GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Care Podcast Coping with Serious Illness: Danielle Chammas and Amanda Moment
Nov 21, 2024
Danielle Chammas, a psychiatrist and palliative care physician at UCSF, and Amanda Moment, a palliative care social worker at Brigham and Women's Hospital, delve into the multifaceted world of coping with serious illness. They discuss the nuances of coping strategies, highlighting how humor and art can aid emotional expression. The duo emphasizes the importance of understanding patients' coping mechanisms and maintaining their psychological integrity. They also touch on the significance of empathetic communication and the need for a collaborative approach in patient care.
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The Joking Patient
- Dani Chammas describes a patient who used dark humor to cope with terminal cancer.
- The patient's jokes initially surprised her, but she realized he used humor to process his illness, not avoid it.
Coping is Not Good or Bad
- Coping mechanisms aren't inherently good or bad.
- Assess if they serve or hinder the patient's psychological integrity.
Denial Can Be Healthy
- Denial can be a healthy coping mechanism in some situations.
- Avoiding dwelling on uncontrollable outcomes, like waiting for scan results, can be beneficial.