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Do You Have The Symptoms Of Folic Acid Deficiency?

Administrator — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:13:49 +0000

The debate around the basic of taking dietary supplements is continuing to rage.

While many health care professionals maintain we get all we require from the foods we eat, others prefer to suggest vitamins when their patients are under a stress such as a pregnancy or illness or even aging or when the patients bodys function is deficient or overloaded. Others maintain that vitamins are preventative and should be taken routinely to prevent diseases and maintain health.

Studies maintain that taking extra B vitamins, specifically folic acid and B12 have reduced birth defects by 72 to 100% . And since regulations authourising the addition of folic acid to grains have come into force in the USA the incidence of birth defects their have dropped by 19%, although sceptics claim there could be alternative reasons.

So what are some of the symptoms of folic acid deficiency? If your tongue is sore and you suffer from loss of appetite, “shortness of puff”, are irritable, forgetful and mentally sluggish, you may have a folic acid insufficiency. Folic acid is one of the B group of vitamins and most animal and plant foods are poor sources of it. The exception is liver which most individuals dont eat a lot of these days. Various dietary habits and health conditions can also result in causing a deficiency of this vitamin. Celiac condition, alcoholism and irritable bowel syndrome are three such conditions.

Studies have also suggested that when older people suffer from “the blues” it is caused by a absence of folate (B9) . It should be taken alongside B6 and B12 to support its absorption and function in the body. These three vitamins work closely together and help relieve symptoms of depression. They do this by decreasing the total amount of homocysteine, which is thought to play an major part in causing the depression. Occasionally the amount of folate in proportion to the other two may be required to be increased in order to be effective. Solgar Homocystein Modulators are a good supplement to take and can be found online at www .solgar .co.uk .

Some population-based studies across the USA have also established that numerous cancers are less usual in people who have high levels of folic acid. These people also consumed high amounts of beta-carotene, vitamin C and fiber. One large study of 50,000 women established that adequate intakes of folate essentially reduced the risk of breast melanoma.

Some prescription medications for inflammatory bowel illness have been found to interfere with the bodies ability to absorb folate (folic acid) and the deficiency has also been linked to some mens infertility and heart complaints.

Foods that offer the most folic acid are dark leafy greens, brewers yeast, cows liver, some seafood, orange juice and dairy. Root vegetables and whole grains also supply small amounts.

Side effects from folic acid supplements are rare, though they can occur if the dose exceeds 15000 mcg . Taking any one of the B group of vitamins on their own can produce a deficiency in the others, so dont be too keen to buy without advice. Check out if you really do need it and make sure your health care practised knows your purpose in order to grasp why you want to take these supplements. Some prescription medicines such as antibiotics and warfarin can react adversely to this health programme, while others like ibuprofen and aspirin can actually cause a deficiency. Methotrexate, prescribed to treat some cancer and rheumatoid arthritis conditions increases the bodys need for folic acid, and its side-effects are greatly reduced by addition of this vitamin without impairing its results, so if you must take this medication be sure see your health care professional about adding folic acid to your diet – it could save you experiencing further side-effects.About the Author: Keith Woolley is a Director of Boots Herbal Stores and has vast experience within the health food industry. Boots Herbal Stores distribute Solgar Vitamins online from http://www.solgar.co.uk
Source: www.isnare.com

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Excessive Alcohol Consumption Leads To Hypoglycemia In Diabetics

Administrator — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:52:39 +0000

ABSTRACT It has been hypothesized for a long time that drinking
excessive alcohol can lead to decreased blood glucose levels in
diabetics, resulting in the condition called hypoglycemia, which
if not managed properly can severely impair human health and
well being. This present paper explores this hypothesis and
provides information on its validity and proposes ways to better
manage diabetes and hypoglycemia.

INTRODUCTION Hypoglycemia, also called low blood sugar occurs
when blood glucose levels drops too low to provide the body with
enough energy for normal bodily activities. Hypoglycemia can
result from medications, diseases, hormone or enzyme
deficiencies or tumors, but this particular treatise deals
specifically with hypoglycemia as a consequence of excessive
alcohol consumption. Hypoglycemia often occurs as a side effect
and often complicates diabetes because diabetics are unable to
properly regulate their blood glucose levels. According to the
American Diabetic Association, diabetes and its complications
including hypoglycemia is the sixth leading cause of death in
United States, affecting 18.2 million people. In Trinidad,
according to the Central Statistical Office, diabetes is the
second leading cause of death and the disease affects 1306
people each year. Diabetes and its complications, hypoglycemia
exerts a tremendous economic burden on economies worldwide, for
example in the United States $132 billion is spent in treatment
of diabetes and its complications each year. For Trinidad and
the rest of the Caribbean the economic burden is most severe,
but documentation of actual figures are lacking. It is however
reflected in the high death rates and unavailability to
healthcare institutions and inability of these healthcare
institutions to actually provide adequate care due to limited
resources.

