August 2012
91 posts
“
We are taught that the brain
Is a set of highways;
Corpus callosum,
Spinothalamic,
Optic radiation.
But there are other roads, as well.
Scenic neural backroads
That are hidden from view;
Dusty and seldom used.
Sometimes we can see them
When the highways are down;
From cancer,
Surgery,
Or a stroke.
Our patient had a brain tumor.
We tested her highways
With a feather drawing;
“What is this?” we asked her.
And the answer she gave
Came by the scenic route;
“A leaf
That fell
From a bird.”
“Resilience, inventiveness, and survivorship - qualities often ascribed to great physicians - are reflected qualities, emanating first from those who struggle with illness and only then mirrored by those who treat them. If the history of medicine is told through the stories of doctors, it is because their contributions stand in place of the more substantive heroism of their patients.”
—Siddhartha Mukherjee, The Emperor Of All Maladies: A Biography Of Cancer
How to Cope with Blah Days
From: http://onlinecounsellingcollege.tumblr.com/
1. Recognise that it’s a feeling – and our moods go up and down. Shrug your shoulders, grit your teeth and choose to make it through the day. Nothing’s really wrong – and there is nothing wrong with you. It’s just the way you’re feeling – and our feelings usually change.
2. Don’t be hard and condemn yourself. Don’t beat yourself up for feeling miserable and blah, or for feeling apathetic and low on energy. Be patient, understanding and gentle with yourself. You’re no worse than others as we ALL have blah days
3. Do something rather that nothing. Do a few mindless tasks so you don’t just waste the day – and you’re likely to feel better once those you’ve got those out the way as they’re usually the things that you never want to do!
