MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'couch'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:03:25 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125806&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F13%2Fthe-idiots-guide-to-dealing-with-idiots%2F Idiots. The world is full of them. How hard it is for us, non-idiots, to put up with them. But to get our jobs done, our kids fed, and our pets groomed, we must deal with them. Idiots come in many shapes, forms, and types, but the ones that frustrate me the most are those who don’t believe in any form of mental illness. These creatures maintain that all mood disorders are cute, creative stories crafted by persons who enjoy obsessing, ruminating, and crying their eyes out… a wealthy bunch who can’t think of anything better to do than come up with a make-believe tale about a few neurons wandering around the limbic system afraid to ask for directions, just like Moses. We must tune out the idiots to achieve any kind of sanity or serenity. But how? Here are four ways that have work... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125806 Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:07:11 +0100 5125806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062292&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F25%2Fshould-you-share-your-therapist-with-a-friend%2F I have a friend who lives by this cardinal rule: She will never ever work with a friend. So when jobs surface in her company, or if she hears of an opening in her field, she only shares the information with non-friends. It’s just too messy, she explained to me the other day. Having experienced a situation not too long ago that became just that — messy — I can understand her logic and applaud her for sticking by that rule. I am now much more careful about sharing work opportunities with close friends… in order to protect myself. Should the same rule apply to therapy? I never thought so. I mean, my psychiatrist told me the other day that I am her third biggest source of referrals, after a local cardiologist and a gynecologist. I don’t hesitate to share the numbers of... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062292 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:13:50 +0100 5062292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057720&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpsychiatrist-reviews-crazy-book-finds-some-genuineness-behind-authors-bravado%2F2011.07.23 Rob Dobrenski, PhD. is a psychologist who blogs over on ShrinkTalk.net.  He’s written a book about what it’s like to be a psychology graduate student, a psychotherapy patient, and a psychologist.  Oh, we like the folks who go from Shrink blog to Shrink book — it somehow feels familiar — and so I agreed to read his book: Crazy: Tales on and Off the Couch. So bear with me while I tell you that the book rubbed me wrong at the outset.  Dr. Dobrenski begins by saying something to the effect that he describes things that all shrinks feel, and if they say they don’t, they aren’t being honest.  I really hate it when people tell me what I feel.  It’s like saying that Prozac made your depression better and if it didn’t, then you just didn’t ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057720 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 22:00:00 +0100 5057720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975940&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F28%2F10-myths-about-happiness%2F I’m leaving my desk for a few days, so in my absence, thought I’d re-post one of my favorite round-up pieces, about ten widespread myths about happiness. A while back, each day for two weeks, I posted about Ten Happiness Myths. Here they are, for your reading convenience. (Click on each myth to read a longer explanation of it.) 1. Happy people are annoying and stupid. Wrong. Actually, studies show that people find happy people much more likable than their less-happy peers. Happy people are viewed as friendlier, smarter, warmer, less selfish, more self-confident, and more socially skilled — even more physically attractive. 2. Nothing changes a person’s happiness level much. It’s true that there’s a powerful genetic link to happiness — usually it’s estimated t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975940 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:23:58 +0100 4975940 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952994&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F17%2Ffatherless-on-fathers-day%2F {Holidays, 2008} This Father’s Day, I’ll be spending the day at my dad’s gravesite. It’ll be two years this August since my father passed away. I thought the wounds would heal by now. But they haven’t. Instead, it feels like the scar tissue is healing all wrong. The first year was a blur. Days dissolving into one another, melting like the clock in one of my father’s favorite Dali paintings. Days spent focused on checking off items on a to-do list. Months spent trying to carve out some sort of a routine in a half-empty house. Time heals all wounds; you hear that all the time. But I don’t think that’s true. Time tears off the Band-Aid, little by little, instead of ripping it off in one fell swoop. As the days, weeks, months and years go by, you just get caught... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952994 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:11:12 +0100 4952994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893555&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F03%2Fmy-therapist-wont-stop-yawning-in-session%2F Psychotherapy is often described as an art as much as it is a science. The professional relationship between a therapist and their client can be a tricky one. Especially when it comes to bad habits of either the therapist or the client. One of these bad habits is especially frustrating to clients — a therapist’s constant yawns during session. People often read into a yawn far more than what is usually meant — or not meant — by the behavior. Part of the problem is yawning itself — we don’t really know why people yawn in the first place. So a person often will assume the worst — “I’m boring him with what I’m talking about.” But that’s often not the case. The only thing we know for certain about why humans yawn is that t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893555 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:14:56 +0100 4893555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862626&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F25%2Ffinding-a-male-therapist-take-two%2F I had about 10 people forward me the New York Times article on the dwindling number of men going into counseling professions. Most of them know that male psychology is an area of special interest to me, and I’m also one of the only male therapists that they know. It has been interesting for me to learn that some controversy has emerged from the article, and the rationale for there being cause for alarm. The article essentially made the case that if fewer men go into counseling professions, then fewer men may want to attend because they feel more comfortable talking about certain topics with other men. Dr. Grohol wrote a fabulous piece on this blog yesterday making the counter-point that there is no research evidence to support that view. While I also understand this to be true, I sti... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862626 Wed, 25 May 2011 21:08:17 +0100 4862626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4696685&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F10%2Fgetting-the-love-you-want-over-and-over-again%2F In his New York Times bestseller, Getting the Love Your Want, psychologist Harville Hendrix explains why people who grew up in homes — well, a little like the one in the 2006 flick Little Miss Sunshine — without proper emotional nurturing seek dysfunctional relationships as adults. He explains the low brain — our more reptilian thought process that can’t handle anything different than what it already knows and reverts to fear as its primary gear — and the new brain, the cerebral cortex that is conscious, alert, able to reason and think logically. He writes: What we are doing, I have discovered from years of theoretical research and clinical observation, is looking for someone who has the predominant character traits of the people who raised us. Our old brain, trapped in t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4696685 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 18:05:02 +0100 4696685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4600579&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F16%2F10-reasons-why-someone-in-therapy-may-not-be-getting-better%2F A few months ago I was called to be an expert witness at the county court. Not my favorite thing to do. What makes it hard is the tendency lawyers have to ask complex questions and expect a “Yes” or “No” answer. I have learned to slow myself down, detach myself from the process, and be absolutely truthful while remaining as unprovoked as possible. Otherwise it is an exhausting exercise. One question did get me going, though. It revolved around whether or not a person can change and what causes a person in therapy to improve or not improve. The conversation below is a dramatic re-enactment of real events… Lawyer: Under what circumstances does a person in therapy not get well? Me: Are you assuming the therapist is perfect? Because one reason a person does not i... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4600579 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:35:35 +0100 4600579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4498293&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F19%2Fshould-you-tell-your-boss-about-a-mental-illness%2F Many people struggle with the question of whether or not to tell their bosses about their mood disorders at work. Washington Post columnist Amy Joyce wrote an excellent article on this a few years ago. I have included the first few paragraphs below, but urge you to read the rest of her article, as it gives no straight answers but explores that terrain with great depth. If you have depression or some other mental illness, what do you do about work? Hope no one notices? Disclose your illness early on and trust that your boss will understand? Should You Tell is a complicated question. There is no right answer, and there are some risks to consider. I discovered this years ago after watching a movie at home with two friends. One of them looked up, scared. She hesitated. And then she let it out:... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4498293 Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:39:08 +0100 4498293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309666&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F04%2Fwhy-doctors-oversell-benefits-undersell-risks-and-side-effects%2F Virtually across the board of medicine and psychiatry, doctors will constantly and consistently oversell the benefits of a given treatment, and undersell the risks and side effects of it. This may not be as surprising when you look at some of the key factors into how medical and psychiatric treatment is learned and then conducted on patients. Why do doctors often oversell the benefits of a given treatment, and minimize the risks and side effects of it? 1. Treatment is rarely experienced first-hand. While you don’t need to undergo surgery to understand the benefits of surgery or how to do surgery, you will surely have a great appreciation to the patient’s perspective if every surgeon was required to get an appendectomy before being allowed to practice. Surgeons know, in most ca... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309666 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:24:09 +0100 4309666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074147&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F16%2Finterview-with-samhsa-administrator-pamela-hyde-jd%2F While at the Voice Awards, I had the opportunity to sit down and chat for a few minutes with the head of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Administrator Pamela Hyde, JD. Ms. Hyde is an attorney and comes to SAMHSA with more than 30 years experience in management and consulting for public healthcare and human services agencies. She has served as a state mental health director, state human services director, city housing and human services director, as well as CEO of a private non-profit managed behavioral healthcare firm. You can learn more about Ms. Hyde here. Dr. John Grohol: So I wanted to understand a little bit better how the Voice Awards originated. What was the motivation behind coming up with this novel sort of way of recognizing both consumers ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074147 Sat, 16 Oct 2010 15:09:01 +0100 4074147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3983430&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F20%2F8-ways-to-ruin-your-relationship%2F While most of the time we try and stay positive here on World of Psychology, every now and again reality sucker-punches us back to our senses (although not personally affecting me). The fact remains that despite our wise advice over the years, we haven’t budged the divorce rate in the U.S. (not that we thought we could!). Most relationships fail — there’s simply no way to argue with it. So maybe it would help some of our readers to catch sign of their failing relationship before it’s too late. Sure, we all would like to think that we could see the end of our relationship coming from a mile away. But truth is, many of us need a little help. To that end, here are 8 ways you can bet you’re ruining your relationship and heading to splitsville. 