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August 24, 2011
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Healing from Grief
Don’t suffer
in silence,
author says
People often grieve in silence.
It is common for people to feel
isolated and alone when they
mourn. But there is healing in
support. Denise Hall Brown saw
a need to promote the power of
relationships and resources to
aid in the healing process, start­
ing with the publication of her
first book, 2Grieve 2Gether: A
Journal from the Heart Helping
Survivors and Supporters Navi­
gate the Healing Process.
W hen Brown was 29, her
mother was killed by a drunk
driver. She lost her 5-month-old
learned that grief is not some­
thing you ever get over, rather
you get through. She experienced
firsthand the wide range of em o­
tions brought on by the rawness
of grief. She has learned to be
gentle with herself through each
ordeal.
The premise behind 2Grieve
2Gether is that grief is a process
that should not be handled alone.
The book is unique in addressing
both survivors (those who are
dealing with the death of a loved
one) and supporters (those who
are trying to help them).
Brown attends Hood College
Denise Hall Brown
in Frederick, Md., where she
son tragically 10 years later. earned a certificate in thanatol-
Since then, she's buried her hus­ ogy, the study of death and be­
band and an aunt who was like a reavement. She is working to­
mother-figure to her.
ward her master's degree in that
From each hardship, Brown field.
■an
A tattoo artist at work with a customer.
Rare Tattoo Infections Found
(AP) — At least two men
may have com e dow n with a
rare bacterial skin infection that
is hard to treat with antibiotics
after getting tattoos at a store
in Seattle, health authorities
said last week.
One 44-year-old man was
confirm ed to have a case of
M ycobacterium haem ophilum
after getting a tattoo on his
arm in A ugust 2009, the C en­
ters for D isease C ontrol and
Prevention said.
The infection, which showed
up as a bumpy red rash and a
pus infection on the skin's sur­
face, resisted treatm ent with
several antibiotics but eventu­
ally d isap p eared after nine
months.
A second su sp ected case
was reported in a 35-year-old
man who got a tattoo at the
same place two months later,
but tests were inconclusive.
The CDC said it considered it
a "suspected" instance of in­
fection.
The source of the bacteria
remains a mystery. Authorities
said the tattoo parlor was in com ­
pliance with safety regulations
but told the owner to use steril­
ized water for rinsing skin and
diluting ink instead of tap water.
Page 7
Toast to Your Health
For Your Health
by D r . J ames
For many Americans, having a
N. M artin J r .
couple of drinks to unwind at the
end of the day or to connect so­
cially with friends is a fun and
occasional indulgence. But for a
Thirteen percent of women in the
growing number of women who U.S. consume more than seven al­
drink, these occasions have gone coholic drinks each week. More than
from few-and-far-between to rou­ one-quarter of women aged 18-25
tine.
binge drink, meaning they consume
Drinking too much alcohol can more than three drinks per occa­
cause a slew of negative physical, sion. Binge drinking causes a sud­
social, and mental consequences den peak in the blood alcohol, which
in women such as decreased fertil­ can lead to unsafe behavior and a
ity, menstrual disorders, heart and higher risk of reproductive and or­
liver problems, injuries, seizures, gan damage.
malnutrition, and an increased risk
Many of us don’t realize that we
of breast, liver, rectal, and head drink too much. Understanding
and neck cancers. Loss of income, what a reasonable level of consump­
child neglect or abuse, altered tion is may be enough to encourage
judgment, driving under the influ­ some people to cut back. However,
ence, and depression may also others may find that it is hard to curb
occur.
their drinking or may not stop drink­
So how much is too much? Mod­ ing even though it threatens their
erate drinking is defined as no health, safety, or relationships.
more than one drink per day for These are signs of alcohol depen­
women and no more than two per dence.
day for men. It’s recommended
Women are often more reluctant
that women drink less because, than men to admit that they need
pound for pound, they have less help or have an addiction, fearing
water in their bodies to help dilute repercussions at work or with the
alcohol and its toxic by-products police, social isolation, or the loss of
than men, making them more vul­ their children. But the sooner the
nerable to alcohol-related health problem is addressed, the better.
problems at lower levels of alcohol
If you think you may have a drink­
intake.
ing problem, talk to your doctor. He
Serving size also matters. One or she can be an excellent resource
drink equals five ounces of wine, for advice and information and can
12 ounces of beer, eight to nine refer you to support groups that can
ounces of malt liquor, or 1.5 ounces help.
(one shot glass) of 80-proof spir­
For more information, the Patient
its. The large drinks commonly Education Pamphlet “Alcohol and
served at bars and restaurants can Women” is available at acog.org.
easily pack three or more servings
Dr. James N. Martin Jr. is presi­
of alcohol, not to mention hun­ dent o f the American Congress o f
dreds of empty calories.
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