Thursday, August 26, 2004

The Unbearable Wait

Working with people who are dying is not nearly as depressing as it might sound. What I find more painful is working with patients who are waiting test results that may tell them that they are in fact terminally ill. Even the most sane and stable personalities will be concentrated down until they display signs that might under other circumstances suggest serious mental illness. The anxiety is that intolerable. I still haven't figured out how to help people cope with this level of anxiety. Anyone have any suggestions?

4 comments:

Jayla said...

Xanax

No Milk Please said...

i am actually writing a post about this. i think i will post it at the end of the week.

thanks for visiting my blog. i hope to see you again soon.

skinned said...

I wish I did have suggestions, most of the death I've dealt with in the past while has been suicide, 3 friends, 3 years in a row. Your blog is fascinating to me and full of unexpected answers.

Melaina RN, PHN, MS, CNS, ACHPN said...

To Skinned - That is a lot of loss for you to have experienced. Losing loved ones to suicide can be especially difficult. I hope you are coping with all of that loss okay and that you are doing extra nice things for yourself.