March/April 2013

Karate Kids kick fitness up a notch

for No-nos

factor
Lifeafter
BEHealthySETX.com

Beating the fear

the nose

death
| March/April 2013 1

If you need surgery, you have a choice. Experience the difference.

CHOOSE PREVITY.
Outstanding Outcomes Highly-skilled Minimally Invasive Surgery Up-to-date Surgical Training

Garrett K. Peel, M.D., M.H.S. Mayo Clinic Trained

Maria A. Palafox, M.D. Fellowship Trained

Christopher A. Timmons, M.D. Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Trained

CALL US TODAY
2 March/April 2013 |

prevityclinic.com
BE HealthySETX.com

740 Hospital Drive, Suite 280 Beaumont, Texas 77701 409.835.9500

610 Strickland Drive, Suite 190 Orange, TX 77630 409.886.1111

What makes us the only Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence in Southeast Texas? Youre looking at it.

CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Bariatric Center Medical Team Ame Franks, RN, CMSRN Program Manager, Certied Bariatric Nurse Pamela E. Monk, PhD, PLLC Licensed Professional Counselor Alicia Smith, LVN Clinic Nurse Lauren Rodriguez, MS, RD, LD Registered Dietitian Kevin Dean, MD Board-Certied General Surgeon Jerome Schrapps, MD Medical Director/Board-Certied General Surgeon

Thanks to the professionalism and expertise of our bariatric surgeons and staff at CHRISTUS Hospital St. Elizabeth, we have been designated as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. In fact, were the only hospital in Southeast Texas to earn the distinction. As such, it means the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Bariatric Center at CHRISTUS Hospital St. Elizabeth is uniquely qualied to help you safely and permanently achieve your long-term weight loss goal through gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, or lap band surgery. Our team of specialists includes highly skilled doctors, nurses, dietitians, and licensed counselors. Working together, theyre here to guide you through treatment, insurance and nancial coordination, education, support and aftercare. If you and your physician feel you are a candidate for proven and professional weight loss surgery, look no further than your own backyard.

www.setxweightloss.org
3030 North St., Suite 340 | Located on the CHRISTUS Hospital St. Elizabeth campus |BEHealthySETX.com | March/April 2013 3 409.839.LOSE (5673)

BE Healthy | March/April 2013 | Volume 4, Issue 2

Contents
8 10
STAYING FIT YOUTH MARTIAL ARTS OFFER MANY BENEFITS
Concentration and respect can help kids in school and at home By Cheryl P. Rose

BE
Editorial Contributing Writers CATHLEEN COLE MARGARET BATTISTELLI GARDNER CHERYL ROSE Medical Adviser DR. GARRETT K. PEEL Photography Contributing Editor GIUSEPPE BARRANCO Art Graphic Design AFFINITY EXPRESS Graphic Design Consultant KRISTEN FLORES

13
MIND MATTERS OVERCOME PHOBIAS HOLDING YOU BACK
No matter how inexplicable or debilitating, they can be cured By Cathleen Cole

Advertising To advertise in BE Healthy 409.880.0700 Contact Us BE Healthy 380 MAIN ST. BEAUMONT, TX 77701 409.880.0700 AT YOUR BUSINESS LOCATION PLEASE CALL 409.838.2829 TO SUBMIT AN EVENT, ORGANIZATION OR PERSON FOR CONSIDERATION IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE, SUBMIT BY USPS AT ADDRESS ABOVE.
A DIvISION Of HEArST NEwSPAPErS SUBMISSIONS TO DISPLAY THE MAGAZINE

MEDICAL GUIDE SIGNS OF SINUS ISSUES POP UP WITH SPRING

Experts recommend steps to keep problems in check By Cheryl P. Rose

14

Publisher BILL OFFILL

EDITOr

MIND MATTERS COPING WITH LOSS FAMILIES DISCOVER HOW TO MOVE ON

Funeral homes offer support to help with grieving process By Cathleen Cole

TIMOTHY M. KELLY COPYRIGHT 2013 THE BEAUMONT ENTERPRISE Visit us online at BEHealthySETX.com Be part of keeping Southeast Texas green! Recycle this magazine.

On the cover

Photography by Guiseppe Barranco Joshua Haltom, 10, works out at the Texas Karate Academy in Beaumont. Read about the benefits of youth martial arts training on page 10.

