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 'health professional'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:35:56 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119728&cid=t_420774_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fonline-alcohol-screening%2F To anonymously find out if your drinking may be growing into a problem see; Alcohol Questionnaire. It can’t do any harm and you may learn something. Alcohol Screening.org is a service of Join Together, a project of the Boston University School of Public Health, that is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Disclaimer The site does not provide a diagnosis of alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence or any other medical condition. The information provided does not substitute for a full evaluation by a health professional, and should only be used as a guide to understanding your alcohol use and the potential health issues involved with it. See also; What is recovery? The Addictive Personality It Will Never Happen to Me Share, print or e-mail this articleRandom ArticlesWorkaholi... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119728 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 21:50:20 +0100 4119728 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3763051&cid=t_420774_147_f&fid=39202&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnicolaziady.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F17%2Ftraditional-roles-still-in-play-for-most-americans-when-dealing-with-a-health-issue%2F American adults continue to turn to traditional sources of health information, even as many of them deepen their engagement with the online world according to 2010 Pew Internet & Life Project Report. When asked, “Now thinking about all the sources you turn to when you need information or assistance in dealing with health or medical issues, please tell me if you use any of the following sources…” * 86% of all adults ask a doctor. * 68% of all adults ask a friend or family member. * 57% of all adults use the internet. * 54% use books or other printed reference material. * 33% contact their insurance provider. (Source: Nicola Ziady) Nicola Ziady blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3763051 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:08:14 +0100 3763051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3743513&cid=t_420774_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fworld-cup-photo-of-the-day%2F The World Cup final is today. Are you drunk yet? Spain or Holland? Make sure to enjoy the excitement, the glory, and your last look at all those super-hot sweaty soccer players – until we meet again four years from now. Photo via Flickr user vramak Post from: BlissTree 2010 FIFA World Cup Final: Photo of the Day (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3743513 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:00:28 +0100 3743513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3585840&cid=t_420774_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fself-help-group-attendance-in-usa%2F The largest single sector of the mental health system in the USA is the self-help movement. 40% of visits are to self-help, 35% for formal mental health, 8% for general medicine, 17% for human service sector. In the 1997 report there was estimated to be 10,000,000 current members of self-help groups in the United States. 18.7% of adults have attended a self-help group in their lifetime. 7.1% of adults attended a self-help group in the last 12 months. 6.4% of Americans have attended a self-help group in their lifetime for a substance abuse issue. (One third of all self-help attends). 2.5% of Americans have attended a self-help group in the last 12 months for a substance abuse issue. (One third of all self-help attends). Substance abuse members attended on average 76 meetings per year. A... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3585840 Wed, 19 May 2010 18:56:00 +0100 3585840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1297788&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2008%2F03%2Funlike-fine-win.html Reuters HealthDay reported on 02/15/08 on a study in Health Psychology which found that crabby, negative people don't age well.Researchers who studied a survey of almost 700 older adults found that those who got along with their relatives, friends and neighbors were less likely to report health problems and physical limitations. The findings don't prove a cause-and-effect relationship between social life and health. Still, "the take-home message is that conflict in your life may have important impacts on your physical health," said study lead author Jason T. Newsom, associate professor at the Portland State University School of Community Health in Oregon. There's nothing really new about a supposed link between attitude and health, but Newsom said his study was unique, becaus... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1297788 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:37:44 +0100 1297788 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1261645&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2008%2F02%2Fcdc-issues-warn.html The Center for Disease Control issued a press release on 02/24/08 about the increased deaths and dangers of "the choking game."At least 82 youth have died as a result of playing what has been called “the choking game,” according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in today′s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The choking game involves intentionally trying to choke oneself or another in an effort to obtain a brief euphoric state or “high.” Death or serious injury can result if strangulation is prolonged. Eighty–seven percent of these deaths were among males, and most fatalities occurred among those 11 years to 16 years old; the average age was 13, the report said. Choking game deaths were identified in 31 states, it said. CDC fo... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1261645 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:32:58 +0100 1261645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1258166&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2008%2F02%2Fsocial-class-ma.html Reuters reported on February 14, 2008 on a study which appears in the February, 2008 issue of the journal, Pediatrics, which found that while teenagers and parents often have discrepant views of the teenagers health, lower class kids, especially those who have recieved mental health care, rate their health as better than lower class kids who have not received mental health care, and upper class kids whose focus is more on physical health than mental health. Here is a brief snippet of the Reuters article:And, in fact, teenagers in the study often rated their health differently than their parents did, the researchers report in the journal Pediatrics. But the study also found that families' views differed according to income. Among higher-income families, children's and parents' health ratin... