|
|
Health &
Spirituality: Help
or Harm
| Course Number |
LWH305
3062 |
| Objectives |
At the end of this course, you will discriminate
between helpful and harmful 1.
caring, 2. praying, 3. worshipping and 4. forgiving. |
| Credit Hours and Fee |
3.0 CE Credit Hours with a fee of $24.00 |
| Instructor |
Rudolf Klimes, PhD (Indiana University), MPH
(Johns Hopkins University);
Adjunct Professor at Folsom Lake
College, Folsom CA. |
Explore this course for free. Or study this
web-site for an approved (RN-CEP 11430, MFT- PCE 39)
3-hours Continuing Education Certificate for counselors, social workers, nurses
and other human service professionals (0.3 CEUs)
and take the 12-question multiple-choice test at the bottom of this page.
If you scored 75% or above, your CE certificate will be printed
out right then on your printer 24/7. You may retake the test within a week once
for free. If you paid by mistake or paid double, we refund the payment within 3
days. If you have difficulty printing your certificate,
click here.
| Caring |
Praying |
Worshipping |
Forgiving |
Spirituality is a two-edged sword. While it is an agent
of health to many, it can be misused and become a source of harm. At times,
spirituality may help the recipient while harming the giver. Here we mainly
examine spirituality as it effects the helper.
Spirituality is the sensitivity or attachment to religious
values, or to things of the spirit as opposed to material or worldly interests.
(from Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed, and Oxford English
Dictionary, 2nd ed).
Questions
for Self-study: Study the below page in
depth and submit only the quiz at the end. Follow some links but be sure not to
get lost.
T
F
Spirituality is always helpful in health.
T
F
Generally, religion is good medicine.
T
F
Spirituality cannot be studies scientifically.
T
F
USA government institutions cannot study spirituality.
"Thou hast made us for thyself," says St. Augustine of Hippo,
"and the heart never rests until it finds its rest in thee." God created us to
be spiritual beings, people who seek after something beyond ourselves to give
life meaning and purpose. The apostle Paul preaching to the Greek seekers on
Mars Hill explained, "From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole
earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the
places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps
grope for him and find him--though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For
'in him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets
have said, 'For we too are his offspring'" Acts 17:26-28. Source:
Nurses
Christian Fellowship.
1.
Does Caring Help?
1.1 Is caring for you a source of comfort? Yes___,
No___, Explain __________
1.2 Does your caring meet your spiritual needs? Yes___,
No___, Explain __________
1.3 Is your caring an expression of your life purpose?
Yes?___, No___, Explain____________
Source: ICIHS/NIHS
Subject Experts:David B. Larson, MD, M.S.P.H., president, National Institute
for Healthcare Research April 6, 1999 Washington -- Recent scientific
research has found an unlikely ally in battling the effects of stress and
depression - spirituality.
Several studies conducted in the past few years have found that spirituality and
religion may help buffer the effects of stress and depression, as well as help
medically ill patients overcome bouts of depression.
•Researchers studying a sample population of 2,730 drawn from the Alameda County
Study - a long-term research project of health and mortality - found that people
who both attend religious services and participate in other activities through
their place of worship receive protection from the stress of financial burdens,
health issues and other problems. Interestingly, the researchers also found that
participation in organized religion did nothing to buffer the effects of family
stresses, and may actually worsen depressive effects. Researchers hypothesize
that because family cohesiveness and harmony is especially prized by those who
are organizationally religious, family tensions such as abuse and marital
problems may very well trigger depression in these people. This finding,
however, is not enough to discount religion's roll in preventing and overcoming
depression.
• In a study of nearly 600 severely ill hospital patients aged 55 and older,
researchers measured 47 ways of coping and discovered patients who sought a
connection with a benevolent God as well as support from clergy and church
members were less depressed and rated their quality of life as higher, even
after taking into account how severe their diagnosis. The researchers also found
that patients who gave spiritual support to others, by praying for them or
encouraging their faith, also faired better emotionally.
• Another recent study conducted at Duke University revealed more striking
results. In the first study to examine the role of religion in recovering from
depression, researchers followed 87 patients aged 60 or older who were diagnosed
with depressive disorder after being admitted to the hospital for a physical
illness. They discovered that religion can help people recover from depression.
In fact, the more spiritual the patient, the more quickly he or she recovered!
The link between depression and spirituality has even been found to cross the
generational gap. In a study of 60 mothers and 151 children, researchers found
that the daughters of women who considered religion to be highly important were
60 percent less likely to have a major depressive disorder at the 10 year
follow-up. The study also found that women for whom religion was highly
important were 81 percent less likely to have major depression at the follow-up.
