God Knows Caregiving Can Pull You Apart: 12 Ways to Keep It All Together
Author: Gretchen Thompson
But How to Keep It All Together?
A great and courageous question! That's what this book is all about. It's for those who have crossed the threshold of "if" in regards to caregiving, and moved on now to the "how" of it.
Each chapter that follows focuses on a different way to "keep it together" while giving care to a loved one.
Included in each chapter are brief explanations about how a particular way might look or work for you, short quotes for inspiration, stories about how others have gone about it, and a number of exercises that you can use to pause and reflect, regroup, and expand your caregiving repertoire.
Because journaling in particular can be such a useful exercise for caregivers, and because its tools (paper, writing utensil) are compact and simple enough to be brought into almost any setting, most chapters will include at least one journaling suggestion. Many caregivers have told me that journaling-writing in a completely non-judgmental way about their lives and having one certain safe place to express their experience in all its complexity-gives them valuable insights that might not be gained as easily in any other way. All exercises, however, including journaling ideas, are only suggestions.
This is a book that need not be rushed through. In fact, it will probably serve you better if you wander through it slowly and thoughtfully, perhaps even in a spirit of well-deserved leisure. It might sit on your bedside table, get tucked alongside a favorite armchair, or travel with you in a purse, briefcase, or satchel. Its quotations and stories are intentionally brief, that they might easily be remembered for inspiration or sustenance at just the right moment.
Everyday, men and women become caregivers, often without warning. They find themselves feeling lost as they try to figure out how to adapt. They are forced to make choices they hadn't anticipated, much less prepared for. They need help understanding what is expected of them and what they can realistically provide. They need psychological and spiritual support to cope with the new demands being made on their time and energy. Insight, support and refreshment are what GOD KNOWS CAREGIVING CAN PULL YOU APART offers the dedicated and weary caregiver. These stories provide caregivers with the assurance that they are not alone.
Author Biography: An ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, Gretchen Thompson is a part-time chaplain working with a large medical center and a home health care and hospice agency. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton College and a Masters of Divinity from United Theological Seminary, Minnesota. She has been a writer-in-residence at United Theological Seminary and The Ragdale Foundation, Lake Forest, Illinois, and her previous books include Slow Miracles and Souls Magnified. Thompson resides with her family in Minneapolis, where she was named a 1994-1995 Woman of the Year for her social action achievements.
Library Journal
America's population is aging, owing in part to improved medical care and the effective treatment of diseases that used to be considered terminal. Still, just because we are living longer doesn't necessarily mean that we are doing so without experiencing physical or mental deterioration, sometimes devastating. Thompson's book is designed to help people who find themselves in the role of caregiver to a parent, spouse, companion, or child, quite often unexpectedly and with no previous training for such a task. A major theme of the book is that "you are not alone." Thompson, an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, offers advice for connecting with other caregivers who may be encountering similar situations and stresses the importance of access to accurate information about medical conditions and to the various resources available to caregivers. Each section contains examples of dilemmas typically faced by caregivers, including the author, and simple exercises designed to provide the practical assessment of various solutions to problems. Thompson has written book that, like others in the "God Knows" series, is successfully aimed at providing quick information and will appeal to a wide audience. Recommended for public libraries. Mary Prokop, Savannah Country Day Preparatory Sch., GA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Interesting textbook: Southern Accent or History in a Glass
The V Zone: A Woman's Guide to Intimate Health Care
Author: Colette Bouchez
Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Intimate Health Care
The V Zone answers those difficult and embarrassing questions women often are unable to ask their own doctor. Colette Bouchez, an award winning medical journalist, explains important health information in easy-to-understand language, and offers women a clear, concise plan for dealing with the most common gynecological complaints. In addition to describing currently available medical treatments, The V Zone reports on natural and alternative solutions, and helps navigate the wide array of over-the-counter products, including menstrual aids, home test kits, and feminine hygiene products. Know instantly what's safe to use, what's not, when it's okay to self-treat, and when it's time to seek professional care. Also included is the latest information on:
- vaginitis
- painful sex
- urinary tract infections
- yeast infections
- STDs
- and much more!
With advice from over two dozen medical experts, The V Zone is the definitive guide women can turn to and rely on, today and for years to come.
Library Journal
This is a wonderful, easy-to-read, comprehensive guide to all those questions women have regarding gynecological healthcare: from bumps and lumps to pain to vaginosis to yeast infections. Bouchez (coauthor, Getting Pregnant) encourages women to become familiar with their most intimate anatomy in a section titled "Your V Zone Road Map: Where To Begin." In sections titled "Mother Nature's Bounty," she then describes new diagnostic and treatment options for various gynecological problems and explores natural solutions. Bouchez also provides information on sexually transmitted diseases, painful sex, recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs), women and AIDS, new PAP smear technologies, and itches and rashes. A guide to a wide array of personal hygiene products includes indications of their safety and effectiveness. Throughout, there are clear guidelines on when to self-treat and when to seek professional help. Sidebars feature expert opinions. A resource list completes this instructive and helpful book. Highly recommended for all women's health collections. Jodith Janes, Cleveland Clinic Fdn. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
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