Fight stress by reaching out, not retreating
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-blog/MY01047
- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
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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Nov. 7, 2009
Fight stress by reaching out, not retreating
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
During the last century, few thought anyone would ever climb Mount Everest, explore the North or South Pole, or swim the English Channel. But men and women have accomplished these amazing feats. The first woman to swim the English Channel was Florence Chadwick.
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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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In one of Chadwick's early swims, she was enveloped by fog and gave up her attempt just 2 miles shy of her goal. Her spirit broken, she was lifted into the support ship, where she was treated for hypothermia and dehydration. Several hours later, the fog lifted. The crestfallen swimmer, still on the boat, said that if she had only been able to see the goal she could have endured the hardships. In other words, when we lose sight of our goals, our courage and fortitude can fail us.
John Donne wrote that no man is an island. We cannot succeed alone. Like the swimmer, we need a support staff and a rescue boat. If we have a heart problem, we need a cardiologist. If we have a kidney problem, we need a kidney specialist. Likewise, if we are struggling with emotional issues, we need the help of an expert — a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker.
So, the lesson for today is clear: If we feel hopeless and can't find our way, we owe it to ourselves to reach out for help and guidance.
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