There are basically two types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes where
no insulin is produced and Type 2 where some insulin is produced
but it is ineffective. Type 2 diabetes is rapidly becoming more
common. It is commonly believed that even though diabetes is not
immediately life threatening the long term effects of
fluctuating high blood sugar and low blood sugar levels can put
severe strain on major organs and organ systems such as the
eyes, nerves, and the heart, which if not controlled may lead to
premature death and disability. It is now estimated that 2 in
every 100 people have diabetes and half of these people do not
know that they have the disease condition.

Sugar in the form of glucose is the main form of fuel utilized
by all cells in the body. The brain is very sensitive to glucose
fluctuations and even brief periods of low glucose can cause
brain damage. Glucose in the body comes from three sources,
namely food, synthesis in the body and breakdown of glycogen.
Blood glucose levels are maintained at a constant level in the
body (70-110 mg/dL). This is achieved through the action of
hormones; insulin and glucagon. Insulin and glucagon are
secreted by the pancreas and they operate in an antagonistic
manner to regulate blood glucose levels. Insulin lowers the
blood glucose concentration in the blood and glucagon raises it.
Because maintaining blood glucose sugar levels is of extreme
importance for maintaining bodily functions, there are also
other hormones released from the adrenal and pituitary glands to
support glucagons function. Research has shown that alcohol
disrupts the delicate balance between glucose building-up
hormone e.g. insulin and glucose breaking down hormones e.g.
glucagon, adrenal and pituitary hormones that serve to maintain
a constant level of blood glucose in the body.

In acute alcoholism, the body experiences difficulty in making
glucose because it is expending energy breaking down alcohol. In
addition alcoholics who do not eat when consuming alcohol, the
glycogen stored in the liver is used up within a few hours. Both
of these effects of alcohol can result in severe hypoglycemia in
6 to 36 hours after a binge drinking episode. In chronic
alcoholism, the effects of alcohol on blood glucose levels may
be reversed, when compared to blood glucose levels in diabetics.
Consuming alcohol occasionally may cause blood glucose levels to
increase initially and may result in hyperglycemia or increased
blood glucose and then decrease. Both hypoglycemia and
hyperglycemia episodes are common. Increased frequency of
alcohol consumption can reduce the bodys sensitivity towards
insulin and cause glucose intolerance in both healthy
individuals and alcoholics. This can aggravate and cause further
degeneration of liver function resulting in cirrhosis in
susceptible individuals. Research has shown that 45-70 % of
patients who have cirrhosis or alcoholic liver disease are
diabetic. Treatment of diabetes can only be achieved by strict
control of blood glucose levels, which is achieved through the
use of drugs/medications, diet and exercise.

PREVENTION AND/OR TREATMENT OF HYPOGLYCEMIA 1. Avoid the use of
alcoholic beverages. If alcohol is consumed it must be done
sparingly and must not exceed more than one drink per day or not
more than two drinks per week. A suggested rule of thumb may be:
 12 oz bottle/can beer or wine or  1-5 oz glass
wine or  1.5 oz 80 % proof distilled spirits Drinking on
an empty stomach can cause hypoglycemia a day or two later. It
is always important to have a snack or meal at the same time.

2. Adopt, implement and manage a proper diabetic plan. This can
be done with the assistance of a competent healthcare provider
that may involve administering the right medication at the
appropriate concentration when necessary. It may also involve
eating regular meals and having enough food at each meal every 3
h. It is important not to skip meals.

3. If you think your blood glucose is too low, use a reliable,
calibrated blood glucose meter to check the level of blood
glucose in the blood. If it is 70 mg/dL or below immediate
action is necessary to prevent complications such as hunger,
nervousness, shakiness, perspiration, dizziness, sleepiness,
confusion, difficulty speaking, feeling anxious or weak,
collapse, shock, coma that may eventually lead to death if not
treated urgently. Some “quick fix” foods that may cause the
blood glucose to return to normal levels include:  2 or
3 glucose tablets  � cup of any fruit juice or fruit
nectar  � cup of soft drink  1 cup of milk
 1 or 2 teaspoons of sugar or honey

For patients who are unable to swallow, it may be necessary for
a physician or healthcare provider to administer 1.0 mg glucagon
subcutaneanously or intramuscularly.

4. Exercise regularly. Before doing any kind of exercise check
your blood glucose level and healthcare provider. People who
have diabetes should have the following average blood glucose
levels: (i) blood glucose levels before meals at 90-130 mg/dL
(ii) 1-2 h after a meal, less than 180 mg/dL; (iii)
hypoglycemia, 70 mg/dL or below.

5. Eat a variety of foods which should include meat, poultry,
fish, non-meat sources of protein, starchy foods such as
whole-grain bread, rice, potatoes, fruits, vegetables and dairy
products. Choose high fiber foods. Avoid or limit foods high in
sugar, especially on an empty stomach.

