Articles from the Week of September 29, 2023

Brief Explanation: My wife and I were out of town this past week so I did not expect to send a weekly compilation of counseling news, but there were several articles that were published that I thought some of you might be interested in, and to save these all for next week would put me over the word limit allowed by the website, so this is a shorter than normal compilation, but I hope you enjoy it.

Interesting Quotes

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you."

LEWIS B. SMEDES

Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.”

Abraham Lincoln

"Fight for the things that you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you."

RUTH BADER GINSBURG

Faithless is he who says farewell when the road darkens.

J.R.R. Tolkien

Counseling Articles

The Woman Who Stood Up to the Porn Industry—and Won

Here is a story of a courageous therapist who saw how much damage porn was doing, especially to those who start watching it as children. She has authored several bills that have been approved in her own state and are being considered models for other states where legislators would like to adopt bills similar to hers.

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Why Men & Women Handle Stress Differently

If you’re a male, you may be tempted to stop reading this article at the first sentence. I encourage you, whether you’re male or female, to read the whole article. I think the author makes some good points.

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“Will Cannabis Ease My ADHD Symptoms?” ADDitude Readers Weigh In

Here is a sampling of responses to that question. Some find that pot exacerbates their ADHD symptoms: others find that it helps some of their symptoms in certain situations.

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Teen Daughter Politely Asks Parents to Consider Not Existing While Her Friends Are Over

Fun headline from the Babylon Bee.

Combined Psychosocial Treatment Helped Schizophrenia Patients with Motivational Negative Symptoms

Medication often reduces positive symptoms of schizophrenia quite successfully, but the negative symptoms of schizophrenia such as apathy and social withdrawal often predict how well clients will succeed in life and relationships. Here is a research study that found a psychosocial treatment that helped reduce negative symptoms significantly.

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1,000 People Who Identify as Dogs Gather in Germany

There are a growing number of people who believe that they can change who they are based on who they identify with. One such group included approximately 1,000 people who recently met in Germany and who identify as canines.

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Mother of trans-identified daughter looks to start a 'healing retreat' for detransitioners

The daughter of this mother started to identify as a boy, received cross-sex hormones, had her breasts and uterus amputated, and a fake penis constructed, all without her parent’s permission. This article recounts the mother’s experience, and her desire to use her grief to help build a retreat for those who wish to detransition.

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Concerns Rise as Magic Mushroom Clinics Multiply

Once again Oregon has taken the lead in legalizing a substance that produces hallucinogenic experiences. While some claim that magic mushrooms are helpful to those with mental health issues, the Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association has expressed serious concerns, stating that the substance “is unsafe and makes misleading promises to those Oregonians who are struggling with mental illness.”

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Risk of Depression May Increase During First Two Years of Oral Contraceptive Use

This study only confirms what many women already have experienced. The good news is that this depression usually reduces over time.

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Study Says Casual Pot Use Harmful to Teens

With more states legalizing recreational pot usage, some have wondered if casual use by teens was harmful. This study found that even teens who only use pot occasionally were 2 to 3 times more likely to experience depression and suicidal thoughts.

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Screens Negatively Impacting Kids Brains, Fueling ADHD Epidemic

The frequency of developing ADHD has been significantly increasing in recent years, and a new study has demonstrated there is a relationship between the amount of screen time a child has and likelihood of developing ADHD. This article explains what the biochemical reason may be.  Experts are recommending limiting screen time.

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How to Motivate a Teenager with ADHD

Reportedly it is very difficult to motivate a teen with ADHD to do anything except play video games or buy clothes. This article discusses a method that may help kids with ADHD to be motivated to do things other than those two activities.

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Alterations in Inhibitory Control After Eating Are Seen in Women with History of Bulimia Nervosa

An interesting study on women with a history of bulimia nervosa. If you work with this population you might find these research results helpful.

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Man goes to hospital with stomach ache — shocked docs retrieve 60 household items from his gut

We’ve probably all read the DSM-5 description of pica. Here’s a fascinating story of what it looks like in real life.

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13

You’ll need a subscription to the New York Times to read this article. It’s by a writer who received permission from three 13-year-old girls and their parents to observe their social media experiences. I think it gives insights into why social media often has the effect on girls that it often does.

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The Difference Between Anger and ‘Bipolar Anger’

The author of this article asserts that there is a difference between the normal anger that we all experience and “bipolar anger,” and explains what he believes is the difference. See what you think.

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Hoping you all have a wonderful week!

Henry Virkler