Golden Times May/June 2017

THE BENEFITS OF JOURNALING - by Julia Meanwell
There is considerable
data about the mental
and emotional benefits
of journaling. A study
by researchers from the
American Advances in
Psychiatric Treatment noted
that writing for 15–20
minutes on 3–5 occasions
was enough to help the
study participants deal
with traumatic, stressful, or
otherwise emotional events.
It's been specifically effective
in people with severe illnesses,
like cancer, for example. This
practice is so well regarded
that there is a Centre for
Journal Therapy dedicated
to the mental health benefits
of regular journaling, both
in therapeutic and personal
settings.
Some of the most influential
people in history kept
detailed journals of their
lives. These journals served
as a permanent record for
posterity with the additional
benefit of bringing about a
much needed cathartic release
for the people writing them.
Possibly the most famous
journal ever written
was penned by teenager
Anne Frank; she gained
international fame
posthumously after her diary
was published. She wrote
about her experiences of
hiding during the German
occupation of the Netherlands
in World War II. Her diary
was incredibly important to
her and in it she wrote ‘the
nicest part is being able to
write down all my thoughts
and feelings; otherwise I
might suffocate’. Sadly the
family was betrayed and her
father Otto Frank was the
only survivor. Returning to
Amsterdam after the war he
found that Anne's diary had
thankfully been saved; this led
to him getting it published
in 1947 because he rightfully
thought that his daughter’s
message was important.
Regularly writing about
your experiences not only
helps you process them
it can also provide more
clarity and awareness of
any unhelpful patterns of
behaviour. You don’t have
to create a masterpiece but
just writing down what
has happened to you will
more than likely lead you
onto some very interesting
thoughts and ideas. If time
is limited perhaps you could
just write a line a day; it is
not meant to be a burden so
if you’re unable to commit to
daily writing then maybe you
could just write a couple of
times a week. If you find that
you’re really too busy for a
journal then you could buy a
one line a day memory book
or if you prefer to illustrate
your thoughts and feelings
then perhaps a one sketch a
day journal is for you. Also
there are 3 or 5 year journals
available and some include
questions which can act as
good prompts if you’re lost for
something to write about. It
can make for very insightful
reading in the future!
Local counsellor Julia
Meanwell, has been in
practice for over 20 years, she
has a wealth of experience,
empathy and understanding
to offer clients.
Julia began her counselling
career as a relationship
counsellor with Relate which
incorporated working in
television and radio. Julia can
be contacted via her website:
juliameanwellcounselling.co.uk
email: julia.meanwell@gmail.
com or give her a call on
07714 280083.
HOSPITAL DONATES OLD EQUIPMENT TO HELP WITH MEDICAL RESEARCH
Benenden Hospital has donated an
old and redundant piece of medical
equipment to a charity to help them
deliver anaesthesia to people in need
around the world.
The Hospital has given a Boyles
anaesthetic machine to Safe Anaesthesia
Worldwide. These machines were
introduced in 1917 and used successfully
for many years but have been gradually
replaced by more sophisticated
equipment. There are few modern
hospitals which still use them but they
have proved to be extremely reliable
and are still widely used in developing
countries throughout the world.
The Hospital, at Benenden, near
Cranbrook, Kent, had the Boyles machine
in its museum, which it is currently
digitalising. When approached by the
charity the Hospital was happy to hand
it over.
The charity, which is based in Marden,
Kent, are to use the Benenden Hospital
machine for research purposes. The
machine is of value as it can be used
without the need for electricity. It does
however need a constant supply of
oxygen and this is what the charity is now
10
working on. They have a project called
Solox, which aims to develop a unique
solar powered system that generates and
stores oxygen from atmosphere air. If
successful it will ensure oxygen is always
available for treating patients in poor and
remote parts of the world.
The Boyles machine was given to
the charity after they approached
the Hospital’s Director of Business
Development and Performance Denise
Telford. While collecting it the Chair and
Founder of the charity Roger Eltringham
and trustee Colin Whittle met with one
of the Theatre Operating Department
Practitioners Simon Brooks to talk about
how the machine can play an important
part in their research.
Dr Eltringham said: “We are very grateful
to Benenden Hospital for this equipment
which we will use for research purposes.
Find us online at www.goldentimes.co.uk
There are Boyles machines in many of the
Advanced cataract treatment
countries from specialist we work in. consultant We need to find out
is if ophthalmologists
it will work with our Solox project.
“Oxygen is an essential life-saving form
of therapy. It is used to treat pneumonia,
the biggest Ask cause of death of children
your GP
worldwide. Optician It is also used in the treatment
to refer
you
of many forms of lung and heart disease,
severe bleeding, emergency medicine,
resuscitation and in the administration of
anaesthesia. There’s no need to sit at home waiting In well-resourced We’re specialists in cataract removal hospitals
for treatment a minute longer
Why Benenden Hospital? We’re a Centre of Excellence
You can enjoy clearer sight, free of cataracts as a private having performed thousands of successful cataract
patient at Benenden Hospital. The procedure is quick and procedures. Our consultants are all specialists with many
oxygen is readily available and piped
painless and available without delay – in fact, you can years of experience, not general consultants as used by
walk in and walk out the same day.
some other providers. Our safety record is second to
none. Our facilities are modern and comfortable. Our
An opportunity to improve your vision
to the bedside of every
choose to travel, we’re easy
patient,
to find.
but in
Seeing clearly again is wonderful - now you have the
chance to correct your eyesight at the same time.
rates too.
We don’t just treat cataracts, we can correct astigmatism
low-resource countries oxygen supplies
and reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses at You can be referred by your GP or Optician as a private
the same time using our range of specialist lenses*. insured or self-paying patient, NHS Choice patient, or
Our highly experienced eye surgeons can discuss the Benenden member†.
range of options to suit your needs lifestyle.
are limited and unreliable. As a result,
† Benenden members will need a GP referral and must contact member
services for authorisation before seeking treatment on 0800 414 8100.
Find out more today
millions
*Benenden members who opt
of
for a special
patients
lens only pay the additional cost
who need oxygen do
incurred for the lens and additional treatment as cataract treatment with the
standard lens is covered by treatment authorised as part of their membership.
quote GT
NHS patients only the monofocal lens. The Benenden Hospital Trust
is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England, number 3454120.
Registered charity number 1065995. Registered office, The Benenden
www.benendenhospital.org.uk
not Hospital receive Trust, Goddard’s Green Road, Benenden, it, Cranbrook, often Kent TN17 4AX with fatal results.
“Poorly-resourced hospitals depend on
cylinders of compressed oxygen, but these
are expensive and difficult to transport
over poor roads, so they frequently run
out. Oxygen concentrators, that produce
oxygen from room air, are a cost-effective
alternative; although these require an
electrical supply and power cuts are
common in low-resource countries.
“Most tropical countries have plenty of
sunshine, making solar powered devices
an attractive option.”