- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." - Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic. Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's Web sites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the Web site) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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March 25, 2009
Beat the blues
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Even in Lake Wobegon, our mythical Midwestern city, things do not always go well. For many of the inhabitants, it has been a challenging week. Families don't always get along, projects at work don't always go smoothly, and the doom and gloom of the economy is matched by the overcast skies. It may say spring on the calendar, but the sun's warmth hasn't reached us yet.
It can give even a hardy person a bad attitude. So what are some practical solutions that really do work? Let me list a few and invite our blog community to add to this list.
- As we have touched on before, a good night's sleep provides tremendous peace and clarity in the morning. This is documented by multiple scientific studies.
- A brisk walk for only 20 or 30 minutes lightens the soul and can provide real insight in dealing with thorny problems.
- Staying connected is essential. We are not designed as humans to go the distance alone. The wounded calf or the isolated member of the herd becomes dinner for someone else.
- Acknowledging that life is not always fair, and the good guys do not always win. But with perseverance, tenacity, and support of family and friends, things do get better.
Several years ago Dr. Scott Peck wrote a book called "The Road Less Traveled" that was a best seller for many years. I still remember the opening sentence of the book: "Life is not fair." Dr. Peck said that once we accept this fact we are better able to embrace the uncertainties of life and move forward as best we can.
We are resilient and we are durable, and of course, we need to take care of ourselves and each other.
What else have I left off from this list? We learn from each other.
4 comments posted
April 7, 2009 11:19 a.m.
Marsha is so right with this comment, "It's tough to be negative when you have a smile on your face." Watch Funniest Home Video's on TV and anything else that makes you laugh. Keep looking for reasons to be happy and stay away from the news. How many articles in the newspaper can you find that make you smile? There aren't very many. I totally believe that laughter is good for the soul. I can't be sad and laugh at the same time, can you? Some days are really difficult, but when I get enough sleep and exercise it sure does help. I found a great time to go to the gym when there's a group of gals there that make me smile and laugh. So go out and find your smile and make it a permanent fixture.
- Berta
April 1, 2009 9:09 a.m.
We all have our "Ups and Downs" and I believe in Biorhythms. I keep track of my moods and emotions on a calendar. One day I had a strong feeling that I wanted to cry but I didn't know why. Checking my calendar I saw that it was supposed to be my Low day and I burst out laughing. My mood was right on schedule.
- Roberta S.
March 31, 2009 5:59 p.m.
There are a lot of things that cause stress in my life. My husband is depressed and we're stuck there, I have a serious chronic disease, and the inevitable (seemingly) lack of money. I also have three sheltie dogs. I walk them at the nearest dog park as many days as I can get them there. By the time we're done, about an hour, we are all happy and feeling as though the world is a great place. Then, I have the most fantastic bunch of friends! We all keep each other going. Keeping the connection with them has saved my sanity on innumerable occasions.
- Jeri
March 31, 2009 3:27 p.m.
I have a sign in my office that reminds me that not every day is wonderful. It says, "some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue." Believe it's by Joel Goodman. That particular sentence puts a smile on my face every time I read it - it's just a true statement and as long as I remember it things seem to go well for me. It's tough to be negative when you have a smile on your face.
- Marsha
4 comments posted