Why YOU Need to Motivate Yourself!

B'SD

2 Kislev, 5778

I've dried many tears in order to 

share this message with you.

Two hours ago I returned home from a sophisticated vision exam, in the hospital where I'd had life-saving surgery in 2005 to remove the benign Petroclival Tentorial Meningioma that had crushed my optic nerves plus part of my brain. It had almost killed me.

Though the surgeon removed the tumor, I was left completely blind. I was so weak that I'd needed a wheelchair to get around. 

I graduated to a walker.

Then to a cane.

Then I walked on my own power, seeing what was before me. It was an ever-better future.

Though doctors had despaired that I'd recover much from the devastation of the tumor and surgery, their jaws have dropped and lifted several times over the years as they examine me and monitor my gradual recovery from HUGE physical trauma.

I keep seeing better at each exam.

The prescription for my glasses 

keeps falling.

It is 

less powerful

over time.

I have lost much of the vertigo (imbalance) and double vision plaguing me since the day of life-saving surgery. Even the odd movements of my eyes (strabismus) have lessened to a great extent.

The lead doctor following my case announced today that "Full credit" is due me for my motivation to recover, that I never abandoned that goal. He cited the fact that I have used "many" alternative healing strategies, and that they had clearly helped me.

For the record, not one hospital doctor knew how to help me to see again. My innovative optometrist did, and so did my alternative healing advisors. GOD blessed us with success.

I've prayed, I've eaten only organic food, I wear only natural fibers, I do specific eye exercises to strengthen the optic muscles, I laugh and look for reasons to smile. I do more than that to heal, but you get the idea.

Folks, I simply lack the words to tell you what's in my heart. But listen to my doctor: MOTIVATE yourself to heal, to cope, to accept your new realities and to deal with them forthrightly. 

Anger, revenge, bitterness and any sort of negativity prevents healing and coping from happening.

Yes, you need time to grieve what's been lost. The purpose of grieving is to reach a state of acceptance.

Accept your reality. Face it head-on. And figure out how best to resolve the problems, to soothe yourself, and to get your grin back.

Life can be worth living if YOU make it so.

Buy the motivational, can-do E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. 

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.

Fill YOUR life with medical miracles.

Wrapping Up the Week and News that Brain Injured People Need to Know

B'SD

6 Cheshvan, 5778

I'm looking forward to my speaking engagement this afternoon, and relieved to have completed a month's worth of mental health articles for the E-counseling site.

The weather has been gorgeous for days, and I'm appreciating the lower, non-humid temperatures. My indoor potted garden is growing nicely, enhancing the nutrition and flavor of my meals.

I chanced upon an update about the things that medical professionals fail to inform brain injury survivors about. Listen in to this radio show. It just might help you or someone you know.

Watch for my forthcoming article about how I provide Self-Help Coaching services to appreciative clients. My focus is always on empowering people to address their own issues. My role is to provide information and to cheer them on to success.






Buy the E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. 

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.

Fill your time with productive and self-nurturing efforts. 'SD

How to Have FUN with Hardships: Make a Game of Them!

B'SD

24 Kislev, 5775

I wonder how many people in my actual life remember the games I played during my recovery from 2005 surgery? I'll jog your memories: 

Remember my demand that you walk into my hospital room with a new joke? 

Remember the Boo-Barbie episode, years later, that left all observers laughing until it hurt?  

Remember that you were struck by my emotional resilience? Same principle as that described in the video below. Have fun with hardship. Learn how to do that as you listen to...

How can you play your game of Super-Better?

Perhaps you can begin by naming your secret identity for one of the characters: 

Activate your Power Up. Recruit your allies. 

Find out how I did that, 
despite daunting medical news, 
this Thursday...

Read the print or E-book edition of 

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism. 

Play games to power down your misery.

 

A Can-do Message Far Beyond the Medical Sphere

B'SD

17 Kislev, 5775

Kislev is reputed to be a month of miracles. The life-saving Hanuka miracle of the Maccabees took place, then.

Maybe you can make a miracle, too,
no matter which holiday you celebrate. 