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1258166 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:47:03 +0100 1258166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1220547&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2008%2F02%2Fpsychologist-ma.html According to a recent issue of the Onion (44-06) a local man, Steven Bertram, complains that his girlfriend, Alicia Maas, always wants to do stuff.Though he and Maas have dated for almost two years, Bertram reportedly did not recognize the severity of his girlfriend's near-chronic dependence on getting out of the house and doing stuff until six months ago, when she insisted the two attend a free outdoor concert in their neighborhood. Since that time, Maas has asked an estimated 11 times to be taken to dinner, 17 times to go grocery shopping, and, on 20 separate occasions, has expressed a desire to go on a meandering walk without a fixed destination, purpose, or time limit. The precise number of incidents, Bertram said, is difficult to determine, as Maas has oftentimes enlisted him in acti... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1220547 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 14:12:07 +0100 1220547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1207396&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2008%2F02%2Fa-baseless-malp.html In the February 1, 2008 issue of Medical Economics, Gastroenterologist Michael Cappell tells the story of the time he got sued in a shotgun malpractice case. Even though innocent of wrongdoing, he still paid a hefty professional and personal price. Shabby treatment of health care professionals discourages the good ones from practicing medicine and they will not be there to help the sick when they are needed because the lawyers have driven them from the field. Here is part of what Dr. Cappell says about the personal toll on him:From a societal perspective, justice was served. Except for the elderly physician, who faced trial for malpractice, the court dismissed claims against all of the other 16 physicians originally named in the lawsuit. From my perspective, however, justice was poorly s... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1207396 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:30:21 +0100 1207396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1195873&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2008%2F02%2Fmid-life-crisis.html Based on a huge analysis of 2 million people in 80 countries, researchers have found that the lowest point in the contemporary human life cycle is age 44. People are happier in their 20s, at their lowest point in their 40s, and then happier again in later life.People around the globe hit the height of their misery and depression in middle age, a new international study suggests. The finding by British and American researchers was based on an analysis of well-being among approximately 2 million people in 80 nations. With few exceptions, the observation appears to apply across the board, regardless of gender, culture, geography, wealth, job history, education, and marriage or parental status. "The scientific fact seems to be that happiness and positive mental health follow a giant 'U'... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1195873 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:40:09 +0100 1195873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1188612&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2008%2F01%2Fbrain-imaging-a.html Justice Talking Radio program released an excellent program on 01/14/08 entitled "Neurolaw, The New Frontier" in which various experts discuss the latest brain imaging techniques and how it is being used and could be used in the future.Some lawyers are using brain scans showing defects to argue that their clients aren’t responsible for criminal behavior. In recent years, this neuroscientific evidence has been increasingly used in our courtrooms. But some scientists argue that the imaging is still new and unreliable, while others question whether juries should be ruling on what counts as a "defective" brain. As neurolaw grows in influence, it could potentially revolutionize our notions of guilt and punishment as criminals say "my brain made me do it." Might w... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1188612 Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:16:42 +0100 1188612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1188613&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2008%2F01%2Fare-you-emotion.html In the January, 20008 issue of The Sun Magazine, Barbara Platek interviews Miriam Greenspan, a Jungian therapist, about the importance of emotions. The title of the interview article is "Through A Glass Darkly: Moving From Grief to Gratitude." The whole interview is worth reading which you can access by clicking on the link below. Here is part of what Ms. Greenspan says:By “emotion phobic” I mean that we fear our emotions and devalue them. This fear has its roots in the ancient duality of reason versus emotion. Reason and the mind are associated with masculinity and are considered trustworthy, whereas emotion and the body are associated with the feminine and are seen as untrustworthy, dangerous, and destructive. Nowhere in school, for example, does anyone tell us that paying ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1188613 Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:26:58 +0100 1188613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1185778&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2008%2F01%2Fantidepressant.html Reuters HealthDay reported on January 16, 2008 on an article in the January 17, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine which found that the effectiveness of antidepressants is overstated and misrepresented.A systematic review of studies on antidepressants concludes that the positive effects of these drugs are probably overstated in the medical literature. But it's not clear if the bias comes from a reluctance to submit negative manuscripts or decisions by journals not to publish them, or a combination of both, according to Oregon Health and Science University researchers, whose report is published in the Jan. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The researchers compared drug efficacy inferred from published studies with drug efficacy reported to a mandatory U.S. go... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1185778 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:27:47 +0100 1185778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1163217&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2008%2F01%2Fbipolar-moms-to.html Reuters reported on January 1, 2008 on a study in the December, 2007 issue of the American Journal Of Psychiatry that pregnant woman with a history of bi-polar illness might be better to stay on their meds during their pregnancies rather than to discontinue them to avoid relapse. Link: MedlinePlus: Bipolar moms-to-be who stop meds risk relapse. (Source: Markham's Behavioral Health) Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1163217 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:55:30 +0100 1163217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1123285&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F12%2Fbeing-perfect-i.html WBUR had another great show on 12/07/07 hosted by Jacki Lyden on The Perils of Perfectionism. Here is a summary from the On Point web page:Nobody's perfect, but perfectionism is a virtue -- right? Great athletes, star CEOs, and Nobel laureates embody it. But where does the perfectionist tendency lead? Great success for some -- but then there are the crazy bosses, pushy parents, and high-striving students on the edge of a breakdown.New research on perfectionism reveals that the urge to get things just right can go too far. It's linked with compulsive behavior, eating disorders, and depression. The perfect, it turns out, really is the enemy of the good -- or, at least, of