Dealing with Anxiety Caused By Life's Uncertainties - Pulmonary Hypertension News
Dealing with Anxiety Caused By Life's Uncertainties - Pulmonary Hypertension News |
| Dealing with Anxiety Caused By Life's Uncertainties - Pulmonary Hypertension News Posted: 30 Mar 2020 07:00 AM PDT Life is full of the unexpected, the unknowns, and uncertainty. This is no secret. My pulmonary hypertension diagnosis was unquestionably one of my toughest unknowns. Unknowns also may include a job loss, the loss of a family member or friend, and a variety of other life events. I often deal with uncertainties and "surprises" daily. These range from unexpected chronic pain or other PH symptoms, to side effects from my combination of medications. One would think that I am accustomed to the unknowns by now. But that is far from the truth. Although my days now are different than my days before PH, I dealt with unknowns then, too. Working in hospice and palliative care, I certainly was aware of the unknowns. Taking care of terminally ill patients offered many unexpected events. Some people ask me how I could work with hospice. Yes, it was tough, but it also was rewarding to help my patients and their families during some of the toughest times in their lives. Of course, while working in hospice care and now living with PH and coexisting illnesses, life continues to offer me many unknowns. For example, living in this global pandemic is an overwhelming and unexpected event. I've watched movies about pandemics, but I never imagined that we would be living one. When presented with such unknowns, I often look to my faith, family, and friends for hope. Hope offers me God's promise that I need. In dealing with the unknowns and the storms that life throws at us, we need something to hold on to. Too often, we lose hope due to life's trials and storms. Usually, that is when anxiety and depression set in. While those like me with a high risk of serious illness from COVID-19 continue in self-isolation, we must be proactive in taking care of our mental health. Many living with PH and other chronic illnesses already deal with anxiety and depression. I consider myself lucky. I struggle with anxiety, but not every day. With this in mind, it's imperative to find ways to help alleviate anxiety, both now and down the road. Of course, the fears and the anxieties related to this global pandemic and the responding quarantines require me to work harder at alleviating them. Following are a few coping mechanisms I find helpful in reducing anxiety. Starting the day off by reading my morning devotional helps to set the tone for my day. It is a short read that I enjoy while I sip my morning coffee or tea. Each day, the devotional is based on a Bible verse, often specific to the time of year or to current events. Because I am trying to limit social media, it's crucial to find time to unplug and enjoy other activities. As we all know, social media is full of updates, and this can be draining. It's enough to cause anyone anxiety and stress overload. I do enjoy checking in on family and friends. Talking with them via text or calls helps me limit my social media time. FaceTime calls have been popular in the last few weeks, especially with my family. It is nice to see their faces when I cannot see them in person. Crying, which often happens during these conversations, helps to release emotions and is much-needed at times. My weekly goal is to do yoga at home via YouTube. I mostly do the breathing exercises and the stretches two or three times a week. Of course, this requires a doctor's permission, and some poses may need adaption to each person's needs. On days when I am unable to leave the house, I tend to take breaks on my backyard deck overlooking the pool. There, with the sun is shining, I can sit and read a book or just close my eyes and enjoy the fresh air. For me, this offers a sense of calmness. Taking a drive by the water or a trip to the countryside helps me, too. I enjoy the scenic views while getting out of the house. Remember to be gentle with yourself. These are uncharted territories. It's OK not to be OK and need help. Together, we can lift each other up. *** Note: Pulmonary Hypertension News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Pulmonary Hypertension News or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to pulmonary hypertension.  Jen Cueva is a " well -seasoned" patient who has been living with pulmonary hypertension (PH) since 2005. Although her favorite place is Southern California, she now lives on the Texas Gulf Coast. She lives with her supportive and comical husband and their Mini Schnauzer named Sasha. Prior to acquiring pulmonary hypertension (PH), she worked in nursing, which she wholeheartedly loved. She enjoys cooking for her family, listening to live music, and sitting by the water. You can also find her visiting local coffee shops with her daughter(as she writes or chills) or at a medley of restaurants. She's a total foodie! In her weekly column, "Worth the PHIght ", she delves into the rollercoaster of emotions that she faces living with PH. She hopes to share her challenges and tips while touching on current topics with other PH patients and their caregivers. Her goal is that by sharing her PH journey, she will inspire and instill hope in others. Together, eventually, we will find a cure for pulmonary hypertension- Never give up hope. × Jen Cueva is a " well -seasoned" patient who has been living with pulmonary hypertension (PH) since 2005. Although her favorite place is Southern California, she now lives on the Texas Gulf Coast. She lives with her supportive and comical husband and their Mini Schnauzer named Sasha. Prior to acquiring pulmonary hypertension (PH), she worked in nursing, which she wholeheartedly loved. She enjoys cooking for her family, listening to live music, and sitting by the water. You can also find her visiting local coffee shops with her daughter(as she writes or chills) or at a medley of restaurants. She's a total foodie! In her weekly column, "Worth the PHIght ", she delves into the rollercoaster of emotions that she faces living with PH. She hopes to share her challenges and tips while touching on current topics with other PH patients and their caregivers. Her goal is that by sharing her PH journey, she will inspire and instill hope in others. Together, eventually, we will find a cure for pulmonary hypertension- Never give up hope. Latest Posts  |
