[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][B][SIZE="4"]I was speaking with a new friend here, answering her question, and when a went back and read what came out of this MS cloged head, I was amazed by what I had typped. You see, when I type, it is like I was right there speaking with you. When we do that, we do not go back and change words to make what we say sound better; at times we wish we could, but it is too late as we have already spoken. My real point is that if I were to go back, read what I have said, think about how it sounds then correct it so it 'sounds' better, I'd never get anything done. Nuff said as I digress.

The question was in response to my stating I worked closely with the V.A., when possible, speaking with patients. Most times I do this while I myself am a patient; of which I am often. She was asking what types of things I speak about. I was telling her that "as far as speaking to Vets goes, it depends on the situation. I usually listen to them and respond to what is being said. Because it is militairy that I'm talking with, I tend to deal with the negative side of things swiftly and harshly. For instance, when speaking with a soldier/patient who is trying to or has already given up, I jump on them to get them mad. The idea is to get them to "feel" some emotion, and then get them fighting mad. Then I steer the fight to fighting the problem and not just giving in. It is more of an instinctual style of psycology, yet it seems to work well. On the medical side of things, I try to coach patients on how to actually be a patient. That is, to question everything that is going on with reguard to their treatment, and to begin learning everything they can not only about their particular problem, but things that are related to it. Then I encourage them to get involved in the fight against that problem by providing their doctors with as detailed information on what is going on with them, as possible as well as trying to get them to reach out to others like them and 'network' with those people." When I went back and read what I had said, I never really considered how I do what I do, I simply did it. Now, there is much much more to this than what you read here, but I tend to get too deep so I thought I would be nice and sort of stop there.

Anyway, just thought I'd post this as it seem'd like the thing to do.

MSDave[B]