6. Patients and family members should be made aware of signs and
symptoms of hypoglycemia and know how to treat it.

REFERENCES American Diabetic Association, Center for Disease
Control and Prevention. (Web site: www.cdc.gov/diabetes).
Carroll P, Matz R. Uncontrolled diabetes in adults. Diabetes
Care. 1983;6:579-585. Casparie AF, Elzing LD. Severe
hypoglycemia in diabetic patients. Diabetes Care.
1985;8:141-145. Central Statistical Office. Port of Spain.
Trinidad (Web site: www.cso.gov.tt) Consensus statement of
self-monitoring of blood glucose. Diabetes Care. 1987;10:95-99.
The DCCT Research Group. Diabetes Control and Complications
Trial (DCCT): results of feasibility study. Diabetes Care.
1987;10:1-19. Foster DW, McGarry JD. The metabolic derangements
and treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis. New England Journal of
Medicine. 1983;309:159-169. Keller U. Diabetic ketoacidosis:
current views on pathogenesis and treatment. Diabetologia.
1986;29:71-77. Kitabchi AE, Matteri R, Murphy MB. Optimal
insulin delivery in diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic,
hyperosmolar nonketotic coma. Diabetes Care. 1982;5(suppl
1):78-87. Physicians Guide to Insulin-Dependent (Type I)
Diabetes: Diagnosis and Treatment. Alexandria, Virginia:
American Diabetes Association, 1988. Physicians Guide to
Non-Insulin-Dependent (Type II) Diabetes: Diagnosis and
Treatment. 2nd ed. Alexandria, Virginia: American Diabetes
Association, 1988.

About the author:
Dr Deryck D. Pattron is an author, researcher and public health
scientist, in the Ministry of Health, Trinidad.

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The 6 Common Types of Anaemia

Administrator — Sat, 05 May 2012 02:14:52 +0000

There are several types and classifications of anaemia. This is
a condition in which the body lacks the amount of red blood
cells to keep up with the bodys demand for oxygen.
Understanding the different classifications can help to
recognise the symptoms and also to avoid anaemia in the first
place…

Iron deficiency anaemia

Iron deficiency anaemia is a condition in which the body has too
little iron in the bloodstream. This form of anaemia is more
common in adolescents and in women before menopause. Blood loss
from heavy periods, internal bleeding from the gastrointestinal
tract, or donating too much blood can all contribute to this
disease. Other causes can be from poor dietary habits or from
chronic intestinal diseases.

The signs and symptoms of this disease are: 1. Paleness 2.
Headache 3. Irritability

Symptoms of more severe iron deficiency anaemia include: 1.
Dyspnea 2. Rapid heartbeat 3. Brittle hair and nails

Treatment usually takes the form of oral iron supplements and
dietary modifications.

Folic Acid Deficiency Anaemia

This form of anaemia is characterised by a lack of folic acid,
one of the B group of vitamins, in the bloodstream. This is
usually caused by an inadequate intake of folic acid, usually
found in vegetables or by the overcooking of the vegetables.
Alcoholism can also be a contributing factor in this form of
anaemia. During pregnancy when the folic acid is used more or in
infancy, this disease can also manifest itself. It can also be
caused as a side effect of other blood disorders.

Symptoms of the disorder include: 1. Weakness 2. Fatigue 3.
Memory lapses 4. Irritability

This condition can be avoided by including foods with folic acid
in the diet. Such foods include beef liver, asparagus, and red
beans.

Pernicious anaemia

Pernicious anaemia usually affects people between the ages of 50
and 60 and is a result of a lack of vitamin B12. The disease can
be hereditary but some forms of the condition can be autoimmune
diseases. People who have any autoimmune diseases are more
likely to contract pernicious anaemia.

Symptoms of this form of anaemia may include: 1. Fatigue 2.
Dyspnea 3. Heart palpitations 4. Numbness or tingling in
extremities

Aplastic anaemia

Aplastic anaemia is caused by an absence or reduction of red
blood cells. This can happen through injury where the blood
forming tissue in the bone marrow is destroyed. Because of this,
the sufferer is unable to fight infection and is likely to be a
heavy bleeder.

Symptoms include: 1. Lethargy 2. Paleness 3. Purpura 4. Bleeding
5. Rapid heartbeat 6. Infections 7. Congestive heart failure

There is no definite known cause for aplastic anaemia but it is
thought to be caused by exposure to certain toxins and also to
the hepatitis virus.

Sickle Cell Anaemia

This form of anaemia is of a hereditary nature and is a result
of an abnormal type of red blood cells. Sickle cell anaemia is a
life threatening disease and there is no prevention.

Symptoms of this condition include: 1. Painful attacks in arms,
legs and stomach 2. Jaundice in whites of the eyes 3. Fever 4.
Chronic fatigue 5. Rapid heartbeat 6. Paleness

Complications include leg ulcers, shock, cerebral hemorrhage,
and orthopedic disorders.

Polycythemia Vera

This disease is more common in middle aged men and is
characterised by an increase in red blood cells, leucocytes, and
thrombocytes. There is a very fast and intense reproduction of
cells and the bone marrow cells mature more rapidly than usual.
The cause of this condition is unknown.

