The Worry Control Workbook

CHAPTER 8
Controlling Worries About
Health and Safety Issues

cont.

Advanced Directives

Symptoms or circumstances that indicate to others that they need to take over full responsibility for my care and make decisions in my behalf.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

If the above symptoms or circumstances come up, I want the following people to take over for me.

Name Connection/role Phone number
________________________________________________________________

I do not want the following people involved in any way in my care or treatment:
Name Why you do not want them involved (optional)
________________________________________________________________

If my supporters disagree on what is to be done, I want ____________________ to make the final decision.

List of medications I am currently using and why I am taking them.
________________________________________________________________
List of medications that would be acceptable to me if medications became necessary and why or when I would choose those.
________________________________________________________________

List of medications that should be avoided and the reasons.
________________________________________________________________
List of treatments that have helped me in the past and when they should be used.
________________________________________________________________
List of treatments I would want to avoid.
________________________________________________________________
Plan so that I can stay at home or in the community and still get the care I need.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

List of treatment facilities where I prefer to be treated or hospitalized if that becomes necessary.
________________________________________________________________
List of treatment facilities I want to avoid.
________________________________________________________________
List of things that others can do for me that would help me feel better.
________________________________________________________________
List of things I need others to do for me and who I want to do what.
________________________________________________________________

What I need done Who I'd like to do it
________________________________________________________________
List of things that others might do, or have done in the past, that would not help or might even make the situation worse.
________________________________________________________________

I developed this plan on (date) _______________ with the help of _____________________
Any plan with a more recent date supersedes this one.
Signed ______________________________ Date __________________
Witness _____________________________ Date __________________
Witness _____________________________ Date __________________
Attorney _____________________________ Date __________________

Protecting Yourself From Illnesses

Worry can be relieved by taking precautions that protect us from some chronic and acute illnesses. Some prudent guidelines that are in the best interest of all of us include:

• Wash your hands with soap before meals, after toileting and at regular intervals throughout the day.
• Take echinacea (an herbal immune system booster) before being in crowded or confined spaces
• Maintain adequate fluid intake.
• Keep life stress at a manageable level
• Limit the intake of sugar, salt and fats.
• Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Take multivitamin preparations with extra vitamins E and C.
• Assess personal or genetic risk factors and take steps to minimize the susceptibility to these factors.
• For women, do monthly breasts exams and having mammograms at intervals recommended by your physician.
• For men, have regular prostate examinations.
• Wear protective clothing when in natural areas where poison ivy or oak, snake bites, insect and ticks might be a problem. Inspect your body for ticks after being outdoors. Since AIDS became a major health hazard in the early 1980's, there are health precautions that need to be taken by anyone in vulnerable position. These include:
• Avoid contact with the body fluids of others. If you work in a job where this is not possible, wear latex gloves and goggles or mask if needed.
• Avoid using intravenous needles that have been used by others.
• Use a condom or other barrier type protection when having sex if you are not in a monogamous relationship, or if you or your partner have had other sexual partners since testing for AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Relieve worry about AIDs by getting an AIDS test through your physician or anonymous testing by a local health agency or AIDS project. Inform others about the risks of AIDS by sharing brochures that are available through your physician or through AIDS Awareness projects ! nationwide.

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