Tai CHI Boxing Chronicle or Overcoming the Emotional Challenges of Lymphedema

T'ai Chi Boxing Chronicle

Author: Kuo Lien Ying

"The T'ai Chi Boxing Chronicle is a translation of the text left behind by the Orthodox Masters who developed this system of boxing. Over a period of generations, fives basic movements were developed, called the Bone Marrow Washing Exercises. These exercises helped the monks restore their health and will-power. As the movements were passed down from generation to generation, the meaning behind the movements of Tai Chi was almost completely lost. Due to the integrity of Kuo Lien-Ying, this information is presented without modification or alteration. This book contains a clear explanation of the physical laws of the art of T'ai Chi that hold true wherever it is practiced. The person who studies the information contained in this book will have the tools to achieve the highest level of mastery and skill to be obtained through the practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan."
-Guttman

Book review: International Meat Book or Tales and Tastes of a Chef

Overcoming the Emotional Challenges of Lymphedema

Author: Elizabeth J McMahon

Overcoming the Emotional Challenges of Lymphedema will help you understand the common emotional reactions to lymphedema and improve your coping by using a wide variety of self-help skills and other resources. These skills will help you understand what is going on, change your thinking and your actions, and improve your communications.

This comprehensive handbook includes specific information for people with lymphedema, their friends and families, parents of children with lymphedema, medical professionals and psychotherapists.

Intended Audiences
Overcoming the Emotional Challenges of Lymphedema is self-help book for:
Those with primary or secondary lymphedema.
The family and friends who care about people with lymphedema.
Medical professionals who treat people with lymphedema, even if the treatment they provide is not specific to lymphedema.
Psychotherapists working with people who have lymphedema.

This book will help you:
Understand the emotional challenges of lymphedema
Overcome these challenges and avoid common pitfalls
Recognize problems and know where to go for help
Communicate effectively with family, friends, coworkers, and healthcare professionals
Set and prioritize your goals
Identify where you are in the process of changing
Choose specific actions for reaching your goals
Monitor your progress and maintain your gains
and Learn the ten signs of good coping and six warning signs of ineffective coping.

This comprehensive guide includes specific information for people with lymphedema, their friends and family, parents of children with lymphedema, healthcare professionals, and psychotherapists.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Marilyn Sample, B.S. and M.S.(Indiana State University)
Description: This book focuses on the emotional challenges that people with lymphedema encounter. It combines a narrative presentation of the information with some components one might see in a workbook.
Purpose: The author offers this as a complement to other books that primarily focus on the pathophysiology of lymphedema. In her practice as a clinical psychologist, the author encounters patients with various chronic conditions that cause many emotions to be manifested and needs to be met. In addition, she became personally interested in the condition of lymphedema because one of her relatives developed the condition. This book will help meet the learning needs of readers regarding the emotional challenges that patients with lymphedema experience, as well as their caregivers, significant others, and family members. This book also contains suggestions about how to cope with the emotions. This book certainly meets the author's objectives of providing a resource that can be used to understand the emotional challenges of these patients.
Audience: This book is written for anyone who is in the position of dealing with lymphedema -- patients as well as the healthcare professionals who care for them. The author also suggests that patients' significant others and family members can benefit from this resource and I concur.
Features: The focus of the book is on the varied emotional challenges that one may experience once diagnosed with lymphedema. The author presents chapters devoted to specific feeling states such as anger, anxiety, sadness, etc. This book isalso a resource for others who want to know about the emotional needs of these patients. In most chapters, the author has boxed areas that contain coping suggestions for a particular emotion. Also, most chapters have a worksheet which encourages readers to be more interactive with the written content. The book is well organized, and the information is presented at a level that is not too technical.
Assessment: A helpful appendix describes the pathophysiology of lymphedema. I think it is essential to have some understanding of the condition in order to be able to understand the emotional sequelae that may occur. The book is very well written, the information is organized in a logical manner, and the text is not too technical. Besides information about emotional challenges encountered by these patients, many suggestions and opportunities to take personal inventories are presented. This is a useful adjunct to other books about living with lymphedema.