Symptoms are: 1. Purplish coloured skin 2. Bloodshot eyes 3.
Headache 4. Dizziness 5. Enlarged spleen

Although the signs and symptoms of anaemia may seem
overwhelming, the good news is that most forms can be
effectively controlled with medication and dietary changes.

About the author:
Anne Wolski has worked within the health and welfare industry
for more than 30 years. She is a co director of
http://www.pharmacybyweb.com and
http://www.magnetic-health-online.com where you can see many
wonderful health articles, many of them written by doctors and
others who have been involved in the health industry for many
years.

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Are we ready to get older?

Administrator — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 10:40:55 +0000

When I was on vacation last month, I visited my 91-year-old uncle in the Midwest.
Uncle Bob is an amazing man for many reasons. He continues to counsel people starting up small businesses. He makes toys, and other things, in his woodshop as a hobby. He has to remind himself to slow down because he forgets that he is 91.
Last year he started to take trips to all the places hes wanted to go, but hesitated because my aunt wasnt up to it, including cruising to Alaska, and taking a paddleboat ride on the Snake River to follow the Lewis and Clark trail.
When he was about 80, his knees were giving out. It was very painful for him to walk, and he thought about knee replacement surgery. His doctors discouraged it because of his age (probably figuring it wasnt worth it, he wouldnt be living that much longer anyway.) But by 85 he decided to do it and that gave him new impetus to step out and never look back.
Last year he moved into an assisted living facility, not because he needs assistance, but because he was alone in a 4-bedroom house and thought it would be prudent to set himself up for the future. I visited him in his new place. Most of the people around him were much less mobile than he was. Some werent all together there mentally. Uncle Bob remarked that although many had led active lives, they “retired” to play golf and didnt know what to do with themselves when golf was no longer an option. Uncle Bob never retired; he stopped working for pay but never put himself out to pasture.
I became increasingly uneasy and realized that I was up against all those things that we (I) usually ward off: the knowledge that I will become old, and perhaps helpless and infirm. The knowledge that one day I will die. The knowledge that one day I might be unable to take care of myself.
These realizations make us uncomfortable and cause us to live in denial, resisting planning for times that we know will come. The uncertainty comes from not knowing exactly when well need help, or what state well be in. (Sort of like the government and the levees in New Orleans.) Not thinking about it doesnt mean it wont happen, it just means that we will be less able to cope when it does happen.
The lesson I took away from this is that, God willing, I will be 91 one day, and although I dont have control over the future, the decisions I make about my life NOW will affect how well, or ill, I am living THEN. It really brought home to me that what I do today has consequences for tomorrow.
Ask yourself these questions:
* Are you living in a way that promotes health?
* Are you keeping your mind active and challenged?
* Are you giving of yourself to other people?
* Are you living each day as fully as you can (This isnt the same as packing in every possible activity and chore you can think of.)
* Are you free of regrets?
* Are you paying attention to your spiritual life?
* Are you living for today, but also making plans for tomorrow?
* If you are in recovery, are you pleased with your recovery and where you find yourself today?
If you cant answer “yes” to these questions, consider what adjustments you want to start making NOW so that when youre 91 (or so) you dont look back and wish you had done things differently. About the Author
Martha Ruske is a marriage and family therapist in California. She currently works with people in long-term recovery from alcoholism, helping them step out into the fuller life they deserve. Find out about the benefits of recovery life coaching and get a free workbook at www.intentionalpath.com.

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Mortgage Delinquencies: Fact and Fiction

Administrator — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 06:08:59 +0000

Kenneth Harney, a highly respected columnist for the Washington
Post, expresses surprise in his column recently because home
buyers in high-cost parts of the country like California,
Hawaii, Boston and Washington, D.C. are not leading the nation
in mortgage delinquencies.

Mr. Harney states in near amazement that the opposite is
actually true–that home owners in the high-cost areas of the
nation have the lowest mortgage delinquency rate. The Mortgage
Bankers Association of America, which recently released its
latest survey on delinquency rates, states that Hawaii has the
lowest mortgage delinquency rate in the nation at only 0.89%,
followed by California at 1.02% and Virginia at 1.32%.

These numbers are contrasted by the states with the highest
delinquency rate: Mississippi at 8.5%, Louisiana – 6.7%
(pre-hurricane Katrina numbers), Indiana – 6.66%, Tennessee -
6.32%, Texas – 6.31% and Ohio – 6.13%. Notice that most of the
high delinquency rates occur in states with a lower than average
per capita income. Mississippi and Louisiana have some of the
lowest per capita incomes in the nation. Hawaii and California,
on the other hand, have some of the highest.

You could read more about the numbers in his column at the
Washington Post, but that newspaper requires you to sign-in and
become a member just to read its articles. An easier way is to
go to The Wichita Eagle (as in Wichita, Kansas) where Harneys
column is reprinted without the signing-in hassle.