5 Innovations 6 Peeld To The News 15 Crossfit puzzle

4 March/April 2013 | BE HealthySETX.com

Edited by Dr. Garrett K. Peel, BE Healthy Medical Adviser

Magnets offer a powerfully attractive treatment for reflux, heartburn

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a chronic, often progressive disease resulting from a weak Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). The LINX Reflux Management System, a small flexible band of interlinked titanium beads with magnetic cores, augments the weak LES, restoring the bodys natural barrier to reflux. The magnetic attraction between the beads is intended to help the LES resist opening to gastric pressures, preventing reflux from the stomach into the esophagus. LINX is designed so that swallowing forces temporarily break the magnetic bond, allowing food and liquid to pass normally into the stomach. Magnetic attraction of the device is designed to close the LES immediately after swallowing, restoring the bodys natural barrier to reflux. The LINX System is placed around the esophagus just above the stomach using a common, minimally invasive surgical technique called laparoscopy. Patients are placed under general anesthesia during the procedure, which generally lasts less than an hour. The LINX System does not require any anatomic alteration of the stomach. Most patients go home the day after surgery and resume a normal diet. This procedure is a new, innovative, FDA approved surgical treatment for heartburn and GERD. Dr. Christopher Timmons, a laparoscopic surgeon at PrevityClinic for Surgical Care, is one of only a few surgeons in the country offering this new surgical treatment.

SE Texas Medical Innovations

Esophagus

Management System

LINX Reflux

Stomach

General Skin Examination Skin Cancer & Pre-Cancer

For

Baylor (Ben) Kurtis, M.D.

(Board Certified)

Timely Appointments Available 2300 Hwy. 365, Suite 670 Nederland, TX 77627
(Located in the Atrium Building)

General Dermatology Skin Cancer NOW ACCEPTING PATIENTS

409-729-2262

BEHealthySETX.com

March/April 2013 5

PeelD

MedicalNEWS

to

Each edition, BE Healthy Medical Adviser Dr. Garrett K. Peel will cut through the previous months medical and health news and bring you the most relevant and interesting tidbits to help you make informed health decisions.

Electronic eye implant offers hope in cases of complete blindness

The FDA recently approved the use of a bionic eye for patients suffering complete blindness. The most common type of retinal degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa (RP), is a progressive inherited disease that affects nearly 1.5 million people around the world. Retinal implants provide hope for RP patients to regain their sight. Initial studies show that patients could make out objects, see faces and colors, read letters and perform lifestyle chores. The electronic eye is a microchip, 3 millimeters by 3 millimeters, containing 1,500 that is implanted under the retina, creating artificial vision. Manufactured by Retina Implant AG, the chip needs electrical power to function, which it acquires inductively by transmitter coils surgically implanted under the skin. The retinal implant absorbs the light entering the eye, transforming it into electrical energy and stimulating the intact nerves inside the retina. The stimulation is then transmitted to the brain through the optic nerve, resulting in an improved field of vision. The device consists of a tiny video camera, a video processing unit, a transmitter mounted on a pair of eyeglasses and an implanted retinal prosthesis. The cost of the device? About $150,000? Seeing again? Priceless.

Breast cancer rates increase among young women

There has been a small increase in the incidence of advanced stage breast cancer among women 25 to 39 years old, according to a recent study in JAMA. Breast cancer is the most common form of malignant tumor in women aged 15 to 39 and accounts for nearly 14 percent of all cancer cases in men and women in that age group. The risk of a woman developing breast cancer before the age of 40 is 1 in 173, according to a 2008 study. Researchers note that young women with breast cancer tend to experience more aggressive disease than older women and have lower survival rates. Over the past three to four decades, the incidence of distant breast cancer in young women aged 25 to 39 has gone up steadily, from a rate of 1.53 per 100,000 in 1976 to 2.90 per 100,000 in 2009. This difference translates to an annual increase in incidence of 2.07 percent per year. If you are a woman with a history of breast cancer in your family, especially if your loved one developed breast cancer before 55, ask your doctor if you are candidate for an early screening mammogram.