According to David B. Larson, MD, president of the National Institute for
Healthcare Research "a person's religious beliefs can be an important factor in
assisting them to avoid or overcome depression." Source: ICIHS/NIHS
2.
Does
Caring Harm?
2.1 Is caring for you a source of stress? Yes___, No___,
Explain __________
2.2 Is caring for you a duty that you do reluctantly? Yes___,
No___, Explain___________
2.3 Are you burning out? Yes___, No___, Explain____________
A great deal of sensitivity is required in the care of
individuals. Care that is not welcome or understood may cause harm.
3.
Does
Praying Help?
3.1 Is praying for you a source of comfort? Yes___, No___,
Explain __________
3.2 Does your praying meet your spiritual needs? Yes___,
No___, Explain __________
3.3 Does your praying give you strength from an outside
source? Yes___, No,____. Explain_____________
"Confess your transgressions one to another, and pray one for
another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous
man avails much." James 5:16. Almost 3,000 years ago, the prophet Isaiah
declared, “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall
mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall
walk and not faint” Is 40:31.
"Should we continue to pray for healing, even if it doesn't
always work? Of course we should. The purpose of prayer is not to manipulate God
into giving us what we want. It is the language of relationship-a dependent,
family relationship with God. We don't give our kids everything they ask for,
because we know it would not be good for them. Sometimes the answer is a
flat-out no. Sometimes it is later. At other times we challenge them to
demonstrate the responsibility to handle the desired privilege or to work for
the money to buy the coveted item. However, we definitely want our children to
keep talking to us, to tell us what they hope for and dream of doing. Through it
all, we provide guidance and encouragement. God wants the same from us. He wants
us to get beyond enduring the trials to developing character. That's hard work,
but, if anything, parenthood has given me a great deal of sympathy for God's
side of the process."
4.
Does
Praying Harm?
4.1 Is praying for you a source of stress? Yes___, No___,
Explain __________
4.2 Is praying for you a duty that you do reluctantly?
Yes___, No___, Explain___________
4.3 While praying, do you neglect the regular expected
activities? Yes__, No__, Explain____________
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, "God, I
thank you that I am not like other men- extortionist, unjust,
adulterers..." Every one who exalts himself will be humbled... Luke 18: 11-14.
5.
Does Worshipping Help?
5.1 Is worshipping for you a source of comfort? Yes___,
No___, Explain __________
5.2 Does your worshipping meet your spiritual needs? Yes___,
No___, Explain __________
6.3 Does your praying give you peace from an outside source?
Yes___, No,____. Explain_____________
Source: ICIHS/NIHS
Older Americans' chances of living longer are stretched by 28 percent when they
attend religious meetings each week - even after considering key health and
social factors which also could lengthen lives - found a new study published in
this month's Journal of Gerontology.
"The risk of dying for frequent attendees was 46 percent lower than for those
attending less often," commented researcher Dr. Harold G. Koenig. After
adjusting for other health and social factors that could help foster longer
lives, frequent attendees were still 28 percent less likely to have died.
The study also found that religious attendees were physically healthier, had
more social support and lived healthier lifestyles than less frequent attendees.
The study, supported by the National Institute on Aging, surveyed a random
sample of nearly 4,000 seniors aged 64 and older to see if attending religious
services had any bearing on living longer. It confirmed findings of a
28-year-long study on the west coast of over 5,200 people that found the risk of
earlier death sank 23 percent among persons who often attended religious
services.
The seniors were interviewed every year for up to six years to track death rates
and links with health, social and religious factors. Health practices such as
cigarette smoking and alcohol use - as well as age, gender, education and
chronic health conditions - also were taken into account.
Death rates among this sample were relatively high during the six years - 30
percent - which provided "substantial power for examining predictors of
survival," the researchers noted. Attending religious services stood out as a
significant factor that predicted longer lives.
The link was strongest for women, who, after controlling for other factors, had
a 35 percent lower risk of death, compared to a 17 percent lower risk for men.
When accounting for this difference, the researchers cited other studies which
have found women are more likely than men to pray, to rate religion as important
in their lives and to depend on religion to cope, which perhaps conveys greater
health benefits than merely attending religious services.
Why might attending religious services help add years to one's life? "Religious
attendance is related to lower rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. A
strong religious faith reinforced by active religious participation may help
persons to cope with life stressors, particularly physical health problems later
in life. Lower rates of depression, like higher social support, may translate
into stronger immune systems and better defenses against disease," the
researchers commented.
"Past studies have linked religious attendance with lower blood pressure, fewer
strokes, and better compliance with taking medicines and following doctors
orders, which also can contribute to longer lives," added Dr. David B. Larson,
president of the National Institute for Healthcare Research and co-author of the
study.
