 | | Mary Polce-Lynch, Ph.D. |
Wellness and Well-being: Grieving and Ways to Cope
By Mary Polce-Lynch, Ph.D., reprinted from 2011
Someone once said that grief is the footprint in our heart left from someone we love. After a loved one dies, this takes on a new meaning. We can also grieve when we lose relationships, dreams, homes and jobs or careers. This article focuses on ways to cope with grieving the death of a loved one.
Grief is the emotion we feel when we experience a loss. All deaths may be traumatic in some way, but a sudden death is always traumatic. Not only do we suffer with sadness, but our minds are reluctantly trying to integrate a new reality - one that is different from the way reality should be. Without a goodbye and with much left unsaid, a sudden death can also bring about regrets such as, "I wish I had told him this," or "I hope she knew how much I liked her." These regrets are a normal part of grieving, especially when death comes suddenly to a loved one.
We also grieve when our loved one's death was expected and we were able to say goodbye. We miss the person and their presence in our life, especially the times spent together such as holidays or birthdays. We may still have many regrets even when the death was expected; this too is a normal part of the grieving process. The first two years after any death involves a natural period of adjustment to the new reality that the person we loved is gone.
To continue reading this article, visit our Web site.
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Healthy Holiday Eating
Over the next several weeks, it is likely that many of us will be travelling from one holiday get-together to another as we celebrate the season with friends and family members. While the holidays can be a fun and festive time, many of our celebrations will be focused on food, making it easier for all of us to over-indulge and potentially gain weight. Eating healthy is not only beneficial to our waistlines, but also, it is an important component of mental health and can help keep our stress levels at bay. Below are some healthy holiday eating tips that we can all remember as we head into the holiday season.
Healthy Holiday Eating Tips
- Set yourself up for success. Don't try to start a new diet regime or lose weight over the holidays, focus on maintaining your weight throughout the holiday season. At VWC, we're hosting a "Maintain Don't Gain" contest from before Thanksgiving to the New Year.
- If you're going to a big party in the evening, eat healthy snacks and meals throughout the day so that you are less ravenous when you arrive.
- Bring your own healthy dish to the potluck party and encourage others to do the same.
- Drink a glass of water before you sit down for a meal as well as throughout your meal.
To continue reading this article, visit our Living Well blog.
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Clinical Research Studies Currently Enrolling
 Clinical research at Virginia Women's Center allows us to provide our research participants with therapies, some that are not yet available to the general public. It also helps us keep our providers and staff abreast of advancements in women's medicine and helps our research participants take an active role in their health care.
Below are the three clinical research studies that are currently enrolling. If, after reading more about each study, you're interested in joining our clinical research team in their mission to develop new and better ways to treat disease, contact a clinical research coordinator at 804.662.6117 or send a secure message on our secure patient portal.
- HPV Study #1: For women who have been diagnosed with HPV and high-grade cervical lesions
- HPV Study #2: For men or women who have never had Gardasil or been exposed to HPV
- Oral Contraceptive Study
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Seasonal Flu Vaccine Now Available
 Patients who have an appointment with our practice during flu season will be able to receive the vaccine for the influenza virus. All doses that we have available for the 2012-2013 flu season are the inactivated form of the vaccine and are preservative free.
If you're expecting, it is especially important that you receive the flu vaccine. To learn more, visit our Living Well blog.
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Holiday Closings
Our offices will be closed on Monday, December 24, Tuesday, December 25 and Tuesday, January 1 so that our employees can enjoy the holidays with their families and friends. Please note that any voice messages or secure messages left after 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 21 may not be returned until the following Wednesday, December 26. In addition, any voice messages or secure messages left after 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 31 may not be returned until Wednesday, January 2.
In the case of an emergency or if you think you are in labor, please call 804.527.3588 to leave a message for the doctor on call.
The physicians and staff of Virginia Women's Center send our best wishes to you and yours for a healthy and joyful holiday season.
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