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By James D. Huysman, PsyD, LCSW, CFT
WellMed Chief Compassion Officer
I doubt there is anyone who can say they haven’t “lost” something this year. Aside from the most obvious – loved ones, homes, and jobs – lots of us have lost our tempers and some have lost their minds, but those who have lost hope are the ones I feel for most of all.
There has been too much loss this year on so many levels; it’s in the air. We are all changed by it somehow.
Even the most stoic and hopeful among us have been a little rattled. Most of us are feeling this continuing heightened level of stress for the first time in our lives. We don’t all react in the same way to circumstances, even with a shared emotion. As a clinician, I have concluded that America is in mourning, a natural reaction to the overwhelm and grief we all seem to feel to some degree these days.
It is fairly common knowledge that there are five common stages of grief, which occur in no particular order. They are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. In recent years a sixth stage was added: anxiety.
Being human will never be a one-size-fits-all experience. It is intensely personal and subject to how we feel about ourselves, the world we occupy, and our place in that world. In the best of circumstances interacting with others requires some degree of connection. Ironically, sometimes it’s that very connection that divides us.
Family dynamics can be especially treacherous. Family members may have very strong opinions about how they think things should be handled. We all handle emotionally charged situations differently. Fortunate are the families that can work together for the greatest good without breaking the ties that bind.
I have always found a reason to be hopeful; it lies in the resilience of the human spirit that I’ve been so fortunate to have witnessed and learned from over the years. I know that decision to thrive is ours in whatever circumstance in which you find yourself. It’s the learning curve of life.
In the words of the great Robin Williams, “Be kind to unkind people; they need it the most.”
James D. (Dr. Jamie) Huysman, PsyD, LCSW, CFT, Chief Compassion Officer, Project Omega. Social entrepreneurship, advocacy, and innovation have been the touchstones and driving force throughout Dr. Jamie’s 30-year career encompassing both for-profit and nonprofit leadership roles. Now, as newly appointed Chief Compassion Officer, he brings his special brand of connective magic to the Patient Teleconnection platform. Through this new national outreach effort and on behalf of the WellMed Charitable Foundation he continues his advocacy efforts to educate empower and energize medical patients within all healthcare systems today as well as the general public nationwide.