The latest news for you from Dr. Gary McClain

May 2023

Just Got Diagnosed

Welcome!

HI! Nice to be back to working on my newsletter. I have been busy with lots of edits on my book. I have many conversations lately about what it means to be normal when you are living with a chronic condition. I hope you will take a look at my article!

Recent News

The presentation topics most in demand lately have been Validation and Work-Life Balance, not surprising for the challenging times we are living in. Let's take good care of ourselves, let's show kindness to the people around us

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.

Feeling Normal: Learn To Be Okay On Those Days When Things Don’t Feel Okay

Terry woke up with kind of a vague feeling that something wasn’t quite right. It wasn’t anything she could put her finger on. But her energy felt lower. And so did her mood. She wasn’t experiencing anything she would call feeling sick, but she wasn’t feeling all that great either.

Terry didn’t feel like she needed to raise any alarms with her doctor. But she was concerned.

In a way, Terry wondered if it wasn’t almost worse to feel just generally out of sorts than to actually be feeling sick. Why? Because she knew from experience that on days when she was a little off kilter, and without a clear reason why, her mind tended to go to dark places.

“It’s not like you’re sick,” she told herself. “You can still do the basics today, even go to work.” But she couldn’t help but also ask herself: “Is there something going on with me? And finally: “Is there something lurking around the corner and about to strike?”

It wasn’t like Terry hadn’t talked to her doctor about the potential of having days when she wasn’t feeling at her best. She had even told Terry about what symptoms to contact her about.

But still… Terry couldn’t help but feel concerned.

Here's help for when you have one of those days!

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

Pay Attention!

How do I set myself up to manage my chronic condition?

Every week, I speak with a client who is newly diagnosed with a chronic health condition. It’s not easy to hear this news. But then, if you have recently been diagnosed, or if you have been living with a chronic condition for awhile, or a long while, I’m preaching to the choir. It’s not easy is an understatement.

Out of our discussions, questions come up regarding the future. What’s next for me as I begin traveling this road? What do I need to be doing to take care of myself? How can I go from here to where I need to be in managing my health?

My answer is always the same: Let’s work together to help you set yourself up for success.

Keep reading...

Also, my website of the month:

SleepFoundation.org is the go-to source for trustworthy sleep information. Our extensive article library is based on sleep science, and comprehensive reviews of different sleep and wellness products. Our medical board and medical review panel ensure our work is rooted in medical literature and follows up-to-date research. We commit to publishing authoritative, timely research about sleep and health.

Check out the Sleep Foundation!

Gary R. McClain, PhD JustGotDiagnosed.com