mother’s Day is one holiday for women that can evoke a vast spectrum of emotions. Some women feel grateful and love this beautiful eventful day. Other women may feel sad and uncomfortable for many reasons including the death and loss of their mothers, being a stepmom, the loss of a child, or not being able to have children. Dr. Christina gives some great reasons ALL women can and should celebrate Mother's Day.
Millions of men and women are the workforce and life source of all businesses, whether they are a small business, large corporation, hospital, or others. We can all become victims of emotional abuse in these environments, and no one has any immunity. Emotional abuse is on the rise. We must be able to recognize it and defend ourselves from becoming future victims.
Dear Dr. Christina, I sometimes feel humiliated because my manager will start criticizing me in front of my customers, and now she has been giving me the jobs no one wants to do, like cleaning the toilet, putting out the garbage, and mopping the floors. She, and now my co-workers, are calling me names. They make me feel like I am too stupid to be out in this world. I am beginning to feel like I am such a failure because this has been going on nonstop. When I go home, I just want to cry. I have also been losing weight. Is this me? Am I such a loser? Sherri
Emotional abuse is a type of child abuse that is subtler than the other types of abuse and less detectable, yet it can be more dangerous than physical abuse. It can scar and damage a child’s sense of who he or she is and cause him or her to lose his or her sense of self. Parents who have negative attitudes may say hurtful things to their children, or, for that matter, they may fail to give their full attention to their children. That does not make them bad parents, nor is it emotional abuse. However, when a persistent pattern of negative attitudes towards their child becomes chronic for the parents, then that can result in emotional abuse.
Dear Dr. Christina, I separated from my husband 3 years ago. I am finding that the more my kids are around him, and especially when they come home from being with him, they are not the same as when I dropped them off, especially my oldest. They are very reserved and quiet, and seem like they have been kicked to the ground. I have sat down with my oldest son, who is 16, and asked him what is wrong. At first he kept telling me nothing; but one day I went into his room after they had been dropped off, and he was just sitting there balling and sobbing. I sat down next to him and asked him what was wrong. He finally told me that when he is at his dad’s, his dad constantly tells him that he is such a disappointment and that he cannot do anything right...
Dear Dr. Christina,
My grandmother, who was 92 years of age, was one productive woman who was alert and loved life. She lived independently and loved to read, cook for the family, and go for walks with her walker.
I am writing to you because it pained me to see how she died and to learn how her death could have been prevented. Sally
Today I want to encourage and empower you and your loved ones to be better advocates for your own health care. Do you remember the old saying: “Knowledge is power”? Well, I say, “Having no knowledge makes you a higher risk for colorectal cancer and other colon disease.” (Read more about the symptoms of colorectal cancer, and being your own advocate)
Dear Dr. Christina, After reading your article on the Broken Heart Syndrome, I am very concerned about my mother who suddenly lost her husband of 50 years from cancer this past month. I am beginning to see my mom’s health starting to fail and she seems to be losing her desire for living, just like you described. I am so frightened to think that she will give up on her life and that she will begin to stop doing all the things she once did so actively with my dad. I am her caretaker and I only live 5 blocks away from her. My own grief gets in the way of my thinking of things to help her know how much she is wanted and needed by me and my kids. I appreciate any help and ideas you can offer before it is too late. Glee
Anal cancer is one cancer that no one likes to talk about perhaps because of embarrassment and that it carries the social stigma of promiscuity. As a result of this potential embarrassment, anal cancer sometimes escapes public awareness. People go to the doctor and inadvertently end up avoiding conversations that can help care for people with this terrible disease. Farrah Fawcett’s battle with anal cancer helped to bring this rare malignancy into the public eye, as many people with this type of cancer had difficulties discussing this problem. Read the risks, symptoms and more important information...
