Welcome to Dr. Zender’s Psychology Today blog, The New Normal.
Traumatic accidents can seriously impact every area of your life. However, with the proper information and support you—or someone you care about—can reclaim the life you were meant to live. In Dr. Zender’s blog, you will find tools, tips and ideas to facilitate your recovery process —tools that will help you to cope with your physical and psychological injuries and conditions. You will learn to do more than just survive, you will learn to thrive!
A note to auto insurance companies: You will find valuable information here that will help you better serve your insured customers. In fact, when patients get the proper supports, needed care and treatment up front, they need far fewer resources in the long run than if support is withheld. That translates into a big win-win for your company and a boost to your bottom line!
Preserving Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance System – Prevention is Cheaper than the Cure
One of Michigan’s precious jewels is currently in danger of being stolen. In 1973 Michigan legislators, in a stroke of genius, created the most comprehensive system of protection in the nation for people injured in car crashes. The no-fault personal injury protection law mandated that auto insurance companies pay for all needed rehabilitation and care for life and without limits. [...]
Obstacles to Mental Health Care in Auto Accident Cases
Most adults in the United States of America drive vehicles of one kind or another on public roadways and are at risk of being involved in an auto accident which may result in serious injuries or death. According to the National Safety council’s data in 2016, over 40,000 people died from auto accident related injuries and 4.6 million required medical [...]
National PTSD Awareness Month
Human history has been written in blood and suffering. It is only by small victories of the heart and spirit that we have endured, and through which we can but hope to prevail. If we as a species are to survive and evolve, it is necessary to find new ink, one composed of love, compassion, and understanding, and held in [...]
Protecting Brain Injured Patients in Legal Proceedings
Today I attended a legal conference given by the Brain Injury Association of Michigan and learned some important things about advocacy for patients with brain injuries that I will share with you. Pratheep Sevanthinathan, a Michigan attorney, gave an excellent presentation. It is a well-established clinical fact that people with brain injuries have cognitive difficulties involving problems with memory, concentration, focusing and [...]
How Trauma Impacts Us – Hold On to Your Dreams
Traumatic life events, such as being injured in accidents, often serve to define who we are as human beings. The same traumatic event can leave one person’s life decimated while others may be propelled to greater accomplishments and life satisfaction than would have been likely without the traumatic event. How do we explain such striking contrasts? After several decades of [...]
Some Thoughts on Healing – The Importance of Curiousity
In graduate school, many years ago, I was taught not to talk about healing. It was viewed as appearing unscientific. Better to stick with measurable treatment goals and objectives. The dean of a prestigious medical school said to the graduating class that at least 85 percent of what the young doctors had learned would in time be proven false. He [...]
