Articles from the Week of March 3, 2023

Interesting Quotes

''A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire.''

FRANCOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

Nelson Mandela

I am a poor man and of little worth, who is laboring in that art that God has given me in order to extend my life as long as possible.

MICHELANGELO

What makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful.

Brené Brown

I have selective hearing. I’m sorry, you were not selected.

Anonymous

The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.

Carl Jung

Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

Counseling Articles

Encouragement: If you haven’t already seen the movie The Jesus Revolution, Mary and I encourage you to go see it.

Major Association of US Doctors Makes Official Statement on Transgender Procedures for Minors

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons has publicly warned about “unknown and unknowable risks” coming from “gender affirming care” in minors and saying that the results of gender transition therapy are irreversible. In recent years both the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have issued statements in support of “gender-affirming care,” although some reporters have said that the voices of many professionals within those groups who disagree with that position have been squelched.

The AMA and AAP say that gender transition procedures can improve a gender dysphoric person’s mental health and result in lower rates of suicide, and that forgoing such care puts the patient at higher risk of anxiety, stress, substance abuse, and suicide. However, there are research studies that say that although gender transition procedures may result in short-term improvement in mood for some minors, the long-term results are that teens who undergo these procedures have higher rates of suicide, suicidal attempts, and psychiatric hospitalizations than those who do not have gender transition procedures performed. Click here to read the full article. 

Health Disparities Between Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults and Their Heterosexual Counterparts

Over the years heterosexual men and women have had less reported physical illnesses than their lesbian, gay or bisexual counterparts. This most recent large survey continues to show those same patterns. Click here to read the full article.

More And More Teens Dropping Dead from This Sick Social Media Challenge…

This may be a dated article, but it is the first time I’ve seen it. It’s called the “Benadryl challenge” and reportedly encourages teens to take a high dose of Benadryl in order to hallucinate. I’m not sure how accurate this article is but am passing it along to those of you who work with teens. Click here to read the full article.  

Viral Trend Lands 9-Year-Old Boy in Life Threatening Situation… His Mother Has a Warning

Another warning about a viral trend. Again, I don’t know if this is dated. It has to do with kids swallowing magnets. Apparently they can stick together in the stomach or intestine and can cause life-threatening blockages. Click here to read the full article.  

Six out of 10 young men are single — the disturbing reasons why

Research by the Pew Research Center finds that 63% of men under 30 are single by choice, and the unhealthy reason they choose to do so is that they would prefer to spend their free time watching porn. If you are counseling young single women who desperately want to be married it may be helpful to tell them that, although as a group the happiest people are those in good marriages, that those who find healthy ways to be contented as a single are happier, as a group, than those women in unhealthy relationships. Click here to read the full article.  

And You Thought You Were Too Busy: Mom of 7—Who Had 2 Sets of Twins—was ‘Planning on 8th’ but Delivered Quintuplets Instead

In case you were wondering, that means she now has 12 children to care for. If you want to add someone to your prayer list, it might be this mother. From her comments, she sounds pretty unfazed by it all. Click here to read the full article.  

Graduation Rate for Students with Disabilities On The Rise

The high school graduation rate for students with disabilities continues to rise, and for the 2019-2020 year was 70.6%. Click here to read the full article.  

The Advice I’d Give My Younger Self

This is written by someone who had been misdiagnosed with major depression for years, who eventually found out that the reason her treatment wasn’t working was because the diagnosis was wrong (not uncommon; she actually had bipolar disorder). But after working toward stability for many years, she gives some wise advice to her younger self that would probably be helpful to any younger person who has just learned he or she has bipolar disorder and is coming to terms with that reality. Click here to read the full article. 

Better Cognition Even with Small Amounts of Physical Activity

This well-done study with over 1400 subjects can be an encouragement that even small amounts of exercise can be helpful at any time in the lifespan, but the best way of maintaining good cognitive abilities is to stay active throughout your lifespan. Since Alzheimer’s hits women even more than men, for women the encouragement to stay physically active is even more important. Click here to read the full article.  

