Coping with stress — What role models teach us
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coping-with-stress/MY01071
- 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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Dec. 1, 2009
Coping with stress — What role models teach us
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
At a recent neighborhood event, a woman shared with us some of the challenges she's facing. Her husband is in the military and in a combat zone. At the same time, her teenage daughter is struggling with a chronic illness. One of our neighbors made the comment, "It's a miracle that we all don't wind up in a psychiatric hospital."
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It made me think for a moment about the incredible heroism, resilience and tenacity demonstrated each week in the comments posted on this blog. Stories of post-traumatic stress disorders, chronic medical illnesses and painful relationships. How is it that most of us continue to move forward and somehow survive despite life's unfairness?
At the gathering, we talked about our role models — and the characteristics that enable them to survive and even thrive. We identified some common themes:
- Connectedness. Having family and friends to reach out to when times are tough.
- Faith. A belief in a power or energy over and above ourselves.
- Balance. Knowing that we can't help others if we neglect ourselves.
- Focus. The ability to focus on a goal and eliminate distractions.
We are hardy and we are resilient. And with help from family and friends — and with faith — we can survive and go the distance.
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