Subject Experts: David B. Larson, M.D., M.S.P.H., president, National Institute
for Healthcare Research;
Harold G. Koenig, M.D., M.H.Sc., geriatric psychiatrist and director of the
Center for Aging at Duke University, Source:
ICIHS/NIHS
6.
Does
Worshipping Harm?
6.1 Is worshipping for you a source of stress? Yes___, No___,
Explain __________
6.2 Is worshipping for you a duty that you do reluctantly?
Yes___, No___, Explain___________
6.3 While worshipping, do you focus mainly on yourself?
Yes__. No, Explain_________
And they worshipped the Dragon... Rev 13:1
7.
Does
Forgiving Help?
7.1 Is forgiving for you a source of comfort? Yes___, No___,
Explain __________
7.2 Does your forgiving meet your spiritual needs? Yes___,
No___, Explain __________
7.3 Does your forgiving clarify your relationships? Yes___,
No,____. Explain_____________
Source: ICIHS/NIHS
When a child dies by their own hand in suicide, parents' grief over the loss of
a child can be compounded by anger at the child for committing such an act and
burdensome guilt in themselves for failing to prevent it. A promising therapy
focusing on forgiveness may offer hope to these suffering parents.
Teen suicide and its aftermath remain a staggering problem in the U.S. which has
reached double the rates of adolescent suicide of any other industrialized
nation, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Between
1970 and 1990 the rate of suicide among U.S. teens more than tripled, becoming
the second leading cause of death, outstripped only by accidents.
Along with suicide prevention, a critical need for effective programs to deal
with the psychological trauma of the surviving relatives of suicide victims has
become the focus of recent research.
Drs. Radhi H. Al-Mabuk and William R. Downs of the Center for the Study of
Adolescents at the University of Northern Iowa document a particularly promising
approach for helping parents whose teens committed suicide. Shown effective in
treating persons with other psychological trauma, this program focuses on
teaching parents to "forgive" their dead child, breaking the cycle of
emotionally trapping themselves in the event. Michael McCullough, Ph.D., of the
National Institute for Healthcare Research (NIHR), has done extensive research
on the role of forgiveness in mental health. "Dr. Al-MabukĖs theories about the
role of forgiveness in coping with suicide are consistent with recent studies
emphasizing the unique role forgiveness may play in counseling and
psychotherapy." he says.
Following a child's suicide, a parent often does not confront the hurtful event,
the researchers explain, instead setting up defenses to avoid dealing with the
pain. But over time the parent often becomes angry, even hateful toward the dead
child, yet also feels deep shame. They often continually relive the hurtful
event over and over, held hostage by their feelings.
In forgiveness therapy, the therapists first help the parent face and release
their anger toward the dead child and an "unjust" world. The parents are helped
to realize their own coping strategies arenĖt working so they can decide whether
to choose to work on forgiving their child.
Steps toward forgiveness include developing empathy for the child and the
childĖs suffering, accepting the pain that was unfairly placed on them, and
seeing their own imperfections as well as their child's so they can forgive.
This creates an internal, emotional release.
"Forgiveness is important in diminishing anger, guilt, anxiety, depression, and
resolving physical complications," as well as increasing hope and self-esteem,
note the researchers.
Reference: Al-Mabuk, Radhi H., and Downs, William R. (1996). "Forgiveness
Therapy with Parents of Adolescent Suicide Victims." Journal of Family
Psychotherapy 7(2): 21-39. Source: ICIHS/NIHS
8.
Does
Forgiving Harm?
8.1 Is forgiving for you a source of stress? Yes___,
No___, Explain __________
8.2 Is forgiving for you a duty that you do reluctantly? Yes___, No___,
Explain___________ 8.3 Do you pardon all consequences of all evil
behaviors? Yes?__, No___, Explain________
Forgiveness is defined as the process in which one person renounces
resentment about an offense and is freed to extend good will to the offender. A
form of forgiveness in which the person does not renounce resentment about an
offense may be harmful.
Christianity: The religion stemming from the life, teachings, and death of
Jesus Christ: the religion that believes in God as the Father Almighty who works
redemptive through the Holy Spirit for men's salvation and that affirms Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior who proclaimed to man the gospel of salvation. (From
Webster, 3d ed)
Now take the
Test
Study this web-site for
3 hours for an
approved (RN-CEP 11430, MFT- PCE 39) 3-hours Continuing Education Certificate (0.3
CEUs).
Click
here for the self-correcting test & online payment, and 2) receive your
certificate immediately online. All is online, nothing by post-mail.
|
|
