Tying in with the "can one have too much empathy?" is this study suggesting that over-protective caretakers can actually lower a chronically ill person's functioning. (Besides, I thought the title was a hoot!)
http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/73/82074.htm?printing=true "...But for people with chronic pain -- back pain or arthritis -- an overly solicitous spouse may be more harmful than helpful, a new study suggests... "...Indeed, chronic pain is very complex -- and there's a fine line between helping someone in pain and being overly protective... "...Studies have pointed to this delicate link between a person's disability and a spouse's response. By being overly protective -- or showing too little empathy -- a spouse can increase the level of pain and disability, some researchers have said... "...Those men who described their spouses as "highly solicitous" experienced more severe pain and reported more disability, says Fillingim. "I emphasize the word 'reported' because, when we looked at actual functioning, they didn't differ from those men who did not describe their wives as solicitous," he says. "They said they were doing worse, but they were not." "For women, the situation was entirely different. Those with solicitous husbands didn't report significantly more pain or disability -- but their actual physical functioning was poorer. It took them longer to walk and they were able to lift and carry less weight. Also, their actual pain tolerance was lower than the other women's..." Generally, I find that telling someone "you can't do that yet!" an effective goad. ;) Debbi Sometimes You Need To Apply A Touch Of The Whip Maru __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
