Up from Down

The older you get, the more likely you are to confront an unexpected challenge: severe illness, the death of a loved one, divorce, losing a job, or even losing a home in a fire or hurricane to name a few. These events can be life-changing, and if you’ve already suffered through one or more of them, you may have felt devastated, depressed, or unable to function. It’s almost certain that for a time, it was difficult to enjoy life or to contribute to your family and community. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can embark on a course of recovery that will help you regain your equilibrium and your momentum. You may even get to “better than before” if you apply the right strategies. Eric Pfeiffer, M.D., an esteemed author and Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of South Florida, College of Medicine, offers general guidance to cope with trauma, crisis, and loss in this guide that will get you Up from Down. He also offers specific strategies to deal with the particular adverse event happening to you, which can apply to you, the reader, or someone you want to help.