Dear Dr. Christina,
My 76-year old mom was a widow and had not gone to her doctor for a few years. When she did go, she was told she did not have to have a pelvic exam or a Pap® test any longer. She has always suffered from constipation. Whenever she had a bout of it, she would bleed. She would go to her doctor and was told not to worry about it. He told her the bleeding was most likely caused by her hard stools and her hemorrhoids. She was told to go to the store and buy some Preparation H®, some stool softeners, and eat plenty of fiber... (Read the tragic ending to the story, and Dr. Christina's response to spotting colorectal cancer early.)
Dear Dr. Christina, I am 40 years of age and I am beginning to wonder if there is something wrong with me. All my friends whom I went to school with and relatives have gotten married, and I have not even received a proposal yet and feel left out in the cold. I have gone to so many weddings as a bridesmaid that my entire closet is full of gowns that I have worn to “other people’s weddings.” I am beginning to lose count! Am I doing something wrong? Am I ever going to know what it’s like to commit to and love that one special person?
Can you please help me with some ideas as to what may be going on and help me understand why I have not landed my soulmate yet? Thanks, J
Being single today is a far cry from being single years ago. There were many single women who wondered if something was wrong with them if they were not married by a certain age. Many still seem to identify with and get totally wrapped up in the concept of “marriage”. For some, it is the social and family pressures that are put upon them from the day they are born. However, there is a trend of women who are realizing that being single has its advantages.
It is sometimes difficult to imagine that we can go through our lifetimes without experiencing the pain of a broken heart. Perhaps it is a part of living our lives and forming relationships with others. Being that Valentine’s Day is upon us, patients often ask whether it is possible for someone to die from a broken heart. Unfortunately, the answer can be yes. Even in the medical world, there is a syndrome that is called the “broken heart syndrome” or “stress cardiomyopathy”. This is when the heart suffers a sudden or abrupt heart failure that comes from, believe it or not, an emotional trauma...
Dear Dr. Christina, I am so distraught. I took my wife Amy, who is only 40 years old, to the hospital over the weekend when she was complaining of extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, indigestion, and nervousness. The doctor told my wife she had a virus and that she probably ate something that did not agree with her. He gave her what he called a “GI cocktail” to help with her indigestion and told her that it would help settle her upset stomach. He told her to drink plenty of fluids, get some rest, and gave her a shot to help calm her nerves. He sent her home with instructions to be seen by her private doctor on Monday. -- Two hours later, she threw up and fainted. I called 911 and she died in the ambulance on the way back to the hospital. I was told she had a massive heart attack. -- What happened? I thought she only had indigestion, felt tired, and was only having a panic attack. That is what the doctor said and I believed him. Now she is dead. -- I feel so betrayed, lost, and guilty. Could I have done something different? ~ Bill
How businesses and corporations can become more profitable and productive is not really that complex. Oftentimes it is the little things that we have the tendency to overlook that can enable you to treat not only your customers with respect, but also your employees. It is important for you and your employees to serve your customers—and as an employer it is just as important for you to make the working environment more pleasant to serve your employees. Some ways to do this include fostering the feelings of your employees when it comes having a voice, asking them for an opinion, and making them feel that they are actually listened to and heard. This in itself can make a difference.
Dear Dr. Christina, I am 40 years old and I have found myself in the position of having to become the breadwinner of my family, meaning me and my 2 beautiful children ages 7 and 10. My husband was killed in a motorcycle accident this past year. You see, we were childhood sweethearts and lived together for the past 10 years. My husband did not want me to work so I was a stay-at-home mom who never finished high school. Now I find myself having to find a job, but no one will hire me because I have no experience and I do not have a high school diploma. I am getting some assistance for health insurance, food stamps and social security, but I do not want to use those as excuses to supplement our needs—for they are just not enough. My only opportunity for getting a job so far has been working at a fast food restaurants.
I feel I am too old for school, but I thought maybe I could start my own business. I have always dreamed of having my own business. I am at a loss as to how to take care of my family, and I would like some advice as to what I can do. El
This is the time of year when it is imperative to help women become more proactive to decrease the occurrence of cervical cancer and to increase public awareness and understanding of the approaches to screening for early detection.