While Harney doesnt explicitly state that he expects the high
cost areas to lead the country in mortgage delinquencies, the
tone of his column highly suggests that. Harneys recent columns
have made no secret of his belief that home owners in the U.S.
are overextending themselves because they are taking out more
interest-only mortgages and other non-traditional type of
mortgages to finance their home purchases and refinances. His
implied expectation is that folks with these types of loans will
be the new wave of foreclosures to hit the nation.

Actually, the opposite is true. Anybody with any long term
experience in the mortgage or real estate industries will be
able to tell you that higher cost does not equal more frequent
mortgage delinquencies. Both mortgage delinquencies and
foreclosures are usually the result of loss of income.
Alcoholism, drug addiction and gambling addiction certainly are
factors, but the number one reason people cannot pay their bills
is because they are earning less money than they used to.

Every economic downturn produces a new wave of foreclosures, and
the next downturn should be no different. This next time around,
however, the pundits that predicted the crash of the so-called
“real estate bubble” will be telling anyone who will listen that
they told us so. They will equate the up tick in foreclosures
with the popping of the “real estate bubble.”

They will be wrong.

Foreclosures and mortgage delinquencies follow the economic
cycle as sure as sunrise follows sunset. Folks who are laid off
their job or are the victims of downsizing are usually the ones
who experience difficulty paying the mortgage. I have helped
many clients avoid foreclosure, and the constant recurring theme
I see with the vast majority of those people is loss of income.

Its time that the media stopped trying to create the news
rather than simply to report it. All of the media hype about an
impending bursting of a “real estate bubble” is mere conjecture.
Most of those who believe that the bubble will burst believe it
because the media has harped on it so much. If you hear almost
anything long enough and often enough, you begin to believe it.
Its the underlying principle of todays advertising. For most
of the U.S., the “real estate bubble” will not burst.

It will merely hiss a bit.

About the author:
20 years of industry experience has enabled Bob to cultivate an
eye for detail in mortgage applications and lends him an
expertise which ensures that mortgage transactions will flow
smoothly. “Stress free” is Bobs hallmark. Learn more at Mortgage
Marketing Associates

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Connecting the Past and the Present: Healing Abandonment and Abuse through Awareness

Administrator — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:59:27 +0000

Many people I work with in therapy or in my writing-as-healing
classes discover stories that surprise them–stories about the
mistakes they felt their parents made, power imbalances in the
family, or stories about physical or sexual abuse. The darker
stories are often a surprise: when writers sat down to write,
those issues were not directly on their minds, but deep,
revealing stories erupted from the pen. Though they were
unexpected, for some they were a relief. People who have been in
therapy have had the same kind of experience–the subject matter
in the forefront of the mind is not the material that
“accidentally” arises during the session. The therapy session
begins with a particular subject in the present–for example
dissatisfaction at work or trouble in a relationship, but often
travels back in time with associations to parents, school, or
past relationships.

It has become a clich� to talk about “dysfunctional”
relationships and families, but most people do not have perfect
families, and many have had to struggle with a range of
problems–alcoholism, abuse–physical, sexual, or emotional,
eating disorders, and depression, to name a few. No one likes to
be reminded of the past but when it keeps coming up, we are
pushed to learn new responses as we search for more peace and
positivity in our lives.

The past is not dead–its not even past. -William Faulkner

Different kinds of abandonment

For people who have been abandoned, either literally by actual
physical absence, or emotionally–a parent can be in the home
and not there for us–the abandoned child syndrome may remain
years later, showing up through insecurities and fears, clinging
behaviors or its opposite–walls to intimacy. The abandoned
child inside the adult can create havoc such as alcohol abuse,
repeating their own abandonment by abandoning children, or
refusal to have children out of fear of repetition. Depression,
lack of energy and creativity, anger, and trying to fill up the
emptiness may be manifestations of these issues.

When the abandoned child is feeling its pain and loss, the rest
of the adult person is unable to find emotional balance. New
skills are needed to help sort out the confusion, and to create
new, healthier patterns. Part of the healing may include
grieving and anger, as those repressed feelings are released.
But it is equally important to look at strengths: how well you
are doing and what you want to contribute to the world as well
as the positive side of parents and caretakers. Most people do
the best they can.

Healing is a process of peeling the onion, so to speak.
Revealing one layer after another, with time for rest and
integration, leads to inner peace, resolution, and forgiveness.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Write about parallels between the past and the present.
Become more aware of old patterns finding their way into your
current life.

2. List all the ways you feel you were abandoned. Dont worry if
the list doesnt make logical sense or is too long or short.
Just write what you feel and remember.

3. Look at photographs of you and your family from those time
periods as a way to help you remember details. Becoming more
aware of the past can help you sort issues in the present.

4. Write an “unsent letter”–do not send it!–to your mother,
telling her all the ways you appreciated her. 5. Now write an
“unsent letter” listing the ways she let you down. DO NOT send
unsent letters in the exercise–these are just ways for you to
help yourself to heal.

Do the same for your father.