High Calcium Supplement Intake Raises Male Cardiovascular risk

Men who have a high intake of calcium supplements appear to have a greater risk of CVD (cardiovascular disease) death, researchers from the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md., reported in JAMA Internal Medicine. The authors noted that women do not appear to be affected in the same way. Researchers found that supplemental, but not dietary calcium intake, was linked to greater CVD mortality in men but not in women. The participants were followed up for an average of 12 years. During that period 3,874 CVD deaths in women and 7,904 in men were identified. Just over 50 percent of the men and 70 percent of the women regularly took calcium supplements. The men on over 1,000 mg/day calcium supplementation had a 20 percent greater risk of total CVD death (including 19 percent higher heart disease and 14 percent higher cerebrovascular disease risk of death). It is important to note that taking calcium supplements was not linked to CVD death, heart disease or cerebrovascular disease death among the women.

Einsteins brain, brilliance might be explained by anatomy

Portions of Albert Einsteins brain have been found to be unlike those of most people, and could be related to his extraordinary cognitive abilities, according to a new study led by Florida State University evolutionary anthropologist Dean Falk. The researchers describe for the first time in the recent Brain, the entire cerebral cortex of Einsteins brain from an examination of 14 recently discovered photographs. The researchers compared Einsteins brain to 85 normal human brains and, in light of current functional imaging studies, interpreted its unusual features. The prefrontal, somatosensory, primary motor, parietal, temporal and occipital cortices were extraordinary in size.
6 March/April 2013 | BE HealthySETX.com

Jewel to headline LiveWell conference

Singer-songwriter Jewel will deliver the keynote speech at the sixth annual Christus LiveWell Womens Conference, sponsored by Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth & St. Mary and Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital. The all-day event, showcasing the latest in health and wellness, takes place Thursday, May 9, at Ford Park. Jewels background and life experiences give her a unique perspective on wellness. After experiencing homelessness as a teenager, Jewel built a highly successful career that includes three Grammy nominations and more than 27 million albums sold. A resident of Stephenville, Texas, Jewel will release a greatest hits album Feb. 5. The Christus LiveWell Womens Conference is all about inspiring women to take charge of their lives and their health, so Jewel is a perfect choice for this years keynote speaker, said Rebecca Howard, conference lead. Jewels life experiences have given her a wealth of knowledge and experience on forging your own path to success. Jewels presentation at the Christus LiveWell Womens Conference will focus on overcoming lifes challenges and achieving success. Her speech will also reflect on her new role as a mother and her long-time dedication to humanitarian causes. Jewel and her husband, world-champion bull riding star Ty Murray, welcomed son Kase Townes in 2011. Inspired by her pregnancy with Kase, Jewel released a collection of songs for children, The Merry Goes Round, which iTunes named Childrens Album of the Year in 2011. In September 2012, Jewel released the childrens book Thats What Id Do, a picture book that includes a CD of her singing a gentle lullaby from a mother to child. She founded a non-profit charity foundation, Project Clean Water, to help millions of people by providing clean water on a global scale. Since Project Clean Water began in 1997, the foundation has helped more than 30 communities in 13 different countries on five different continents. Jewel continues the Christus LiveWell Womens Conference tradition of choosing inspiring, highprofile celebrities to deliver the keynote speech. Past speakers include actresses Helen Hunt in 2012 and Hilary Swank in 2011. Visit www.Christuslivewell.org to for information.

Lovoi & Sons

Pharmacies, Inc.
Your Compounding Specialists

ALL HEALTHCARE PLANS

ACCEPTED

INCLUDING MEDICARE PLAN D

CITY DELIVERY
80 Years of Personal, Professional Service.

FREE

Now offering Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy and innovative approaches to help you quit smoking such as The Nicotine Lollipop.

