How to Avoid Depression When You're Hospitalized

B'SD



19 Nisan 5769


I'm interrrupting my vacation time again to let you know about serious health care issues you can and should address with your medical team.

I read the IN THE ICU, USE OF BENZODIAZEPINES, OTHER FACTORS MAY PREDICT SEVERITY OF POST-STAY DEPRESSION report and responded to the researchers as follows:

A serious component of relevant

research seems to be missing

in this doctor-oriented program:

A multi-pronged study

from the patient's point of view!

This study should include

mental health experts

or specially designated

actors/actresses acting as

ICU patients who experience

the factors leading to post-ICU

depression first-hand

(the "Walk a mile in my shoes"

approach).


(I suggest that you copy down
or print out the suggestions below,
then share them with the
head nurse on your unit or
post them above your hospital bed)

1. Some patients are verbally

and/or physically abused by

medical staff being unnecessarily

harsh with patients in their care.

As staffing becomes scarcer and

patient load mounts, it's more

difficult for nursing staff to

give tender loving care

(TLC) in the massive doses

that ICU patients need.

And, nurses weaken in strength

as they move patients without

sufficient support from colleagues.

The result? Bumps, drops,

pain, bruising, etc.

Better planning is a necessity.

2. Some visitors upset ICU patients

with scarey stories and

negative speculation.

Patients are not in a postiton

to shoo them away.

Researchers should

A) Determine if patients prefer

that specific visitors

not be allowed on the floor

in their rooms, access to doctors

nor allowed to call the patient.

AND B) Medical staff should take

appropriate action to preserve

the patient's mental health.

Nasty patients can also

intimidate fellow patients.

They need to be quarantined

to the greatest extent possible.

Abusive patient behavior must be

addressed and ended by

ICU or social work support staff.

Incessant, intrusive, noisy 24/7

cell phone calls worsen matters:

ICU patients can't sleep, relax

focus on positive aspects

(e.g., improved test results)

or on getting better.

Sleep deprivation is a huge

precursor to depression for anyone!

Medical and social work staff

should forbid after-hours

cell phone calls.

3. Lack of sunlight, sounds and flavors of normal life

can depress patient function.

People crave their favorite foods

(or anything other than
hospital fare),

social interaction without tubes,

blue pads, pain and weakness.

Researchers need to factor in the loss of normal activities

to post-ICU depression:

missed events such as family weddings, reunions,

job responsibilities, promotions,

holiday celebrations, etc.

4. Some patients have a knack for

coping with adversity.

It serves them well post-ICU.

Researchers should learn

what those techniques are,

and guarantee that these techniques are taught

within the community

AND within the ICU.

Lessons are especially appropriate

for patients and their visitors.

5. ALI (Acute Lung Infection) and

Benzodiazepine use are not

the only factors worth considering

to evaluate why patients

become depressed post-ICU.

Patients (including infants and children) with other

diagnoses and medications
also become adversely

affected by ICU care.

Hospitalization is an
infantilizing experience.

Patients are desperate
for personal power

let alone better health.

Patient preferences are often ignored, rudely dismissed

and lost in the shuffle of

documentation, bed transfers, pressured medical

staff scheduling etc.

That leads to
worsening depression.

A woman who wrote a highly acclaimed book about how to survive medical crises, I know that the proper mindset for everyone is crucial before, during, and after medical care.

I teach that mindset to clients and to my readers.

Click on Coax Your Medical Team Members to BUY "It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To" so they'll Learn to Appreciate Hospital Life from the Patient's Point of View.


To your good health,

Yojeved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life