|
 | I wonder if the people who organized the first effort to recognize November as National Hospice/Palliative Care Month thought about it's proximity to Halloween? It probably depends on who was in the room. In my experience, when you talk to people who are dying, and to people whose work it is to support people while they are dying, there are a lot of laughs. And when you talk with people who don't actual think about their own deaths and who only manage others or write policy about dying, they never laugh. I've always found this a bit puzzling. You'd think the farther from death you got, the easier it would be to laugh about it. That hasn't been what I've found. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been with people in my life as they've died, and to have people in my life who have been near death so many times that they can't pretend anymore (like the res t of us) that death is some distance fictional end. I wouldn't say it's fun, even though there are some great big laughs, but it's infused every part of how I live my life. And it certainly made it clear to me that sexuality doesn't disappear as soon as a terminal diagnosis is made or felt. So before we are sucked into December, the month of great illusions, I hope you don't mind if I recommend a few things to read that, while they are about death, are also very much about living. ~ Cory | |
Sex and Palliative Care
There are many barriers to talking about, and expressing, sexuality if you or someone you love is receiving palliative care. But there are also plenty of ways to get around, through, or over those barriers and it's important to remember that desire can always be expressed, even amidst death.
| How to Talk to Doctors About Sex and Palliative Care
According to one study, most people receiving palliative care wished their health care professionals would talk with them about sexuality but only 1 in 10 patients reported a professional raising the issue with them. Anytime you wait for a doctor to invite questions about sex you're playing a dangerous game of chicken. If you're doing it near the end of your life, or the life of someone you're having sex with, the chance you're going to lose go way up.
| Sexuality and Terminal Breast Cancer
The word sexy gets over used. Most of the time when we say something is "sexy" we aren't speaking to our desire to be in sexual relationship with that person or thing. We talk about ideas as sexy, and objects, and people too. Often I think sexy is a short cut for saying that the thing feels familiar and desirable without requiring any thinking. Hopefully, when you find someone you want to be sexual with, you also gave some thought to why. So while it's true (I guess) that for most people the idea of terminal breast cancer isn't sexy, we shouldn't confuse that with the idea that someone who has terminal breast cancer isn't still someone we want to have sex with, or someone who has sexual desire and agency of their own.
| How Can I Resume Sexual Activity While Caring for MyWife?
"I've been married for forty years, my wife now has Alzheimer's disease and no longer wants any form of sexual contact. I feel I need some intimate contact and sex, and wonder what my best course of action should be, to become active again. I fear the health implications of prostitutes. Any guidance would be helpful."
| |
| | Sexuality Ads
| | | | Featured Articles | |
| | | More from About.com | | | | | | What is ADD?
Learn more about Attention Deficit Disorder, a condition that affects approximately 2 million children in the United States. More>
| | | | Living with ADD
Distractibility, restlessness, and difficulty organizing oneself are just a few of the issues individuals with ADD must learn to cope with. More>
|
| | | | Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics | | | | You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Sexuality newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here.
About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy
Contact Information:
249 West 17th Street
New York, NY, 10011
© 2011 About.com | | | | |
Must Reads | |
Advertisement
 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment