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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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Aug. 5, 2009
Blog: Relationship problems start and end with you
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
The American poet Carl Sandburg said, "Time is the coin of life. It's the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent."
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If the stress in your life is more than you can cope with, get help right away.
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For me the same can be said of relationships. They are essential for maintaining our sanity and vitality, especially when dealing with life's challenges. However, relationships can also be a source of stress and can drain our reserves. We often hear people say, "He drives me crazy!" or "She stresses me out."
I have said the same thing myself, but now I know better. I do not allow myself to fall into the trap of letting others rob me of my most precious commodity — my peace of mind. I own my emotions. I determine how I will react. If I allow myself to become angry or upset with another individual, I am giving away my serenity. And once it is gone, it is very difficult to get back.
We need to understand that it is not other people who stress us out. It is our reactions to them. We must choose our relationships with care, and we must be judicious in how we spend our emotional energy. If we fail to do so, we may find we have nothing left to give.
7 comments posted
December 10, 2009 9:29 p.m.
Sometimes it can be difficult to maintain a sense of equanimity when dealing with difficult people. How can one maintain peace when living with someone who is abusive or an alcoholic? At times, attaining that peace may involve loving confrontation, designed to help someone who is dysfunctional. As a cousin of mine, who was married to an alcoholic, says: "Peace involves living in the eye of the storm." Daily prayer, meditation, and forgiveness play a big role in keeping a sense of composure when dealing with "God's heavenly sandpaper." Barbara, author of "Cry Depression, Celebrate Recovery."
- Barbara
August 20, 2009 11:27 a.m.
It's hard for me to express my displeasure with others actions or comments because I find that I'm stressing about how they will inturn react to me! I know that I'm responsible for my well being but what would you suggest to someone who is uncomfortable with conflict?
- Marie
August 16, 2009 2:09 p.m.
The article reminds me of the phrase that ( Every action has its own reaction ) So here also the relationship will reflect the way how someone has in his or her mind to the other.
- Ironsteel
August 14, 2009 10:22 a.m.
I am coming to realize the truth of "choose your attitude" -- "happiness is a choice" -- type of advice. But it can be very very hard to make that choice. And, you can't let that choice blind you to what is sometimes harsh reality. We do need to grieve, we do need to consider the what ifs, we do need to experience regret, and to ask for forgiveness...we just need to know how and when to move on. A hard situation is still a hard situation...but as Roberta says, we don't have to let it have complete control of us. Where is your focus? That is what counts.
- susan
August 13, 2009 9:44 a.m.
When I feel stressed out by what I think are the intentions of others, I repeat this mantra: "I refuse to give them the power to make me feel miserable." Then I relax and enjoy the situation.
- Rpberta S.
August 12, 2009 3:51 p.m.
I really appreciate this blog, i had heard about this prebiously but today it seemed to actualy sink in I have been trying all kinds of things to gain control of my patience with my kids and husband. it seems that after i had my baby twins i lost all of my patience and became really irritated whenever things didn't go how i had it planned. but putting your thought in play i can see how i can apply this in my life and gain control by not letting myself loose my patience. thank you i will work on this immediately you have made a big difference for me. Thanks!
- annonymous
August 12, 2009 12:35 p.m.
Totally agree with you. Having been through widowhood, breast cancer, and taking care of my younger sister who had 3 strokes at 56, I had to maintain some sense of control over my emotional reactions to other people. Be they family members, friends, acquaintances, they all have made inappropriate comments to the situation. Serenity in my daily life was imperative and I did it through meditation early in the morning. I shut out the noises and did not go in crowds or traffic. My peaceful home, gardening and reading were my routine for the past three years. Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book "Change Your Thoughts--Change Your Life" was my daily bible for two years. I am much better now and ready to move on to new situations.
- jeanine
7 comments posted