1. Take your partn... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3983430 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:10:29 +0100 3983430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3957889&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fhome-design-fantasies-on-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy%2F Whether you’re living in the home of your dreams or waiting for the day you can move out of your rental, nerding out over cool home design and fantasizing about your dream home is never not fun. Here are some of the best things we found during our weekly trawl of Apartment Therapy this week: House to Drool Over: Marta and Oswaldo Viteri’s Vast Story-Telling Collection DIY Project: Chalkboard Your Minifridge Objects of Desire: Madsen Cycles Urban Utility Bicycles Home How-To: Use a Chair as a Drying Rack House Greening: Plumen’s Designer Energy-Saving Light Bulbs Post from: BlissTree Home Design Fantasies: On the Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3957889 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:32:25 +0100 3957889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3933069&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fworldly-home-decor-on-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy%2F In our weekly cull through Apartment Therapy’s home design tips, we found eco-friendly home design and a home filled with a well-curated collection of travel souvenirs. We call this: Worldly home decor: House to Drool Over: Azza’s Travel-Inspired Home DIY Project: Brown Paper Bag Floors Objects of Desire: Bamboo Herb Markers from Oryx + Crake Design Home How-To: Paper a Wall with Wallpaper Scraps House Greening: 10 Devices to Help You Plug Electrical Leaks and Save Energy Post from: BlissTree Worldly Home Decor: On the Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3933069 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:21:43 +0100 3933069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3913152&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F28%2Fwalking-yoga-helps-your-brain%2F Two studies out last week demonstrate connections between practicing yoga and simple walking may work to help improve your brain health. Previous research has linked exercise to helping keep our brains healthy. The two latest studies independently found that walking and yoga may help our brain health in different ways. To study the effects of walking on brain health, researchers followed a group of older adult “couch potatoes” — ages 59 to 80 — who joined a walking group, or stretching and toning group for a year… Researchers followed a group of “professional couch potatoes,” composed of 65 adults ages 59 to 80, who joined a walking group or stretching and toning group for a year. All of the participants were sedentary before the study, reporting less th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3913152 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:10:47 +0100 3913152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3911672&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Ffrugal-home-design-on-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy%2F Home design isn’t just for rich people and homeowners: Here are some of our favorite renter- and budget-friendly Apartment Therapy posts from this week: House to Drool Over: Meg’s Eclectic & Affordable Apartment DIY Project: Make a T-Shirt Flokati Rug Objects of Desire: 10 Fantastic Frugal Finds For Less Than $20 Home How-To: Creative Re-Use Ideas For Crates House Greening: 5 Money-Saving Green Improvements For Your Rental Post from: BlissTree Frugal Home Design: On the Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3911672 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:58:21 +0100 3911672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3889064&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fteeny-tiny-home-design-on-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy%2F If you rent an apartment, live in the city, or just happen to have a very small home, you’ll appreciate these posts from Apartment Therapy, devoted to those who live in teeny, tiny spaces and make the most of what they’ve got. After seeing four people and a dog squeeze into 180 square feet (see below), we can’t complain… House to Drool Over: Four People (and a Dog) Living in 180 Square Feet DIY Project: Repaint & Stencil Ugly Rental Vinyl Flooring Objects of Desire: Stylish Table Tennis (come on, doesn’t that look pretty awesome?) Home How-To: How to Pare Down Your Stuff House Greening: How To Green Clean Your Grill Without Lifting A Finger Post from: BlissTree Teeny, Tiny Home Design: On The Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Breastfeeding 1... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3889064 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:17:11 +0100 3889064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3889082&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-heart-health-risks-of-being-a-couch-potato%2F2010.08.20 We’ve all made the excuses: You can’t face the drive to the gym, you’re too tired at night, getting up in the morning is a chore, or it’s too hot or cold outside. So you cozy up on the couch in front of the television. If you’re a couch potato, you’re a gambler — with your life. Unfortunately you’ll need a big sofa because you’re not the only one whose heart isn’t in physical activity. About 60 percent of adults in the U.S. are not getting the exercise they need, according to a report from the U.S. Surgeon General. It’s time to get up and face — or better yet, dance to — the music! Here are a few facts that may get you moving for your heart’s sake. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Health in 30* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3889082 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:00:55 +0100 3889082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3865239&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fcreative-home-design-on-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy%2F Our favorite Apartment Therapy posts from this week, featuring creative (and eco-friendly) ways to make the most of your space at home: House to Drool Over: Jennifer’s Retro Residence DIY Project: Pallet Furniture Object of Desire: Wood Baguette Board Home How-To: Choosing A Desk Layout House Greening: Water Usage Calculator Post from: BlissTree Creative Home Design: On the Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3865239 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:28:51 +0100 3865239 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3831327&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fperfect-summer-cottage-on-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy%2F While we don’t have the vacation home of our dreams (yet), that doesn’t mean we don’t already imagine how we’ll decorate it. We scoured Apartment Therapy’s posts from this week to come up with the perfect design plan for our future summer cottage. What do you think? House to Drool Over: Michael’s Laid Back Cottage DIY Project: Mason Jar Chandelier Object of Desire: Embroidered Porcelain Dishware Home How-To: DIY Lighted Paper Pennant Garland House Greening: Upcycled ‘Head Gardener’ by Anna Garforth Post from: BlissTree Perfect Summer Cottage: On the Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3831327 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:21:20 +0100 3831327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3805796&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fdont-forget-the-walls-on-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy%2F No room is complete until you make your mark on the walls. Check out our roundup of some of our favorite posts from Apartment Therapy this week, with a focus on creative wall decorations. House to Drool Over: Dark and Cozy Corner from James Plumb DIY Project: Beadboard Cottage Walls Objects of Desire: Anaglypta Wall Treatments Home How-To: Metallic Walls House Greening: Decorating With Vintage Photos Post from: BlissTree Don't Forget the Walls: On the Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3805796 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:46:33 +0100 3805796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3802548&cid=t_136467_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fwalking-with-a-cane.html My legs have been getting progressively worse over the past couple of weeks--first, numbness and tingling, then weakness in my upper legs and knees especially. The decadron helped some, but I'm wobbly on my legs, so I decided to take my cane when I drove myself to radiation therapy today. And I was reminded, yet again, how differently the Temporarily Able Bodied (that's all the rest of you who don't have a life-threatening or chronic illness, broken leg, or a physical handicap) treat those of us who do. Item One: No eye contact from TAB people on the street. I am welcomed warmly inside the cancer center, by both patients and staff, and they all make eye contact, but NOT the TAB. They do when I'm not carrying a cane. Item Two: How close is too c... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3802548 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:11:06 +0100 3802548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3761405&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Forganized-and-salvaged-home-design-on-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy%2F Our favorite Apartment Therapy posts from this week, with lots of salvaged objects and home organization tools to keep your house clutter-free and well-designed: House to Drool Over: Ian & Stephanie’s Charming Salvaged Style DIY Project: How To Make A Magazine File Objects of Desire: Couture Deco’s Doorway Trompe L’Oeil Home How-To: De-Clutter Your Desk in 4 Easy Steps House Greening: New Recycling Options from IKEA Post from: BlissTree Organized and Salvaged Home Design: On the Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3761405 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:03:18 +0100 3761405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3740574&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fcool-home-design-on-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy%2F Our favorite Apartment Therapy posts from this week, with an emphasis on revived, restored, and vintage decor: House to Drool Over: Lana’s West Hollywood Haven DIY Project: Book Lamp Objects of Desire: Quilt Coverlets for Warm Summer Nights We Think This Is Hilarious: 5 Green Life Lessons We Can Learn From Twilight ‘Eclipse’ House Greening: Pack A Green Car Kit For An Eco-Friendly Road Trip Post from: BlissTree Cool Home Design: On The Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3740574 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:00:19 +0100 3740574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3678643&cid=t_136467_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fon-the-couch-with-john-wayne.html I remember watching John Wayne movies with my dad when I was a kid. These were mostly Wayne's WWII movies, which my father, who was born in 1922, really liked. Later, my generation rather scorned Wayne, mostly for his conservative political views, and I never saw his 1968 pro-Vietnam War movie, The Green Berets. But I loved True Grit, which he made only a year later.I don't remember ever watching any of Wayne's old cowboy movies from the 1930s, but I've made up for lost time in the past two days. I think I watched a total of six of these on Hulu last night and then this afternoon, and I can say with some authority that they were all the same. Wayne was always the hero (sometimes he rode a white horse, sometimes he wore a white hat). The mixture of technology and... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3678643 Sat, 19 Jun 2010 23:59:05 +0100 3678643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662644&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Ftweetpsych-puts-your-twitter-account-on-the-couch%2F Do you ever wonder what other people think about you? If you’re on Twitter, now you can tell, thanks to TweetPsych.com. The new website is like a free visit to the shrink for your tweets: You just type in your Twitter account, and it refreshes the page with a complete analysis of your Twitter personality as compared to the average Twitter user. It calculates reference to revealing topics like sex, emotions, money, positive and negative references, and even your rate of self-reference based on your entire history of tweets – Blisstree ranks high on sex talk and work talk, but surprisingly, we talk less about our emotions than the average tweeter (Check out a snapshot of our evaluation, left). TweetPsych also gives you a list of other Twitter users who “think like you” �... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662644 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:53:37 +0100 3662644 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3655578&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fsexy-home-design-on-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy%2F Our favorite Apartment Therapy posts from this week, with a particular emphasis on sexy, colorful summer accents: House to Drool Over: Gillian Colors Her World DIY Project: Make A 3-Tiered Planter That Packs A Punch Objects of Desire: Olioboard – Online Interior Design Mood Board App Home How-To: Homemade Cucumber Gimlets House Greening: Great Outdoor Lights That Don’t Use Solar Post from: BlissTree Sexy Home Design: On The Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3655578 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:36:09 +0100 3655578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632249&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fon-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy-smart-home-design-roundup%2F Our favorite Apartment Therapy posts of the week: House to Drool Over: Adam & Vanessa’s Newlywed Home DIY Project: DIY Dining Table Made From Wood Pallets Object of Desire: All-Natural Candles Inspired By The Garden Problem Solver: Use Coffee Grinds To Cover Furniture Scratches House Greening: 12 Great No-VOC and Non-Toxic Eco-Paints Post from: BlissTree On The Couch With Apartment Therapy: Smart Home Design Roundup (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632249 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:49:55 +0100 3632249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607463&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fnatural-bathroom-cleaners-dream-homes-and-book-clocks-on-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy-this-week%2F It’s hard to pick favorites on Apartment Therapy , but here are a few things we liked this week on the cool home design site: House to Drool Over: Alicia’s Dream Come True DIY Project: Make Your Own Book Clock Object of Desire: Repurposed Orphaned Drawers from the Hamburg Gallery The Problem-Solver: Truly Learning How To Clean Your Home House Greening: Cleaning Your Bathroom With A Grapefruit And Salt Post from: BlissTree Natural Bathroom Cleaners, Dream Homes, and Book Clocks: On The Couch With Apartment Therapy This Week (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607463 Fri, 28 May 2010 15:47:25 +0100 3607463 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3590473&cid=t_136467_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fcure-for-a-bad-mood.html I'm not depressed, but I'm certainly in a bad mood. Or a funk. Or whatever you want to call it. The trip to Portland was wonderful, and I don't think it was too much for me, but I did too many stressful things this past week--including treatment and a trip to the dentist--and I ended up on the couch yesterday afternoon in a very bad mood and with my tank completely running on empty. This morning, I'm trying the "get something productive done" cure for a bad mood, but so far it isn't working, although my bedroom floor is now clean of dog hair and the sheets are in the wash. Let's hope I don't run out of energy before it's time to put the bed back together--that has happened lots of times before. I also sorted the mountain of books ... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3590473 Sat, 22 May 2010 18:21:57 +0100 3590473 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3589016&cid=t_136467_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fopen-wide-.html Well, I had delayed for as long as possible, like two years or more, but I finally had to go and see my dentist a couple of weeks ago. I knew something was wrong, and I had that "putting it off will only make it worse" feeling, so off I went. I should point out that I go to a very good dentist, and I like him and trust him, but I HATE having work done in my mouth and with all my cancer-related medical appointments it was easy to make excuses not to go. Very easy. But I was having some pain way back on the upper left, and also a lymph node under my left ear was swollen and sore, which I thought might mean an abscess, but that proved not to be the case. Just two new cavities in very bad places, one of them under an old filling that had cracked. Here are the proble... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3589016 Fri, 21 May 2010 20:23:37 +0100 3589016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581575&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fweird-sex-positions-the-couch-grind-from-womens-health%2F “The Best Sex Positions Ever” in Women’s Health magazine definitely piqued our interest, but we certainly didn’t expect to find Position Number 33: The Couch Grind. We like to think of ourselves as open-minded and adventurous when it comes to doing it, but there’s something that’s just not that sexy about humping your armchair. A few of the other interesting poses look like fun, but we intend to stay away from The Couch Grind for as long as possible. Though if we do resort to replacing men with furniture, we’ll certainly remember to keep it clean with a blanket between ourselves and our sofa, as shown below: We really hope we don't have to resort to "The Couch Grind," from Women's Health. Post from: BlissTree Weird Sex Positions: ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581575 Wed, 19 May 2010 17:47:29 +0100 3581575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3564147&cid=t_136467_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fdiabetes-blog-week-move-it-move-it.html Today’s topic for Diabetes Blog Week: Let’s get moving. “Exercise . . . love it or hate it? Do you have a regular exercise routine? Or do you have trouble finding your exercise motivation? How do you manage your insulin and food to avoid bottoming out during your workout?” I’m extremely [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3564147 Fri, 14 May 2010 13:00:26 +0100 3564147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3522613&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fhome-design-roundup-on-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy%2F Blisstree’s favorite Apartment Therapy posts from the past week: House to Drool Over: Hilda’s Spare and Splendid Space DIY Project: How To Make a Coat Hanger Bag Organizer Objects of Desire: Eco-Friendly Shower Curtains The Spring Cure Project: Week 7 – Sacred Space House Greening: Chalk Board Post from: BlissTree Home Design: On the Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3522613 Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:57:05 +0100 3522613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3490680&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F21%2Fthe-pocket-therapist-mental-health-to-go%2F Imagine a GPS navigational system that said something like this: “In approximately 30 minutes, you will run into your old boss, who will want to make you feel like a worthless pile of feces. Erect personal boundaries immediately…. I said, Get in your bubble, Woman … Are you listening? She’s approaching you on your left. Lock up all childhood tapes now (the ones that convinced you that were weak, ugly, and pathetic) and DO NOT, I said DO NOT play them for her. Remember, their messages are no longer valid. Proceed carefully. You will speak to her in approximately 3, no 2, no 1 second.” Me? I would like one of those. So I made one. In book form. You see, I am an obsessive-compulsive woman who has recorded, in her journals, 12 years of therapy sessions, 21 years ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3490680 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:07:59 +0100 3490680 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3490823&cid=t_136467_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2010%2F04%2Ffive-hours-of-good-energy.html Today I got up at 10, and was busy till 3. Now, I'm crashed out on my bed, ready for a nap. But it was a busy day, and certainly an improvement over the most of the past week. I worked on jewelry and drank coffee, then went out to two bead stores and the post office. Stopped for a vanilla milkshake along the way, which was lunch. This means I'm close to being back to where I was six months ago, when I usually had about six hours of good energy in a day before I crashed. I can live with that. When it gets down to three or four, that's tough. That's hardly time to do things around the house--feed pets, wash a few dishes, throw in a load of laundry, maybe putter in the garden--before I'm worn out.Doctors don't measure their cancer patients' energy and f... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3490823 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:27:35 +0100 3490823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479835&cid=t_136467_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FdZAq0arWIvI%2F Blisstree’s favorite Apartment Therapy posts from the past week: House to Drool Over: Kim & Scott’s Happy “Yellow Brick Home” DIY Project: How To Make an Indoor Wall-Mounted Clothesline Objects of Desire: Josh Jakus Smart, Sustainable Designs The Spring Cure Project: Week 5 – Getting Into The Thick Of It House Greening: Small Space Recycling Solutions Post from: BlissTree On The Couch With Apartment Therapy (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479835 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:56:36 +0100 3479835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479861&cid=t_136467_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fblogging-from-the-couch-again.html Well, I got tired of bed, and I've moved to the couch, at least for part of the time.  My bedroom started to feel like a dark cave--good for sleeping, but I'd been in bed all day and all night for something like a week, surrounding my recent hospital stay, and I had to get out of there. The couch is, of course, in the living room, where there is lots of light and more air. Progress I think I'm making very speedy progress toward getting back to normal, that is, normal for me, which is about three or four hours of "good energy" a day. I'm not quite there yet, but I'm getting there, and I'm starting to have an appetite again. Yesterday, a friend bought me over some homemade lemonade (hydrate! that's my mantra) and a len... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479861 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:41:45 +0100 3479861 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453869&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fon-the-couch-with-apartment-therapy-3%2F Blisstree’s favorite Apartment Therapy posts from the past week: House to Drool Over: Mel & Dave’s Industrial Chic Loft DIY Project: Kitchen Cabinets Made from Wine Crates Objects of Desire: David Trubridge Design The Spring Cure Project: Week 4 – Show and Tell House Greening: Green Your Move Post from: BlissTree On The Couch with Apartment Therapy (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453869 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:10:35 +0100 3453869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3435118&cid=t_136467_114_f&fid=34646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fv%2FZzzHtEUu0xM%26amp%3Bhl%3Den_US%26amp%3Bfs%3D1%26amp%3B Today the WVU Mountaineers take on the Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA Final Four. Good luck to the Mountaineers as they try to move on to the Championship Game on Monday night against the winner of the Bulter vs. Michigan State contest.West Virginians everywhere are excited about the game and proud of the hard work and dedication put in by the Mountaineer players, coaches and staff. It is a great day to be a Mountaineer!All week it has been exciting to watch the buzz and excitement grow throughout the state. I loved this picture of some Mountaineers leaving Morgantown headed to Indianapolis with their cooler and couch strapped to back. I had to share it with everyone. Thanks to Lisa Simmons for the photo. You have to be a Mountaineer to understand the couch burning tradition (some history on... Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3435118 Sat, 03 Apr 2010 15:43:43 +0100 3435118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3429229&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F31%2Fgoogle-and-facebook-therapists-and-clients%2F With more and more therapists embracing social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, the question arises — where do you draw the line in terms of boundaries with your patients? Where does a patient’s and therapist’s privacy end or begin on such sites? How do patients and therapists navigate this brave new world of connectedness and “friending”? Dana Scarton over at The Washington Post has the insightful article addressing this issue by talking to a number of therapists across the country. These therapists have had to deal with their own challenges with social networking sites and “researching” people online once it was brought into psychotherapy by a client or a client’s actions. Professional associations haven’t addressed this ki... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3429229 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:45:52 +0100 3429229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3395182&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F23%2Fwhy-psychologists-shouldnt-prescribe%2F Beware psychiatrists bearing gifts. If psychology wants to remain a science based upon the understanding of human behavior — both normal and abnormal — and helping those with the “abnormal” components, it would do well to avoid going down the road of prescription privileges. But perhaps it’s already too late. We first noted this disturbing trend in 2006, how they were shot down 9 out of 9 times trying to gain prescription privileges in 2007, and why prescription privileges for psychologists will eventually drive psychiatrists out of a job. We also noted that one of the programs setup to help psychologists get prescription training wasn’t a “college” at all. The fundamental problem with psychologists gaining prescription privileges is the inev... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3395182 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 09:54:19 +0100 3395182 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3342704&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F08%2Fcouch-surfing-when-a-therapist-says-it-isnt-a-good-fit%2F Most clients know what it feels like when they meet with a therapist and it isn’t a good fit. Maybe you leave the initial session feeling misunderstood or knowing that the therapist’s personality or style isn’t a good match for you. Maybe the therapist reminds you of someone in your life for whom you have negative feelings. Or maybe you can’t stand her office or the location, or you recognize that the fee she charges is more than you can reasonably afford. But what about when you think it’s a good fit and the therapist doesn’t? This can be uncomfortable — particularly if it doesn’t match your perception of the connection you made. When a therapist tells you that she or he doesn’t think it’s a good fit or she doesn’t believe she is t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3342704 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:30:24 +0100 3342704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262647&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F10%2Fwhat-two-poles%2F He looks as if he got confused when dressing this morning in his Eddie Bauer hiking boots and his Armani suit. Then I remember the snow and slush I schlepped through on the way to his office. Always ill prepared for wintry weather, or just too stubborn to buy hideous boots, I sit on his leather couch, nervously shaking my wet, tennis shoed foot, legs crossed, pillow clutched protectively in front of me and my demons. For $135, we are reviewing my meds today. On more than one occasion, it’s been pointed out that I “present” well. This psychological jargon translates into: me, looking just fine. By some unconscious effort, perhaps I do act in that manner. Still, no Oscar, or the riches that accompany it, arrives in my mail box. Go figure. Indeed, I am in grand shape. This is the only s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262647 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:15:45 +0100 3262647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3251364&cid=t_136467_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fharassing-phone-calls-from-verizon-wireless.html What was I doing on January 12?I had to check my calendar to be sure, but it turns out that January 12 was the fourth of five sessions of cyberknife surgery to treat a tumor in my skull. Here's one post that I wrote that day: Decadron Prescription Errors I spent the evening on the couch, tired, and in a lot of pain. Here are the phone calls that came in that day from Verizon, my cell phone company:Jan. 12, 6:57 a.m.: 252-157-4972Jan. 12, 9:13 p.m.: 252-157-4972-6Jan. 12, 9:14 p.m.: 252-157-4972-6Jan. 12, 9:18 p.m.: 252-157-4972-6Jan. 12, 10:53 p.m.: 252-157-4972-6Jan. 12, 10:53 p.m.: 252-157-4972-6Jan. 12, 10:54 p.m.: 252-157-4972-6Jan. 12, 10:55 p.m.: 252-157-4972-6Jan. 12, 10:56 p.m.: 252-157-4972-6Jan. 12, 10:57 p.m.: 252-157-4972-6Jan. 12, 10:59 p.m.: 252-157-4972... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3251364 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:14:14 +0100 3251364 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3235897&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F02%2Fmeeting-with-my-first-therapy-client%2F I just finished a 40-day winter break from graduate school. After a quick but intense first semester, I was a bit crispy around the edges and welcomed the vacation. But now it is back to school and the next chapter in my journey towards becoming a clinical therapist. In less than two weeks, I will be contacting my very first clients to set up appointments. Bless these people for actually volunteering to share their stories with me, someone who has been told she is a “good listener,” but isn’t really sure at this point what else she can offer another person therapeutically. We’ve been told silence is golden. I’m hoping it isn’t also awkward. Yes, I did read my theory textbook last semester, and have my “favorite,” although by no means am I an expert in any of them! I was in... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3235897 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:15:33 +0100 3235897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3220702&cid=t_136467_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2010%2F01%2Ftonights-dinner-a-rerun.html It's 7:04 p.m., and I'm back on the couch, with all the usual comforts, and eating EXACTLY the same dinner I had last night: brie, water crackers with cracked pepper, olive tampenade, and an organic braeburn apple. Why mess with success?Actually, I was going to make a big pot of Japanese curry rice for dinner, but Older Son didn't wash the dishes last night as I asked him to, and I don't care to try to cook around a sink full of dirty dishes. I've rather cleverly left all the ingredients for the curry out on the counter so that he will see what he is missing.He may be 25, but he still sometimes needs some reverse psychology. Baby StorySo, an Older Son baby story. For those of you who are new to my blog, a bit of history: My former husband and I adopted... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3220702 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:13:44 +0100 3220702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3216801&cid=t_136467_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fback-on-the-couch-.html Well, I had a busy, long day, but also a very productive and happy one, so I'm happy. But I'm also happy to be home on the couch with all the usual comforts. I'm eating dinner as I write this, one of my recent favorite meals: water crackers (the kind with cracked black pepper), brie, olive tampenade, and thin slices of an organic braeburn apple. I'm drinking a big glass of pineapple juice mixed with sparkling water. I need to stop drinking grapefruit juice as soon as I go back on the Tykerb, but I think pineapple will be a good substitute. I'm craving the tartness. Pain ControlI was rationing my pain meds for the past couple days, because I was almost out. And refilling a prescription for these schedule-whatever drugs is, itself, a pain, because you ha... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3216801 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:48:56 +0100 3216801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212563&cid=t_136467_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fmy-day.html I'm having a little bit of trouble with the concept of today being only Tuesday, because it seems like this week has gone on forever. But it is, indeed, only Tuesday. Someday I'm going to write something about Cancer Time, because it is different from everyday time, that's for sure. Any of you who have gone through treatment will know what I mean. Things seem to happen so fast. And then they seem to last forever. And it was only a week (or a month, or a year) ago that life was normal and we had no idea that there was cancer lurking somewhere inside us. OK, back on topic. I'm really tired, which is when I tend to babble, and I need to get off-line and do what I can to get the pain back under control--although I am on the couch now, with the fire, the dog, t... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212563 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:36:06 +0100 3212563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3197712&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F22%2Fpsychotherapy-how-much-is-enough%2F We recently posed a question to the New Mexico Psychological Association listserve about how long psychotherapy should last. We suspected that professionals may have wide disagreement about this issue. It involves a variety of important clinical and possibly ethical concerns. Specifically, the issue is how long should psychotherapy last? Sounds simple enough to answer, but is it? Here are just a few of the thoughts we shared with the NMPA group: Should psychotherapy last until the presenting problem is no longer diagnosable? (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3197712 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:32:36 +0100 3197712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3193967&cid=t_136467_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2010%2F01%2Flobbing-a-ball-into-play.html As I mentioned the other day, I have a new friend, a woman who just had a double mastectomy and is now facing both radiation and chemo. She has three adopted children, all from different foreign countries, and I adopted Older Son in Japan almost 25 years ago. So we have a lot in common, and we've been e-mailing each other every day. Sometimes there are several separate e-mail conversations going back and forth at the same time. I'm having fun, and getting to talk about issues that are very close to my heart as well. One thing I'm doing, since she is dealing with a lot right now, is generally not bringing up topics that she hasn't brought up. Once she brings it up, it's fair game, to my way of thinking. But if there's something she doesn't want to tal... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3193967 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:45:02 +0100 3193967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3189349&cid=t_136467_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fthe-couch.html  I've realized recently that my living room couch has become a character in my story, so it's time to add the couch to my Cast of Characters.I've been blogging from the couch for at least two years, thanks to the WiFi Older Son set up when he moved back in. I have a basket full of cancer blog-related files and information stashed under the coffee table, and this spot has become my home office. The couch was just a piece of furniture, however, until the past few weeks. That's because of the pain. It is easier for me to get up and down from the couch when I'm in pain than it is from my bed. So I slept on the couch for a couple of weeks. More recently, because I'm still in pain, the couch is the spot I retreat to at the end of my day... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3189349 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:58:04 +0100 3189349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3146026&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F06%2F5-things-not-to-worry-about-in-therapy%2F Psychotherapy is full of both extraordinary potential benefits and some possible pitfalls. We’ve discussed some of those things in past entries. But there are some things in psychotherapy that you just shouldn’t spend too much time worrying about. They may seem important or worth worrying about, but it’s just a waste of your time, energy and focus. Here’s a few of them. 1. My therapist is judging me. A lot of patients spend a lot of time worrying about what their therapist must think of them. That’s because you spend a lot of time sharing deep, emotional and personal stuff in therapy. Some of it may be embarrassing, or some of it may simply be out of the mainstream. Some of it may be things that happened to you as a child, that you had no control of. No matter... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3146026 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:35:30 +0100 3146026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3096903&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F16%2F6-ways-to-manage-anxiety-holiday-stress-tips%2F If you are like me, you’re going to need some tips to manage your holiday stress. Here’s my small contribution to your problem, some Holiday stress management. If your mind were a diesel engine, anxiety would be the leaded gas that was accidentally poured in and responsible for all the burps and stutters. Even more so than depression, I think, anxiety is the big disabler in my life, with a capital D, which is why I try to nip it in its early symptoms. That doesn’t always happen, of course, but here are some techniques I try. 1. Recognize the reptilian brain. My therapist friend Elvira Aletta gives a brilliant neuro-psychology lesson in one of her posts where she explains the two parts of our brain: the primitive part containing the amygdala–which is responsible for ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3096903 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:35:48 +0100 3096903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3082438&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F12%2Fwhats-wrong-with-positive-thinking%2F I absolutely love this post that Tamar Chansky, Ph.D., wrote specifically for Beyond Blue! You may remember her from another interview I did with her. She is a clinical psychologist, author of “Freeing Your Child From Negative Thinking” and other books, and a Huffington Post blogger. She’s an expert on negative thinking — how to turn it around to work for you. So I asked her to set us straight on what we should do with positive thinking, because the research is mixed. Voila! Here is her explanation, which I find VERY helpful, possibly brilliant. * * * Just when it seemed that the laws of modern life couldn’t get any more complicated–do you do facebook or just twitter: for the last time, what is twitter anyway? we seem to be getting conflicting advice abo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3082438 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:35:25 +0100 3082438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3029868&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F25%2Fcan-therapy-really-change-your-brain%2F In this study they used Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) which looks through the lens of both cognitive and interpersonal issues. It would be interesting to know how other theoretical orientations would fare. There is a lot known about the power of oxytocin (the hormone of love) to bond people together but oxytocin can also be an ally to encourage therapeutic change. According to Linda Graham, MFT and trainer on the integration of relational psychology, mindfulness and neuroscience, it is “the neurochemical basis of the sense of safety and trust that allows clients to become open to therapeutic change.” It was a class I recently took with Linda, “The Neuroscience of Attachment,” that left me feeling so inspired about the implications of this in my practice. As a therapist, it’s ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3029868 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:25:33 +0100 3029868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3017084&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F22%2Ftalk-therapy-how-honest-are-you%2F I pay my therapist $120 every other week. I should, theoretically, feel like I can tell her anything. But I don’t. Because I want her to like me. It’s part of being a stage-four people-pleaser. I didn’t realize the extent to which I was holding back until, the other day, when I mentioned to my therapist something that I had told Dr. Smith–the psychiatrist that I see every four to six weeks–about positive thinking just not cutting it when you plummet to such a low depression. My therapist asked me to back up and tell her more about that. Because either I hadn’t said anything about that to her in the last month or so or else she had missed it. I stewed on that for a few days: Did I omit my frustration with self-help books and cognitive-behavioral techniq... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3017084 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:52:30 +0100 3017084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2993798&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F15%2Fsocial-attachment-motherhood-and-mental-illness-an-interview-with-jessica-zucker%2F In early 2010, PBS will broadcast a 3-part series on emotions called “The Emotional Life,” exploring ways to improve relationships, cope with emotional issues, and become more positive, resilient individuals. Hosted by Harvard psychologist and best-selling author Daniel Gilbert, the documentary weaves together the compelling personal stories of ordinary people and the latest scientific research, along with revealing comments from celebrities like Chevy Chase, Larry David, Elizabeth Gilbert, Alanis Morissette, Katie Couric and Richard Gere. Psychologist Jessica Zucker, Ph.D. is a key contributor in the PSB project and an expert on the website, where she writes a blog. Since forming healthy attachments in the first year of life is so fundamentally important to mental health, I h... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2993798 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:43:50 +0100 2993798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2992699&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F14%2Fam-i-depressed-or-just-deep%2F I spent my adolescence and teenage years obsessing about this question: Am I depressed or just deep? When I was nine, I figured that I was a young Christian mystic because I related much more to the saints who lived centuries ago than to other nine-year-old girls who had crushes on boys. I couldn’t understand how my sisters could waste quarters on a stupid video game when there were starving kids in Cambodia. Hello? Give them to UNICEF! Now I look back with tenderness to the hurting girl I was and wished somebody had been able to recognize that I was very depressed. Not that I would have accepted the help. I believed, along with all the other adults in my life, that my melancholy and sensitivity were part of my “special” make-up, that they were gifts to celebrate, not neu... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2992699 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:42:53 +0100 2992699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2963157&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F03%2Fthe-fear-of-relapse-5-cognitive-tools%2F A reader recently wrote to me about her overwhelming fear of relapse. She said, “I’m struggling now with it, obsessing over it, and I’m so, so scared. Do I want to crawl into the hole? I fear that. But I can’t. I can’t.” First of all, thank you for being honest. Because so many of us know exactly how you feel. I’m there a lot of the time myself. Less than I was the two years following my hospitalizations, but there too much of the time. Doctor Smith would continually remind me during those first fragile years after my big breakdown that a slight setback in my recovery didn’t mean that I was plunging into a full-fledged depressive episode again, and that it wouldn’t take another 18 months to recover, like it did after my breakdown. These... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2963157 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:39:47 +0100 2963157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2948346&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F01%2F5-ways-to-tackle-perfectionism-an-interview-with-michelle-russell%2F This week I have the pleasure of interviewing Michelle Russell, who writes the fantastic blog, “Practice Makes Imperfect.” Since we talk about perfectionism a lot on Beyond Blue — because it’s so related to depression — I thought she’d be a perfect guest to interrogate on this topic. Therese: What are five ways a person can tackle perfectionism? Michelle: Here they are … 1. Compare yourself to others. I know, this probably sounds surprising when the prevailing wisdom says not to. But we perfectionists need frequent reality checks. Think about whatever has you firing on all cylinders and what you’re hoping to achieve. A report with absolutely no errors? A living room fit to be featured in House Beautiful? A body like the cover model on that f... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2948346 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:07:12 +0100 2948346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2943865&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F30%2Fpsychotherapists-unmasked-in-the-age-of-information%2F Five years ago I was having lunch with my father, a psychiatrist of almost 45 years. He was curious to know how I was getting such a full client load being a new therapist. I explained my website was coming up high in search engine rankings for my area and that these days people search for most things online, including therapists. He cocked his head slightly and looked at me suspiciously. “Do you put your picture on your website?” he asked. When I told him that I did, he about fell out of his chair and went on a rant about how inappropriate this is, likening it to taking an ad out in the yellow pages of a phone book. Initially I felt deeply criticized and offended by what my father had said. But upon further reflection, I “got it.” My dad comes from a very different time in the ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2943865 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:17:58 +0100 2943865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920245&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F23%2Fthe-7-laws-of-boundaries%2F One of the classic books on how to establish better personal boundaries is “Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No, To Take Control of Your Life” by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. This summer I brought it to the pool with me the week before our family vacations–just to help me get into better shape … you know, given the complications of family situations–and it provoked all kinds of interesting discussions about family neuroses among my friends and other pool members. Apparently boundary problems are quite common… Which is why Cloud and Townsend have sold more than 2 million copies of their book. Especially intriguing was chapter five, on the ten laws of boundaries. For the purpose of length, I highlight seven of them below, excerpting text from tha... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920245 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:13:49 +0100 2920245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2908648&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F20%2Fjust-say-no-10-steps-to-better-boundaries%2F Up until recently, “No” was dirty word to me. As a stage-four people-pleaser, my vocabulary was rich with affirmatives: “yeah,” “sure,” “okay,” “absolutely,” “no problem.” But my mouth just couldn’t seem to form the consonant-vowel combination required to say “No,” even when “Yes” was simply impossible due to time conficts or just an overdose of stress in my daily life. I would get stuck at “Nnnnnnn… alright.” Which meant I was doing all kinds of things that I didn’t want to, have to, or have time to do. If you are like me, surrounded by a modest sampling of users, takers, and even well intentioned askers who could zap all your energy if you let them, take heart! He... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2908648 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:35:03 +0100 2908648 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2901673&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F17%2Fa-glimpse-inside-obsessed-an-interview-with-john-tsilimparis%2F I’m not one to stay up and watch TV. For one, I have to practice good sleep hygiene so I can preach that message to you guys. But A&E’s documentary series, “Obsessed” piqued my interest because it exposes viewers to the lives of every day folks battling OCD, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, hoarding, and a healthy variety of phobias. The unscripted series educates the public on how one measly obsession can totally mess up a life if the biochemistry isn’t controlled (of course, I already know that). So I wanted to interview the show’s therapist, John Tsilimparis, about the series and about the experience of being watched by millions as he conducted therapy. Question: What is the primary message that you would like viewers to get from the thera... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2901673 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:07:43 +0100 2901673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2879446&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F10%2Femotions-and-sensitivity-an-interview-with-michael-jawer%2F Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Michael Jawer, coauthor of “The Spiritual Anatomy of Emotion,” which you can read about at www.emotiongateway.com. He is an emotion researcher and expert on “sick building syndrome” and lives in Vienna, Virginia. I found his book incredibly intriguing and comprehensive. He dabbles in every topic you have ever wondered about in relationship to depression: sensitivities to chemicals, highly-sensitive people, different types of personalities, what the brain does while feeling anger and fear as opposed to compassion and empathy. Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed, Michael! 1. Since you’re a specialist in this area–and I have always wondered this myself, feeling the effects of toxic places–how does poor air ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2879446 Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:06:13 +0100 2879446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862559&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F05%2Fthe-type-c-personality-are-you-susceptible-to-illness%2F Are you more susceptible to illness than other people? Do you have difficulty establishing proper boundaries in relationships, and communicating your needs? You could be a Type C personality, which makes you more susceptible to illnesses, says Michael Jawer in the fascinating book he wrote with Marc Micozzi, M.D, Ph.D., called “The Spiritual Anatomy of Emotion: How Feelings Link the Brain, the Body, and the Sixth Sense,” which you can read about at www.emotiongateway.com.Here’s what Michael writes about the Type C Personality: In recent years, a cluster of personality characteristics has come to be identified as the Type C personality, someone who is at heightened risk for a slew of afflictions, from colds to asthma to cancer. In contrast with the Type A person (who anger... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862559 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:01:25 +0100 2862559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2855639&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F02%2F5-ways-highly-sensitive-people-can-live-in-an-insensitive-world%2F The following tips are from Jenna Forrest, an empowerment coach in Durham, North Carolina who helps her highly sensitive clients to understand, refine, and embrace their sensory abilities. 1. Understand their Trait: The sensitive must first get to know him/herself in the context of their trait. They can do this by reading books about their trait and connecting with other sensitives to share experiences. The result can be a wonderful feeling of relief and being “ok.” As understanding develops, the person may fine him/herself - perhaps for the first time in their life - telling themselves and others the whole truth about how they feel and what they need. 2. Receive Validation: Many sensitives grew up being seen as different and odd, being labeled, reprimanded in school, etc. Th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2855639 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:50:42 +0100 2855639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2809717&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F19%2F8-survival-tips-for-the-spouse-of-a-terminally-ill-person-an-interview-with-owen-surman-md%2F Recently I had the honor of interviewing Owen Stanley Surman, M.D., a practicing hospital psychiatrist known internationally for his work on psychiatric and ethical aspects of solid organ transplantation. Following the death of his wife, Dr. Surman devoted six years to writer a memoir, “The Wrong Side of an Illness: A Doctor’s Love Story,” which includes a deeply personal and unique view of events both tragic and transcendent. He now lives in Boston with his new wife.   Question: What words of wisdom would you give the spouse of a person struggling with chronic illness or terminally ill? Dr. Surman: Chronic illness and terminal illness have a pervasive impact on how we live our lives and in our sense of identity. Loss of a loved one affects the part of ourselves that... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2809717 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:55:18 +0100 2809717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2766072&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F04%2Fwhat-makes-us-happy-my-interview-with-joshua-wolf-shenk%2F In June of this year, Joshua Wolf Shenk published the fascinating essay “What Makes Us Happy?” in The Atlantic. It was riveting. Joshua spent about a month in the file room of the Harvard Study of Adult Development hoping to learn the secret of happiness. The project is one of the longest-running and probably the most exhaustive longitudinal studies of mental and physical well-being in history. Basically, for 72 years researchers at Harvard have been following 268 men who entered college in the late 1930s–following them through war, career, marriage and divorce, parenthood and grandparenthood, and old age. A brilliant man named George Vaillant has directed the study for 40-plus years, compiling and processing all the information. So what did Joshua learn? What makes for ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2766072 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:58:48 +0100 2766072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2745520&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F29%2Frecovery-from-addiction-and-depression-an-interview-with-vivian-eisenecher%2F Today I have the honor of interviewing Vivian Eisenecher, author of “Recovering Me, Discovering Joy,” and a sought after speaker, mentor and writer since 1996. Her other published works include articles for “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and Woman’s World. Her inspirational story has been enthusiastically received by churches, companies and corporations, national organizations and national associations. She is passionate about reducing the stigma of mental illness and substance abuse. She loves helping people meet their potential and discover joy in their lives! Question: I love the definition of authentic success that you give in your book. You spell out PROCESS as an acrostic and go through the seven components of process. Could you abbreviate them here for my ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2745520 Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:03:17 +0100 2745520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2724911&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F22%2Fmoney-fear-two-ways-to-cope-with-financial-panic-and-recession-anxiety%2F One of my depression busters is to “become the expert.” This means, as I’m peeing my pants about where Eric and I are going to get our next paycheck, I am doling out advice on how to cope with such anxiety. In telling someone else what you are supposed to be doing, I actually learn the lesson myself. And then I think if I can actually fool people into thinking that I have it all together, maybe I could have it altogether. Nah….. A few days ago a reader wrote me this email: Lately I have been nearly paralyzed with fear and anxiety about financial issues. I have contacted my former shrink and hope she will take me back. Could you possible write an entry about dealing with and handling such fear? I’m sure that it would help me so much. Ironically, I read it an h... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2724911 Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:28:19 +0100 2724911 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2705177&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F16%2F7-rules-for-getting-a-head-start-in-life%2F It’s that time of year again, when we either strap on the backpack or we help our kids do it. I know several parents who sit down their young ones every September to go over the basic school essentials: Listen to the teacher. Be nice to everyone. Try new things. In his book “You Don’t Have to Learn the Hard Way: Making It In the Real World,” author J.R. Parrish compiles a guide for high-school and college seniors. But I found the lessons to be a refresher course of Life 101 because, come on, we never stop learning. Here are just seven of Parrish’s rules for success. 1. Learn how to deal with people. I know this seems obvious, but Parrish is absolutely right. It’s amazing how many people don’t have any people skills. And it’s equally shocking ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2705177 Sun, 16 Aug 2009 14:51:46 +0100 2705177 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2702306&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fbrits-too-tired-for-sex%2F Feeling too tired for sex? Well, if you’re living in Britain you are not alone. A recent study by Nuffield Health, a non-profit organization, has found that on the whole, Britain has turned into a ‘couch potato nation’, too lazy to get up and change the television channel if the remote was broken and simply too tired for sex. The results, which come from a poll conducted of more than 2000 adults throughout Britain, showed that… 36  percent would not run to catch a bus 52 percent of dog owners can’t be bothered walking the dog 73 percent have no energy for sex 64 percent are too tired to play with their children 59 percent took the lift instead of walking up even two flights of stairs It’s almost as if all the Brits want to do is sit and vegetate. With results like tha... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2702306 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:58:48 +0100 2702306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2699656&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F14%2F5-good-reasons-to-track-your-mood-an-interview-with-james-bishop%2F Today I have the pleasure of interviewing one of my first Internet buddies, James Bishop, who runs the site FindingOptimism.com and writes the Finding Optimism blog which has been voted as one of the top depression blogs by Psych Central. James also is the brainiac behind Optimism Software, a tool to help you track your mood. Question: Why did you develop the software, James? Was there a certain “Aha!” moment you’d like to share with us, as though you were sitting on the Oprah set? James: An “Aha!” moment? Yes, I’ve had lots of those. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about 6 years ago, and I started on the difficult path of finding appropriate treatment. At the same time Anna started keeping a paper health journal. In 2004 I took part in a 6-part e... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2699656 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:39:37 +0100 2699656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2695434&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F12%2Fwhat-do-i-do-about-a-toxic-friend%2F A few weeks ago, a Beyond Blue reader asked me what to do regarding a toxic friendship. She wrote: I’m in the process of dealing with a toxic friend. She is broken, in a different sort of way. We no longer have anything in common except for the past. Her relationship is highly destructive for me…I do not know how to handle it. She’s narcissistic and very much a user. Help! I brought up the question on a discussion thread on Group Beyond Blue. And here’s what folks had to say: Sometimes doing nothing is the best thing….move on…sometimes people need to be alone to figure out what is wrong in their life. I know sitting with myself taught me how to fix me…I gave my friend books and told her about meetings and it only made her mad.. so I just don’... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2695434 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:14:35 +0100 2695434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2685241&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F10%2Fwhy-messing-up-is-good-for-you%2F I’ve been “mastering” my perfectionism problem this summer, as contradictory as that statement sounds. I joined a Masters swimming program knowing full well that I would be placed anywhere from the slow lane to the medium lane… that is, at least two lanes from the fast lane. I am swimming with folks who have swum the Chesapeake Bay and back a few dozen times. In two hours. Probably taking less than ten breaths. Last week none of the slow-to-medium swimmers showed up, so I tried to keep up with the mermaids, feeling much like Nemo with a gimpy fin, before he was kidnapped by the diver and placed in a fish tank. I was swallowing plenty of water as I tried to thrust my arms out of the water in a sorry-looking butterfly stroke, and, less than halfway to the deep end of ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2685241 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:54:53 +0100 2685241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2681955&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F08%2F4-ways-to-get-past-cold-feet-or-any-kind-of-anxiety%2F Fresh Living blogger Holly Lebowitz Rossi recently wrote a helpful post on how to get past cold feet or any second-guessing for that matter. She writes: I have a theory about why moving inherently involves a cold-feet stage. Here it is–moving is a zillion tiny decisions all crammed inside a giant, life-altering decision. And inside a human brain, those all conspire to result in self-doubt and second-guessing. I suspect her theory is correct. And it is compounded by any underlying depression or anxiety disorder. In fact, at every “check up from the neck up” as Eric likes to call my psychiatric sessions, Dr. Smith will always ask me, “Have you had a hard time making decisions lately?” To which I will respond, “Ummm. Well…. Let’s see…..&#8... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2681955 Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:06:07 +0100 2681955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2667483&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F04%2Fcoalition-for-patients-rights-interview-with-dr-katherine-nordal%2F I recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Dr. Katherine Nordal from the Coalition for Patients’ Rights. She has also been the Executive Director for Professional Practice at the American Psychological Association (APA) since April 2008. She talked with me as a spokesperson for the Coalition for Patients’ Rights. Dr. John Grohol: To get started today, can you tell me a little bit about your professional background? Dr. Katherine Nordal: I came to the APA from Mississippi where I had been in independent practice for 28 years. I owned my own clinic. It was a small group practice. We had a rather diverse practice, everything from individual patient services to business consultation to working with the fire department and police departments and sheriff’s departm... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2667483 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:07:24 +0100 2667483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2662541&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F02%2Flearning-how-to-talk-6-steps-to-better-communication%2F Growing up is hard to do. Especially if you’re speech delayed … meaning that you like to bolt before the tough conversations happen. Having been raised in a dysfunctional family with the rest of America, I didn’t exactly learn good communicational skills at home. I couldn’t articulate what I wanted or needed without a good silent treatment, screaming session, or other manipulation technique. But to keep friends and win a husband I eventually had to learn how to talk. About the important stuff. In their book, “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High,” authors Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler offer several tips to help guide the communication-challenged folks among us so I’ve condensed and excerpted... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2662541 Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:26:00 +0100 2662541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2639610&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F25%2Fthe-seven-questions-project-an-interview-with-ryan-howes%2F Today I have the honor of interviewing Ryan Howes, a clinical psychologist and college professor who blogs. Howes earned his masters degree in theology and PhD in clinical psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary, where he studied spirituality, men’s issues and psychodynamic therapy. He teaches graduate students at Pepperdine University and Fuller and is co-author of “What Wives Wish their Husbands Knew About Sex: A Guide for Christian Men” (Baker Books, 2007), which has been called the funniest, most irreverent Christian sex manual since . . . well, a long time anyway. He maintains a private practice in Pasadena, California. Last year he created the blog In Therapy: A User’s Guide to Psychotherapy where he addresses problems often experienced but rarely written ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2639610 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:15:20 +0100 2639610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2621852&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F21%2F5-ways-to-practice-gratitude-an-interview-with-sonja-lyubomirsky%2F Today’s interview is with happiness expert Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., who is Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside and the author of “The How of Happiness.” In 2002, Lyubomirsky was awarded a Templeton Positive Psychology Prize. Currently, she holds a 5-year million-dollar grant (with Ken Sheldon) from the National Institute of Mental Health to conduct research on the possibility of permanently increasing happiness. Her research has been written up in dozens of magazines and newspapers and she has appeared in multiple TV shows, radio shows, and feature documentaries in North America and Europe. Question: I know that gratitude is one key component of happiness, and you mention keeping a gratitude journal, where you regularly write down the thing... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2621852 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:32:12 +0100 2621852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2613899&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F18%2Fhow-does-a-person-live-and-cope-with-a-dysfunctional-family-an-interview-with-nancy-bachrach%2F Today’s interview is somewhat untraditional, but I think you’ll enjoy it. After I read the hilarious anecdotes in Nancy Bachrach’s newly released memoir, “The Center of the Universe,” I knew I had to dig a little more on how, exactly, she copes with a dysfunctional family. Nancy formerly worked in advertising in New York and Paris, where she got to “spin hot air like cotton candy, glorifying her clients’ beloved denture adhesives and powdered orange-juice substitutes.” Before that? She was a “clumsy waitress at Howard Johnson’s, an overzealous customer-service rep fired for making genuine apologies, a stenographer for an insomniac poet, and a teaching assistant in the philosophy department at Brandeis University, where she was one... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2613899 Sat, 18 Jul 2009 10:19:47 +0100 2613899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2593128&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F11%2F5-steps-to-find-the-real-you-an-interview-with-david-borchard-edd-ncc%2F My interview today is with David Borchard, Ed.D. NCC, a licensed professional counselor career management consultant with 30 years of experience helping adults identify their passions and develop a vision for the next phase of their lives. He specializes in career management coaching and life/work transition counseling and has helped thousands of adults regenerate their careers. Dr. Borchard is also the author of three books: “Your Career Planner”, “Will The Real You Please Stand UP?” (He’s not talking about multiple personalities here), and “The Joy of Retirement.” Oh, and he’s also my father-in-law! Sometimes I forget I have such an accomplished relative, but interestingly enough our worlds are starting to collide a bit, as a few readers ha... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2593128 Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:29:43 +0100 2593128 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2556170&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F30%2Fstalking-irish-madness-an-interview-with-patrick-tracey%2F Today I have the honor of interviewing Irish author Patrick Tracey, who penned an amazing book, “Stalking Irish Madness Searching for the Roots of My Family’s Schizophrenia,” for which he has won the Ken Book Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness for “outstanding literary contribution to the understanding of mental illness,” a Slate best book of 2008, and the prestigious PEN New England/L.L. Winship Award for Nonfiction. “Stalking Irish Madness” is a dynamite, compelling read. It’s intriguing, informative, poetic, and captivating. 1) Correct me if I’m wrong. You began this search because you have been so devastated by the emotional toll that schizophrenia has already had in your family, which includes two of your sisters, ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2556170 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:01:58 +0100 2556170 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511156&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F23%2F6-steps-to-manage-your-time-better-an-interview-with-russell-bishop%2F Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Russell Bishop, currently Senior Editor-at-Large for the Huffington Post and founder of Bishop & Bishop, a consulting and coaching company. Russell is the author of numerous articles on the power of choice and awareness, and has two books in development. An expert in personal and organization transformation, Russell has coached leadership teams, entrepreneurs, and CEO’s in 34 countries around the world. He has lectured for executive MBA programs at UCLA, University of Texas and Washington University. Russell received a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University of California and currently resides in Santa Barbara, California. I’m glad that my husband Eric didn’t overhear our conversation, because Eric... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511156 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:00:43 +0100 2511156 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511160&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F19%2F6-ways-to-stay-out-of-the-psych-ward%2F It’s been three years since I’ve dined in the community room of a psych ward with some fellow depressives… Trying to slice a piece of rubber turkey with a plastic knife while wondering what I had to do to get out of there. I would like very much not to return. I came up with these steps to help me. But they are good sanity tools even if you’ve never made it to the community room. 1. Keep a consistent rhythm. I’m not talking about rap, or your tempo on the drums. I’m referring to your circadian rhythm, the internal biological clock which governs fluctuation in body temperature and the secretion of several hormones, including the evil one, cortisol. Here is how you establish good rhythm that assists you with the whole sanity thing: you live a boring life.... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511160 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:11:37 +0100 2511160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511165&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F16%2F5-rules-for-living-with-chronic-illness-and-depression-an-interview-with-elivra-aletta%2F Today I have the pleasure of interviewing one of my favorite therapists, Elvira Aletta, Ph.D., on a very important topic: chronic illness. I say important, because it now pertains to me (and thus is important), and I need to learn some coping techniques ASAP before I fall over, into the Big Black Hole of depression. Dr. Aletta is a clinical psychologist, wife, mom to two teenagers and blogger, seeking the balance in upstate New York. She is working on a book “How to Have A Chronic Illness So It Doesn’t Have You,” and would love to hear your story about how you or someone you love thrives with chronic illness. Write to her at draletta@explorewhatsnext.com. To learn more about Dr. Aletta, check out explorewhatsnext.com. Question: I know that you have dealt with chronic illn... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511165 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:34:02 +0100 2511165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452703&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F05%2Fhow-do-you-find-a-good-therapist-an-interview-with-dr-john-grohol%2F Today I have the great pleasure of interviewing a hero of mine, the brilliant mind behind PsychCentral.com, the Internet’s largest and oldest mental health network … Dr. John Grohol. John is the CEO and founder of Psych Central and has been writing about mental health and psychology issues online since 1992. He lives with his wife and six cats north of Boston. I wanted tot interview him about therapy, since many of his blog posts deal with the relationship between therapist and patient, and I don’t think anyone else writes about it as candidly and intelligently as John. Question: In your very popular post “The 12 Most Annoying Bad Habits of Therapists,” you mention some red flags to watch out for. For folks who are currently shopping for the right shrink, ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452703 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:00:25 +0100 2452703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405421&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F11%2F10-steps-to-conquer-perfectionism%2F Perfectionism. It’s the enemy of creativity, productivity, and, well, sanity. In “The Artist’s Way,” author Julia Cameron writes: “Perfectionism is a refusal to let yourself move ahead. It is a loop–an obsessive, debilitating closed system that causes you to get stuck in the details of what you are writing or painting or making and to lose sight of the whole.” But you don’t even have to be creating anything to be crippled by perfectionism. It can also frustrate your efforts as a mom, a wife, a friend, and a human being. Because no one and no thing is perfect in this blemished world of ours. I tackle this adversary every day. And although my inner perfectionist clearly has hold of my brain many days, I do think I am handcuffed less often by t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405421 Mon, 11 May 2009 13:24:47 +0100 2405421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376217&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F29%2F12-steps-to-sanity%2F People often ask me what I did to get better. To tell you the truth, I’m not all that sure. I spent much of my deep depression wandering aimlessly, completely lost, not knowing which voices to follow. I acted on everyone’s suggestions. Some worked. Others didn’t. I compiled the exercises that made me feel better into a personally designed 12-step mental health program, related to but different from the 12-step program practiced by addicts and their kin. They are ways to boost my neurotransmitters into action–getting those lazy bones passing messages from one neuron to the next–and to inspire nerve generation and cell reproduction in the amydgala and hippocampus regions of the brain. Step One: Find the Right Doctor Some depressives are lucky enough to find a g... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376217 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:00:26 +0100 2376217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348539&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F18%2Fwhen-is-it-okay-to-hug-your-therapist%2F To hug or not to hug a client — that is the question that can haunt therapists. When a client is so distraught and you have no more words to offer, is physical contact a good idea? Glen O. Gabbard, M.D., Brown Foundation Chair of Psychoanalysis and professor of psychiatry at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, doesn’t seem to think so. In an April 2008 Psychiatric Times article, he talked about the trouble therapists can find themselves in if they do not follow American Psychological Association (APA) ethical and legal guidelines. Transference, in which therapy clients transfer feelings—positive or negative—for someone in their past to someone, such as a therapist, in their present—can help small transgressions, such as physical contact (including hugs) or... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348539 Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:00:13 +0100 2348539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1879828&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F10%2F15%2Fon-the-couch-with-dr-michael-edelstein%2F Pages: 1 2 3 Next »     Single Page Dr. Michael R. Edelstein is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years experience. He is in private practice in San Francisco and is the author of Three Minute Therapy: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life, a self-help book for overcoming common emotional and behavioral problems. In his practice, Dr. Edelstein specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, relationship problems, and addictions, and is one of the few practitioners of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) in the Bay Area. He is a SMART Recovery (SR) Professional Advisor and has served as a Rational Recovery (RR) Specialist. He is a Certified Sex Therapist and has served as a Consulting Psychologist for the National Save-A-Life League, Inc., the o... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1879828 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:23:57 +0100 1879828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1645912&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F07%2F22%2Finterview-with-psychiatrist-daniel-carlat-md%2F This report on medical education was about two years in the making and they also recommended that continuing medical education no longer be funded by the pharmaceutical industry, basically saying that the marketing aims of drug companies have become overly intertwined with continuing medical education. These physician groups were both saying that have lost control of the content of their accredited medical education, and that we need to take that control back. I’m not talking about promotional talks here—I’m talking about accredited, Category One CME, which is the credit doctors need in order to maintain their medical licenses in most states. So this type of education is really is a big deal, and has implications for the wellbeing of out patients. Aside from these two reports othe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1645912 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:00:35 +0100 1645912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1635027&cid=t_136467_140_f&fid=35448&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseemedlikeagoodideathetime.com%2F2008%2F07%2F17%2Fmore-power-to-her%2F “I’m not really looking. Men just fall in your lap, you stub your toe on them. It just happens. I’m looking for someone who can make me laugh, who I think is cute and that still wants to go and do stupid things.”  Source I was wondering why we were getting all the Cher “hits” here [...] (Source: bipolar chicks blogging) bipolar chicks blogging blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1635027 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:30:00 +0100 1635027 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1537900&cid=t_136467_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F06%2F23%2Fwyeths-dr-phil-ninan-on-pristiq%2F Pages: 1 2 Next »     Single Page This is the inaugural entry of a new occasional feature we’ll have here on World of Psychology, On the Couch with Dr. John Grohol. These entries will be interviews with various movers and shakers in the world of psychology, mental and behavioral health, and psychiatry. The schedule is to do at least one a month, so if there’s someone you’d like to see interviewed, please drop us a note! Last Wednesday, I had the chance to sit down and talk to Dr. Phil Ninan, the Vice President of Wyeth’s Medical Affairs, Neuroscience on the telephone about their newest antidepressant medication, Pristiq. Pristiq is a “chemical cousin” of Wyeth’s existing successful antidepressant, Effexor (and its descendants... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1537900 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:38:20 +0100 1537900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1242295&cid=t_136467_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F237666157%2F The agency holds an advisory committee tomorrow to review Glaxo’s Rotavirus vaccine and, as documents show, waivers were granted to two of the panel members holding conflicts of interest. The agency, of course, is allowed to do so, although the practice is controversial and, in response, the FDA issued new rules that specify when exceptions can be granted. In the latest instance, the FDA issued waivers to John Modlin and Robert Couch, who are members of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. Modlin, who is a pediatrics professor at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, receives consulting fees of less than $10,000 from both Glaxo and a rival drugmaker, according to the FDA waiver forms (You can look here). Couch, meanwhile, is the director of the Center fo... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1242295 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:51:42 +0100 1242295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=830937&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F30%2Fyour-couch-might-be-killing-you%2F Filed under: Daily newsIt seems these days like killer toxins are lurking in every corner of your home, office or school. Here's another finding to fuel your paranoia -- a fire retardant used in many couches called PBDE has been linked to lots of problems, including cancer and autism in children. While PBDEs aren't used in sofas any more, chances are you have an older sofa in your house -- I know I do. What's more, a different fire retardant chemical, called Tris, is replacing PBDEs in furniture, and it's been shown to be just as deadly. What can we do, aside from building our own furniture, to escape the onslaught of harmful toxins in our home? Or is it something we should even be concerned about in the first place?Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking&nbsp... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=830937 Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 830937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=791326&cid=t_136467_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F10%2Flike-to-walk-but-would-love-to-run-read-this%2F Filed under: Prevention, ExerciseI'm a walker who dreams of being a runner, so when Kelly over at That's Fit wrote this post, it caught my eye! She's got three awesome suggestions for ramping up your walking routine to ease yourself into running, including adding short increments of running to your daily walk, picking a landmark and running to it (then walking again until you're ready to pick another landmark), or using music to help you pick up the pace. When I'm ready to try running, I'm definitely going to use one of these suggestions!Walking is great exercise, especially for those who have health problems or have been sedentary for a long time. It's perfectly good exercise on it's own, so if you're a walker, don't feel like you ever have to pick up the pace and learn to run, but if you... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=791326 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 791326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=552007&cid=t_136467_140_f&fid=35450&url=http%3A%2F%2Fofflabel.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fcomplicated-vs-uncomplicated-and-some.html Furious Seasons recently reported the publication of a paper in the Archives of General Psychiatry, in which the authors argue, based on epidemiological data, that the current practice of disqualifying the recently bereaved from a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder should be extended to people who have recently suffered other types of losses, which would result in a reduction of the currently accepted lifetime prevalence rate of Major Depressive Disorder by 25%. This has caused quite a splash, resulting in media coverage in the New York Times, much blog commentary and mass mail-outs to every critical psychiatry / consumer group email list. (And for the non-mathematicians out there, saying that the 'official' lifetime prevalence of depression should be cut by 25% is equivalent to saying... Off-Label blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=552007 Fri, 06 Apr 2007 07:19:00 +0100 552007 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=552034&cid=t_136467_140_f&fid=35450&url=http%3A%2F%2Fofflabel.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fpsychiatric-mythology.html Men have experience, women have pasts, criminals have records, like athletes or thrift stores, and those who have fallen through the ice into the mental health system have histories. I have a history, the indefinite article, not the history, unlike those who have the shakes or the pox. I have a history that is physical as well as temporal – she’s got a history as thick as the phone book is one way they often put it – a compendium of names, addresses and phone numbers of all the people whose sensibilities I offended. Such histories are denoted PHx or ΨHx, although they are not definite, but subject to constant iteration: histories are usually histories of histories of histories and so on. And, as time passes, PHx becomes the history en route to the future, a narrow canal of inevitabi... Off-Label blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=552034 Tue, 13 Mar 2007 06:19:00 +0100 552034 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=552040&cid=t_136467_140_f&fid=35450&url=http%3A%2F%2Fofflabel.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fstop-stigma-or-whatever.html So what exactly causes stigma and what can be done about it? According to the social-psychological concept of attribution theory, if people judge the causes of a mentally ill person’s behaviour to be under the person’s control, then they should be more prejudiced, blaming and unsympathetic. Conversely, if the mentally ill person’s behaviour is attributed to uncontrollable causes, people should be more sympathetic and pitying. So, it would appear to follow that bio-genetic explanations, which attribute mental illness to uncontrollable causes, should encourage less stigmatisation of the mentally ill. The social policy implications of this reasoning are obvious. However, the evidence linking the promulgation of bio-genetic explanations to a decrease in stigma is mixed and, often enough,... Off-Label blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=552040 Sat, 06 Jan 2007 02:27:00 +0100 552040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=552016&cid=t_136467_140_f&fid=35450&url=http%3A%2F%2Fofflabel.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fteen-screen-coming-soon-to-cinema-near.html BBC Radio's "All in the Mind" recently reported from the U.S.A. on the increasing controversial mental health screening programs for school children. An excerpt of Claudia Hammond interviewing Joanna Moncrieff, MD can be found here. In the interview, Dr Moncrieff highlights the issues of informed consent, misdiagnosis and attendant (self-)stigmatisation, and the inevitability of drug treatment of those identified as 'positive.' She doesn't speculate about financial links between the instigators of Teen Screen and pharmaceutical companies, but plenty of others have done so, as will be apparent from the web link.So what is Teen Screen screening for, exactly? From a research paper on the official TeenScreen (a.k.a. Columbia Suicide Screen) website:"Students were identified as screen positive ... Off-Label blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=552016 Sat, 06 Jan 2007 02:22:00 +0100 552016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=552042&cid=t_136467_140_f&fid=35450&url=http%3A%2F%2Fofflabel.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fgenius-and-madness-dark-side-of-sun.html One of the things that bugs me most about some quarters of the ex-user/survivor movement is their non-too-subtle elision of genius and madness, and the appropriation of those few who are both brilliant and mad as folk heroes. While it might be argued that this is a good way of destigmatising 'mental illness', the self-serving nature of it is all too obvious. Take the Icarus Project, an online forum for those who identify as suffering from bipolar disorder. Their mission statement includes the following:"We believe we have a dangerous gift to be cultivated and taken care of, rather than a disease or disorder to be suppressed or eliminated. By joining together as individuals and as a community, the intertwined threads of madness and creativity can inspire hope and transformation in a repress... Off-Label blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=552042 Thu, 04 Jan 2007 05:11:00 +0100 552042