TAKE CARE of Yourself Following a Loss or Death Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT Physician · Professor Grief, Loss and Bereavement Expert © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works

Your Presenter – Dr. Kirsti A. Dyer Physician Associate Professor Internal Medicine Fellow in Thanatology Advanced Training in Grief, Loss, Trauma and Bereavement Experience in Hospice and End-of-Life Care © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works

Physician

Associate Professor

Internal Medicine

Fellow in Thanatology

Advanced Training in Grief, Loss, Trauma and Bereavement

Experience in Hospice and End-of-Life Care

Living with Loss Loss is a common experience that each person encounters during his or her lifetime. Loss does not discriminate for age, race, sex, education, economic status or nationality. Loss is a byproduct of being alive. Kirsti A. Dyer, MD, MS © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works Image: Karen Barefoot. All that Remains . Royalty Free Use.

Loss is a common experience that each person encounters during his or her lifetime.

Loss does not discriminate for age, race, sex, education, economic status or nationality.

Loss is a byproduct of being alive.

Kirsti A. Dyer, MD, MS

Coping with Loss & Grief Losses can result from a death or any significant life changing event – job loss, relationship loss, loss of home, diagnosis with a disease or cancer. Figuring out what to do when faced with a major life loss can be very challenging. The person facing the loss may be so overwhelmed with grief that, s/he may not know what to do next. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works

Losses can result from a death or any significant life changing event – job loss, relationship loss, loss of home, diagnosis with a disease or cancer.

Figuring out what to do when faced with a major life loss can be very challenging.

The person facing the loss may be so overwhelmed with grief that, s/he may not know what to do next.

TAKE CARE of Yourself Acronym One of the simplest things to do (or to recommend) to keep on functioning after a loss is to focus on the basics – food, sleep and exercise. The TAKE CARE acronym covers most of the basics to focus on following a loss. These strategies are what I have advised people coping with loss to follow for years. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works

One of the simplest things to do (or to recommend) to keep on functioning after a loss is to focus on the basics – food, sleep and exercise.

The TAKE CARE acronym covers most of the basics to focus on following a loss.

These strategies are what I have advised people coping with loss to follow for years.

TAKE CARE of Yourself T ime is needed to handle the grief. A void alcohol and other medications. K eep to some routine or schedule. E at a balanced diet. C onverse with others. A ctive hands. Work on projects keep worried hands busy—building, crafting or in other ways. R est and Sleep help the body restore and heal. E xercise to reduce stress. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works

T ime is needed to handle the grief.

A void alcohol and other medications.

K eep to some routine or schedule.

E at a balanced diet.

C onverse with others.

A ctive hands. Work on projects keep worried hands busy—building, crafting or in other ways.

R est and Sleep help the body restore and heal.

E xercise to reduce stress.

TAKE CARE of Yourself - TAKE T ime is needed to handle the grief. A void alcohol and other medications. K eep to some routine or schedule. E at a balanced diet with healthy foods and water. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works

T ime is needed to handle the grief.

A void alcohol and other medications.

K eep to some routine or schedule.

E at a balanced diet with healthy foods and water.

TAKE CARE of Yourself - Time T ime is needed to handle the grief. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works Image: Microsoft Clipart.

T ime is needed to handle the grief.

TAKE CARE of Yourself – Avoid Alcohol A void alcohol and other medications. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works Image: Microsoft Clipart.

A void alcohol and other medications.

TAKE CARE of Yourself – Keep a Routine K eep to a routine or schedule. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works Image: Microsoft Clipart.

K eep to a routine or schedule.

TAKE CARE of Yourself – Eat Healthy E at a balanced diet with healthy foods and water. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works Image: Microsoft Clipart.

E at a balanced diet with healthy foods and water.

TAKE CARE of Yourself - CARE C onverse with others, especially those that have “been there” and “survived that.” A ctive hands. Work on projects keeps hands busy—building, crafting etc. R est and sleep are important to help the body restore and heal. E xercise to reduce stress and improve one’s mood. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works

C onverse with others, especially those that have “been there” and “survived that.”

A ctive hands. Work on projects keeps hands busy—building, crafting etc.

R est and sleep are important to help the body restore and heal.

E xercise to reduce stress and improve one’s mood.

TAKE CARE of Yourself - Converse C onverse with others, especially those that have “been there” and “survived that.” © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works Image: Microsoft Clipart.

C onverse with others, especially those that have “been there” and “survived that.”

TAKE CARE of Yourself – Active Hands A ctive hands. Projects can keep worried hands busy, whether building, gardening, crafting or in other ways. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works Image: Microsoft Clipart.

A ctive hands. Projects can keep worried hands busy, whether building, gardening, crafting or in other ways.

TAKE CARE of Yourself - Rest R est and sleep are important to help the body restore and heal. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works Image: Microsoft Clipart.

R est and sleep are important to help the body restore and heal.

TAKE CARE of Yourself - Exercise E xercise to reduce stress and improve one’s mood. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works Image: Microsoft Clipart.

E xercise to reduce stress and improve one’s mood.

TAKE CARE of Yourself T ime is needed to handle the grief. A void alcohol and other medications. K eep to some routine or schedule. E at a balanced diet. C onverse with others. A ctive hands. Work on projects keep worried hands busy—building, crafting or in other ways. R est and Sleep help the body restore and heal. E xercise to reduce stress. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works

T ime is needed to handle the grief.

A void alcohol and other medications.

K eep to some routine or schedule.

E at a balanced diet.

C onverse with others.

A ctive hands. Work on projects keep worried hands busy—building, crafting or in other ways.

R est and Sleep help the body restore and heal.

E xercise to reduce stress.

Coping with Overwhelming Loss When coping with an overwhelming loss, such as the death of a loved one, it is important for the grieving person to TAKE CARE of him or herself. Focus on the basics necessities – food, sleep and exercise Focusing on the basics will help the grieving person make it through the loss. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works

When coping with an overwhelming loss, such as the death of a loved one, it is important for the grieving person to TAKE CARE of him or herself.

Focus on the basics necessities – food, sleep and exercise

Focusing on the basics will help the grieving person make it through the loss.

Take Life Moment by Moment On life's most difficult days All that we can do is simply take things Moment by Moment. Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works Image: Microsoft Clipart.

On life's most difficult days

All that we can do

is simply take things

Moment by Moment.

Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS

Thank You Thank you for your attention and your interest in helping those grieving a loss. © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works

Thank you for your attention and your interest in helping those grieving a loss.

More Information eMail – workplacegrief@gmail.com Grief, Loss & Transitions Blog – http://grief-loss- info.blogspot.com Workplacegrief.org Grief in the Workplace – http:// www.squidoo.com / grief-workplace Journey of Hearts – http:// www.journeyofhearts.org © Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT. 2009. Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works

eMail – workplacegrief@gmail.com

Grief, Loss & Transitions Blog – http://grief-loss- info.blogspot.com

Workplacegrief.org

Grief in the Workplace – http:// www.squidoo.com / grief-workplace

Journey of Hearts – http:// www.journeyofhearts.org