Each year more than 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and approximately 4,000 women die as a result of it. Half of the women who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer are between the ages of 35-55 and 20% are women older than 65 years of age.
Cervical cancer is the second leading cancer in women worldwide. Cervical cancer rates are higher in older women while precancerous cells rates are found in greater and greater numbers in younger women.
Dear Dr. Christina, I am 50 years old and I had a hysterectomy ten years ago. I was told by my doctor that I did not need to have any more pelvic exams or pap smears. I just moved to another state and went to a new OB/GYN doctor who told me that I need a pelvic exam yearly and a pap smear, according to my particular risk factors. When I received a phone call from the doctor, I was told the result of my pap smear was abnormal and that I had precancerous cells. How can that be? I am confused as to why I was told by one doctor I didn’t need to be checked after my hysterectomy and then my new doctor says a pelvic exam should be done yearly, whether or not I have a uterus and/ or cervix. I did not know a woman is at risk of not only cervical cancer but of vaginal and or vulvar cancer. Why are we not told this to begin with? Molly
As we approach a New Year, we tend to make resolutions such as weight loss or we promise ourselves to either join a gym or begin a new exercise program. Instead of making these types of resolutions, I thought we could bring in the New Year with the thoughts of gratitude of what we have and what we cherished in 2013. Life can become very hectic at times, and it is easy to lose sight of what is truly important to us. Life can be a roller coaster ride such that we can lose our focus of things and people we are grateful to have in our lives. --> Read some easy ways to cultivate it in your life and why you should.
Did you know that our elderly have the highest suicide rate in our nation and that those who attempt it oftentimes succeed? In fact, it is the fourth leading cause of death in the elderly (age 65 and older). Many times we assume that depression and hopelessness are a part of getting old, but that is not the case. There are many elderly people who enjoy their golden years with family and friends, while others find living their lives to be an overwhelming experience littered with loneliness and isolation, especially after the death of a spouse, health issues, financial loss, or, for that matter, having to cope with a chronic illness. Life to them seems almost unbearable so they contemplate suicide. -- Who are at risk?
Dear Dr. Christina, I am afraid that my best friend who is 17 years old may be considering hurting himself after his girlfriend dumped him. He talks about how he wishes that he was never born. We used to go out after school all the time, but now I see that his behavior is changing. He is also losing weight. He’s scaring me when he talks about one day playing Russian roulette, but then he says he is only kidding. I do not want to be a snitch or get him into trouble, but I sometimes see or hear on TV and the news about young people actually killing themselves. Am I just blowing this out of proportion? I appreciate any advice you can give me. ~Randi
Suicide is when a person ends up taking his or her own life as a reaction to a stressful life event. There are numerous reasons why someone would want to kill him or herself. At that moment, the person is not thinking rationally. It’s like they have tunnel vision or blinders on so they do not see the entire picture of a particular situation. They do not see their own true potential, nor do they have any feelings of hope for their future. -- Learn common signs and what you can say and do.
The holiday season can have so many meanings. For some, it means parties, shopping, cooking and entertaining. To others, it can mean being away from families due to having no money to travel home or being reminded that you have no family. Some may not have the money this year to buy gifts – all of which can lead to the Holiday Blahs. Here's several tips to overcome this common phenomena.
