II. Practical Wisdom from my 45 years of clinical experience Page 1 of 2

What I have learned that may help survivors and their families?

A Checklist:

1. Families or friendships rapidly fail

Keeping important supportive personal relationships in tact; Job #1 What have I seen that causes the breakdown. Subtle changes in personality. Loss of the easy sense the needs of the other. Destructive anger at the loss of need fulfillment.

What have I seen that hold relationships together. Rapid education that the relationship may be on a changed basis. Supported open discussion of needs and changes.

2. The battery is low; there is a low energy reserve

Damaged brain cells produce less energy. Damaged brain circuits have to work harder.

3. Absence of initiative is an unnoticed problem

Motivation remains; the persons is confused by his/her inertia.

4. One can focus, but sustaining focus is a problem

One is easily distracted.

One gets very fatigued when trying to sustain focus. II. Practical Wisdom from my 45 years of clinical experience Page 2 of 2

5. Recent memory is not effectively stored

Thus, later the mind has trouble retrieving the knowledge. The answer/solution cannot be efficiently found.

Absentmindedness is a problem. Ops! Lost the keys again.

6. Prioritizing is no longer automatic

Important things are overlooked.

Time management is poor.

Decisions may be made poorly or not made in a timely fashion.

Important things are not done. Ops! Trouble!

6. Stress build-up is often unrecognized

The body’s coping mechanism breaks = illness!

Suggestion: Set alarm for an hour; stop that activity. Check “to do” list; go do something else.

7. Your doctor is human and fallible

Medicine continues to have much to learn.

Little of this is taught in medical school or training.

Doctors resist recognizing things they think/feel that they can’t do much about.

Pre-paid health does not allow doctors proper time.