Month: September 2010

What is causing my chest pain?

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 6 Comments

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by Carolyn Thomas  ♥   @HeartSisters

First of all, I think even using the word “pain” to describe a common heart attack symptom may be misleading for many women.

It’s important to remember that some women experience NO chest symptoms at all during a heart attack.(1)  And since my own heart attack, I have met countless heart attack survivors who don’t use the word “pain” to describe their chest symptoms. Cardiac researcher Dr. Catherine Kreatsoulas reminds us that words matter when women describe their chest symptoms without using the word “pain” – and can actually influence how they will be treated in the Emergency Department – or not.  Continue reading “What is causing my chest pain?” →

“I’m not depressed!” – and other ways we deny the stigma of mental illness after a heart attack

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 13 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

“This is the most thorough review article I have seen on psychological interventions after heart events,” writes cardiac psychologist Dr. Stephen Parker* about a U.K. study on heart patients. And he should know. Dr. Steve is also a heart attack survivor himself who has explored his own profound experiences with the depression and anxiety that commonly accompany any cardiac event.

The study, reported in the British Journal of Cardiology in July 2010, followed over 400 London heart patients for two years – of whom at least half showed symptoms of anxiety or depression when first interviewed.  But the study authors described their participants in this way:

“Many of these heart patients were reluctant to accept a diagnosis of anxiety or depression and expressed reservations to the clinical psychologist by rejecting the term ‘depression’ for describing their problems, or by expressing negative views about attending a mental health service for treatment.”

In fact, these ‘negative views’ associated with the stigma of having mental health problems were so strong that all psychological interventions studied were provided to heart patients as part of a scheduled Cardiac Rehabilitation program at St. Thomas’s Hospital in London – instead of at a mental health facility.   Continue reading ““I’m not depressed!” – and other ways we deny the stigma of mental illness after a heart attack” →

Mary Maxwell: “How old age just sort of crept up on me . . .”

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 8 Comments

“This is the first time I’ve ever been old. And it just sort of crept up on me,” explains 72-year old Mary Maxwell as she delivers the invocation before the annual dinner at an Omaha seniors facility. At first, her presentation starts like a normal little prayer, but it soon takes a hilarious turn when she hijacks the microphone for a more personal chat with God about the topic of growing old. With the laser-like timing of a professional stand-up comic,  she talks about common aging issues  – like random hair growth. “I remember the time I reached to brush a hair off my lapel,” she deadpans. “And then I realized it was attached to my chin…”

Mary shines a very funny light on the foibles of aging, to the absolute delight of her live audience, as well as over 3 million YouTube viewers so far. Here’s the 7-minute video called “A Reminder That Laughter is The Best Medicine”. It’s from the Caregiver Stress website hosted by Home Instead Senior Care Services.   Sit back, enjoy Mary Maxwell, and then forward this link to the people you love. Mary’s unique message and unforgettable humour will be good for their hearts – and their souls.

You can also download a copy of the poem Blessed In Agingthat Mary reads at the end of her invocation.