Childhood experiences and long-term psychological outcomes were investigated with 10 adults, ages 33 through 71, who were self-identified victims of illness fabrication by a parent (Munchausen by Proxy). During childhood they felt unloved and unsafe and had emotional and physical problems. As adults, problems included insecurity, reality-testing…

A model of the grief cycle was developed based on data from studies of the grief process and observations of 130 parents of children with disabilities. The model involves three phases: confronting (including shock, denial, blame/guilt); adjusting (depression, anger, bargaining); and adapting (lifestyle changes, realistic planning, adjusted…

This article presents information on macular degeneration for professionals helping persons with this disease adjust to their visual loss. It covers types of macular degeneration, the etiology of the disease, and its treatment. Also considered are psychosocial problems and other difficulties that persons with age-related macular degeneration face.…

As a result of the Holocaust, many survivors developed long term psychosocial impairment known as the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is characterized by depression, anxiety, hypocondriasis, inability to concentrate or to express anger, nightmares, insomnia, obsessive thoughts, guilt, mistrust, and alienation. The literature in this…

The role of school-related stress in the life of the disabled child is examined, and parents and teachers are given suggestions to reduce stress and help the child cope. Stress is defined as the emotional and physical reaction to the pressures that society places upon the child to conform and live up to expectations. Among sources of stress are…

Teachers can help rechannel student anxieties by identifying areas of anxiety and then using such activities as pictorial displays to initiate conversations, "dialogue" notebooks (unrestricted, uncorrected writing on topics of students' choice), and classroom speakers (e.g., doctors) who can address topics which cause anxiety in…

Discusses the ways in which children of different ages respond to divorce or death in the family. Suggests that an open, caring teacher can reach and teach emotionally troubled students by creating an emotional climate for learning. (DMM)

Third-year residents nearing completion of their training and preparing to leave for independent practice often appear to experience anxieties that suggest a form of separation crisis. Their negative behavior may be a way of making the old milieu less welcoming and thus easier to leave. Advice for easing the transition is offered. (JMD)

Teacher burnout is described as physical, emotional, and attitudinal exhaustion; and suggestions for coping with the symptoms of burnout are offered. (JMF)

A school counselor recounts the case of a gifted 14-year-old with rheumatoid arthritis and a destructive home situation, to remind teachers that in-school problems have out-of-school roots and that the teacher is not the only professional available to, and concerned with, the well-being of the student. (DB)

This paper reports on efforts in Hull, England, to better train teachers to manage bereaved children. Evaluation following training shows an increased level of trained staff in schools, more use of policies and procedures, and a higher level of individuals in schools having responsibility for responses to bereavement. (Contains eight references.)…

Making students' responses to the news a legitimate part of the early childhood curriculum contributes to their overall sense of safety and well-being, a necessary condition for effective learning to occur. Examples illustrate how children bring news violence into their play, effective responses, and how to talk about disturbing news. (MLF)

A form of melancholia characterized by the negating of a college faculty member's professional motivation, positive attitudinal focus, and personal self-esteem is described. This "professorial melancholia" has three stages: (1) causal factors are beginning to have an effect; (2) progressive influence and noticeable impact; and (3) serious impact…

The article describes the implementation of Immediate Strategic Intervention, a counseling strategy which utilizes trained adolescent female friends to help during the first 24 hours of an emotional crisis (e.g., potential suicide). Middle school adolescents can be taught basic psychological concepts and utilize them in supporting friends and…

This fact sheet points out that knowledge of the process of grief (defined as one's own personal experience of loss) and ways of helping individuals and families cope with their loss experiences can be an invaluable asset to crisis nurseries and respite care programs and their service providers. The fact sheet lists the emotions of grief, and…