The Teenager Leading the Smartphone Liberation Movement

Logan Lane is a typical teenager who was very involved with her smartphone who eventually realized this wasn’t healthy for her and decided to stop her use, and now has started a smartphone liberation movement. You’ll need a subscription to the New York Times to access the interview or the transcript of the interview. (Also see article below on how to help young people spend less time on screens.) Click here to read the full article.

How to help young people limit screen time — and feel better about how they look

A research study, published by the American Psychological Association, said what many of us probably thought before this—that if we could find a way to help young people spend less time on their screens they would feel healthier. Click here to read the full article. 

A Teacher’s Homework for Their Autistic Son Left Them in Tears When They Saw It….

A young student in fifth grade was asked, along with the rest of his class, to write a poem about himself. He shared what life was like as a person with Asperger’s Syndrome, and his poem has gotten national attention. Although each child, and each child with Asperger's probably experiences the world a little differently, I think it’s worthwhile to give us a glimpse into their world. Click here to read the full article. 

“If I Could Raise My Daughter All Over Again”

Here is a very open and honest conversation from a mother who had undiagnosed ADHD when she was raising her child, who also had undiagnosed ADHD. She shares her regrets openly, in the hopes that her daughter, who now has a child of her own, can profit from them. Click here to read the full article.  

Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Is Killing Patients. Yet There Is a Simple Way to Stop It.

This is not a counseling article but is something important enough and totally unknown to most people, that I wanted to include it. If you, or a loved one, or one of your clients, stays in the hospital overnight, it’s really important to brush your teeth (or have a nurse do it if you’re unable to do so). Apparently unbrushed teeth while in the hospital can easily lead to a type of pneumonia that is often fatal. Click here to read the full article. 

The Various Costs of Dying

Probably most of us tend to focus our attention on other matters rather than thinking about preparing for our death, even if we are secure knowing we are going to a better place. This article tells us the surprising costs of dying (it can easily amount to $20,000.00 dollars or more). But I think the best part of the article are the things not even mentioned in the title, including the psychological things for loved ones left behind, and planning for your funeral or celebration of life. I recommend you read this article, print it off, and make plans with your loved ones for this event. Click here to read the full article. 

10 myths told by COVID experts — and now debunked

Our country’s response to COVID has been interesting, and hopefully we can learn some lessons from it. One of the things our Constitution affirms is freedom of speech—allowing various ideas to be shared, and then letting people choose what to believe based on logic and evidence. This constitutional right seems to have been threatened when only one belief could be voiced, rather than allowing legitimate authorities to share various beliefs. Click here to read the full article. 

5 ADHD Roadblocks That Undermine Academic Achievement — and How to Help

Parents were asked to name the five things that most commonly kept their children from succeeding in school, and then ADHD experts shared their ideas on solutions to those problems. Worthwhile article for those parents whose children have ADHD and are struggling in school. Click here to read the full article.  

Scientists Claim They May Have Discovered the Cause of Alzheimer’s

A new discovery has some scientists believing that they may have discovered the cause of Alzheimer's. There’s nothing in this article suggesting a clinical application yet, but if the discovery is confirmed, then we may be one step closer to a treatment. Click here to read the full article.  

Move Over, Everest Climbers. The Rarest Peaks to Scale May Be in South Florida

This isn’t a counseling article, but the headline intrigued me. In case you’re looking for a new hobby, this could be it. Click here to read the full article.  

Texas Supreme Court Delivers Stunning Verdict

Although freedom of speech is guaranteed as a constitutional right, it has been under increasing attack by our woke culture. Here is a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court which should be encouraging to everyone who believes this right is incredibly important. Click here to read the full ruling. 

New Insights Into Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

Probably all of us feel unhappy when we’re rejected, but those with ADHD sometimes feel that rejection particularly acutely, and that pattern has sometimes been called “rejection sensitive dysphoria.” If you work with clients who have a greater than normal difficulty dealing with rejection, this article by William Dodson, a psychiatrist with many helpful insights about ADHD, may be helpful to you or to them. Click here to read the full article. 

Employment Of People With Disabilities Hits Record High

An encouraging statistic for those with disabilities who are looking for employment. Click here to read the full article.  

Have a nice week or weekend!

Henry Virkler