Life after loss — Moving on doesn't mean forgetting
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/life-after-loss/MY02004
- 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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Feb. 8, 2012
Life after loss — Moving on doesn't mean forgetting
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Like some of you who posted comments, I've been touched by the tragic death of a young person. In these circumstances I often ask my patients, "How do you deal with this tragic loss?" And the answer is fairly consistent: "You don't deal with it."
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You simply move on as best you can, one day at a time, and acknowledge that there is a new normal. Things are never again the way they were. The loss is part of who you are. For example, someone who has lost a child will be reminded of it every time he or she is asked, "How many children do you have?"
Let me share with you a story. A patient came to our clinic and I noticed this person had a religious tattoo that included two names. The patient shared with me that these were close friends who tragically died under unusual circumstances. The tattoo was a visual reminder that these individuals would never be forgotten.
Now let me quickly shift gears. As I have touched on before, there are medical circumstances when you need the help of the professional, such as a heart or kidney specialist. The guidance and support of a trusted advisor or counselor can also be invaluable when you're dealing with grief, just to let you know that you're not going crazy and that at some point the pain will lessen. It won't completely go away, but it becomes less intense.
Please weigh in on a subject with which we all struggle.
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