Live-tweet transcript: Alive Hospice’s 2012 Faith Leaders Conference (Sept. 6, 2012)

The following is a transcript of live-tweeting from Alive Hospice’s Third Annual Faith Leaders Conference. We are pleased to provide this transcript as a resource on spirituality and the end of life. For more information about this and other programs offered by Alive Hospice, click here or call 615-327-1085.

AliveHospice Good morning! The crowd is arriving for @AliveHospice’s 2012 Faith Leaders Conference. We’ll be live-tweeting throughout the day. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice We’re excited & thankful to be hosting the conference at Goodwill’s Lifsey Career Center today. (Thank you, @giveit2goodwill!) #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice President & CEO Anna-Gene O’Neal welcomes the crowd (a room full of 100!) #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Anna-Gene: The work of faith leaders, health care providers & others in supporting the seriously ill and dying is “immeasurable.” #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Those with us today represent a variety of faith traditions, health care providers, nonprofits, higher education & others. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice We’re very excited to have keynote speaker Dr. Richard Payne of the Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life! (His talk later) #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Other speakers include Dr. John Shuster of Vanderbilt & VA (psychiatrist & palliative physician)… #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice …as well as @AliveHospice Chaplain Gene Lovelace, Grief Support Dir. Karen Nash & Volunteer Services Dir. Renee Wisby #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice First speaker: Dr. John Shuster on “Complicated Bereavement & Depression as a Complication of Grief.” #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice 2.5 mill deaths in the US in 2007 w/ an average of 5 persons close enough to the person to experience grief. Not a trivial number. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Grief is not a disease or mental disorder, it’s the price w pay for love and intimacy. It is part of life. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Grief is not an episode. It’s the kind of thing that heals with a scar. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Dr. Shuster’s grandfather died while he was in medical school, more than 25 years ago. “Am I over it? No.” #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Does it hurt as much as it did that first week? No. The memories are sweeter, but there is still a feeling of loss. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice While it still hurts, it’s not causing impairment and obstruction of life now. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Grief: Normally a variable course; attention to painful reality of loss oscillates. Can be very disruptive. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Grief can be unfamiliar. People may try to avoid things that remind them of their loved one who has died. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Grief can also be full of positive emotions, which can throw people off, too. May trigger feelings of guilt. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Perceptual disturbances are common — eg, thinking you see the person out of the corner of your eye. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Grief is often connected to senses… smelling a particular perfume can trigger memories. This is not an abnormal experience. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Grief can be acute or integrated. Acute: Intense sadness, crying. Preoccupation with the deceased. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Acute: Diminished interest and concentration. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Integrated grief: Wounds begin to heal. Can recall loved one with sadness but less instensity #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Depression & grief: The bereaved are not necessarily depressed, but depression can occur. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Does Complicated Grief qualify as a formal mental disorder? Are we over-medicalizing? On the other hand, are people languishing? #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Complicated Grief: failure to progress into integrating loss into one’s life. Continued severe separation distress. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice It’s early on in determining whether complicated grief is a formal mental disorder. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Studies: Small, with no control groups, but generally suggest antidepressants, if used in treating complicated grief, can help. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Dr. Shuster’s own research on grief, depression & antidepressants tells him that grief & depression are different things. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Dr. Shuster: Existing depression can largely get in the way of processing grief. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Dr. Shuster: Grief & depression are separate things. Depression can be a complication of grief… #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice … and getting depression under control can help with grief. #FLC2012

 

AliveHospice Dr. Shuster’s presentation has concluded. We’ll be back after a quick break. #FLC2012