Dear Dr. Christina, I am 80 years old and I no longer have any family (human, that is), but I do have 2 small pups. Doctor, the holiday season gives me such grief. I feel I have nothing to be grateful for and I don’t want to do any sort of celebration. I have outlived my usefulness in this cold world of technology and people. I am no longer able to welcome this holiday season with any joy whatsoever, and I keep wondering what I do have to be grateful for. I am writing you this letter to see if you can help me open my eyes and heart and provide me with some ideas of how I can change this year’s awful feelings about this holiday season of dread. ~ Mari
Dear Dr. Christina, I am confused. I thought if you did not have a family history of breast cancer, you had less of a chance of getting breast cancer. I also thought that if I had a mammogram done according to my doctor’s recommendations, I was safe. I even got a letter from my imaging center that says my screening mammogram was okay. I am 45 years old, and I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. What did I do wrong? Why didn’t they find it on my screening mammogram? I did not even have a breast lump. My doctor told me it was because my breast tissue was dense. Why is this the first time I am hearing about having dense breasts? I would have done something different, if only I had known. ~Sly
Who would think that it is possible to get breast cancer as a result of not getting enough sleep? After all, many of us have a sleepless night once in a while.
Well, scientific research has been revealing the idea that insomnia can, in fact, increase your risk of breast cancer. I felt it was important to write about this because oftentimes doctors spend a lot of their time talking to patients about the importance of sleep as well as what they can do to sleep better and how to make their sleeping environments more inviting. They also talk about what you can do during the day to help you get a good night’s rest.
Dear Dr. Christina,
I am writing you this letter because recently I was thinking about getting my nipple pierced; however, my sister just had her piercing done and ended up in the hospital because her right breast got huge from a massive infection and required surgery. I have heard horror stories about these types of piercings. Can you let me know if it is safe to get piercings done? Sandi
My interest in and awareness of men’s breast cancer peaked when I was participating in a health fair given by my local community and I volunteered to do free breast exams. I was looking at the long line of women when I noticed and was surprised to find 2 men (one with a little boy and the other with his wife/girlfriend) waiting in line to get their breasts examined. These men varied in age (one was 30 and the other was 60). Only through the innocence of a child, the little boy looked up at his dad while I was doing his exam and said, ”Daddy, I didn’t know boys and men can have lumps and breast cancer too!”
Dear Dr. Christina, My mother had to go to her doctor to get some tests done and was told she had breast cancer. How can that be? She had a screening mammogram 6 months ago and was told by her doctor that her mammogram was okay. Why did the mammogram miss it? I am so scared. My mom’s breast cancer doctor said I was too young to get a mammogram but that I should tested. She then told me about the HALO breast pap test that was available as well as a blood test. I had never heard about these other tests before. I just wanted to write to you to find out if you are aware of this testing and anything else I should know that might calm my fears. Cheeri
One day, this beautiful, married pregnant woman begins to have some pain that she has never experienced before around her anus and in between her legs. It is a burning, excruciating pain that she is unable to relieve, no matter what she does. When she visits her doctor’s office and gets examined, she is told that she is having a herpes outbreak and has contracted a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). The woman is devastated because she has never in her entire life had a herpes outbreak. How can this be happening to her now? This is supposed to be the most important time of her life? She is pregnant and how can she make sure her baby is not exposed? So why the herpes outbreak? Well, it turns out that her husband happened to begin having the outbreaks himself and didn’t tell her about them. He has to admit to his wife that he has cheated on her during the pregnancy. Not only does this threaten her ability to deliver her baby the natural way, which she has dreamed about for so long, but now her body and the baby is threatened by a vaginal delivery, if at the time of delivery the mom has an herpetic outbreak. The husband’s cheating has now resulted in threatening the baby’s safety as well as upsetting his wife emotionally in the midst of her pregnancy.
Dear Dr. Christina, Last week I went to my first gynecologist exam that my mom scheduled for me. Four weeks later, my doctor’s office called and told me I had an abnormal pap smear with the high risk Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). I’m not even sure what that is! I am not sure what to do with the phone call I got from the doctor’s office because I know my parents will be so disappointed with me. I am so freaked out. I decided to write to you to help me. ~ Chi
Anyone considered "older" knows how important sex is (or isn't!) in their life - it's a very individual issue. However, anyone sexually active at ANY age needs to be aware of the risk of STDs. Dr. Christina discusses the topic of Safe Sex for Seniors in yet another informative blog.