3480 Fannin St. Bmt. 833-7538

Visit us online at www.lovoiandsons.com
BEHealthySETX.com | March/April 2013 7

medical guide

When

Serious
Treatment for painful sinus congestion often starts with inhaled options
By ChERyl RosE

Sniffles Turn

f your sinuses are throbbing this spring, you have plenty of company. Approximately 37 million Americans suffer from sinusitis each year, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngologists. When experiencing the facial pain and headaches caused by blocked sinuses, patients often assume they have an infection and request antibiotics. However, in most cases, the cause is either allergy-induced or viral.
Ninety percent of sinus problems start with a virus, said Dr. E. Linn Heartfield, an otolaryngologist in Beaumont. Most start with a common cold, and then it goes into a viral sinusitis with facial pain, discolored discharge and nasal blockage. Many people have allergic propensities
8 March/April 2013 |

Port Arthur. You may think you need an antibiotic immediately, but what you need is for the sinuses to open up so you can breathe better, he said. Singh described the function of the small cavities around the nose and eyes that form the sinuses. They are like small caves, with the same lining as the nose throat and mouth, he said. They act as a filter fobv r the body. They filter out particulate matter, kill bacteria, hu-

midify and warm the air before it reaches the lungs. When the nose becomes clogged, people begin to breathe through their mouths, which dries up secretions, causing a post-nasal drip that can irritate the throat and stimulate coughing, he said. Both specialists said if you are experiencing severe pain and fever, visit your general physician. If symptoms are more akin to a bad cold or an allergy flare-up, Facial pain/pressure Nasal stuffiness Nasal discharge Loss of smell Cough/congestion Snoring Sleep problems Bad breath

that make them more prone to sinusitis. When the small openings in the sinuses become blocked, impeding the flow of air and drainage, it sets the stage for pain and inflammation, said Dr. Ranjit Singh of the Allergy and Asthma Clinic in Beaumont and

SINuSITIS SyMPToMS

BE HealthySETX.com

home treatments can offer relief. Both emphasized the benefits of normal saline spray. The first line of treatment is an inexpensive saline nasal spray, using three to four puffs a day to thin mucus and open up sinuses, Singh said. These days, medicine is very expensive, but something like saline spray, you can buy for $2 at the drug store. If symptoms last longer than five to 10 days, a doctor may take a culture to see if there is a germ at work, Heartfield said. If the cause has an allergic basis, a nasal steroid and/or nasal antihistamine may be prescribed. The steroids dont go into the body significantly, he said. They are very common and very effective, primarily for allergies, but will also help with flu, cold and chemical irritants. Repeated bouts of sinusitis or sinus infection are considered chronic and may require different treatment depending on the underlying cause. Among diagnostic options, Heartfield may use cultures, CT scans or allergy testing. If someone is having multiple infections, the CT scan can be done in about 10 seconds in a diagnostic center and it shows what is going on with the plumbing in the patients head, he said. Allergy testing is very simple and safe. Allergy injec-

tions can be given to prevent sinus problems and they really work well. In some recurrent cases, particularly if polyps have developed, surgery may be the next step. The surgery is done microscopically through the nostril, enlarging the sinuses and allowing them to drain and function, Heartfield said. Its an outpatient procedure. Normally, less than three to five percent of the surgeries have to be repeated. The newest method for treating blockages is called balloon sinoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure that can be done in the doctors office, Heartfield said. A balloon inserted in the sinus cavity expands the tissue without removing any tissue. Singh believes the key for sinus sufferers is to take preventive measures. Most people get symptoms and then seek treatment, he said. Often, they have been sick for so long they need medication for immediate relief. However, if they used something simpler, such as the nasal saline, on a regular basis, they might not need as much medication. Once they understand a long-term management program for the sinuses, it goes a long way in helping them with better quality of life.

Allergy Season Alert

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, one in five Americans reports suffering from allergies. In humid Southeast Texas, allergyinducing irritants abound. The height of spring allergy season runs from late February through the end of April in Southeast Texas, Singh said. Tree pollens and molds are the most common triggers in this season.

BEN192775902

BEHealthySETX.com

March/April 2013 9

exercise

Participating in martial arts training provides kids with physical and mental benefits
By ChERyl RosE

Coordination, Concentration and Confidence

A
|

room of boys and girls of varying ages and heights are kneeling quietly on the floor, wearing white uniforms. When their sensei speaks, all eyes are on him. When he gives the order, they rise and, in unison, begin drills of kicks and punches that they have practiced many times before. In this orderly atmosphere of repetition, each child is calling on many different physical, cognitive and behavioral skills.
more today than anything is an inability to control movement or the mind, leading to disorganization and carelessness. There is a disconnect with being able to listen and follow directions, showing a lack of coordination between the front and back of the brain. Children completely lose focus and that is affecting their learning. Although there are many general benefits to participating in sports, Goldbeck sees the movement patterning, coordination and focus required in martial arts as having special advantages. >>

