Living Well Despite Adversity

Join Cheryl Strayed, Temple Grandin, Meredith Vieira and others as they share their honest accounts of heartbreak, and the secrets they discovered that led them to triumph 'despite it all'. In this collection of interviews, Harriet Cabelly has dug deep to reveal the critical wisdom found in the midst of huge challenge or loss. She highlights themes such as purpose and gratitude that all of us can incorporate into our lives as we go through our own difficult times. In particular, she reflects on the importance of developing resilience and a positive attitude, even in the face of insufferable odds. The people in this book don't flinch from telling it how it really is. Their stories are raw, at times, as they openly describe their struggles and how they have learned to cope with loss, disability and addiction. Their stories will strengthen and inspire you. They will show that you, too, can come out the other side of heartbreak intact and go on to rebuild a life filled with renewed meaning and joy. That, despite it all, you can thrive. "A must-read for anyone who's feeling discouraged or hopeless. If you're going through a hard time, or know someone who could use a little inspiration to carry on, Living Well Despite Adversity will brighten the light at the end of the tunnel." - Lori Deschene, Founder of tinybuddha.com and author of Tiny Buddha's Gratitude Journal "Moving, inspiring and heart-felt. The stories in this book show it's possible to deal with hardship and rise above adversity." - Tal Ben-Shahar, author of Happier; lecturer and author in the field of positive psychology "What I appreciate most about this work is the author's clear understanding of what it takes to build a resilient life. Through her own story, and the evocative and wise words of others, we are given a rich understanding of the perspectives and practices that lift us even when life is relentlessly hard. The integration of science and story not only informs us but brings us to that place where we come to experience hope. Her warm, direct approach invites each of us to consider what we might add to our repertoire in terms of building a hardier life and one that moves toward thriving. I'm so glad to know of these ordinary heroes and so grateful for Harriet Cabelly in authoring such a work." - Maria Sirois, Psy.D., author of A Short Course in Happiness After Loss (and Other Dark, Difficult Times)

More than 400,000 people in the United States undergo kidney dialysis. If you or a member of your family are one of them, then the prospect of a regular appointment with a dialysis machine may seem like the end of life itself. But that reaction couldn't be more wrong. In Dialysis Without Fear, psychiatrist and dialysis patient Dr. Daniel Offer joins with his wife, Marjorie Kaiz Offer, and daughter, Susan Offer Szafir, to reveal how life can be lived--and lived well--on dialysis. Drawing on his long medical career and more than seven years of personal experience with dialysis, Dr. Offer dispels many misconceptions surrounding this treatment, explaining how you can adapt to the new diet, travel, work and continue to partake in life's joys and celebrations. But the fears and hardships can be quite real, and Dr. Offer brings his years as a psychiatrist to bear as he provides practical advice on how patients can overcome them. Walking through each step of dialysis, he explains different types of treatment, examines the pros and cons of a transplant, and discusses side effects. Since dialysis affects the entire family, Dr. Offer and his coauthors also provide realistic insights into how relatives can cope and thrive together, sharing the humor, courage, and triumphs of real families who have successfully faced the challenges of dialysis. The result is an inspiring, practical guide that will help you and your family learn to overcome the difficulties of dialysis, live without fear, and enjoy every day.

A young widow suddenly must raise three children alone—all while living with a rare blood cancer and working full-time. This situation might make any woman despair, but Sally Kalksma is not just any woman. With her passion for life and her infectious energy, she found the motivation to power through adversity with tenacity and grit while never giving up hope, even when life looked its bleakest. Although Sally is now in remission, she still takes chemo as a maintenance therapy for multiple myeloma, but she knows how to turn pain into positivity. In Life Gets in the Way, this superstar, world-renowned athlete shares her memoirs on climbing toward a world without cancer.

