Karen Teston Lakeland: heartfelt Karen Teston obituary
Psychiatrist Dr. Karen Teston of Lakeland, Florida Passes Away
The mental health community has lost a beloved figure with the recent death of Dr. Karen Teston. The psychiatrist, based in Lakeland, Florida, passed away on Sunday, August 13th 2023. She was confirmed deceased through a Facebook post by one of her patients. The post described Dr. Teston as someone who was there during the darkest times and helped them recover when all they saw was hopelessness. The actual cause of her death has not been made public at this time.
Dr. Teston's Esteemed Medical Career
Dr. Karen R. Teston worked as a psychiatrist in Lakeland for over two decades. She was affiliated with major hospitals in the region such as Winter Haven Hospital and Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. Dr. Teston graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and brought immense experience and expertise to the field of psychiatry.
Over the years, Dr. Teston gained great renown and admiration for her tireless efforts to understand the complexities of the human mind and provide quality care to her patients. Her unique empathy and compassion made her stand out as a mental health professional.
Traits That Set Dr. Teston Apart
Many experts in mental health stress the importance of empathy, understanding and making human connections. Dr. Teston seemed to embody these traits remarkably. Patients who had the opportunity to interact with her often remarked how she truly understood them. Her natural empathy allowed her to connect with diverse patients and get them to open up about their deepest concerns.
Additionally, she had an uncanny ability to grasp intricate mental health issues and come up with holistic solutions. Dr. Teston was praised for her talent of perceiving her patients' emotions and mindsets. This intuitive grasp of her patients' situations enabled breakthroughs and profound personal growth.
A Well-Rounded Approach to Mental Healthcare
Dr. Teston strongly believed mental healthcare should encompass more than just medication and talk therapy. She emphasized taking a well-rounded approach to healing the mind. This meant addressing diet, exercise, spirituality, creativity and community engagement alongside traditional treatment methods.
The Legacy She Leaves Behind
While the mental health world has lost a gifted psychiatrist, Dr. Teston's legacy lives on through the countless patients she helped over the years. She made a tremendous difference in people's lives when they were at their lowest. The outpouring of grief and memories on social media is a testament to how cherished she was by patients and colleagues alike.
During times of struggle, she encouraged people to remain hopeful and see the beauty in life. She will be remembered for her compassion, wisdom and commitment to mental health. Even after her passing, Dr. Teston's teachings can continue to uplift and inspire. Her meaningful work remains a gift to all those struggling with mental illness.
A Patient's Personal Tribute
One patient who knew Dr. Teston for many years shared a touching tribute after her passing:
"There are no words to ever describe loss or the pain of loss. Today I celebrate not loss but win. I have known this beautiful soul for many many years. She started as our kids Psychiatrist, became a foster for some of my horses and when I needed her the most became my mom and the kids Grandmother. She filled voids in our lives. Her and I have been through the loss of her son, her husband and the loss of my husband. We have laughed and we have cried many hours together. She was always my go to when I needed to talk when things were the toughest. She always had the most positive outlook in life. Even through the loss of her son Joseph and her husband Fred she remained positive. I was honored when she asked me to be her health care proxy although to be honest didn’t think I would ever have to use it. Friday she went in for extensive surgery for cancer and he fragile body just couldn’t handle it. When she received her diagnosis she told me “I’m not afraid to die I am at peace with it I will be back with Joe, Fred and Lane”. She told multiple folks this. So yesterday after several hours of emotional battle and her having the last word (well not word but sign) like she always did I told them to allow her to pass. Within minutes she peacefully left us. But honestly in my heart I know she was already in the arms of her beloved Joseph and Fred. Until Friday I had never called her anything but Dr. Teston out of respect for her she knew she was like my momma and she used to get angry and tell me to call her Karen I never could Friday when she went into the OR I told her I love you momma she smiled and said I love you too I will see you soon and wrinkled her nose like she would do sometimes. I will miss her tremendously but I know she is happy and at peace. Thank you momma for allowing me to a part of this journey and for trusting me enough to be your advocate. It’s not goodbye it’s see you later."
The mental health community has undeniably lost one of its most compassionate voices with the passing of Dr. Karen Teston. Though she may be gone, her spirit lives on through the people she uplifted. Her empathy, wisdom and devotion to helping others cope with mental illness was truly remarkable. Dr. Teston leaves behind an incredible legacy that continues to inspire.
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