Mind-body balance As an educational specialist and counselor for 47 years, Dr. Tanya Goldbeck has been referring families to martial arts programs for decades. Goldbeck, an assistant professor at Lamar University and the primary counselor at Goldbeck Learning Center in Beaumont, believes martial arts provide training for mind and body balance, something children need to master. We have so many kids today struggling with high impulsivity, she said. What I am seeing
10 March/April 2013

Natalie Haltom

BE HealthySETX.com

Lori Haltom was tired of sitting on the bench. However, 42 years old and not particularly fit, she was skeptical about starting something as challenging as martial arts training. I was sitting on my backside for two hours a day watching the kids do this, while I was tired all the time and had no energy, she said. I thought, Why cant I do this too? She joined her childrens class, learning the techniques and working out with the other kids and the few adults also in the class. After about a month, I walked different, I was standing taller, I started shedding pounds and inches, Haltom said. Ive gone down a pant and shirt size. What I loved is that it just made me feel better and gave me more flexibility. I can bend down and not one part of my body hurts.

Blocking Family Time

Berryhill believes training together is excellent for parents and kids, and does it with his own elementary-age son. It provides one-on-one time doing something different, he said. When parents and kids come in and hold a shield for each other to kick, its a totally different connection level. Howells separates children and adult beginners, but he believes sharing the sport is a valuable connection. At his location, he has a grandfather and grandson that regularly train together. Its one thing to say, Its good for you, but then if you jump out on the mat and do it with your child, then what a statement youre making about being healthy. Haltom agrees. The kids know Mommy wanted to be healthy, she said. It shows them that no matter what age, you can still do things. I feel they are very proud of me.

The Haltom family

Once you improve the mind and body state, its definitely going to improve the receptivity to learning, she said. Dr. Carl Hubbell of Beaumont Pediatrics Center also views martial arts as more than physical exercise. These programs are designed to help structure the kids so that they learn when to be quiet and how to wait their turn, he said. The major focus they have is on a rigorous, disciplined environ- ment where they practice, practice, practice things until they get good enough to advance. Its about handling your body. Its designed for the person achieving goals through discipline. David Howells, owner and sensei of Beaumont Taekwondo and Jiu-Jitsu, said people often assume the greatest benefit of martial arts for kids is self-defense, but he sees much more at work. What we dont think about is how it helps them every single day of their lives, he said. The numbers of times Ive had to physically defend myself are slim to none, but listening and concentration are skills I use every day. If youre having issues at school with grades or social skills, being in a martial arts class helps you. Physical benefits For fitness, martial arts offer kids a good cardiovascular workout, Hubbell said. Also, coordination, balance, flexibility its like dancing, youre teaching them timing, he said. Its very similar to choreographed dance, very similar to ballet. Lori Haltom has both a son and a

daughter who participated in dance before becoming involved in martial arts classes. Her son, Joshua, traded dance for karate, but her daughter, Natalie, does both. Karate has benefited Natalie in dance, said the Beaumont mom. They complement each other. Mike Berryhill, owner and sensei of Texas Karate Academy in Beaumont, believes martial arts training enhances all other sports. Its huge on hand-eye coordination, he said. You gain flexibility within a few weeks, as well as core strength and building muscle memory in the body. However, unlike many team sports, students are actively participating for the entire class. They arent in the outfield or sitting on the bench where no one is paying attention, Berryhill said. Goldbeck sees the major physical benefit as being bilateral and cross-lateral movements that work both sides of the body and therefore both sides of the brain, which is not necessarily true of all traditional sports. When a child develops balance and coordination, he or she achieves physical order and body image improves, she said. Motor skills must be learned just like language skills. Focused attention Howells describes a typical youth session as 30 seconds of leader input and three minutes of high intensity movement, repeated again and again. There is a moment when you have to sit down and listen, going from high-intensity energy to focused, listening positions just like that, he said. For Goldbeck, this is a key opportunity for impulse control to develop. It gives kids training to wait on directional information, then get it organized in their minds before acting on it, she said. You have to process the verbal direction and then execute it with movement. For kids under 7, Goldbeck said the many movement patterns in martial arts effectively >>
BEHealthySETX.com | March/April 2013 11

