<p>II. Practical Wisdom from my 45 years of clinical experience Page 1 of 2</p><p>What I have learned that may help survivors and their families?</p><p>A Checklist:</p><p>1. Families or friendships rapidly fail </p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>2. The battery is low; there is a low energy reserve</p><p>Damaged brain cells produce less energy. Damaged brain circuits have to work harder. </p><p>3. Absence of initiative is an unnoticed problem</p><p>Motivation remains; the persons is confused by his/her inertia.</p><p>4. One can focus, but sustaining focus is a problem</p><p>One is easily distracted.</p><p>One gets very fatigued when trying to sustain focus. II. Practical Wisdom from my 45 years of clinical experience Page 2 of 2</p><p>5. Recent memory is not effectively stored</p><p>Thus, later the mind has trouble retrieving the knowledge. The answer/solution cannot be efficiently found.</p><p>Absentmindedness is a problem. Ops! Lost the keys again.</p><p>6. Prioritizing is no longer automatic</p><p>Important things are overlooked.</p><p>Time management is poor.</p><p>Decisions may be made poorly or not made in a timely fashion.</p><p>Important things are not done. Ops! Trouble!</p><p>6. Stress build-up is often unrecognized</p><p>The body’s coping mechanism breaks = illness!</p><p>Suggestion: Set alarm for an hour; stop that activity. Check “to do” list; go do something else.</p><p>7. Your doctor is human and fallible </p><p>Medicine continues to have much to learn.</p><p>Little of this is taught in medical school or training.</p><p>Doctors resist recognizing things they think/feel that they can’t do much about.</p><p>Pre-paid health does not allow doctors proper time.</p>