Grief and Loss Archives - Integrative Psychiatry Online, Ron Parks, MD

Hurricane Trauma Comes to Idyllic Asheville, NC

Written by Ron Parks, MD on December 7, 2024. Posted in Grief and Loss, Mental Health, Public Health Issue, Recovery, Trauma.

Riverknoll community seeks help after Helene’s devastation.

Dec 06, 2024

_{Hurricane Trauma in Asheville; Survival, Recovery, and Renewal: RRP design with Canva and stock photos—Image of Phoenix Bird rising from the ashes: generated with Copilot AI}

Asheville, Riverknoll, and Hurricane Helene

Asheville was, for many, a haven in the picturesque mountains away from the urban turmoil, catastrophic weather, and social events. Cataclysmic events only seemed to plague other areas. It was one of the top places to come for a vacation or buy a home at its inflated price. Climate change and social turmoil avoided the pristine, Idyllic Western North Carolina college town and mountainous resort-like area. The city and region were never the center of the news media, reporting devastating events—it was always in other places.

Collage of pictures in remembrance of Holocaust and lessons of inclusion, acceptance and collaboration, to not to repeat the tragedy of the past.

Commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2024—A Chilling Reminder

Written by Ron Parks, MD on January 29, 2024. Posted in Grief and Loss, Hate Crimes, Holistic Approaches to Prevention and Recovery, Mental Health, PTSD, Public Health Issue, Social Media, Spirituality & Health, Trauma.

The stark recall of the experience of mass torture and slaughter of a multitude of innocent citizens is a lesson of grave concern today.

Collage of picture of New Year, lightening the candles, cycle of light to darkness, the celebration, the grief, loss, the spiritual connection, enlightenment.

New Year’s—the hope, meaning, and the promise

Written by Ron Parks, MD on January 4, 2024. Posted in Commentary on Health and Well-being, Depression, Grief and Loss, Happiness, Holistic Views on Mental Health Issues, Meditation/Mindfulness, neuroscience, Non-duality, Personal Growth, Spirituality & Health.

The holidays are a time for reflection and an opportunity to rebalance self-needs, relationships, spirituality, and wisdom.

Collage of six picture of peoples journey from midlife crisis to vitality and thriving.

Finding the way from a midlife crisis

Written by Ron Parks, MD on September 28, 2023. Posted in Commentary on Health and Well-being, Death and Dying, Depression, Grief and Loss, Happiness, Holistic Approaches to Prevention and Recovery, holistic mental healthcare, Mood, Post by Guests, Spirituality & Health, Trauma.

Navigating from a life-challenging period of depression and suicidal thoughts to purpose and vitality—strategies to help.

My father’s surprising revelations.

When I was a teenager, my father shared with me, as we were walking one day, that he was amazed at an encounter earlier that day with a friend of his who had come to him for support and guidance. The friend told him he had been having suicidal thoughts and was very upset with what he thought were significant losses and challenges in his life. I don’t know what my father told him, but his friend felt relieved and left in an improved mental state, feeling that he had been listened to, supported, and unburdened by his deepest worries and fears.

Colleague of pictures around the theme of loss, forgiveness, broken heart, insight, perspective, & enlightenment

What I learned from my father’s death or should have

Written by Ron Parks, MD on May 8, 2023. Posted in Commentary on Health and Well-being, Death and Dying, Depression, Grief and Loss, Holistic Approaches to Prevention and Recovery, holistic mental healthcare, Meditation/Mindfulness, Mood, Neurodiversity, PTSD, Public Health Issue, Relationships, Spirituality & Health, Trauma.

The hidden truth about Forgiveness

by Ron Parks, MD

It was early morning when I got a call from the chief of medicine and cardiologist at the community hospital where I was on staff. In a more worried voice, than was usual for him, he said, “Ron, could you stop by my office on your way to make rounds? It’s about your father. With everything I have tried, I can’t stabilize him. We need to make some decisions!” With that, I grabbed my coat and headed out the door. Our chief of medicine was the top cardiologist in the immediate area. When my father, during a visit to our home, had another one of his heart attacks, I had him admitted to our local hospital under the care of an experienced cardiologist.

Four pictures depicting caregivers in their different roles and with their challenging significant other dependent.