Library Journal

From the restful pastel drawing on its cover to the comprehensive closing index, this book offers a refreshing and inspiring journey through understanding and coping with lymphedema, an accumulation of lymphatic fluids that causes swelling. While other authors cover the physical aspects of the condition, clinical psychologist McMahon (coauthor, Living Well with Lymphedema) takes the study to a more introspective, reflective, and ultimately supportive level. Using a workbook style, she begins with a section on the emotional challenges of lymphedema, then turns to a section on planning and setting goals for change, and continues with skill-building information and exercises to help think about, act on, and communicate that change. Each chapter features pauses for reflection and further study on the concepts and suggestions presented. Final chapters provide specific information and advice for friends, family, parents of children with lymphedema, and professionals in the medical and mental health fields. This book is not designed to be read through once; instead, readers will consult it frequently like a reference tool. Recommended for public libraries, consumer health libraries, and the resource collections of mental health professionals working in oncology.-Beth Hill, Univ. of Idaho Lib., Moscow Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

What People Are Saying

Adrienne
"I found this book immediately comforting. Lymphedema can be isolating but this book helped me feel less alone.... I believe anyone with lymphedema or their loved ones will benefit from this book. "
—recently diagnosed with lymphedema

Beth Hill
"A refreshing and inspiring journey through understanding and coping with lymphedema. ... Readers will consult it frequently like a reference tool. Recommended for public libraries, consumer health libraries, and mental health professionals working in oncology."
—University of Idaho in Library Journal, October 2005

Claudia Kelsey
"A very encouraging book-like having your own therapist and a close friend along as you try new behaviors. "

Doris Laing
"I think this book is very valuable and a great tool for healthcare professionals and patients alike. I hope it will help strengthen my relationship with my patients and the effectiveness of our work."
—LMBT, CLT-LANA

Christine P. Thomas
"Empowering and practical, with exercises the reader can jump right into and know they are taking steps to help themselves. I love the emphasis throughout the book that the patient is in control. "
—MSPT, CLT-LANA

Pat Speckman
"I learned from each part. I'm going to copy a few pages for my employer; I've asked my husband to read the section for him; my therapist wants a copy."

Karen Kohr-Blinn
"Helping us know how to provide for our own needs and to overcome the emotionally crippling results of lymphedema."

Judith Janaro Fabian
"This book is full of basic psychological truths which are insightful, constructive, and very helpful."
—PhD, ABPP

Table of Contents:

Section I:  Lymphedema Isn't Just Physical
Chapter 1:  It All Fits Together

Section II:  The Emotional Challenges of Lymphedema
Chapter 2:  Feeling Overwhelmed
Chapter 3:  Sadness and Grieving
Chapter 4:  Anger
Chapter 5:  Fear
Chapter 6:  Being Self-Protective
Chapter 7:  Worry and Uncertainty
Chapter 8:  Focusing On Your Body
Chapter 9:  Self-Consciousness
Chapter 10:  Handling Others' Reactions
Chapter 11:  Asking "Why?"
Chapter 12:  Lessons from Your Past
Chapter 13:  Current Life Stresses

Section III:  Taking Charge Emotionally
Chapter 14:  Setting Your Goals
Chapter 15:  The Five Steps of Change

Section IV:  Tools for Change
Chapter 16:  Thinking Skills
Chapter 17:  Action Skills
Chapter 18:  Communication Skills
Chapter 19:  Professional Help

Section V:  Protecting Positive Change
Chapter 20:  Maintaining Change and Preventing Burnout
Chapter 21:  Good Coping and Ineffective Coping

Section VI:  Helping People With Lymphedema
Chapter 22:  For Family and Friends
Chapter 23:  For Parents of Children with Lymphedema
Chapter 24:  For Healthcare Professionals
Chapter 25:  For Mental Health Professionals

Appendix A:  About Lymphedema