1. Write about your intentions for today, this week–what do you
want to change? What are you goals in your life now?

2. What are you doing well now, and how is it different and
better than what you or your family might have done in the past?

3. What are your strengths? Name 10 things your friends would
say are your best traits.

4. Write about how you are your best friend. How you take care
of yourself and like yourself.

About the author:
Linda Joy Myers, Ph. D., prize winning author of Becoming Whole:
Writing Your Healing Story, is a Marriage and Family therapist
and teaches memoir-as-healing workshops in the San Francisco Bay
Area and nationally. Lindas work has been praised by reviewers,
healers, and radio and television interviewers. You can visit
her web site at: http://www.lindajoymyers.com

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It Was Good Enough For Shakespeare!

Administrator — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 07:37:33 +0000

One of the core conflicts for creative artists of all kinds is
the tug-of-war between art and commerce. Frankly, an artist
needs to make money, and it is preferable to make it from his
craft.

A writer who must work a full-time job to support himself will
struggle to find the time to work, and often eventually gives it
up altogether. On the other hand, being able to write on any
project at all can polish valuable skills, and teach one the
rules of the publishing industry.

On the other hand, Ive met writers who were clearly working on
projects, or toiling away at a career, that was burning out
their souls. I remember meeting one such writer. His business
card read “freelance hack and literary mechanic.” Sadly, but not
entirely unexpectedly, he was dead of alcoholism within a year.

How to avoid such burnout? Well, in my own career, in addition
writing the books I cared about the most, Ive written Batman
comic books, a Star Trek novel, and a Star Wars tie-in. In my
television career, in addition to writing for “Outer Limits” and
“The Twilight Zone,” I also wrote four episodes of “Baywatch”(!)

And never for a moment did I feel that I was selling myself out.
Lets get something straight: Shakespeare wrote for money. One
can keep a careful eye on the bank account, and still reach the
heights of craft. But again, how?

In my own case, the answer is fairly simple. Envision the
thought process like this: I draw two circles. In the first, is
everything I would like to write (and there are always dozens of
projects in the mental hopper!). In the second is everything
someone else is willing to pay me for. Where the two circles
overlap, I write. In other words, are there projects Id love to
write, but cant get paid for? You bet, and I generally dont
write them unless they are quite short. And there are projects
that producers or publishers might want me to do, but dont
touch my heart at all. Having learned through experience that
there are limits to my creative flexibility, I turn those down.

But from time to time, an opportunity arises that is in the
no-mans-land between the circles. There is money, but the
project isnt exactly something you have ever considered
writing. What then?

Then, you ask yourself if the project is something that you
could be proud of. If you would read it, or respect someone who
did. For instance, when my agent called and said that the
producers of “Baywatch” wanted to talk to me, I had the office
send over six hours of video on the show. I sat on the living
room couch and watched them with my daughter, who was about six
at the time. After a few episodes, I asked her what she thought.
She liked it. I asked why. She said: “Because its about nice
people working hard to make the beach safe for us.” I thought
about it, and then replied, “you know? There are worse things
than that in this world, by a long shot.” And decided to try
writing for it.

Every show, every project has its limitations. You must use
certain characters, must get them into certain kinds of
situations, and must avoid certain topics. That can be
restrictive, but you can also decide to take it as a challenge.
After all, you could give Fred Astaire a stage of any kind, and
props of any kind, and he would find a way to create dance.
Should you be committed to a lesser level of skill and vision?
No.

You must find ways to amuse yourself while writing, to stretch
your skills by trying something youve never done before, by
empathizing with a younger audience if necessary–never ever
writing “down” to your audience. That is the death of art. But
if you can be truly flexible, youll find that more doors are
open to you, more opportunities arise, that brass ring comes
around more often. A writer ready to leap at any opportunity to
show his skill, and who finds it easy to fall in love with about
a project will often out-perform a brittle “genius” who must
have everything exactly his way in order to write.

And if that approach is good enough for the Bard, its good
enough for me.

About the author:
NY Times bestselling writer Steven Barnes has lectured on
creativity from UCLA to the Smithsonian Institute, and published
over three million words along the way. For a FREE daily writing
tip go to: www.lifewriting.biz, or www.lifewrite.com

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The Art of Change

Administrator — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 08:55:58 +0000

