The Fall quarter Lunch and Learn, "Coping with Lupus", was held yesterday, October 4, at 12:00 PM. Dr. Pamela Parker, M.D., of Birmingham's VA Medical Center, came to speak to the group about the many issues Lupus patients face on a daily basis. The large topics seemed to be handling stress and fatigue.
These topics are very important to cover, not only for patients, but also for their friends and family. Stress is very much related to the level of fatigue experienced. Dr. Parker discussed ways of dealing with fatigue in general. Her tips included things such as taking rests before it becomes necessary to alleviate exhaustion. Stressors vary depending on the individual, but everyone experiences stressors to an extent. A person living with Lupus has the very obvious stressor of health problems. They may also experience stress related to their health care providers, health insurance and monetary issues, and family issues related to misunderstandings of health implications. Stress is unavoidable, but there are many healthy methods to cope with stress. Learning how to say "No" and accepting one's limitations is a very important coping strategy for dealing with stress.
Overall, the Lunch and Learn was a great success! Check back to learn when the Winter quarter will be and the topic that will be covered.
No comments:
Post a Comment