The Challenges of mental illness caregiving

Written by Ron Parks, MD on December 17, 2022. Posted in Commentary on Health and Well-being, Disability, Grief and Loss, holistic mental healthcare, Public Health Issue, Relationships, Schizophrenia.

The realities of the care and responsibility when a family member is disabled with a schizophrenic illness

Parents or caregivers can find themselves in uncharted waters

Many get caught unprepared when a mental illness affects a loved one, spouse, child, or significant other. Though previously fully independent and entirely responsible, the person now disabled rapidly or slowly becomes dependent on a caregiver’s help, support, and management. The descent into illness and dysfunction caused by the mental disorder calls on the extreme resourcefulness of the one beset with an unimaginable level of additional responsibility.

Young Barefoot Woman with Headscarf on Beach looking and grieving her losses and hoping for a secure future

Extreme Passion, the Value and Danger—Holocaust Recalled

Written by Ron Parks, MD on November 4, 2022. Posted in Commentary on Health and Well-being, Creativity, Death and Dying, Grief and Loss, Hate Crimes, PTSD, Social Media, Trauma.

Harnessing extremes into creativity, loving concern for others, and actions to avoid societal upheaval, hatred, and destruction.

I recount an early life story that brought me to the realities and risks of the extreme passions and ideas we can get caught up in as individuals or whole societies with positive or devastating outcomes.

My mother’s lost cousin—Iren

When I was a child in the early-to-mid 1940s, my mother took me to a local shoe repair shop on

Old leather journal on wood plank table with a favorite pen beside.

Journal Keeping for Health and Productivity

Written by Ron Parks, MD on April 26, 2022. Posted in Addiction, Anxiety & Panic, Depression, Getting Things Done, Grief and Loss, Holistic Approaches to Prevention and Recovery, holistic mental healthcare, Integrative Therapies, Meditation/Mindfulness, Mood, PTSD, Recovery, Spirituality & Health, Trauma.

Purpose, Types, Benefits, and Tips

Journaling is one of the most valuable and accessible self-help tools available.

In times of stress and duress, journaling can help work through some of the most difficult life challenges, such as the death of a spouse with the difficulty that follows.

An award-winning author, grief support advocate, and marketing consultant, Linda Donovan,¹ shares a personal piece about the healing power of journaling in her life as an opening to our exploration of a valuable tool anybody can use. Dr. Parks then continues the narrative about the history and purpose of journaling, how his fascination with it developed, journal types, benefits, eight tips for doing journal keeping, and resources.

Inspiration, Rebirth, Butterfly on a flower

Spring’s Challenge in Conflictual Times

Written by Ron Parks, MD on April 9, 2022. Posted in Commentary on Health and Well-being, Depression, Grief and Loss, Happiness, Holistic Approaches to Prevention and Recovery, holistic mental healthcare, Holistic Views on Mental Health Issues, Meditation/Mindfulness, Mood, Non-duality, Recovery, Relationships, Spirituality & Health, Viral Pandemics.

Ten Tips for Restoring Peaceful Coexistence when Discord Arises

A New Beginning and Hope

The season for a fresh start seemed upon us with its promise of renewal and healing. Out of the deep darkness, a seed, a kernel of insight, grows towards the light and life with opportunity and challenge. People were reemerging after a trying and difficult period with some hopefulness of new beginnings.

The scourges of a pandemic seemed to recede with the anticipation of a reopening of society. The regaining of prosperity and security was the hope. But then, there was the possibility of new variants and surges. There were still people that had lost their faith in science, vaccines, climate control, our government, and democracy.

Surviving Anxiety and Trauma

Written by Ron Parks, MD on November 9, 2021. Posted in Anxiety & Panic, Depression, Grief and Loss, Holistic Approaches to Prevention and Recovery, holistic mental healthcare, Holistic Views on Mental Health Issues, Integrative Therapies, Meditation/Mindfulness, Mood, PTSD, Spirituality & Health, Trauma, Viral Pandemics.

Unexpected Fall

Dr. Sid—endearingly just called “Sid” by his peers, colleagues, and fellow healthcare workers—made his way through the city in the early morning darkness. For fifteen years, he’d traveled this way, but the ordinarily busy city was now quiet, a sad reminder of the pandemic’s impact. He cranked the heater as a shiver crept up his spine at the thought of what lay ahead of him.

Category: Grief and Loss