| Elsevier Opens Books, Review Articles to Rare Disease Researchers... - Pulmonary Hypertension News Posted: 03 Mar 2020 12:00 AM PST Beginning on Feb. 29, Rare Disease Day, chapters from notable scientific books and clinical review articles covering rare disorders will be available free-of-charge from Elsevier. The offer runs through April 30, and aims to supports work by researchers and clinicians into a better understanding of and treatments for rare diseases, as well as to raise awareness about these ills. Elsevier — a science and health information analytics leader — has partnered with the research community for 140 years to curate and verify scientific knowledge. The company's content helps clinicians and investigators identify the molecular mechanisms underlying rare diseases, advance therapy discovery, translate findings to the clinic, and counsel patients and families. Its articles feature a host of specific disorders, from rare mitochondrial diseases to autoimmune diseases. Statistics indicate that about 95% of rare disorders, which impact an estimated 300 million people globally, have no approved treatments. For many of these diseases, diagnosis alone can be challenging. In addition, many patients find it difficult to access information about their disorder and quality healthcare. "Diagnosis, patient care, and long-term management of patients with any of these 7,000 rare diseases can be confounding," Laura Colantoni, vice president of reference content at Elsevier, said in a press release. "In offering this content, we hope to reinforce our commitment to supporting rare disease communities and individuals with rare disease, advancing rare disease research and empowering medical practice in this area," Colantoni added. Taking place annually on the last day of February, Rare Disease Day is focused on raising awareness about rare diseases. The effort, which includes thousands of events worldwide, is coordinated by EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe. Elsevier's Education, Reference, and Continuity Group is participating this year by offering free access to its published content, including book chapters and clinical review articles, on rare diseases. Such content includes, from "Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs," by Jules Berman (1st Edition): Also available is Chapter 4 from "Genomic and Precision Medicine: Primary Care" by Thomas Morgan (3rd Edition), titled "Genetic Testing for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases." Chapter 10, "The 'Life Costs' of Living with Rare Genetic Diseases," from "Genomics and Society" by Koichi Mikami, Alastair Kent, and Gill Haddow (1st Edition). And Chapter 3 from "Applied Genomics and Public Health" by Gabriela M. Repetto and Boris Rebolledo-Jaramillo (1st Edition), titled "Rare Diseases: Genomics and Public Health." Review articles on specific diseases can be accessed through Elsevier's Clinics Review Articles. Book content is available at Elsevier Life Sciences and Elsevier Health. Journals published by Elsevier include "Applied and Translational Genomics," "Clinical Immunology," "Nanomedicine," and "The Journal of Immunology and Regenerative Medicine."  Mary M. Chapman began her professional career at United Press International, running both print and broadcast desks. She then became a Michigan correspondent for what is now Bloomberg BNA, where she mainly covered the automotive industry plus legal, tax and regulatory issues. A member of the Automotive Press Association and one of a relatively small number of women on the car beat, Chapman has discussed the automotive industry multiple times of National Public Radio, and in 2014 was selected as an honorary judge at the prestigious Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance. She has written for numerous national outlets including Time, People, Al-Jazeera America, Fortune, Daily Beast, MSN.com, Newsweek, The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press. The winner of the Society of Professional Journalists award for outstanding reporting, Chapman has had dozens of articles in The New York Times, including two on the coveted front page. She has completed a manuscript about centenarian car enthusiast Margaret Dunning, titled "Belle of the Concours." × Mary M. Chapman began her professional career at United Press International, running both print and broadcast desks. She then became a Michigan correspondent for what is now Bloomberg BNA, where she mainly covered the automotive industry plus legal, tax and regulatory issues. A member of the Automotive Press Association and one of a relatively small number of women on the car beat, Chapman has discussed the automotive industry multiple times of National Public Radio, and in 2014 was selected as an honorary judge at the prestigious Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance. She has written for numerous national outlets including Time, People, Al-Jazeera America, Fortune, Daily Beast, MSN.com, Newsweek, The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press. The winner of the Society of Professional Journalists award for outstanding reporting, Chapman has had dozens of articles in The New York Times, including two on the coveted front page. She has completed a manuscript about centenarian car enthusiast Margaret Dunning, titled "Belle of the Concours." Latest Posts  |
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