Loss alters life. It also changes the individuals who experience the loss. The loss of identity and who one is can be a very difficult phase for the bereaved. Some may struggle with finding new meaning while others will cling to the past. Others will feel who they were is completely gone. Balance and understanding of how loss changes is important for the bereaved. One is different, things change, but identity is critical to keep.
Grief can alter our sense of self in life. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals
For instance, a person who was a mother and lost a baby, may feel her motherhood has been stripped. Her identity was a mother, now that identity appears gone. These are important discussions for the bereaved to have in understanding their relationship with the loss and how change affects them but also does not steal who they are in the heart. Grief Counselors can help the bereaved better understand the identity loss and properly correlate it with reality.
The article, “Change, Identity Loss, and Grief” by Eleanor Haley from What’s Your Grief presents an excellent insight into loss of identity due to loss. She states,
“But sometimes, life changes are significant enough to cause drastic shifts, like becoming a parent, losing a loved one, getting sober, getting a diagnosis, and the list goes on. These changes can shatter your sense of self and create a web of loss that quickly splinters in and around you.”
Sense of self can become loss in the chaos and grief. It is important to maintain it but also understand the changes surrounding you.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Grief Counseling.
Addiction is a dangerous game. It can lead one into dangerous and unsafe habits that later evoke shame in oneself and also possible health issues. Addiction can be to a substance, a habit, a thing, or a activity. It is important to handle addiction properly. Professionals can help those with addiction especially with any type of substance abuse
AIHCP offers a four year certification in Substance Abuse Consulting. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals. Usually health care professionals or mental health are excellent candidates for this type of program, or those who work at a facility under guidance of licensed professionals. If you are interested, please review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Consulting Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals
Losing a pet is a painful loss that many try to diminish. The true reality is that losing a pet is like losing family. One’s grief for this loss must be recognized and not reduced to such horrible statements as “he was just a dog” or “she was just a cat”
The American Academy of Grief Counseling offers a Pet Loss Grief Support Certification for qualified professionals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pet Loss Grief Support. Please review the program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals
Please also review the video on Pet Loss Grief Support
Many patients who are dying face a sterile environment in a hospital, not comfortable and with many good intentioned healthcare professionals. Unfortunately, many healthcare professionals are not trained to help individuals deal with death, or are able to emotionally and spiritually offer consolation. The death of a person is seen more as a failure than seeing death as part of a new step in existence or part of living itself.
In some cases, the dying patient is cared by also an older relative who also is facing emotional as well their own physical struggles. This can also compound issues.
The dying patient in essence has multiple needs from a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual standpoint. They need not only physical care but whole care of their entire essence. Death and dying is a scary time in life but it is part of life. Death is not a failure, nor is it something unnatural. It is the second biggest event in one’s life next to birth itself. Yet it is shunned due to various taboos. Helping someone die well is part of the importance of end of life care. Palliative Care looks to help individuals deal with cancer life diseases, while Hospice prepares the person for death by not looking to necessarily heal but manage symptoms.
Hence care for the dying is usually divided up amongst various groups from doctors to nurses to family to ministers and chaplains. Each playing a pivotal part. In some cases, individuals fall through the cracks and their most important emotional and spiritual needs are neglected. To ensure complete care though, it is important to understand a patient’s rights when dying and what are the most important aspects to address for the dying
The dying have multiple physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs. Please also review AIHCP’s Pastoral Thanatology Certification
Looking at physical needs are the first aspect. It is essential to give comfort. Pain management, breathing, and overall comfort is key. Pain management looks to address pain and discomfort from a chronic and acute sense. Unfortunately, not all pain can be caught in time and in some cases, individuals needlessly suffer from a physical standpoint. Legal statues have been passed that insist that treating pain is essential part of care.
