The Fabric

As many prepare to celebrate the 4th of July, here are some helpful reminders to spread awareness about our neighbors in our community. Some people experiencing PTSD from combat can be triggered ie. by fireworks. Something that can help those with PTSD is to have conversations with them (if they are open to it) and figure out ways to support them If you are hosting a 4th of July party or picnic: Ask guests ahead of time if they have difficulty around the holiday. Consider safe alternatives to typical Independence Day celebrations. For example, if a Veteran friend or family member is alarmed by the loud sound of fireworks, you can suggest that your group use sparklers instead. Consider reducing or removing substances such as alcohol from your 4th of July events. Tips for Veterans celebrating Independence Day (Article) https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/62393/some-helpful-tips-to-remember-for-this-4th-of-july/ Further Information and Support Resources for Veterans https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Veterans-Active-Duty

Last week, I started to get some numbness in my right hand. It got worse and I did a telehealth consultation via Oscar. I was hoping she would say it was a physical injury and that I could go to my primary care doctor the next day for a check-in. Instead she said, "I can't rule out that this could be something neurological and I suggest you go to Urgent care or the ER...right now." So instead of taking it seriously, I did what a lot of men do, which is start making excuses. I pushed back because I have one toddler and a newborn - didn't want to potentially expose myself to Covid unnecessarily. I made some more excuses, but she pressed and I conceded. I went to urgent care and they turned me away and suggested I go to the ER right away because they thought it could be serious and had no way of dealing with a potential stroke. This made me a tad bit worried... Upon arriving at St. Joseph Hospital, I struggled to write my info down because the numbness was strong. I told them what was going on and they got me in quickly. I saw a nurse within 30 minutes and a doctor within an hour or so. The doctor ran a series of tests on me and ruled out a stroke. Phew! However, after 5-6 hours and x-rays, he could not confirm the diagnosis either. Likely an entrapped ulner nerve. At one point, he recommended a neurologist, but then ultimately just suggested to see my primary care doctor as a follow-up. All of this hit me both physically and mentally. A stroke scare and now an injury that would sideline me from work, tennis and most importantly, my kids / house work. I felt a range of emotions: anger, guilt, and so much more. It's been five (5) days now and my hand is still numb and now a little painful. I have my follow-up appointment today and hoping this is a speedy recovery. But at the end of the day, it wasn't a stroke. And I'm fortunate. I'm grateful. I won't be able to take copious notes during my meetings or do as much work as I'd like to around the house or work out, but that's okay. This is a wake-up call! It's Men's Health Month and this could not be more relevant. It's okay if you're physical health struggles from time to time. It's okay if you need to take a mental health day too. Especially as men, the stigma and internal pressure we put on ourselves is too much. I encourage men to take time off as needed, go see a doctor if you need to and I always tell my team to take time off if they need it as well. I'm not so good at that, but I'm trying. If we are building a culture around physical and mental health at my company, I need to lead by example. I'm not perfect and I'm human and as a man, I need to do my part. This month I'm committing to keep persisting to be better to my own health and leading by example. Happy Men's Health month to all the men out there. -Ravi PS If anyone has any tips on how to take care of an entrapped ulner nerve, I'm ALL EARS! Wish me luck. 😅

These past several weeks I have become fascinated by the array of information that we all need to keep up with while navigating this pandemic experience. There is not one person I work with as a clinician that does not have frustration over what and who to believe. From the spectrum of conservative, moderate or extreme if you know where to look you can find information that speaks to these perspectives and they are truly not saying the same things! Across the spectrum there is no universal agreement about what to do and how to move on with your life and your family's. Now that the fears of covid19 have settled into our collective conscious how do we process the next phase? That next phase seems to be not waiting for covid19 to end but how to live with it as part of our day to day life. In my work with others (and my thoughts I share with family and friends) I seem to to find the most comfort in keeping with the idea of finding your "true north". That is because what feels like a comfortable and safe set of practices for myself will NOT be the same for another. And , the level and depth of safety your need live day by day depends on what you believe to be true on any given day. It is also about what is mixed and mired into your history and your relationship in general with fearful experiences. By this I mean how you decipher and live with fear and manage fear is a combination of how you have dealt with fear in the past and how much of that reactive pattern is being used to deal with what is happening for you today. right. now. All this is to say, in order to feel as safe as possible and in order to live in this pandemic era; one must compile a set of circumstances and information to follow which you wholeheartedly believe to be true. That will become your true north. Keep in mind you will need to find comfort in flexibility due to the shifts and nuances required as the landscape outside continues to shift and morph with new information and data. And when we are on a choppy waters its always wise to fixate on the horizon, some fact or notion that you believe to be true. But isn't that true for us with respect to any important life circumstance ( to greater or lesser degrees)? To clear a personal path for a decision we need to make and wish to follow, requires a look deep into ourselves, more than looking outward for the answers.