Covid-19 and the New Normal: Are We Doing Our Part?
Tomorrow afternoon, my husband and I will attend a “ Zoom funeral” for one of his close friends who died of COVID-19 at Georgetown hospital last weekend. He caught the virus from his wife, a healthcare provider who caught it herself from an asymptomatic patient at the hospital where she worked. We also joined a…
Provide Emotional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Physicians Facing Psychological Trauma From the COVID-19 Crisis
The U.S. now has the highest number of COVID-related deaths in the world, with exhausted, frightened physicians managing the front lines. We need not only medical supplies but also emotional personal protective equipment (PPE) against the psychological burden of the pandemic. As a psychiatrist, my role in COVID-19 has included that of a therapist for my colleagues. I…
An Easter and Passover Message, in the Time of Coronavirus
This morning, one of our Lady Docs Corner Cafe dear friends, Dr. Joann Urquart, a cardiologist, sent us a link to a very well written and moving article by a movie producer and writer, Julio Vincent Gambuto, titled “ Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting.” This writer knows the human condition and psychology very well, as shown by…
Coronavirus Time: Mental and Physical Health for Those Not Infected
(Robyn Pashby, PhD- Psychologist) There are two pandemics. The virus makes the headlines, but the anxiety that is sweeping the nation just a few steps behind (or in some cases a few steps in front of) the virus has serious and lasting consequences. Much like the virus itself, the mental health impact of this situation…
In the Time of Coronavirus: Corona and Boundaries
Even before COVID-19 arrived, many of us were already diligent about washing our hands and avoiding contact with someone sneezing or coughing to avoid becoming ill. Many have always understood the importance of washing our hands before meals and coughing or sneezing into a tissue. So, what is different now? Researchers have discovered that many…
Living with Uncertainty *
As I write this, I am about to end the third week of isolation. I work from home, and currently see clients online. This is a time of great uncertainty. It’s not easy for anyone. But for trauma survivors, myself included, times like this are especially difficult. I want to explain why and review the actions I…
Coronation of a Virus: While Preparing for it, Do Not Forget to Live
I don’t remember how many weeks that, whenever I wake up and turn on the TV for news of the day while preparing for work, I have been bombarded with statistics on how many people have died around the world from Coronavirus, and how many more people were diagnosed with this specific strain, Covid-19. My…
A Community Pediatrics Bulletin: Asking Saves Kids from Gun Violence
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) defines community pediatrics as the “practice of promoting and integrating the positive social, cultural and environmental influences on children’s health.” Traditional clinical pediatrics is not sufficient to take on problems such as gun violence, high infant mortality rates, obesity, or exposure to lead and other environmental hazards. Community pediatricians…
Rooting Out Implicit Bias in Pediatric Practice
In my 2017 LadyDocs Corner Cafe blog, “Let’s Talk About Racism,” I introduced my first experiences grappling with racism. I’m happy to report back after the 2019 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) annual meeting that many pediatricians, myself included, are freer from both intentional (explicit) and unintentional (implicit) acts of interpersonal racism and sexism. I…
Grief and the Holidays
written by Julie Bindeman, PsyD To be human means to experience loss. With loss comes feelings of grief, as loss and love go hand and hand. We mourn what we once cared about. As the holidays come upon us, feelings of loss can be confusing during what is typically thought of as a happy time of…