"To study resilience one should adopt a fundamental humility about oneself and one′s culture and society and simultaneously a respect for the human strength of others. The chapters in this book take these three cautions seriously, and offer a convincing demonstration that resilience is indeed a many-splendored thing." --James Garbarino, Cornell University The Handbook For Working With Children and Youth: Pathways To Resilience Across Cultures and Contexts examines lives lived well despite adversity. Calling upon some of the most progressive thinkers in the field, it presents a groundbreaking collection of original writing on the theories, methods of study, and interventions that promote resilience. Unlike other works that have left largely unquestioned their own culture-bound interpretations of the ways children and youth survive and thrive, this volume explores the multiple paths children follow to health and well-being in diverse national and international settings. It demonstrates the connection between social and political health resources and addresses the more immediate concerns of how those who care for children create the physical, emotional, and spiritual environments in which resilience is nurtured. Key Features Cross-cultural. Illustrates the rich variety of culturally embedded pathways by which children navigate toward health and well-being Multidisciplinary. Draws upon international experts utilizing both quantitative and qualitative studies from psychology, social work, psychiatry, nursing, education, criminology, child and youth care, community health, and family therapy Comprehensive. Provides broad developmental perspectives on resilience, from theory and research methods to interventions with individuals, families, and communities Connects theory to practice. Clarifies the construct of resilience from the viewpoint of resilience researchers and practitioners in health-related disciplines from different methodological paradigms within the social sciences and human services Academics, graduate students, and professionals studying or working in human service fields such as human development and family studies, education, social work, child and youth care work, developmental psychology/applied developmental science, child psychiatry, nursing, and family therapy will benefit from this Handbook. In essence, anyone who works with youth or is interested in the developmental issues related to children and youth in clinical, residential, or community settings will find Ungar’s Handbook to be of great value.

Living well with a long-term health condition is one of the most challenging experiences one can have. Written based on the most recent research evidence, this straightforward guide to managing both the emotional and physical aspects of chronic illness gives practical suggestions of how those living with a range of conditions can most effectively manage their symptoms whilst still living an active and fulfilling life. Covering a range of topics including self-management of pain, fatigue, stress and lifestyle changes, and adapting to a diagnosis, the book provides an accessible resource that will enable patients and carers to better understand and meet the psychological challenges of long-term condition. By taking a holistic approach, Bogosian empowers the individual to identify their own goals and the pathways to achieve them to reach personal satisfaction, while negotiating the complexities of their condition. This book will be an indispensable guide to those living with a long-term illness, as well as their family members. It will also be of interest to specialist nurses, care consultants, or social workers working with people with a chronic illness.

Making these skills your own.

Recharge your life and realize your potential with an introspective approach to holistic health. So many of us are stumbling through life, lacking purpose, motivation, and fulfillment. What we don’t lack is a desire to change, but we’re stuck in a vicious cycle of burnout: pushing ourselves too hard to meet unrealistic demands and standards until we’re too tired to do what’s needed to improve our lives, and too overwhelmed to know where to begin. To cope, we find ourselves falling into patterns of behavior that may eventually put us on a path toward chronic illness and disease. But it’s possible to reverse course. In Discovering Optimal, Joseph Gibbons, a professor in Exercise Science and Lifestyle Management, and an accredited mental health first aid instructor and practitioner, takes us on his own eye-opening journey from total emotional and physical collapse to optimal health and wellness. Bringing together ancient wisdom as well as the latest scientific findings, Gibbons helps you to uncover your unique blueprint for mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. This whole-body approach will show you how to rewire your psychology and physiology, take a proactive approach to energy management, and break the burnout cycle for good. Using this book, you’ll identify the obstacles impeding your access to more energy, better immunity, increased happiness, and deeper fulfillment in life expose the “root” cause of your issues discover strategies that are scientifically proven to enhance your overall wellbeing and outlook curate a personalized optimization plan that allows you to grow and evolve daily With self-reflective exercises and strategies designed to support realigning your health priorities, Discovering Optimal provides you with the building blocks to revitalize your mind and body, and to live the life you’ve always wanted.