good health.There are a number of things which make perfectionism bad for one's physical and mental health. The first is ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1123285 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:33:26 +0100 1123285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1123286&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F12%2Finvoluntary-out.html Chris Jenkins wrote a good article in yesterday's, 12/30/07, Washtington Post about involuntary outpatient mental health treatment. In New York State there is such a law known as Kendra's law and it appears to be successful. It is being looked at closely by other states such as Virginia as a model to replicate.Susan Wezel had been committed to the city's hospital wards more than a dozen times in 10 years. Her psychosis was so deep and debilitating that she lost her career and her relationship with her son, as she refused to take her medication or follow treatment. But because of a New York state law, Wezel hasn't been hospitalized in more than a year. She doesn't wander the streets alone at night anymore. She takes her medication willingly. She even has plans to follow her dream of singi... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1123286 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:18:37 +0100 1123286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1081533&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F12%2Fnew-technology.html On December 3, 2007, the CDC, the Center For Disease Control, put up an interesting web page on technology and youth violence. It is worth taking a look at if you are interested in this topic. I saw a young man today in my office who has been suspended from his high school until March 1 because he became enraged when a hallway monitor asked him to give up his cell phone. I inquired further about the school's policies about the use of cell phones in school. They seem confusing to me. I was told that students can have cell phones in school but they can't use them - they have to be turned off. Then why have them? In many ways, cell phones have become a huge nuisance in our society from people being distracted talking on cell phones while driving their cars to their constant interruption dis... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1081533 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 00:11:46 +0100 1081533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1076244&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F12%2Fbreaking-down-b.html On December 2, 2007, Reuters HealthDay published an article based on a survey described in a recent issue of the journal, Pediatrics, dealing with parents thoughts and feelings about end of life care for their dying child. According to the HealthDay article, the areas parents identified as needing improvement are listed in the quote below.The areas identified by these parents as needing improvement included: The need for honest and complete information from care-givers. The parents didn't want doctors and nurses to keep information from them to protect them. "What we cannot handle is not knowing what is going on," one parent wrote. Coordination of care and communication. Rather than having every doctor caring for a child present their opinion to parents -- which sometimes di... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1076244 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:43:36 +0100 1076244 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1076245&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F12%2Flove-and-aging.html WBUR in Boston has a great radio show called On Point, and on November 30, 2007, Jane Clayson filling in for the usual host, Tom Ashbrook, had a great show on Love And Aging which is well worth listening to. It lasts about 45 or 50 minutes. Here is a brief synopsis from the On Point web page:They say love changes everything. But time changes love.Just how much it can change became front page news last week, when the family of retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor revealed that her husband had fallen in love with a fellow Alzheimer's patient.And she was happy for him.What happens to the part of ourselves that loves as the mind ages, and changes?Our culture celebrates young love. But mature love is filled with passion too, even as our memories leave us. Seniors living for the mom... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1076245 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:22:53 +0100 1076245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1036918&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F11%2Fnew-research-on.html On November 14, 2007, Diane Rehm had an interesting show on some recent research which has been done on disruptive kindergartners. Diane interviewed Sharon Landesman Ramey, Director, Center for Health and Education, Georgetown University, Dr. Philip Shaw, Psychiatry Fellow, National Institutes of Mental Health, and Greg Duncan, Edwina S. Tarry Professor of Education and Social Policy Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University. Here is a brief synopsis of the show:A new study finds children considered troublemakers in kindergarten will do just as well academically as their peers in later school years. There's also new research on children with A.D.H.D. suggesting a possible brain development delay but no long term deficit. New insights on evaluating and educat... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1036918 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:53:58 +0100 1036918 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1035604&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F11%2Fsleep-apnea-tre.html Reuters reported on October 31, 2007 on an article in the October 15, 2007 Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine that treatment for sleep apnea with a CPAP machine seems to also improve symptoms of depression.The use of a breathing treatment called continuous positive airway pressure may improve depressive symptoms in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common problem in which patients stop breathing for short periods during sleep. It occurs when soft tissues in the back of the throat relax and temporarily block the airway. The condition is frequently seen in individuals who are obese and those who snort. With continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the patient wears a special mask that cont... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1035604 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 13:42:15 +0100 1035604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1035605&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F11%2Fstate-hospitals.html There is an article in the November 16, 2007 issue of the Psychiatric News about how state hospitals across the nation are beginning to address the issue of smoking in their facilities. It is an interesting observation that people with problems with alcohol, drugs, and serious psychiatric disorders smoke at rates 3 and 4 times the rates of people without those problems. For example, in New York State currently, the smoking prevalence rate in the general population is 16% but among alcoholics it is 85-90% and among people with serious mental illness it is about 75%. In New York State all alcohol and drug treatment facilities and programs which are licensed by the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (OASAS) must be tobacco free by July 28, 2008. The 14 Alcohol Treatment Fa... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1035605 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 13:27:45 +0100 1035605 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1001005&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F11%2Fthe-highly-priz.html There is a great cover article in the Sept/Oct. 2007 issue of Social Work today on The Highly Prized Child. It is well worth reading and can be read on line.All children need to be prized, need to be loved, need to be cared for, but highly prized children have been treated in a way that is ultimately wounding to them. On the surface, highly prized children are self-absorbed, demanding, and indifferent to other people’s desires and needs. Underneath, however, these children are often depressed, unhappy, and lack self-confidence.Interestingly I have seen more of these kids in my practice. I have had teenagers who refused to go to school unless their parents bought them a car saying that they are too old to ride the school bus. The demands didn't surprise me as much as the parent's serious ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1001005 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:38:02 +0100 1001005 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=908574&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F09%2Fmore-than-1-in-.html The Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics made note of a distressing phenomenon in its press release last June, 27, 2007. They noted that 1/3 of all prison and jail inmates in the United States are African American which far outstrips the degree of their representation in the general population. More than one in 10 (11%)  African Americans between the ages of 25 - 34 are incarcerated in the United States. What a waste of human energy and talent. What does this say about our society which finally ended slavery, and then ended segregation, and now incarcerates so many of its African American citizens? There is something significantly wrong. Obviously for significant numbers of Americans we are not the land of the free and the home of the brave. Link: Bureau of Justice ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=908574 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:42:16 +0100 908574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=892383&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F09%2Fexercise-on-par.html Reuters reported on September 19, 2007 on a study in the September, 2007 issue of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine that found that exercise is as effective as antidepressants in treating major depression in patients 40 and older.Regular exercise may work as well as medication in improving symptoms of major depression, researchers have found. In a study of 202 depressed adults, investigators found that those who went through group-based exercise therapy did as well as those treated with an antidepressant drug. A third group that performed home-based exercise also improved, though to a lesser degree. Importantly, the researchers found, all three groups did better than a fourth group given a placebo -- an inactive pill identical to the antidepressant.Link: MedlinePlus: Exercise on par w... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=892383 Sat, 22 Sep 2007 01:39:37 +0100 892383 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=816666&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F08%2Fpathological-ga.html There is an interesting article in the June, 2007 issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine entitled, "Pathological Gambling: A Nonsubstance, Substance-Related Disorder?" which provides an overview of the history of diagnosing and treating pathological gambling. Lifetime prevalence rates for pathological gambling are between 1% and 2% of the population. The co-occurance of pathological gambling and other substance using disorders is about 50% for gamblers who also have substance use problems, and about 9% - 16% for people with substance use disorders who also have gambling problems. With minor variations current treatment for pathological gambling is very similar to treatment for substance use disorders. There is no know effective medications. With the rise in gambling opport... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=816666 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:44:54 +0100 816666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=814202&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F08%2Fself-silencing-.html Reuters reported on 08/20/07 on a study in the July/August, 2007 issue of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine that self silencing women in their 40s and 50s were four times more likely to die from heart disease and other causes.Women who force themselves to stay quiet during marital arguments appear to have a higher risk of death, a new study shows. Depression and irritable bowel syndrome are also more common in these women. Such "self-silencing" during conflict may have provided an evolutionary survival advantage long ago, and unfortunately may be a necessity for women in abusive relationships, Dr. Elaine D. Eaker of Eaker Epidemiology Enterprises in Gaithersburg, Maryland, the study's lead author, told Reuters Health. Eaker and her colleagues found that, over a 10-year period,... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=814202 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:53:04 +0100 814202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=811081&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F08%2Fpain-medicine-u.html The Associated Press reported on August 20, 2007 that pain medicine use has nearly doubled between 1997 and 2005. The use of OxyContin manufactured by Purdue Pharma has jumped six fold between 1997 and 2005. Pharma executives were recently pled guilty to lying to patients, physicians, and federal regulators about the addictive nature of the drug. While the use of opiate pain killers has a legitimate place in the treatment of pain, they also have been increasingly abused and people have become addicted such as Rush Limbaugh and Bret Favre. At the substance abuse agency where I work we are seeing a big increase in prescription pain medicine abuse and addiction. OxyContin gained notoriety in the Appalachian states of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennesee where it was called "hillbilly ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=811081 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:39:25 +0100 811081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=808646&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F08%2Fus-army-suicide.html Reuters reported on August 16, 2007 that the suicide rate of U.S.Army soldiers is the highest since the Gulf War.The number of suicides in the U.S. Army rose last year to the highest level since the Gulf War, with almost a third in war zones, according to data released by the military on Thursday. The Army reported 99 confirmed suicides in 2006, up from 87 in 2005. The Army also listed two additional deaths last year as suspected suicides that have not yet been confirmed by the military's medical examiner. The Army said failed relationships, legal and financial issues, and "occupational/operational issues" led to the suicides. Viewed in the context of the total population of U.S. soldiers, the Army recorded 17.3 suicides per 100,000 soldiers in 2006, including the two deaths stil... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=808646 Sun, 19 Aug 2007 14:44:53 +0100 808646 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=794210&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F08%2Fthe-fathers-rol.html This article is based on the chapter entitled "Fairy Tale Fathers in Dr. Christine Lawson's book, Understanding The Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable, and Volatile Relationship. Dr. Lawson says what you might guess:"The father's role in the drama between the borderline mother and her child is crucial in determining the outcome for the child." p.178It has been my observation that very often the husbands of women with borderline personality disorder are either very dysfucntional with their own problems such as alcoholism, drug addiction, workaholism, or they are afraid of their wives and acquiesce to keep the peace. Rarely is there any kind of equal partnership between a husband and a wife with borderline personality disorder. He oft... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=794210 Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:26:58 +0100 794210 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=782973&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F08%2Fthe-effect-of-1.html This post is based on the chapter entitled "Make Believe Children" in Dr. Christine Ann Lawson's book, "Understanding The Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable, and Volatile Relationship." This is part two of a two part post on this topic. Borderline parents often "split", that is they project their good side onto one child who becomes the "fair haired boy or girl", the "golden child", the "all good child" while they project their bad side onto the "black sheep", the "scapegoat", or the "no good child". In part one I described some of the dynamics that occur for the all good child. In this part two, I will describe some of the dynamics that occur for the all bad... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=782973 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:56:21 +0100 782973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=780673&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F08%2Fthe-effect-of-b.html This post is based on the chapter entitled "Make Believe Children" in Dr. Christine Ann Lawson's book, "Understanding The Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable, and Volatile Relationship." Most people would not believe what goes on in Borderline families. The dynamics are intense, destructive, and subtle and not readily apparent to the casual observer. However as Dr. Lawson points out, "Children of borderlines learn to sacrifice their true selves because survival requires that they meet their mother's emotional needs." p. 155 - 156. An adult client told me of a conversation he had with his mother who wondered why she had no relationships with her other adult children and grandchildren, and the client said that he said to... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=780673 Sun, 05 Aug 2007 22:17:21 +0100 780673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=779988&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F08%2Fthe-borderline-.html Borderline Personality Disorder can manifest itself in multiple ways. In her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, Dr. Christine Lawson describes four role types which BPD is exemplified by: the Waif, the Hermit, the Queen, and the Witch. These role types are not mutually exclusive and characteristics of these types overlap and inter mix. This post is part three on the borderline Witch. There are many characteristics of the Witch borderline mother. She is sadistically controlling and punitive with her children. This occurs unpredictably but regularly to the extent that after awhile the children of the witch expect to be hurt by her. I had a an adult client tell me that her mother would come to school and have her removed from class and chastise her for not doing some simple chore suc... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=779988 Sat, 04 Aug 2007 21:25:11 +0100 779988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=773359&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F08%2Fchild-maltreatm.html Reuters Health Day reported on an article in the August 1, 2007 issue of the Journal Of The American Medical Association that child maltreatment cases rise in military families when a parent is deployed. This information would not look good on a recruiting poster. It is very stressful on the parent left home with the kids while the other parent is off serving his/her country. I am pretty sick and tired of all the yellow ribbon magnets on cars and the Support The Troops balleyhoo of polticians when they cut veterans benefits and leave military families severely stressed due to deployment. It makes one wonder whether a voluntary, mercenary army is really a good idea in a democracy. Here is part of what it says in the Reuters article:Deployment of a parent results in added stress, particularl... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=773359 Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:57:39 +0100 773359 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=749437&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F07%2Fhow-religion-is.html On July 15, 2007, Rev. Tamara Lebak, Assistant Pastor at the All Soul's Unitarian Church in Tulsa, OK, preached a powerful sermon on Domestic Violence. It is not a topic that is often preached on and she does a super job giving an overview of the problem, a personal insight into how it affected her own life, and how churches and religion can be complicit in supporting the problem. I highly recommend the sermon and you can listen or download it from the Digg web site by clicking on the link below. Link: Digg - Why Have You Forsaken Me? (All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK). (Source: Markham's Behavioral Health) Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=749437 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 02:14:12 +0100 749437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=719411&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F07%2Fthe-borderlin-1.html Borderline Personality Disorder can manifest itself in multiple ways. In her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, Dr. Christine Lawson describes four role types which BPD is exemplified by: the Waif, the Hermit, the Queen, and the Witch. These role types are not mutually exclusive and characteristics of these types over overlap and inter mix. This post is part two on the boderline Witch. One of the important characteristics of the Witch type of borderline is what Dr. Lawson and others call "the turn". Dr. Lawson describes "the turn" as follows:"One of the most devastating experiences for chldren of borderlines is "the turn." The Turn is a sudden attack, the abrupt withdrawal of love and affection, and razor-sharp words that can pierce the heart as ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=719411 Sat, 07 Jul 2007 17:20:31 +0100 719411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=714718&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F07%2Fthe-bordeline-w.html Borderline Personality Disorder can manifest itself in multiple ways. In her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, Dr. Christine Lawson describes four role types which BPD is exemplified by: the Waif, the Hermit, the Queen, and the Witch. These role types are not mutually exclusive and characteristics of these types over overlap and inter mix. The borderline Witch mother is personified in fairy tales most notably Hanzel and Gretel."Husband, listen to me. Tomorrow at daybreak we'll take the children out to the thickest part of the forest...They'll never find the way home again and that way we'll be rid of them."Susan Smith killed her children in 1994 when she drove her car into the lake with the kids strapped into their safety seats and killed them because her boyfriend left... