- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." — Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's health information websites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the website) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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June 13, 2012
Eliminate what's not essential
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
From workshops and seminars, I have learned invaluable lessons about trying to survive the stress of balancing work and family. One message is consistent: You must take care of yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually. You must recognize that you have limits.
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If the stress in your life is more than you can cope with, get help right away.
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At a recent presentation, a wise nurse shared the "Oxygen Mask Theory." If a plane loses cabin pressure and you don't put on our own oxygen mask, you will quickly lose consciousness and won't be able to help anyone. Yes, you must take care of yourself or you won't go the distance.
At a recent retreat dealing with end-of-life issues that I attended, a wise advisor encouraged those of us in the audience to eliminate or prune non-essential commitments. Let me give you an example.
Several months ago, I was invited to speak in another country. I was honored but lukewarm about the commitment. When a preliminary invitation finally came in the mail, it was profoundly liberating to simply say, "No, I will not be able to participate." I didn't give any excuses — just gave a straightforward decline. And I felt as if 50 pounds were lifted from my skinny shoulders.
You have options. You have alternatives. You have the right — and the responsibility — to say "no."
Follow me on Twitter at @EdwardCreagan. Join the discussion at #Stress.
6 comments posted
June 25, 2012 8:00 a.m.
I totally agree with all that has been said but what does a person do when the stress is caused by their partner that they can never get away from? Emotional abuse/neglect takes a major toll on both mind and body. As a disabled senior citizen, options are far and few between:( Therapists come right out and say there's nothing they can do to help.
- marcie
June 21, 2012 10:37 a.m.
I finally let down the bars and confessed to being a task oriented, not people, person. My friends accepted that and understood when I refused social invitations. They respected my privacy and still accepted my friendship. I'm not alone.
- Roberta
June 21, 2012 5:32 a.m.
Saying no to what is not essential means to consciously say yes to what is most needed at this moment: it could be to sleep, to say no to an invitation or to say yes to going out. One needs to check in with self and that means to stop, breathe and be still for a moment to decide what's best.
- Marg
June 20, 2012 7:04 p.m.
Thirty years ago when I joined the Alanon program, my wise sponsor told me "if you always do, what you have always done, you always get what you have always gotten". So if you want less stress then rethinking what you do is essential. Learning to say that small word NO took courage and practice but the benifits are well worth the practing. Loads of stress fell away in my life. Elaine
- Elaine
June 20, 2012 4:57 p.m.
I agree with everything you said. However, perhaps you should have pointed out that most often the non-essentials are the most fun -- a trip to a museum, dinner out. You know what I mean
- Helen
June 14, 2012 4:05 p.m.
We all need support for the NO, gets easier and easier. Sometimes for NO for me turns into action for good. It's not only Flag Day today but also Elder Abuse Month with June 15th being the USA's chosen day for awareness and help for individuals being abused. After 1 & 1/2 years of having all of my personal information stolen from an MD's employee, the continued stress, time, energy, and money that results from having one's identity stolen continues in my life. Last time, a month ago, my Airlines Miles were given to an individual I don't even know but the Airline Representative told me he was your friend from NYC...don't know this man and I needed the miles for a trip I had to take-that was on the Friday before the Monday I was leaving. So now I am involved with the State District Attorney's office. Because my Identity Theft was traced to the MD's office by the Cyber Crime Division of local police, this criminal got a felony after 21 years of criminal convictions, and is out working at a dental office now. It appears from research that being female, older than 65, also having an incurable neurological movement disease created the best target this female could come up with...must have thought I was incompetent also! Good will come from this stress- a TV interview was done on my story viewing this Elder Abuse Month, and I am distributing information on what to do if this happens to anyone. So my NO, means time, energy and money plus stress...I'll help protect others
- Dystonia Hat Lady
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6 comments posted