Car Crash, Cost of Pain, and HIPAA

Yes, I was in a car crash. Yes, I'm "fine." Not really. I am suffering from whiplash and getting treatment from my chiropractor. I'm not disabled, but I am limited in the activities I can do. I don't have any broken bones. My daily activities are limited though.

A woman backed her truck into my car and give me quite a jolt. A representative from her insurance company (Company P.) came out this morning with some paperwork. Once I am fully recovered, Company P. and I will negotiate the settlement for Inconvenience and Pain. That is on top of Company P. will pay for repairs to my car and my medical treatment and lost wages for the one day I missed work. How much is my pain and inconvenience worth?

When people receive settlements for pain (on top of medical expenses), does it make the person feel better? What about wrongful death claims? On top of money for dependents and burial costs, how much does it cost to get rid of the grief? How much is a life worth? Money doesn't make the person come back.

How much is my inconvenience worth? How much money will it take for my aggravation to go away? Oh, I'm not injured enough or emotionally damaged enough for a million dollar settlement though if they offered it to me, I wouldn't turn it down. I'm reasonable, but I don't want to be taken for a ride either.

Company P. wants me to sign a medical info release form, so they can pay the chiropractor. Okay. But the release gives them rights to any records due to substance abuse, mental health and psychological testing, HIV tests, AIDS tests, and sexually transmitted diseases. I don't think so. I don't have a record of substance abuse, I don't have the HIV virus, I don't have sexually transmitted diseases. However, why should Company P. know that? None of that is relevant to the sore muscles and a few bones out of joint. I'm just going to cross that line out of the form and see what happens.

There may be HIPAA laws, but there really isn't a lot of privacy. Check out  HIPAA.

Tools for Job of Life

"Each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass and a book of rules;
And each must make, ere life is flown,"
A stumbling block or a stepping stone. - R.L. Sharpe

"Who would try to nail boards together without a hammer or change a flat tire with a jack? To deny our need for tools would be ridiculous, wouldn't it? Yet many of us have trouble accepting that we need tools to repair our damaged self-esteem.
. . . .

Why do we resist the idea that spiritual work, like physical work, has its own set of tools? Reading, sharing, praying, attending our support group's meetings - these are the tools that help us do the job. They aren't optional niceties or crutches.
. . . .

My willingness to use the tools determines the outcome of the job."

Today's content comes from Believing in Myself by Larsen & Hegarty.

My words:


Use your tools. 


What is one of your tools?

One of my tools is a walk outdoors.

When Anti-depressents Work and Why We Need Them in America

Today a friend wanted to know why so many people in our culture take anti-depressants. She also wanted to know what it's like taking anti-depressants. She moved here from India about three years ago.

WARNING: The following paragraph in brown may bum you out: 

I think so many people in our culture take anti-depressants because we value success, gadgets, money, appearances of our front lawns, and not our humanity. People are rude and mean, and there's much hustle and bustle. We kill each other a lot, especially in urban areas. Jobs are scarce. We kill unborn babies. There are many options and choices here in the U.S. that picking out the type of Cheerios becomes a major summit meeting in the mind. Also having to drive in a community with many stoplights, cars, and idiot drivers is enough to make me want to stay in bed - sometimes. It's can be overwhelming.

PINK is Happy.

The first sign I had that my anti-depressants were taking effect for the good was wanting to dance to rock music when I heard it on the radio.  Hearing the B-52's singing Love Shack on the way over to the library got my blood flowing, made me feel youthful and lively, and made me want to dance and celebrate life.

How did you know your anti-depressants were starting to help you?

What factor of American life would you eliminate to create a happier you? Or rather, what factor of American life (if you live in America) caused you to "go over the edge?" I have to think of that answer myself.