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=714718 Wed, 04 Jul 2007 23:50:51 +0100 714718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=707656&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F07%2Fthe-borderline-.html Borderline Personality Disorder can manifest itself in multiple ways. In her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, Dr. Christine Lawson describes four role types which BPD is exemplified by: the Waif, the Hermit, the Queen, and the Witch. These role types are not mutually exclusive and characteristics of these types over overlap and inter mix. Dr. Lawson writes that Borderline Queens are driven by feelings of emptiness, and that they seek special treatment because they felt emotionally deprived as children. The Queen has learned how to win special treatment through persistence and intimidation. Dr. Lawson writes:She can be intrusive, loud, inpatient, and flamboyant. She is easily frustrated, often bursting into rages than can terrify her children. She can be disingenuous and may lie... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=707656 Sun, 01 Jul 2007 22:46:32 +0100 707656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=693258&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fanxiety-in-adul.html Dr. Christine Lawson writes in her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, that "Adult children of Hermits may suffer from panic attacks, claustrophobia,or agoraphobia without recognizing the source of their fear - the early experience of feeling trapped by their mothers." p.87 I had one client email me the following: " It has taken me most of my early adulthood to de-stress from the perpetual anxiety and establish a sense of self-worth after having my mother as a mother. I am conflicted, however, knowing I'd be a much different person had I been born to anyone else. I think I'd be much less tolerant, self-reliant, and empathetic and more fearful of change and the unknown. I truly believe that good things can be born of struggle." Feelings of inferiority, insecur... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=693258 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 01:22:00 +0100 693258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=693260&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fwhen-the-bord-1.html Borderline Personality Disorder can manifest itself in mutliple ways. In her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, Dr. Christine Lawson describes four role types which BPD is exemplified by: the Waif, the Hermit, the Queen, and the Witch. These role types are not mutually exclusive and characteristics of these types over overlap and inter mix. Dr. Lawson writes :"The borderline Hermit seeks solitude but paradoxically longs to belong." p. 81Like the Waif, the Hermit also often has trouble sleeping at night ruminating about the safety of her children, her husband, her job, her heath, and any number of other things. Hermits can be extraordinarily sensitive and may believe that they are psychic according to Dr. Lawson. She looks for hidden meanings in greeting cards, gifts, inv... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=693260 Sun, 24 Jun 2007 21:23:12 +0100 693260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=691255&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fwhen-the-border.html Borderline Personality Disorder can manifest itself in mutliple ways. In her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, Dr. Christine Lawson describes four role types which BPD is exemplified by: the Waif, the Hermit, the Queen, and the Witch. These role types are not mutually exclusive and characteristics of these types over overlap and inter mix. The Waif seems to want soothing and often leaves others feeling helpless because she is often inconsolable. As Dr. Lawson writes that the Waif might say, "I can't allow myself to need your help and be in control at the same time."  The irony is that the Waif feels that in accepting help she is loosing control. The Waif can self soothe with the compulsive use of alcohol, drugs, money, food, sex, work, and likes to play the role o... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=691255 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 19:19:15 +0100 691255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=690019&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Ftreatment-can-h.html Dr. Christine Lawson writes in her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother:"Knowing the proper diagnosisis is the first step to treatment. Some therapists are reluctant to inform the patient or family of the diagnosis of BPD. Yet growth cannot occur without understanding. Patients wih BPD have a right to the truth just as much as patients who suffer from other incurable, life-threatening conditions, especially since over 10 percent of individuals with BPD commit suicide. Just as the diabetic must learn to manage sugar intake and output, the individual with BPD must learn to manage emotional input and output. Psychotherapy, combined with antianxiety and antidepressant medications, can significantly enhance the borderline's quality of life." p.51The diagnosis of Borderline Person... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=690019 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:00:13 +0100 690019 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=688621&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fcommunicating-w.html Today, June 21, 2007, on the blog, Borderline Crazy, the author has a great article on borderline thinking processes which at times can be quite delusional. The writer likens the process as communications going through the borderline's black box which become misinterpreted and take on a delusional quality that leaves the communicator as feeling like he/she is in the twilight zone.Today on my mind has been on the translations that communication goes through (I think of it as “the black box”) before it reaches the mind of a person with BPD. This may be a diagnostic feature not to be found in the DSM; if you find yourself often thinking you’re in the Twilight Zone (OR often wishing you had a tape recorder to replay what was actually said) when conversing with someone, I think chances ar... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=688621 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 01:37:44 +0100 688621 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=687011&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fdestructive-par.html Christine Lawson in her book, Understanding the Borderline Mother, writes, "Studies indicate that the single most important factor affecting resiliency in children is the conviction of being loved. The effects of parental abandonment, abuse, neglect can be mitigated if children have access to a relationship with a loving adult such as a teacher, a minister, a neighbor, or a relative who is empathically attuned to the child's feelings." p.43This person is what Alice Miller calls "an enlightened witness." The enlightened witness is a person whom the child trusts and feels understood by whom the child believes knows what is going on and who validates the child so that the child is reassured that the problems being experienced are not generated by them but by the other. Th... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=687011 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:30:27 +0100 687011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=687014&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Flong-term-data-.html There is an interesting article in the June 1, 2007 issue of The Psychiatric News about a study in the June, 2007 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry which found that over 10 years 12 of the 24 symptoms of Borderline Personality disorder which deal with impulsivity and suicidality seemed to improve while the remaining 12 symptoms which deal with affect and interpersonal relationships seemed to be more stable.Twelve of the 24 symptoms studied showed patterns of sharp decline over time and were reported at 10-year follow-up by less than 15 percent of the patients who reported them at baseline. The other 12 symptoms showed patterns of substantial but less dramatic decline over the follow-up period. Symptoms reflecting core areas of impulsivity (such as self-mutilation and suicide effo... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=687014 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 02:41:22 +0100 687014 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=687015&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fprozac-saves-mo.html Primary Sources, a feature of the The Atlantic Magazine, has a brief article on a study done comparing the suicide rate with the prescription of Prozac which found that Prozac seems to save more lives from suicide than it has been alledged to cause.Since 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that taking antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and adolescents. So should Prozac and Zoloft be pulled from the shelves? Not necessarily, suggests a new study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. The authors examined the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most commonly taken class of antidepressant, on “completed suicide” rates (as opposed to suicidal tendencies and attempted suicides) ov... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=687015 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 01:20:18 +0100 687015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=687016&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fempirical-study.html On February 21, 2007, JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, published an interesting empirical study of the stage theory of grief. Here is a synopsis of the results:"Counter to stage theory, disbelief was not the initial, dominant grief indicator. Acceptance was the most frequently endorsed item and yearning was the dominant negative grief indicator from 1 to 24 months postloss. In models that take into account the rise and fall of psychological responses, once rescaled, disbelief decreased from an initial high at 1 month postloss, yearning peaked at 4 months postloss, anger peaked at 5 months postloss, and depression peaked at 6 months postloss. Acceptance increased throughout the study observation period. The 5 grief indicators achieved their respective maximum valu... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=687016 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 01:10:27 +0100 687016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682862&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Frelationships_b.html Dr. Christine Lawson writes in her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, about the relationships that borderline mothers have with their children."The dependency of the newborn can be intensely satisfying to the borderline mother, but as the child becomes increasingly independent, conflict erupts." p. 40I had a client who told me that she never felt better than when she was pregnant. She stated that she enjoyed the nursing and caretaking of the infants until they reached about 2 years of age and then she wanted another child. She had nine children altogether and she became increasingly unhappy when she came to the age when she could no longer have children in her mid-40s. As the child grows and becomes more independent having been weaned, talking, walking, and toilet traine... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682862 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:08:41 +0100 682862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682865&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fwhat_if_im_wron.html On June 14, 2007 there is a wonderful article posted on the Borderline Crazy web site entitled "What if I'm wrong" in which the author expresses "guilt" and distress over not having seen her mother with Borderline Personality Disorder.So basically I keep these boundaries but feel horribly guilty about them. I hate living this way. I wish, OH how I wish, that she were a regular person, a regular mother. I could call her and we could hash this out and each acknowledge our parts in it and then resume our relationship. But she isn’t. My heart aches for her with a soul-sucking vehemence, but I have no words or actions to repair the damage in her or even to get her to see it. Miracles do happen, but without one she will never hear me, and she will never see me, even if she ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682865 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:49:33 +0100 682865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682866&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fgrowing_up_in_t.html Christine Lawson writes in her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, "Children with borderline mothers adjust to the chaos of their lives by learning to expect the unexpected. They associate love with fear and kindness with danger. Craziness becomes normal, and life without chaos may seem boring. They may grow up without recognizing healthy love." p.28 -29.A little further down on page 29 Dr. Lawson writes further, "Children of borderlines may tune out by dissociating and disconnecting from their environment." p.29 It is a comon experience for people in relationship with a person with borderline disorder to wonder who is crazy "me or them?" Attempts to please, placate, clarify, correct are often met with an escalation of conflict not resolution. The pers... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682866 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:50:21 +0100 682866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682871&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Ftirades_in_the_.html Christine Lawson writes in her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, "Laura explained that her mother 'went on tirades.' Something could set her off and she would whirl around the house like a cyclone. The warning signal was 'the look.' The look was a piercing, threatening glare to mean, 'I could kill you.' When Laura was a child, her mother actually said it, with no awareness of the power of her words. Children of borderlines and survivors of hurricanes have much in common. Survival is dependent on finding a safe place, staying low, and not being fooled by they eye of the storm." p.27A little further down the page, Dr. Lawson writes, "When Laura was young the tirades terrified her, but as she grew older, she became immune to them." p. 27 It is interesting how chi... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682871 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:39:57 +0100 682871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682872&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fsleepless_night.html Christine Lawson writes in her book Understanding The Borderline Mother, "Ordinary mothers sleep at night; borderline mothers do not. Borderlines dread being alone with their thoughts: thus, intrusive, obsessive thoughts may keep them awake at night. Noise from the radio, television, or late-night telephone calls may distract them from their anxiety and provide a sense of security." p. 26A little further down on the same page, Dr. Lawson writes,"Another patient's mother awakened her father on a regular basis, rebuking him for being able to sleep when she was so upset." p. 26Dr. Lawson's description of the sleeplessness, the agitation, the restlessness was very illuminating for me. Even though, I have been in psychotherapy practice for 38 years, and worked inpatient psyc... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682872 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:04:12 +0100 682872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=675757&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fcompetition_bet.html It is a common experience for children of borderline parents to turn to the parent for comfort and feeling worse afterwards. Similarly, borderline parents find that their parents rarely enjoy their child's happiness and success unless it reflects somehow positively on them. The borderline parent will often "horn in" on the child's success and want to share the spot light with them or even to steal their thunder. The borderline parent usually wants to be the center of attention and when the child takes away the attention, the borderline parent will do something to bring it back on themselves. Christine Lawson, in her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, says:"Emotionally stable parents share their children's joy and quiet their fear. But caretaking roles are reversed ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=675757 Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:53:05 +0100 675757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=675758&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fborderline_moth.html The blog, Borderline Crazy, had a great post on 06/10/07 entitled, "Can I have my identity please?". It is well worth reading.My mom has, as far as I can guess (I’m not a clinician), borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder. She’s a real delight. She has sent me things so crazy that my shrink gets a gleam in her eye and jumps up to copy them, presumably to add to her “this is the craziest shit I have ever seen” file. What’s bothering me today about her is her inability to exist on her own as herself. This may not sound to an unaffected person as if it would cause problems, but I assure you it is crazy-making. To read the rest of the post, click on the link below. Link: Can I have my identity, please? « Borderline Crazy. (Source: Markham's ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=675758 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:27:00 +0100 675758 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=675761&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fsoul_murder_lea.html In her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, Christine Lawson says on p.15"When a child disagrees with the borderline mother or does not satisfy her needs or wishes, the borderline will attempt to shame, punish, degrade, or vilify the child."A little further on the same page Dr. Lawson says, "Borderline mothers may use denigration as a method of discipline without being aware of its destructiveness."I have heard this kind of denigration and vilification called "soul murder". Children living in this kind of situation often live in fear and anxiety and they shut down. These children hide what they really think, how they really feel, and what they have done or want to do. What develops in these situations is mistrust. Very often this mistrust is perceived b... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=675761 Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:20:35 +0100 675761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=660472&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fliving_in_a_bor.html There is an ugly side to life, the shadow side that isn't discussed in polite company. It is sometimes embarassingly referred to as "dirty laundry." Often times adults are embarassed and children are warned that what happens at home, stays at home. The fascade that is presented to the public often is not an accurate picture of what actually goes on at home. Sometimes people talk about the Dr. Jeckle/Mr. Hyde split between the behavior outside the home and the behavior inside the home. Lewis Carroll says in Alice and Wonderland, "When I used to read fairy tales, I fancied that kind of thing never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one." Indeed we read in the news how Susan Smith killed her children by allowing her car to roll into a lake with her children stap... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=660472 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 02:35:46 +0100 660472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=660473&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Funderstanding_t.html Understanding The Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable, and Volatile Relationship by Christine Ann Lawson is an extremely important book for any psychotherapist or layperson interested in the impact of parenting by a person with Borderline Personality Disorder. The impact is huge and can be multigenerational. Dr. Lawson, in lay language and with clear case examples describes the dynamics that occur between mother and children and somewhat with fathers. She also has clear suggestions for how adult children can manage the relationship with the Borderline mother. I believe this topic is so important that I am planning on posting a series of articles on this blog as I re-read and study the ideas in this book further. I am developing a new category on t... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=660473 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 02:09:10 +0100 660473 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=654479&cid=t_420774_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fhow_homosexuali.html On May 11, 2007 This American Life re-broadcast a show that originally aired on 01/18/2002 entitled "81 Words". 81 words refers to the orignal definition of homosexuality as a psychiatric disorder which was changed in 1973. The show describes in very personal ways how homosexuality was eliminated from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) declared that homosexuality was not a disease simply by changing the 81-word definition of sexual deviance in its own reference manual. It was a change that attracted a lot of attention at the time, but the story of what led up to that change is one that we hear today, from reporter Alix Spiegel. Part one of Alix's story details the activities of a closeted gr... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=654479 Sun, 03 Jun 2007 02:09:05 +0100 654479