Dear Dr. Christina, My husband and I have been married for 5 years. We separated for one month and then we decided to try to work out our problems together. We both apologized and promised we’d try to make our marriage work. Last week I was told by my doctor that I needed to be treated for a sexually transmitted disease called “Chlamydia”. I was shocked. I will be honest with you; during the time I was not living with my husband, I had only one affair but the guy used protection, so I know it couldn’t have been him. I want to kill my husband for bringing this awful thing into my life and into our marriage especially when I trusted him. How am I going to handle the embarrassment of others knowing that my husband cheated on me, as well as endure my private business being reported to the Department of Public Health? Signed, Confused
Living in today’s society can be challenging. Our lives can have so many struggles that it's difficult for us to find peace and serenity. Sometimes we wonder how in the world we are going to “make it”...and that has so many meanings to so many people. There are many of us who have stories of abuse, both physical and mental, financial loss, loneliness, sickness, and others, just to name a few... All of this may paralyze the freedom that you yearn to have in order to live your own life to your fullest potential. You must come out of the darkness and understand how powerful you really are.
QUESTION: I am 42-years old and I have been married for 22 years. I just found out that my husband has decided to leave me for a younger woman. I was a stay-at-home mom but now I am the sole provider for my family. I am not sure if I have the courage or strength to help and support my family. Can you help me?
Menopause is one of the most feared words in the English language. It is also the life event that occurs when you get older as a woman. No one knows exactly when it is going to happen to her, but every woman knows that eventually it will. There are so many misconceptions out there about
QUESTION: Please help me, for I still want to be the woman that he fell in love with. I am so confused and upset. Am I Still a Desirable Woman After I’ve Gone Through Menopause?
There are many times in one’s lifetime when each and every one of us asks ourselves this question: what defines a woman? Everyone’s definition varies, causing confusion. Many of us are taught that being female requires that we must follow certain rules and play particular roles. Our toys, what we wear – everything we are
QUESTION: I am 36 years old and I just found out I have breast cancer. I am 36 years old and I just found out I have breast cancer. I am devastated that I will lose my breast and I’m afraid that I will no longer be attractive to my husband. I am horrified of the scar that I will have and the thought that I will no longer be a woman but just a freak. These feelings are so bad already that I do not want him to see me naked or touch me. What have I done to deserve this? Why me?
Destiny is an interesting word. It could mean “fate” or a “predetermined course of events.” The question is: What does destiny mean to you? Many people have the belief that their destiny was handed down from generation to generation. There are no thoughts of any freedom of choice. The challenging question becomes: What do you
QUESTION: I am writing to you because my daughter is leaving for college and I feel so lost. I can remember the first time when she went to kindergarten and how hard it was to let her go into that school for those eight hours. I could remember her crying and not wanting to leave me. It took all my strength to let her go. Can you please help me with some advice as to how to cope with this loss?
We have all heard stories about how having negative beliefs can affect our health. Negative beliefs can affect our hearts, which can lead us to having a heart attack. Negative beliefs can also affect our blood pressure, which can lead us to having a stroke. It can even decrease our immune systems, which allows our
QUESITON: I am graduating from high school this year. I am going to college, but I was unable to get into a good college because my SAT scores were very low. My brother told me I was an idiot and my parents told me that I was just a girl and I shouldn’t go to college. an you give me some ideas about how I could still go to college even if nobody believes I can do it?
There are many of us who go through life and choose to take on the responsibility of everyone else’s opinions, decisions or actions. We then feel guilty that we are never good enough or strong enough to have our own beliefs without the approval of parents, peers, colleagues or friends. If something bad happens, we
QUESTION: I feel like I did all the wrong things, and now I lost the one thing I cared so deeply about, my baby girl. I am a single mom, and I feel like I should have realized my daughter was in trouble. Please help me. How can I live with myself?
