The latest news for you from Dr. Gary McClain

July 2023

Just Got Diagnosed

Welcome!

HI! Ever find yourself passing through the day, kind of feeling bounced around like the steel ball in an old pinball machine? I call that being stuck in reactive mode. Check out my article this month on how to avoid it.

Recent News

I recently spent an amazing weekend in the woods of Pennsylvania at the "After the Shock" weekend camp for families living with bleeding disorders, sponsored by CHES Foundation. Another amazing and rewarding experience!

I was honored to receive the 2023 Faculty Scholarship Award at Excelsior University where I teach in the Health Science program!

I am entering the editing process of my new book which will published during the summer of 2024. The title of my book is "The Power of Closure: Why We Want It, How to Get It, and When To Walk Away." My book will be published by Tarcher Perigee, which is part of Penguin Random House. Yes, I am hard at work!

My website, JustGotDiagnosed.com is filled with advice, inspiration, and information.

I can help you with...

My counseling and education program for newly-diagnosed as well as experienced patients, Prepared for the Road Ahead ®, is organized around emotions, Chronic Communication (sm) (relationships), embracing change, communicating with healthcare professionals, staying informed, making treatment decisions, self-image, and planning for the future.

Click here to learn more about me

I continue my association with hivplusmag.com and Coping with Cancer.

How Are You Getting the Day Started? How About a Healthy Ritual?

How are you feeling today? Have you taken a couple of minutes to be aware of your emotions? And if not, why? Don’t think you need to? Too busy?

Well, how about adding a healthy morning ritual to your list?

If you’re not aware of your emotions, then you’re that much more likely to react to anything and everything that goes on around you. And that may not be the healthiest way to spend your day.

It’s human nature to start the day in what I call reactive mode. And even to stay in reactive mode most of the day. We walk around in sadness, or fear, or anger, kind of hovering below the surface. The simplest occurrence and – whoosh! – all these feelings come up.

Here are some examples of what can happen if you’re starting the day in reactive mode:

· You are close to tears over a simple comment or gesture and you’re not sure why.

· You get a rush of anger when a car slows down in front of you that makes you want to holler.

· You find yourself feeling super anxious in the middle of a day that isn’t any more hectic than usual.

Yikes! What’s going on with me?

Here's help!

You are not alone. Let me help you get prepared for the road ahead!

Pay Attention!

Another year is slipping away.

This is the time of the year when I began to seriously lament the passing of summer. My favorite season. Maybe it's your favorite too.

NYC is much less chaotic in the summer, especially on weekends. It's never quiet here, but certainly more quiet than the other three seasons.

And I am also reminded of the importance of living each day to the fullest. To be grateful. To be in the moment and not caught up in lamenting the past or worrying about the future.

Life is now. It's happening all around us.

Also, my website of the month:

Here is a unique website that can help you to find more happiness from an organization called Action for Happiness. Here is how they describe themselves: The mission of Action for Happiness is to help people create a happier world, with a culture that prioritizes happiness and kindness. We do this by helping people get together regularly (face-to-face where possible) to learn evidence-based skills for happier living, feel a sense of belonging and commit to personal action to create more happiness, both for themselves and others.

Check out Action for Happiness!

Gary R. McClain, PhD JustGotDiagnosed.com