Want to be a hero as you do your best to save someone's quality of life, despite their diagnosis?

Here are some thoughts on that topic by mental health professionals:

"It's MY Crisis and I'll Cry if I Need To can be of enormous help
both to people with an illness and to those near to them.
Yocheved Golani's sharing of hope, courage and faith
will bring relief to many sufferers."

Rabbi Dr Abraham J. Twerski, MD, PhD, Psychiatrist, Director of Gateways Rehabilitation Center

http://www.booklocker.com/books/3067.html

"… This book is lifesaving, emotionally rewarding, spiritual, funny and helpful…" 
 Judith Guedalia, PhD. Director, Neuropsychology Unit and Chief Medical Psychologist ER Trauma  (MCE)Team at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

"… a powerful 'can-do' message to those most in need of it… It could save your life or the life of your loved one. This combination of positive attitude and positive action makes this guide useful and complete. Its lessons extend far beyond the medical sphere to life challenges whatever they may be: lessons we can't afford to ignore." 
 Life Coach Y. Ives, England

Buy the E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.  

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism. 

Give the gift of confidence to forge on.


 

Sending Sympathy to Bostonians and Marathon Runners

B'SD

6 Iyar, 5773

I go to sleep by 8:00 PM-ish as a rule. I usually waken about 4:00 AM. 

This morning I learned of the Boston Marathon Bombing, and sadly realized that part of the wider world is living as we Israelis do: Victimized by psychopaths dedicated to indiscriminate destruction.

As decent people worldwide pray for an end to the horror - forever - I ask that you reach out to friends, to family and to mental health professionals if you need relief from emotional stress. 

This is not a challenge to go alone. 

A medical and emotional crisis - you're crying too, if it happened to you - even on the inside if it doesn't show on the outside. 

If you're remembering past trauma now, reach out for help quickly. 

Use your tissues and handkerchiefs with my blessings borne of experience. GOD gives you Permission to Weep. And you can say that to any critics after explaining that "It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To."

Need information about someone's welfare? 

Call 617-635-4500

Can you tell police anything 

about who might have

committed the crime?

Call 1-800-494-TIPS

or 1-800-CALL-FBI

 
Buy the E-book or print edition for a clearer look at your mental health needs and how to meet them, too: Click on the words EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical (and Mental Health) Challenge. 

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism. 

Face fear with friends and family who love you. Get compassionate mental health assistance if you need it.

As the book indicates, work only with therapists who show complete respect for your well-being.

 

Bouncing Back from Brain Injury

B'SD

4 Shvat 5771


My heart goes out to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and all the 19 defenseless people shot at an intentionally pleasant community event in Arizona, USA yesterday. Any sane, compassionate person is reeling from the horror of the event.

There are ways to recover a measure of calm after emotional and physical shocks.

There are ways to recover from, and to cope with, brain injuries and other medical problems.

But not everyone knows how.

If you're reaching out for answers
and other forms of help,
read an E-book that
mental health &
medical professionals
recommend:

GOD willing, you'll find outlets that you need in the text and Global Resources sections.

One of the overriding lessons of EMPOWER Yourself
is the potential to cope with
and to heal from
grim prognoses.
Look who wrote the book, after all.

Quick and convenient E-book EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge is iPhone-friendly.

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Natasha Richardson's Death is A Life Lesson

B'SD

24 Adar 5769


I've been biding my time to post new content on this blog. I've been waiting to see how the Natasha Richardson case developed.

It should not have resulted in a multi-faceted nightmare.

One of the things I teach to the world at large is that brain injuries are NOT predictable (re-read the explanation of my book's title when you buy a copy).

Injuries to the head ALWAYS warrant an immediate, competent medical exam.

Each human being has specific sensitivities, strengths and weaknesses.

Each injury to a human brain is specific, unique to that person.

Some of us are left fighting for life, others face lifetimes of impairments with movement, hearing, sight, speech, cognition (understanding what's going on in the world and at all) and eager to be accepted in society as we are.