Beyond pain, other issues such as breathing, skin sores, insomnia, loss of appetite, constipation, dehydration, nausea and fatigue are all issues caregivers must address in providing care to the dying. Keeping the patient comfortable and out of distress is a key part of care of the dying patient and it is a right of every human being to die with dignity and limited pain as possible.
In these cases, the six month period of hospice can supply a person with many pain management strategies. Unfortunately, many individuals do not utilize this service or consider it a taboo of giving up on life. None of this is true. In fact, some may recover or live longer, but this is not the goal of hospice. Hospice is about pain management and comfort. This is why it is so important to utilize to maintain one’s own dignity and comfort in dying.
Beyond these physical needs comes the numerous emotional and mental needs of the dying patient. Many want to be healed or fear death. More pastorally trained healthcare providers can also give the dying some sort of care in this regard. First, by speaking to them as a person. This is critical. Caregivers need to speak to dying as the living. Many are spoken about in the shadows as if they are already gone. It is important to understand the emotional grief of the dying. False promises are not encouraged but hope. Hope that they will not die alone. Hope that their wishes will be carried out. Hope that they will be remembered. And in some cases, discussing death no matter how uncomfortable.
Many dying wish to discuss the elephant in the room but are left to the side and emotionally left to themselves while family mourn them in advance or nurses treat them merely as a number. This is truly sad because the dying are still alive. They still have emotional needs and desires.
Beyond these emotional issues is also the spiritual. This is a more difficult road to cross because some individuals may be of a different faith or have no faith at all. One should speak to the family or look for cues. One should not look to convert one to another ideal, but merely discuss faith or what the dying wishes to express and ensure that the proper religious authorities meet their spiritual needs. Many religious cultures have a variety of needs to be met as death approaches and death anxiety can be lessened by many when religious needs are met.
As an individual embarks on the road of death, they need companions to help them. Due to taboo of death discussions, or seeing death as a medical failure, or seeing patients not as full human beings, then dignity in death is lessened. It is important for care givers to ensure full human dignity at the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels are met for the dying.
Please also consider reviewing AIHCP’s Pastoral Thanatology Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pastoral Thanatology
Resources
Care of the Dying Patient edited by David A. Fleming and John C. Hagan III
Hypnotherapy is a viable alternative therapy that can help many individuals overcome phobias, trauma, anxiety, bad habits and stressful life. AIHCP offers a four year certification for qualified professionals in Clinical Hypnotherapy
EFT or the Emotional Freedom Technique is a relatively new alternative therapy that is based on cognitive therapies that are deeply connected to Eastern Spiritual ideas of energy and energy flow. Stemming from acupuncture, this new modality looks to relieve numerous mental issues, from past trauma to stress relief.
EFT can help many individuals handle stress and reduce anxiety. Please also review AIHCP’s EFT Certification Program
The article, “What Is EFT Tapping & Is It The Secret To Relieving Stress?” by Sadhbh O’Sullivan looks at how EFT can help with stress. The article states,
“EFT (also known as EFT tapping or ‘tapping’) is a practice where you tap different points on your body. Tamara Donn, an accredited expert EFT practitioner, describes it as “an empowering DIY self-help technique to help you release negative beliefs or emotions”. Originating from the Traditional Chinese Medicine system, it combines acupuncture (without the needles) with a focused affirmation practice and can better help individuals ground in the present and release difficult and distressing thoughts and feelings. Though it’s still being researched, EFT has been used to treat anxiety, depression and PTSD. ”
Please also review AIHCP’s EFT Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in EFT.
Alcohol is thought of a way to relax and unwind. The reality though is can also cause afterwards and the day after anxiety. It can negatively affect the brains neurotransmitters and cause an imbalance as the body tries to reset. This can cause minor to severe anxiety as re-balance is restored.
