Dying and Aliving.
I, as usual, have an issue with the training I'm currently taking. WHAT. Is new? It is, of course, because I'm knowledgeable and well versed and brilliant and superior to the rest of the human race that I take issue, of course.
I spent the evening learning about how and how not to talk to dying people. Granted. Some people must be taught not to compare their own petty ailments to those of a dying person's. However. We have been told numerous times NEVER to "self disclose" because the relationship is not 50/50. I assumed that meant to a certain extent. Nope. We're ALWAYS supposed to steer the subject from ourselves to said dying person.
I guess I learned something and will have to watch myself. It seems to me that in order to relate to another human being, there has to be SOME self discloser on the aliving persons part....how else do two people build any sort of trust? I get that its for the dying person to talk about anything they want, because its all about them and thats why I'll be there....I get that. But the way they put it just seemed so extreme to me.
That isn't my issue though. My issue is all this discussion of "HOW TO." As if this dying person is no longer a person to be talked to like a "person" but like a "dying person" because there is such a huge difference.
I think there is a slight difference, but more likeness than difference if you ask me. If I were a dying person with a volunteer visitor, yes I'd want to talk about myself, but I wouldn't WANT it to be all about me and one sided. I've also never been dying (well....faster than the pace I currently AM dying, that is) so I can't say for sure. I just assume I wouldn't want to be treated like a specimen with such an ominous title: "dying person." I think I'd still want to be talked to like a "regular person."
I don't know if I just made any sense. I have to leave for work. Hooray for five hours of sleep and an asshole boss.
I spent the evening learning about how and how not to talk to dying people. Granted. Some people must be taught not to compare their own petty ailments to those of a dying person's. However. We have been told numerous times NEVER to "self disclose" because the relationship is not 50/50. I assumed that meant to a certain extent. Nope. We're ALWAYS supposed to steer the subject from ourselves to said dying person.
I guess I learned something and will have to watch myself. It seems to me that in order to relate to another human being, there has to be SOME self discloser on the aliving persons part....how else do two people build any sort of trust? I get that its for the dying person to talk about anything they want, because its all about them and thats why I'll be there....I get that. But the way they put it just seemed so extreme to me.
That isn't my issue though. My issue is all this discussion of "HOW TO." As if this dying person is no longer a person to be talked to like a "person" but like a "dying person" because there is such a huge difference.
I think there is a slight difference, but more likeness than difference if you ask me. If I were a dying person with a volunteer visitor, yes I'd want to talk about myself, but I wouldn't WANT it to be all about me and one sided. I've also never been dying (well....faster than the pace I currently AM dying, that is) so I can't say for sure. I just assume I wouldn't want to be treated like a specimen with such an ominous title: "dying person." I think I'd still want to be talked to like a "regular person."
I don't know if I just made any sense. I have to leave for work. Hooray for five hours of sleep and an asshole boss.