PARENTAL PRECAuTIoNS
Hubbell said parents should take the same precautions they would before starting their child in any contact sport. They should look for a reputable program and teachers with experience training children. Confidence and respect Berryhill believes the major benefits for little kids and teens participating in martial arts are confidence and an I can attitude. Haltom agrees, saying she sees more confidence in both her children. Natalie can be shy and this has given her the confidence she needs, Haltom said. Joshua likes to be the center of attention, so this has taught him about sportsmanship and how to win and lose gracefully. Haltom also appreciates the required respectful attitude. As a dad, Howells has noticed how in some of his childrens extracurricular activities, half the group is playing or talking when the adult leader is talking. That wouldnt happen in a martial arts class. The class has a sense of order, structure and discipline, he said. A little guy or girl is taught how to make a polite greeting. Those formalities and respectful behavior changes the way you think. Martial arts changes the way they live and deal with negative influence in society. They should discuss the sport with their physician if the child has a medical condition, particularly kidney or eye problems. The child should have the appropriate protective gear at all times.

increase body awareness. With older kids, she said the more complex patterns learned as they progress in training require more coordination of the hemispheres of the brain, which helps with mental focus. The first thing I see improvement in with younger children is a decrease in impulsivity, she said. The next thing is the ability to move through the Steps to Success: listening, following directions, organization of the body and mind.
12 March/April 2013 |

Joshua, Lori and Natalie Haltom

BE HealthySETX.com

Fear Factor
Overcome the phobias that get in the way of your happiness
By CathlEEN ColE

mind matters

hobias those illogical, exaggerated and sometimes inexplicable fears of objects or situations. Snakes, insects, airplane travel, tunnels, elevators, traffic jams, crowds, heights you name it, someone you know is probably afraid of it. Sometimes its a nonissue, especially if the perceived problem is easily avoided. But when the fear starts to interfere with your life, mental-health experts say its time to face it and overcome your phobia.
being afraid of it, she said, adding that she felt she couldnt save herself if she had to. If I could swim, I wouldnt be afraid. She started swimming at Christus Health & Wellness Center to gain more stamina and confidence in the water. Eventually, she started practicing in lakes for the goal of swimming in a triathlon a competition involving swimming, cycling and running. In 2012, James participated in her first triathlon, but a storm had rolled in and the lake was choppy. It was absolutely terrifying, she admitted. What was neat was that I didnt panic. Instead she hung onto a lifeguards float to rest a bit before

In too deep As a child, Amie James would go skiing with her family on the Neches River and area lakes, but she was deathly afraid of what lurked beneath her in the dark water. She didnt swim well, and she didnt feel safe even when wearing a life jacket. It was terrifying, she remembered. I had a fear of deep, dark water specifically creatures in the water. She also had a near-drowning experience on a water parks inner-tube ride when she was young, which exacerbated her phobia. Ive had that close encounter with drowning, she said. As an adult, James wanted to overcome her fear. I was tired of

swimming to shore. It was a huge step for her. The No. 1 thing you need to learn to control is your mind, she explained. Be prepared. Stay calm. Float. Relax. Act instead of react. Its important to learn these skills. Dr. Carmen Kaimann of Beaumont Psychological Services explains that fear of the water and other natural environments often have childhood onsets. James used systematic desensitization to overcome her fear of the water, Kaimann said. Explaining it another way, its like an inoculation not a flu shot but a fear shot. The fear is introduced a little bit at a time in order to produce immunity to it. As an adult, you have more cognitive resources, Kaimann said. As a kid, you dont have that. As an adult, shes in control. As for James deciding to overcome her fear, Kaimann understands this well. The devil you dont know is worse than the devil you do know, she believes. Bridge over troubled water Jonathan Belmar recently developed a fear of driving on bridges over large bodies of wa-

