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Show Support Needed To Deal With Our Problems by Dr. M. Ford McBride In times of crises all of us need support to help us deal effectively with problems confronting confron-ting us. Unfortunately, many of us rely on crutches that are temporary tem-porary and artificial. Overpowered by shock and bewelder-ment bewelder-ment because of a serious problem, people desensitize themselves by denial, alcohol or by using up and down drugs. These artificial crutches are used to evade reality, and prevent the expression of feelings and thoughts. To escape the problem they also avoid the settings that remind them of what was lost and what may lie ahead. An important part of living is dealing with adversity realistically. A series of constructive construc-tive steps is suggested by various psychologists that I would like to share with you. One. Face up to it. Express your fears and concerns. The biggest block to dealing with problems is an inability to confront inner feelings honestly. Two. Objectify the problem. Ask yourself: "Just what is the trouble? What brought it about& And what do I want to happen?" Three. Get organized. Know what you have to deal with, all that is involved. For example, a desperately frightened woman with a tumor who must have a breast surgically removed can learn that 70 percent of such women are alive after five years. Four. Having made the problem tangible, you can now focus your energies on appropriate action for solution. Develop ways of seeking and using the help of friends and community resources. Depending on the problem, you may need money, medical care, a nursery school, a lawyer, a foster home or recreation facilities. Five. If you can't rebound on your own, don't hesitate to call upon an objective outsider out-sider such as a trusted friend, your clergyman, or a professional from you local mental health center. Keep in mind that relief comes when you know that you've done all you can about your trouble and that you are finding a way to live on with a purpose. |