Bruce (BJ) Miller, MD - Life After Amputation and How to Thrive in Adversity

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You may lose parts of your physical body – but you are still you.

Many/most people build their identity around their bodies. That is normal and natural – the body is the physical YOU. But what if you have an accident where the end result means that you lose a limb or two or three? Who are you then? Please know that you may lose parts of your physical body – but you are still you. This is a hard lesson for most people to even think about, even though we have come a long way in normalizing disability and amputees. And speaking of things that are hard to think about – how about dying?

Dr. Bruce (BJ) Miller has vast experience with both. As a triple amputee since age 19, he’s lived through the positive changes in society, worked with other amputees, and knows how important it is to navigate through everything that losing limbs brings, both mentally, emotionally and physically. And as a palliative care physician, he’s witnessed thousands of people face their death, and he’s one of the leading voices in reframing our discourse and views of dying. 

In this deep, vitally important talk, you’ll discover:

• Ways you can manage ‘phantom pains and sensations’ in body parts that are no longer functioning or you have lost.
• How to face everyday struggle and turn it around.
• Why pity will cause you problems, but empathy will empower you.
• How to cope with different kinds of loss so that you can still live your life to the fullest.

Tune in 🎧 + Share 💙

• For accessing show notes, links, and transcript please visit: https://www.mayanovak.com/podcast/ep66-bruce-miller/

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