ter. It started in August when he was in New Orleans after Hurricane Isaac had blown through and the weather was still wild. He had to travel across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway as the heavy winds buffeted his truck and whipped the waters below into a frenzy. It was a new experience, and I wasnt ready for it, he said, adding that he feared the truck might go off the bridge. Every time he looked at the water, he got more nervous and tense. I got really antsy, he remembered. I never experienced that before. Now when Belmar goes over bridges, he gets anxious. He says its not a full-out panic attack, but his heart does beat faster. If he doesnt look at the water, hes OK. Instead he listens to music and concentrates on the traffic in front of him, trying to block his peripheral vision. While I fear doing it, its something I have to do, he realizes. Situational phobias like Belmars often come on in childhood or in a persons mid-20s, Kaimann explained. Belmar, who is 23, uses distraction as his coping mechanism. According to Kaimann, its likely, however, that his fear of bridges over water could morph into a fear of heights or a fear of driving. Phobias can spread, so to speak, she said. Conquering fear The good news is that phobias can be cured, as James found out through her self-prescribed inoculations. One treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy, in which a person is taught to change negative thoughts into positive ones. Coping strategies are taught that include distraction and positive visualization. Theres also relaxation training. Mental-health professionals recommend professional counseling if the phobia interferes with the persons daily life. If you spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about it or worrying about it, Kaimann says, I think you should get some help.
| March/April 2013 13

BEHealthySETX.com

Getting Through the

Grief
Area support groups help mourners move on

C
14 March/April 2013 |

By CathlEEN ColE

oping with the death of someone you love can be daunting. Just because the funeral is over doesnt mean the grief is over. Two local funeral homes are aware of the need for grief-support services and offer free support groups to help mourners recover from their losses and move on with their lives.
Centre in Beaumont. Open to all members of the community, the support group meets Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and is led by Chuck Olliff, a licensed professional counselor who also has a private practice. The sessions cover grief orientation; stress and anxiety; depression; the cycle of grief; the levels of need; reestablishing a foundation that includes personal development, health, social support, finances and spirituality; a spiritual lesson; and an honor dinner to remember and honor the loved ones who have died. In my opinion, the ultimate goal is to reclaim the strength they already have, Olliff said.

Getting better In 1998, Tom Broussard created the continuing care program at his familys funeral home business with the help of a licensed professional counselor. We have always seen and talked about the struggles of families dealing with the death of someone they loved, he said. The transition is a long one. The grief program he started is a way the Broussard family gives back to the community, he said. All we wanted was for people to get better. Getting Better: A road to healing is a free eight-week program offered quarterly throughout the year at Broussards

I want them to recapture that sense of confidence that God has given them. When counseling those who are grieving, Olliff uses the analogy of looking up a mountain or looking down a mountain. When you look up a mountain, you realize you havent reached the top and your struggle isnt over. Look down the mountain to see how far youve come, he advises. Some group members have trouble talking at first. They are not pressured to and eventually they open up. Others never say a word but continue to come to each meeting and listen. Some people have a need, Olliff said. They just dont know how to express it. Some mourners ask the counselor if the grief ever ends. Grief never ends, he answers. You just become so much stronger. Road to recovery Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home offers a free, recurring four-week program called Recovering from the Losses of Life. The support group meets

at 6 p.m. for four consecutive Monday evenings at the Claybar Family Center in Beaumont. All community members, not just clients, are welcome. The goal is to help equip people with several tools for coping with grief and help them move from anguish to acceptance. The group is led by John Brian, who is licensed as a master of social work and is the bereavement coordinator for Odyssey Hospice. He facilitates discussion on four main topics. Week one covers understanding where people are in grief recovery. Week two helps them identify skills in life that theyve used before to get them through tough times. Week three addresses applying the mourners skills to help with their current losses. Week four helps them move forward with their lives with the question, Where do we go from here? We are trying to help them get back on the road to recovery, Brian said. He emphasizes that the mourners will always miss the people they lost. The purpose is not to forget them. >>

BE HealthySETX.com

The goal is to get back to living their lives. Everyone goes through grief differently, he explained, adding, Theres no set time. Theres no set way. Why do people come to these support groups? People often seek outside help because they dont want to burden their family, Brian said. It gives them an opportunity to talk and get affirmation that theyre going to be OK. It helps to tell your story, he said. John Everitt, director of operations at Claybar KelleyWatkins, believes it makes sense for a funeral home to offer grief-support services. Funeral homes are the grief and death experts in the community, he said. The families we serve are going through such a transitional time. Offering the support group is a way to help people get back into the daily routine of living, Everitt said. It can make the transition easier, he said, adding, Its not just the funeral and thats it.