The desire for change is a paradox. We know that it is important to accept ourselves and not be so self-critical, and yet at the same time we may have less-than-desirable habits wed like to replace, traits we want to enhance, or skills wed like to develop.
Change happens unceasingly around us and we are called upon constantly to adapt and grow, or wither. Carl Rogers believed that all living organisms have a tendency toward growth, and that as people we strive to actualize our inherent potential.
Then what makes change so challenging? A situation that frequently comes up in coaching is the client who feels he truly wants to change but is baffled by his inability to do all the action steps that he has agreed to do. He started with the best of intentions – whats going on?
Think for a moment about a successful change that you have made. For example, if you are in recovery from an addiction you know that the change didnt happen all at once. It probably took quite a while to work through the denial, the attempts to control, the realization that something had to be done but not knowing exactly what, the knowledge that you werent sure you really wanted to stop, the decision to stop, the actual stopping, and the integration of new habits and behaviors.
Other changes, too, unfold through a series of steps. Psychologist James Prochaska and his colleagues studied people who made successful changes and identified these stages:
* Precontemplation – the person denies having a problem and has no intention of changing their behavior. They might be demoralized and resist talking about their problem because there doesnt seem to be a solution.
* Contemplation – “I want to stop feeling so stuck.” The person acknowledges their problem and struggles to understand the causes and wonder about solutions. They may be far from making a commitment to action, however.
* Preparation – the person is planning to take action within the next month. They are making final adjustments, and have made their intention to change public. They may have instituted a small number of changes already, but they have not necessarily resolved their ambivalence.
* Action – this is the most obviously busy period. The changes are more visible to others and receive the most recognition.
* Maintenance – change never ends with action. This is the period where the changes are incorporated and the time to be alert to the risk of relapse.
* Termination – the former problem no longer presents a temptation or threat, and the cycle of change is exited. (We know in the case of some changes, like addiction, that there is no “cure” however.)
You can be at different stages with different issues in your life. Also, the stages are not linear; you can – and probably will – spiral back to previous stages, such as contemplation and preparation, before you are actually able to proceed with effective change.
This is what is so important to realize: spiraling back to previous stages and being ambivalent are all part of change. This does not constitute failure.
So what does that client, whom I mentioned above, need to do?
1. Suspend judgment. Its important that he recognize the stages of change so that he doesnt judge himself a failure. This is not the time for self-criticism.
2. Recognize what he has already accomplished. Behaviors “travel in packs” and nourish each other. He might be altering other behaviors or attitudes that will have an influence on the main thing he wants to change.
3. Not give up. Its good for him to sit with those feelings of ambivalence instead of running away from them because theyre uncomfortable. Being present with the ambivalent feelings is a step toward change, while putting off change isnt.
A lot of coaching happens in the contemplation and preparation stages. Just because someone has hired a coach does not mean they will be able to immediately take all their desired action steps. But even people who are not ready to act can set the change process in motion.
Think about something you have been meaning to change, or are actually trying to change right now. What stage are you in? About the Author
Martha Ruske is a marriage and family therapist in California. She currently works with people in long-term recovery from alcoholism, helping them step out into the fuller life they deserve. Find out about the benefits of recovery life coaching and get a free workbook at www.intentionalpath.com.

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Authenticity in Action

Administrator — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 09:37:57 +0000

The other day I was sitting with a group of people at an informal picnic. As I chatted with the man next to me, our attention was drawn to a woman a few tables away who was telling a story. “Look how animated her face is!” the man commented. And, indeed, her facial expressions reflected her total involvement in what she was describing. It was impossible not to be drawn in, too, and I smiled because it was enjoyable just to watch her.
I thought about my relationship with this particular woman. I dont know her well, but over the last week I had gotten to know her better because we were involved in the same volunteer work. In the past I had been put off at times by what I saw as an “in your face” style. She was often the center of activity and I had that feeling that I used to have in high school watching the “popular” kids. Perhaps I was feeling envious.
But Ive been out of high school for a long time, and realized that she doesnt have the characteristics of self-centered high school girls. She isnt cruel, or dismissive. She is comfortable being a leader and directing things, but she is also empathic and able to relate to people one-on-one, putting them at ease and helping them feel included.
I realized I was seeing authenticity in action, someone who is very true to who she is and who doesnt alter her behavior to suit others. In her case, she is extroverted and outgoing and draws people to her like a magnet.
Wouldnt we all like to be that authentic? Why are we afraid to let ourselves be seen like that? Heres what I observed about her.
Characteristics of an authentic person:
* She expresses herself spontaneously, i.e. she doesnt unduly censor her thoughts and wait 5 minutes to say something (long after the opportunity has passed!)
* She isnt afraid or hesitant to address people she doesnt know.
* She is friendly and drawn to others.
* She is curious about people and asks questions.
* She looks people in the eye when she speaks to them.
* She doesnt hold back; when she needs to say something, she says it.
* She is present – you get the sense that she is right there with you, not preoccupied or distracted.
* She goes out of her way to help others.
* If she has an inkling that she had gone too far, she checks in with others to verify that, and makes amends if necessary.
You might have other characteristics that you would put on this list. To be authentic, you dont have to be exactly like this person, i.e. you dont have to turn yourself into an extrovert or be the life of the party. But you do need to tune in, be true to yourself, and be willing to express yourself.
How do you do that? People in recovery often come from families with addictions, and as such we have modified our behaviors in particular ways. We are used to reining ourselves in, scanning the environment to see how were coming across, ready to tone ourselves down when necessary. We dont like people to be angry with us, or to not like us. Wed like to please everyone, if it were humanly possible.
The advice that a psychiatrist gave me, in a recovery group for ACAs, was to err on the side of being uncomfortable. In other words, my sense of what I could say and what I couldnt was so flawed that he encouraged me just to speak out–and even with that I probably wouldnt be as outspoken as the “normal” person!
If we just start by stepping out more, taking a chance by saying something, tolerating the discomfort we might feel by being more visible, then over time we can learn to hone our new skills.
And the odd thing is, when we show who we truly are – warts and all – without hiding important parts of ourselves, we tend to attract other people to us. Authenticity has a way of engaging others, rather than being off-putting. About the Author
Martha Ruske is a marriage and family therapist in California. She currently works with people in long-term recovery from alcoholism, helping them step out into the fuller life they deserve. Find out about the benefits of recovery life coaching and get a free workbook at

