Good quotes
"Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace."
VICTOR HUGO
You never really see how toxic a situation is until you breath fresher air.
From Ginny Sale’s Facebook page
The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.
— Isaac Asimov
Interesting Facts (most are from InterestingFacts.com)
The person who made the discovery that led to the invention of the microwave received $2.00 for his discovery.
Dragonflies have six legs but they cannot walk. Their legs are used only for landing and taking off.
Birds are often lighter than we expect because of their hollow bones. The lightest bird known is the bee hummingbird, found in Cuba, which weighs less than a penny.
The bowhead whale reportedly can live for more than 200 years.
America has more lighthouses than any other country in the world—approximately 700. Most are automated. Only one is regularly staffed.
How many miles of blood vessels are found in the human body? (Answer at end of Friday News)
Walt Disney originally planned to call Mickey Mouse “Mortimer” but his wife encouraged him to change it. One more example of why it’s always wise for husbands to listen to their wives.
Dementia is now thought to occur in dogs and has been termed “doggy dementia.” We don’t know a lot about it yet, but it reportedly is more common in dogs that don’t get much exercise.
Marijuana and hallucinogen use among young adults reached all time-high in 2021
This increase is particularly concerning considering the research results found in the next article. Click here to read full article.
Study Links Long-Term Cannabis Use, Cognitive Deficits
This study compared I.Q. test results in childhood with I.Q. scores in midlife for several hundred people and found that long-term cannabis use resulted in greater I.Q. loss than either smoking or alcohol use. Smita Das, the chairperson of the American Psychiatry Association’s committee on addiction psychiatry, says: She says: “Every time I do a presentation on cannabis, I have to change the map because another state, or several states, have legalized cannabis in some shape or form.” She also said: “We really need to learn about the long-term impacts of a substance before rolling out policies that encourage its use.” Click here to read full article.
New Declaration Signed by 1,100 Science Professionals Says ‘There is No Climate Emergency’
This is not a counseling article, but I’m including it because I think it’s good to be aware of arguments on both sides of an issue. Thomas Jefferson was quoted as saying that climate change was occurring during his lifetime, and I remember during my childhood and teen years that some climate experts were telling us that the earth was cooling and we were about to embark on another ice age. This article shows us why we are primarily only hearing one side of the story. Click here to read full article.
Climate Change Forecasts
Here is a compilation of some of the climate change forecasts that have been made in the last few decades. Perhaps it is wise that we not be panicked into taking actions that will be unaffordable to many millions of people in this world. Click here to read full article.
FDA Approves ‘Rapid-Acting’ Oral Drug for Major Depression
If you have a client that is suicidal and you believe its important for them to get prompt relief, here is a new antidepressant that appears to act more quickly than typical antidepressants. Click here to read full article.
To Break Unhealthy Habits, Stop Obsessing Over Willpower
An interesting article about what factors help us change unhealthy habits and continue healthy ones. Click here to read full article.
Court Ruling on Conversion Therapy Not Limited to Palm Beach County
Dr. Julie Hamilton confirmed to me that the court ruling I mentioned a couple weeks ago is not limited to Palm Beach County. This is a federal court ruling and allows licensed counselors in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama to talk with clients (both children and adults) about sexual orientation and gender identity issues and help them make changes in their lives if that is what they wish to do. The court ruled that the ordinance against conversion therapy was an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment--free speech.
My World, Tricked by Bipolar Mania
Reportedly, manic episodes feel very, very good—thus people with bipolar may have mixed feelings about avoiding them. However, they also usually lead to very painful mistakes and consequences. Therefore its important for people with bipolar to know the warning signs of an impending manic episode. Julie Fast gives us a practical way to recognize a manic episode is imminent. Click here to read full article.
Psychosocial Issues More Likely in Kids Who Skip Breakfast
It’s impossible to give an adequate summary of this article, so I encourage you to read it yourself if you have children or if you counsel parents who have children. Click here to read full article.
What’s the Best Time of Day to Exercise? It Depends on Your Goals
A well-done study, which says that morning exercise is better for certain health benefits, and evening exercise is better for others. It also showed that the benefits differ based on your gender. Even though some times of the day are better than others for achieving certain benefits, the best time of the day is the one that fits into your schedule and that you will use consistently. Click here to read full article.
When Bipolar Makes Me Angry
In general, people get angry because some precipitant causes their frustration. People with bipolar disorder often experience a different kind of anger. This article helps to explain the difference. Click here to read full article.
Overcoming the Plague of Fear
This article identifies some of the ways that fear can be helpful, but some people (and clients) have a state of fear that is unhealthy. This article has some thoughts that might be helpful to some. Click here to read full article.
Marjorie Taylor Greene Describes Harrowing Experience of Swatting Attack
“Swatting” is a new term that we should probably understand. It occurs when someone dials 911 and reports that something dangerous is happening in your home (e.g., a break-in, etc.) and so usually several police are sent to your home. Its probably good to know about this process in advance so we can respond appropriately if it were to happen to us. (Ms. Greene was “swatted” two nights in a row this past week.) Click here to read full article.
The Dyslexia-ADHD Overlap: Why Evaluators Confuse the Conditions
At first I didn’t see how ADHD and dyslexia could be confused with each other, but this article helps explain that. Also the fact that both frequently occur in the same person complicates the issue. If you work with clients who have ADHD, this is definitely worthwhile reading. Click here to read full article.
“I’m Sick of Taking Meds!”
Teens with ADHD frequently either forget to take their medication or go through a period where they resist taking it. Here’s a really worthwhile article, written by a parent with a teen who experienced both of these with some really good ideas about dealing with those issues. Click here to read full article.
Biden Administration Issues Title IX Regulations: Parental Rights at Stake
These new regulations are concerning on several fronts: substituting gender identity for gender, which will seriously impact girls’ ability to participate in sports, violation of privacy, and allowing schools to take over responsibilities that should remain with the parents. Click here to read full article.
Waitress Rescues Boy Brutally Tortured By Stepfather
A story that encourages us all to be observant of those around us and to do something when we suspect someone is being abused. The abuse was so brutal that the stepfather received multiple life sentences. Click here to read full article.
Answer to the question posed earlier: Miles of blood vessels in the human body: Blood vessels include arteries, veins, capillaries, etc. If you laid all of them in a line, they would extend 100,000 miles.
Have a blessed week or weekend!
Henry Virkler
