Online Newsroom: Holiday Story Tips
How to sustain healthy New Years Resolutions past
February
As January 1 approaches, millions of people will make New Years
resolutions many of them focusing on personal health goals such
as losing weight, increasing exercise, or perhaps quitting smoking.
With all the hype surrounding New Years resolutions, it may be
easy to be motivated to make lifestyle modifications in the beginning
of the year, but consistent, life-long behavior changes remain difficult.
Belinda Borrelli, Ph.D., a psychologist at The Miriam Hospital,
is an expert on motivating people to make and sustain health behavior
change. She can discuss what approaches are most effective and new
intervention methods that show promise.
Dealing with divorce and loss during the holidays
For children who have recently experienced a divorce, separation
or the death of a loved one, the holidays can be a stressful and
confusing time. The holidays remind children about what has changed
and what is now different. While it may be tempting to generate
false cheer, its important to acknowledge the change and recognize
that the holidays during the first few years will be difficult.
Older children may also need time to mourn the loss of the formerly
intact family, and kids of all ages should be encouraged to talk
about their feelings and know that its OK to feel sad during the
holidays. Although you shouldnt completely abandon old holiday
traditions, a new ritual can be a positive way for children to remember
and honor a lost loved one or to bond a newly blended family together.
Kelly Taber Chasse, Ph.D., a psychologist with Bradley Hospital
and the Bradley School, offers ways parents can help their children
celebrate the holidays during a difficult time.
Holiday blues myth or reality?
Many people thrive on the holidays the preparations, the shopping,
the lights, the music. For others, this time of year can trigger
the holiday blues. While some will say its simply a myth, unfortunately,
the condition is very real and can cause a variety of symptoms,
including headaches, inability to sleep or sleeping too much, agitation
and anxiety, a diminished ability to think clearly or concentrate
or a decreased interest in activities that usually bring pleasure.
Mark Zimmerman, M.D., a psychiatrist with Rhode Island Hospital,
can provide insight into this sometimes debilitating condition and
can provide ways to manage the holiday blues.
Its better to give than to receive
The holidays can be a time of overindulgence, whether its out-of-control
spending or that third slice of pie. Many parents tend to overindulge
their children during the holidays with gifts and toys as a way
to make up for lost time with their children earlier in the year
and ease their guilt about missing baseball games or dance recitals.
Some also see it as a way to feel competent or good about what they
can do for their children. Yet this behavior can have a domino effect,
since children who are overindulged eventually learn to expect and
demand things setting the stage for temper tantrums and frustration
when they dont get their way.
Tracey Sutton, M.S.W., a social worker at Bradley Hospital, can
provide tips for parents on changing their overindulgent behavior,
including switching the focus to family traditions and activities
rather than gifts this holiday season.
Time is the best gift for the elderly
Family and friends of the elderly may not find the perfect holiday
gift in a store. For many living in assisted living or nursing homes,
or those elderly without family close by, time spent with loved
ones is more precious than any knick-knack or candy. There are many
ways to show your loved one you care about them this holiday season.
Start a holiday tradition of finding a new way to spend quality
time with elderly friends and family.
John Murphy, M.D., associate director of the division of geriatrics
at Rhode Island Hospital, is available to discuss the importance
of the company of family and friends for an elderly persons health
and wellbeing.
Reduce health risks during holiday travel
Many of us will take to the air and road during this holiday
season either to visit with loved ones or to enjoy a vacation. Regardless
of what your final destination is, help ensure a healthy and more
enjoyable season by heeding practical travel advice ranging from
in-flight health and traveling with pre-existing medical conditions;
to more detailed information on vaccinations, disease carrying insects,
and preventing Montezumas revenge.
Maria Mileno, M.D., director of the Travel Medicine Clinic at
The Miriam Hospital, can speak about general precautions to take
while traveling, as well as signs and symptoms of ailments that
should prompt medical attention to be sought upon return.
Helping children cope with holiday stress
When the holidays roll around, regular schedules often get thrown
out the window. Families are running around to holiday parties,
traveling out of town to visit with relatives, and rushing to finish
last minute shopping. All this can lead to a stressful and overwhelming
time for children. Often when kids act out or throw a tantrum, its
in an attempt to slow things down. Pay attention to what a child
is saying nonverbally, as well as verbally, and check in with her
regularly to see how she is doing. Plan for regular quiet time,
or down time, with your child away from all the hectic holiday activity.
Try to keep to routine schedules during the holiday season including
normal bed times, nap times and meal times.
Child psychiatrist Karyn Horowitz, M.D., director of outpatient
services at Bradley Hospital, can offer other tips for helping children
deal with holiday stress.
Finding the perfect (and safest) gifts for children
This holiday season, it may be more difficult to find the best
toy for your child. With more toys being recalled for their safety
or lead content every day, gift-givers need to exercise more caution.
And, with thousands of toys to choose from, its important to buy
toys that are safe and age-appropriate.
Lynne Palmisciano, M.D., a pediatric emergency medicine physician
at Hasbro Childrens Hospital, and a physician with the Injury Prevention
Center at Rhode Island Hospital, is available to discuss how to
select the best and safest toys this holiday season.
Avoid early season skiing/snowboarding injuries
Despite a mild start to the season, the cold weather is now
upon us and the ski resorts are beginning to open for business.
Before venturing out for that first run, be sure to tune-up your
body, as well as your equipment. Even if you stayed active in the
off-season, skiing and snowboarding requires flexibility in specific
ligaments. For skiers, the ligaments in their knees and hands are
most prone to injury, while snowboarders often injure their wrists,
shoulders, and ankles. Experts suggest proper stretching and ample
warm-up time to help deter injuries on the slopes, especially early
in the season when snow conditions can be variable.
Robert Shalvoy, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at The Miriam Hospital
who treats hundreds of skiing injuries each winter, can offer additional
warm-up tips and how to recognize and treat injuries that occur
on the slopes.
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