Grief Support
Broussards Centre 1775 Calder Ave., Beaumont (409) 832-1621 broussardsmortuary.com Claybar Family Center 1155 N. 11th St., Beaumont (409) 892-3456 claybarfuneralhome.com Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas Elijahs Place (grief support services for children) 2780 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont (409) 924-4426 catholiccharitiesbmt.org Family Services of Southeast Texas 3550 Fannin St., Beaumont (409) 833-2668 westrengthenfamilies.org Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeast Texas 7980 Anchor Dr., Port Arthur (409) 727-6400 scc.set.org

crossfit
By Myles Mellor

Across

Down

1 5 8 9 11 13 14 15 21 22 23 28 29 31 32 34 35 36

_____ pea soup Caviar source Apple or blueberry? Summer drink (2 words) Rainbow, for one Life energy in Chinese philosophy Blood group Ragout and shepherds pie Food selection Continent where sushi, korma and bok choy come from Digs up the vegetable garden, for example Healthy leaves Tomatoes improve the absorption of this mineral Meal many Americans skip Word with cube or cream Brazil, for one The Biggest ____ Goes with turf

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10 12 16 17 18 19 20 21 24 25 26 27 28 30 33

Healthy green vegetable PC Photo Vichyssoise ingredient Small drink Green or black ___ Liquid amounts Earth, prefix Cuts into cubes Tries out used before a vowel Have dinner Get into a stew? olive or canola? A __ carte Diet without animal proteins Someone who puts a cookie in their cocoa Edible nuts Sharp, in taste Poisonous substance It should indicate calories, serving size, etc Greek salad cheese Copper symbol

BEHealthySETX.com

March/April 2013 15

A Cancer Diagnosis Can Be Frightening. Altus Patient Treatment Doesnt Have To Be. Navigator Program Your Journey Through

Helping Patients Find their Way

The possibility of cancer diagnosis can be a frightening, confusing and overwhelming experience. But at The possibilityof a a cancer diagnosis can be a frightening, confusing and overwhelming Altus Cancer Centers, we give our patients refuge from this uncertainty by offering personalized services that other experience. At Altus Cancer Centers, we provide refuge from this uncertainty by offering hospital-based cancer centers cant provide. personalized services that other hospital-based cancer centers cant provide.

Our Patient Navigator care system. Specifically, we can assist with: and often often daunting health can assist you through the complex daunting health care system. Specifically, we can assist with:
Explaining abnormal test results and provide education about a diagnosis Schedule diagnostic procedures (PET, CT, MRI), biopsy (stereolactic, needle guided or open) Refer directly to our Board-Certified team of Medical Oncologists and Radiation Oncologists Explaining abnormal test results and provide at a location convenient for your patient education about a genetic testing and counseling and education Conduct diagnosis

Our Patient Navigator can assist your patient through the complex and

Schedule diagnostic procedures (PET, CT, MRI), biopsyAdditionally, our Patient Navigator will: (stereotatic, needle guided or open) Refer directly to our Board-Certified team of Serve as a liaison Radiation Oncologists Medical Oncologists and and facilitate communication between all members of the treatment team Facilitate rapid turn-around time on scheduling of tests and diagnosis Conduct genetic testing and counseling Help patients and families set realistic expectations related to therapy and education valuable resources for transportation, lodging and prescription assistance Identify Identify transportation, lodging and Dr. quality outcomes by of our team pharmaceutical assistance programs the patient experience to ensure Harry Smith is a membercombining The Altus Patient Navigator Program redefines
knowledge and skills with the support, compassion and spirituality that our patients deserve.
of board-certified Medical Oncologists.

To information to our Patient Navigator, please call Navigator For morerefer one of your patientsabout Altus Patient us at 409.981.5517. Program, please call us at 409.981.5517. Difference Experience the Altus

Experience the Altus Difference

16 March/April 2013

BE HealthySETX.com

310 N. 11th Street, Beaumont, Texas 77702 310 N. 11th Street, Beaumont, www.AltusHMS.com 409.981.5510 Fax: 409.981.5511 Texas 77702
409.981.5510 Fax: 409.981.5511 www.AltusHMS.com