Drinking can actually increase anxiety especially the day after. Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Counseling Certification
The article, “Alcohol and Anxiety” from Healthline looks closer at the issues of drinking and anxiety. The article states,
“When dealing with stressful days or nervous situations, you may be tempted to have a glass of wine or a beer to calm your nerves. However, drinking alcohol, especially heavily and over a long period of time, can actually increase your anxiety. Drinking alcohol can have serious consequences if you’re being treated for anxiety. Having a drink might seem like a good way to ease anxiety, but you may be doing more harm than good.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Substance Abuse Counseling.
Malpractice has key standards and a certain process. Understanding these standards and processes are key in discovering if there is a case or not against a healthcare provider. Legal Nurse Consultants are key individuals in helping firms defend or litigate against healthcare providers. They provide expert testimony and also knowledge on standards of care.
Legal Nurses can help provide expert testimony in malpractice cases. Please also review AIHCP’s Legal Nurse Consulting Certification
The article, “The Anatomy of a Medical Malpractice Case” by Wagner Law Firm from Law.com looks closer at the anatomy of a malpractice case. The article states,
“At the most basic level, a medical malpractice claim begins when someone is harmed in the course of receiving treatment from a healthcare professional and seeks compensation through the legal system. While it is easy to understand that medical negligence happens – and that its consequences can be extremely serious – the process of pursuing a claim in this area of law is far more complex. Medical malpractice cases have a unique anatomy made up of many interlocking parts. A successful plaintiff must know how each part relates to their situation and must be constantly mindful of the difficulties surrounding evidence and proof.”
To read the entire article, please click here
Please also review The American College of Legal Nurse Consulting and its Legal Nurse Consulting Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The Legal Nurse Consulting Program is online and independent study and open to nurses seeking a four year Legal Nurse Consulting Certification
A failed suicide attempt is a second chance at life. Finding the help one needs to prevent a second attempt is critical. Counselors, Crisis advisors and pastoral care givers can help give the guidance needed to these individuals. Family support can also play a key role in preventing a second attempt. It is important for those without a support system to call for help. The article below has some resources which can help.
No matter the crisis, suicide is not the answer. Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Program and see if it meets your professional goals
The article, “How to Get Help After Attempting Suicide, From Someone Who’s Been There” by Kimberly Zapata looks closer at how to help those who have attempted suicide not try it a second time. She states,
“An estimated 1.38 million people attempt and survive suicide each year, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Surviving an attempt, however, certainly doesn’t mean the struggle is over. What happens in the hours, days, and weeks that follow is crucial. Suicide attempt survivors need love, empathy, compassion, care, and support. And yet it can be tough for them to find that support. While there are countless resources available for suicide loss survivors, a quick internet search for help for suicide attempt survivors yields few results.”
It is critically important to also help those who suffer from attempted suicide. It is important to help them and give them the knowledge and support they need to prevent a second attempt.
Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a Crisis Intervention Specialists. Crisis Intervention Specialists are pivotal in helping individuals in crisis moments find peace and reason despite the insanity surrounding them. Some counselors are certified in this field, but the certification is also open to others who are not licensed counselors but work in crisis centers, as well as EMT and those on scene of traumatic events.
Reducing stress in the workplace is critically important for productivity. Stress can negatively affect employees and prevent tasks and production from meeting standards. Hence, employers invest into reducing stress in the workplace not only for productivity but also overall employee health and investment.
Employers can utilize various strategies to reduce stress in the workplace. Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consultant Program
The article from Forbes, “How To Reduce Stress In The Workplace: 16 Effective Ways Leaders And Employees Can Thrive” kooks at how to reduce stress in the workplace and promote higher productivity to help employees maximize their potential. The article states,
“According to the World Health Organization, work-related stress can be caused by poor work organization, poor work design, poor management, unsatisfactory working conditions and lack of support from colleagues and supervisors. If you’re looking to reorganize your daily office workflow process to prevent employees from having too many tasks on their plates, here are 16 strategies from members of Forbes Human Resources Council to help eliminate burnout among your staff members and teach you to lead by example. ”
Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a Stress Management Consultant.