These online news items are terrific summaries of risks posed by brain injuries, a reminder that anyone NEEDS sophisticated medical exams of their head and body after a serious accident (kids especially, since they don't know to ask for medical help):

Brain Injury Victims Can Seem OK, Symptoms Delayed

and

Head Injury Can be Hard to Spot in Kids

UPDATE: There's No Such Thing as a MILD Head Injury

Life is often far from over after a devastating brain injury. In many cases there are opportunities to live a fulfilling life Physically, Mentally, Emotionally, and Spiritually.

Click on
I'm Buying
Yocheved's Book
and Doing What She Did to
Recover from and to Cope with
Brain Injuries.

To your good health,

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

Watch Your Back - And Your Head!

23 Sivan 5768



School is out for summer vacation. You KNOW what that means:

SUMMERTIME INJURIES!

Prevent future heartache. Click on the links below to prevent injury to those sensitive neurological spots called heads and backs:


WATCH YOUR BACK!

PROTECT CHILDREN FROM SUMMERTIME ACCIDENTS

HEADS-UP FROM THE CENTERS for DISEASE CONTROL

BIKE SAFETY

PREVENT BRAIN INJURY IN SENIOR CITIZENS

HORMONE HELP FOR BRAIN INJURY and TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PREVENTION

KNOW THE SIGNS OF BRAIN INJURY, GET IMMEDIATE MEDICAL HELP

THINK FIRST

PROTECT YOUR EYES!

UPDATE: Now that The AMERICAN BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD organization has commented favorably on this blogpost, I want to remind medical and mental health professionals (and everyone else!) that you can buy my book at bulk rates. CLICK HERE here to learn how.

~*~*~*~

To your healthy summer fun,

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

Nifty Medical News: More on Medicinal Plants, Lose Cellulite Safely and...

14 Tevet 5768

Golly, I just shared natural medical and hygiene care tips with you on December 19 and now I have more, and more wonderful, news for you.


The Israel 21c organization announced some significant medical breakthroughs this past month. I selected the three biggest stories to share with you:



Experimental orchard lays groundwork for new medicines

For the past 30 years at Kibbutz Ketura in Israel's Arava Valley, an unusual experiment is underway. An orchard planted by Israeli scientist Dr. Elaine Solowey has been domesticating wild medicinal plants and preserving endangered species. And along the way, Solowey has made some headlines around the world. read more

Recontouring the body, without the risks

If you think Americans are looking a little younger and more fit lately, it may be because of the recent FDA approval of a breakthrough Israeli system in aesthetic medicine called Accent by Alma Lasers. It can reduce abdomen sizes, and remove unsightly cellulite and wrinkles, all in a safe, painless and quick manner. read more

An Israeli design for an 'Energy Tower' could not only produce huge amounts of inexpensive electricity, but may also reverse the very process of global warming itself. Read more

That's an appealing look at physical health issues. Here's a wide-ranging collection of articles about neurological injuries, with a salute to the military forces fighting to defend decency in the world: Wounds within: Traumatic Brain Injury

***

Buy It's My Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To. Learn how to cope with the world and emotions of illness.

The Xmas and Kwanzaa shopping seasons are in high gear! Spread the warmth of the holidays far into the future when you give someone a copy of It's MY Crisis! And I’ll Cry if I Need To http://www.booklocker.com/books/3067.html

Order it in book stores anywhere if it’s not on the shelves. It's MY Crisis! And I’ll Cry if I Need To can be shipped worldwide. Specialty editions are available for large organizations.

Booksellers save on large orders of It's MY Crisis!
https://secure.booklocker.com/booklocker/wholesale/order.php

The votes are in and still arriving: 450 votes of praise for my book in three weeks! On December 2, 2007 the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research declared It’s MY Crisis to be “Recommended Reading,” then added it to other recommended titles on the Musella website. Readers can vote there once daily for their favorite book. Once you’ve read It’s MY Crisis! And I’ll Cry if I Need To you can vote for it at http://www.virtualtrials.com/books.cfm (I hope you choose a 9 or a 10).

To your good health,

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