You sometimes hear people say that they would like to live a normal life. There is no such thing as “normal,” for each of us is a unique individual. Each of us has our own problems and our own story. By living your own life, you will surely find that you’re not only unique but
QUESTION: I am writing this to you because I feel so bad about myself. I am in high school. I’ve been told that it is supposed to be the best time of your life, but I feel like I have no friends. I feel invisible. The question I want to ask is do you think that this is how my life will always be, and will someone ever notice me?
What is the emotional blackmail? For some people this is what we call ABUSE. Abuse does not always have to be physical. I sometimes think that mental abuse is so subtle that it can takes years for you to realize, “Why am I here in this relationship?” and ” Why did I not see this coming? ” Any
Question: My grandfather died less than a year ago and the anniversary of his death is coming up. I cannot get over this loss. How does one get over the loss of their loved one when their loved one was their life? How does one start to believe that you are going to wake up from this nightmare? How does one come to realize that their loved one is never coming back? I feel so bad because I did not have a chance to say goodbye.
I was on the phone with a friend of mine when I was reminded that my birthday was coming up in a couple of months. I began thinking: What is age anyway? Just a number? I really had to put a lot of thought into those questions for I am hitting a milestone: the big
QUESTION: I am so ashamed and I feel like a freak of nature. I am starting high school soon, and my chest and breasts are not developed. My mom is supportive and has me doing breast exercises, but they’re not working. As a matter of fact, it seems to make it all worse. I just feel like such a freak and I wish I had never been born.
For the love of my babies…… I will never forget a 35-year old woman who came to my office with right-sided breast cancer. In a relatively short period of time, less than six months, it had spread to her left breast. She would always bring her two small children to my clinic for her annual
QUESTION: I'm a 92-year old male who used to be worth something. I don’t feel like I have any more purpose in life. I no longer feel like a man. I know there is no answer; just the frustration of getting old, and death does not seem to be near. I was using my computer and I found your site. I decided to say to you that I am lost as to why I'm even here now in the hopes you could help me understand all of this.
Life itself is a struggle with everyday living—so is learning how to live.
We are born. Then immediately we are encouraged to grow through the nourishment of food but also through the life experiences we have and the knowledge that we receive in each moment of our lives.
We are constantly being cheered on by everyone around us to exceed their expectations. We are praised when we finally accomplish each goal, no matter how small or large.
QUESTION: I am 17 years old and I don't know how to say this. No one listens to me. I find it hard to express myself so I cut myself in areas that no one sees. I have been doing this more recently because my mom died and my dad travels a lot. I know you are going to tell me I’m crazy but I am afraid. Can you help me?
Fear can sometimes paralyze you and your world. I know what that feels like. Believe me! Even though professionally I am a doctor, personally I am just as human as you are.
Fear sometimes does not allow you to come out of your comfort zone, and it often does not allow you to experience new places or people.
QUESTION: I am 88 years old and I feel there is no longer a reason for me to be here on this earth. My husband died this past year and I have no family. I ask God daily to please take me. I am so lonely and I feel so worthless. Can you give me one reason why I'm here?
Going to a doctor today can be like going to a foreign country, where you feel like you need a translator to determine exactly what the doctor is talking about!
I know, because some of the stories I've heard from my patients really concern me. I get so frustrated when I hear about or witness the lack of communication between my colleagues and their patients. Often, the patient’s need to understand what is being said and explained gets overlooked or lost.
QUESTION: I lost my puppy. Really, it was my dog of 18 years and I'm feeling really lost. She was my connection to feelings of love. Am I crazy for feeling so bad about her loss? I lost her a few months ago. How do you suggest I find the strength to go on without her?
QUESTION:
I have a parent that is dying of cancer and I am her only caregiver. I am worried that I'm going to make myself sick, for I know there is nothing I can do to make my mom get well. How can I help her and take care of myself at the same time?
This year, instead of making goals about what you want to accomplish and then later in the year feeling bad if you do not reach these goals, how about recognizing what you have accomplished during the past year and seeing if you can surpass these grateful moments next year?
