Fun Quote from Lucille Ball
“A man who correctly guesses a woman’s age may be smart, but he’s not very bright.”
10 Natural Ways to Relieve Stress Without Negative Side Effects
We know that anxiety has many negative medical and psychological effects. Many people in our society turn to anti=anxiety medication, alcohol, or pot to reduce it.. All three have some negative side effects. But there is a natural way to relieve stress that has been shown to reduce blood pressure, stress hormones, and strengthen immune system functioning. See article to see how you and your clients can take advantage of it. Click here to read full article.
DEA Chief Warns About Fake Prescription Drugs Containing Fentanyl
As if we didn’t have enough things to worry about, there are now prescription drugs that are available that contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. Click here to read full article.
Political Issues Surrounding Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Youth
Four quotes from this article suggest that some countries where transgender therapy was being aggressively pushed are now having some second thoughts: “Finland and Sweden have curtailed or stopped youth sex transitions, citing safety, efficacy, and ethical issues. Sex transition now only proceeds under strict research protocols, recognizing the experimental nature of this care. The National Health Service of England commissioned the Cass Review to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of gender dysphoria care as it is currently practiced.”
A second quote: “The protocol in the Netherlands of puberty blockade followed by cross-sex hormones and surgeries was based on a single-center trial of 55 patients, carefully selected for persistent dysphoria with early childhood onset and stable mental health. Their cohort was very different from the one presenting today. Gender dysphoria now presents primarily in youth with postpubertal onset and psychiatric comorbidities.”
A third quote: “A recent systematic review, including the guidelines cited in the Viewpoint,2 concluded that clinical practice guidelines for gender dysphoria are all based on weak evidence. The review concluded that the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care version 7 “cannot be considered ‘gold standard.’”3 A systematic review commissioned in the UK by the National Health Service found the evidence for puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to be of “very low certainty.”4”
A final quote: “Peer-reviewed research reveals hormonal and surgical care fails to address mental health issues.5 We are starting to see negative outcomes as regrets after irreversible sex transitions are reported. Many tragic personal stories can be found in online detransition communities. These reports should trouble us.”
The swell of political correctness thinking that pushed many therapists into accepting the belief that every teen coming into their offices saying they were gender dysphoric had to be accepted as genuinely gender dysphoric is now starting to be questioned, so I think therapists can take heart that every client should be carefully evaluated rather than immediately beginning actions that lead to gender change. Click here to read full article.
AG Paxton to Investigate Promotion of Puberty Blockers in Children
Normally drugs must be studied for immediate and long-term effects must be done before they are allowed to be prescribed for a given purpose. Also, children and their guardians must be informed of any possible long-term effects so that patients can make an informed decision about whether they wish to take those drugs. All these steps have somehow been allowed to be skipped in the approval of puberty blockers for children who claim to have gender dysphoria. Perhaps this investigation will force these normal steps to be followed before puberty blockers will be allowed to be prescribed, at least in the state of Texas. Click here to read full article.
A Russian Christmas Story: “For Always”
Here is a story told by a little Russian boy from Randy Alcorn that I think will touch your heart. Click here to read full article.
Cognitive Disorders Double Risk of Cognitive Impairment in Spouses
I share this article because the title seems to infer that if your spouse begins to experience cognitive impairment it may cause you to also become cognitively impaired. If you read the article I think you will see that that is not the case. No, the covenant we made with our spouses at our weddings (in sickness and in health) is a promise that we should honor, and caring for a loved one, even though that loved one is experiencing cognitive impairment does not (by itself) increase the risk of becoming cognitively impaired ourselves. Other research (not mentioned in this article) shows that caring for a loved one during retirement, while sometimes draining, can give a sense of purpose to a retiree and therefore enhance their mental health. Click here to read full article.
“Technoshamanism”: Why a Post-Christian Future is Still Religious
Several notable thinkers throughout history have said that humans are incurably religious. When the modern culture rejects traditional beliefs, often religious thinking will appear in non-traditional ways. One new way has been called “technoshamanism.” If you’re interested in what that could possibly mean, read this article. Click here to read full article.
Addictive ‘Brain Hijacking’ Methods of Social Media Platforms Harmful to Users, Especially Children
This article talks about something that many of us have suspected but didn’t have the supportive data or a name for the process. It quotes several people in the social media field that talk about the fact that the Internet is designed to be addictive, and keeps users, especially children, coming back for more. Click here to read full article.
How Exercise May Affect Our Alcohol Consumption
Since this article is from the New York Times and those of you without a subscription may not be able to access it, I’ll give you a summary of the major points. Probably many of us have thought that those who keep themselves physically fit would be less likely to drink heavily. A series of studies done over the years with different groups has revealed just the opposite: those who do exercise regularly are also more likely to drink heavily. So if you are working with clients who emphasize physical fitness do not assume that they do not have a problem with excessive drinking. Click here to read full article.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Henry Virkler