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“And the world was filled with Hamas” (gen. 6:11)

Administrator — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 02:11:51 +0000

“And The World was Filled with Hamas” (Gen. 6:11) The Weekly
Torah Portion in the Light of the Jewish Idea by Nachum Shifren|

While most of Israel is shaking their hands nowadays about the
Hamas election fortunes, a few of us recall the prophetic words
of Rabbi Kahane (HY”D) in the 1988 Knesset elections: “In the
next elections there are only 2 people running: Myself and
Arafat. You dont want me? Then youll get Arafat!” Outrageous.
Preposterous. Chutzpah. Those were some of the positive
reactions of his detractors. Now we see and now we understand
the import of his prophesy.

However, the rise to fame and fortune of these dogs (sons of
dogs) was really quite predictable. In addition, coincidentally,
so is the fall of what we call the present State of Israel. When
did it start? After the miraculous, Divinely inspired victory in
the Six-Day-War of 1967, the Lubavitcher Rebbe gave a press
release stating that Israel would give back everything: Judea,
Samaria, and Jerusalem (see p. 1, “Peace, Peace, But There is no
Peace”). Moshe Dayan tripped over himself to give the keys of
the Temple Mount to the Wakf, the Muslim cleric responsible for
the Al Aksa mosque (may it burn in Hell- speedily in our days!).

The G-dless Israeli dwarfs snatched defeat out of the jaws of
victory. Embarrassed? You bet they were! Their sense of unease,
self-debasement out of being “chosen”, “special” was palpable.
And the Arabs? They expected to be slaughtered-and rightly so.
For months afterward, they were in dread about Jewish revenge
upon them for their hysterical calls of “Itbach al Yahud!”
(“Slaughter the Jews!”) emanating from every mosque in the Arab
world. Right around that time, Jewish guilt started to do its
thing, accompanied by the usual hand wringing, self- doubt: “We
cant have a wave of Arab deportees, what will the world
think?”, “We are not Nazis, were Jews after all!”

The cowering, head-bowed Arab, once ready to accept an
inevitable decree from the hand of Hashem- slowly understood
whom he is dealing with. He is witness to an insane people,
giving up their lives, property, and sovereignty, step-by-step,
practically without firing a shot. He understands that this
former “people of the book” has been transformed into a “people
under GW and Condi”- both of whom they will eventually kill as
well.

We are a sick people–addicts of Western culture and idolatry.
We are like Pharaoh, who in this weeks Torah portion, exclaims,
“Who is G-d that I should listen to Him?” The same people that
spawned a Itzchak Rabin (“The Temple Mount has the same sanctity
as a tennis court”) has now, in a total affront to logic and the
will to survive, declared as its “peace partner,” a gang whose
only disagreement is how we should be slaughtered. They openly
say it. They mean it. They dont apologize for it. Theyve told
us over and over: “Israel is Palestine, Jerusalem is its
capital.” And as addicts, before we recover, we have to hit rock
bottom. Sleeping in his own urine and excrement, the addict at
some point decides hes had enough. Only then can we possibly
ask our Father in Heaven for forgiveness for the massive
desecration that weve committed.

“The world was filled with Hamas–total depravity, as Rashi
notes, where perversion even of the animal kingdom was rampant.
Rashi explains that the word Hamas implies sexual perversion and
idol worship, but that prior to the Great Flood, the final
decree to destroy the world wasnt rendered until thievery
became rampant. The desecration and the thievery of the Land of
Israel- by both Arabs and Jewish accomplices- isnt taking place
in a vacuum. It occurs amid a total breakdown of Jewish values
in Israel.

Gay-pride marches, teen drug and alcoholism, violence in the
schools, the kidnapping of religious Yemenite children by the
Jewish Agency, forcing them to live in Marxist kibbutzim- these
are the tip of the Israeli iceberg. As of this writing, our
“peace partners” continue a rain of terror, shooting Kassam
rockets into our cities. In total delirium, we watch, we wait,
we are helpless. After all, how can you have a war with your
peace partners? And what will the Americans think? What can we
do? Moses hints to us after the incredible show of force against
Egypt: “There is no one like our G-d!” If we return to him, He
will surely return to us.

http://www.jdl.org.il

About the author:
Jewish Defense League

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