What Do Girls with ADHD Look Like As Adults?

By John M Grohol PsyD  

 

We’ve long heard about the negative impact of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) on children and teens. We know ADHD can lead to academic problems, problems with friends and socializing, significant sleep problems, and serious concerns in other areas of a child’s or teen’s life, such as increased criminality for those with ADHD.

 

But what does the future hold for them? Do these children grow up to be well-adjusted adults?

 

We know from previous research (e.g., Biederman et al., 2006; Faraone et al., 2006) that by young adulthood, most people who were diagnosed with ADHD as a child or teen continue to suffer from attention deficit disorder symptoms. Previous studies have also shown that boys with ADHD have a significantly greater lifetime risk for antisocial, mood and anxiety disorders compared to those who were not diagnosed with ADHD.

 

But what about girls? Little has been known about their lifetime risks if diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. Are they the same, better or worse than boys’?

 

In a recently published study (Biederman et al., 2010), researchers set out to answer that question. They assessed 262 child and teenage girls — both those with an ADHD diagnosis and those without — initially, and then 11 years later on a range of mental health issues. Assessment was done with a standardized structured diagnostic interview (called the SCID), commonly used in this type of research. It allows researchers to get a pretty clear diagnostic picture of an individual. Although the researchers weren’t able to re-interview every research subject at the 11-year followup, they had a good 69-75% follow-up rate.

 

After controlling for the baseline mental health problems the researchers detected in individuals at the initial assessment, girls diagnosed with ADHD were significantly more likely to suffer 11 years later from antisocial, mood, anxiety, developmental and eating disorders than girls without ADHD. Girls with attention deficit disorder were far more likely than those without to have future problems with depression, anxiety and antisocial behavior.

 

A girl diagnosed with ADHD as a child or teen suffers from major or clinical depression and anxiety disorders at much higher rates — 20-25 percent — than a boy with ADHD (3-8 percent). Professionals call this “co-morbidity” — when two disorders occur together. A girl with ADHD is far more likely to develop depression or anxiety than a girl without ADHD, or any boy in general.

 

Now here’s the depressing part of the researchers’ findings — 93 percent of the girls with ADHD had received some form of treatment. Most — 71 percent — received a combination of medication and psychotherapy, 21 percent received medication alone and 1 percent received psychotherapy alone.

 

There are three ways to interpret this data. One is that despite our best knowledge and efforts, we’re still not doing a very good job in helping treat people with ADHD, especially when it comes to addressing related problems. Two, that we’re so focused on treating the presenting problem — attention deficit disorder — that we miss seeing the developing signs of other mental health concerns. Or three, that people with ADHD are simply predisposed — due to genetics, family background and upbringing, or some other reason — to getting more mental health problems.

 

The researchers also found that at the 11 year follow-up, a full 62 percent of the girls could still likely be diagnosed with ADHD.

 

These findings are consistent with prior research findings that found ADHD is a significant risk factor for major depression (which is the most common mood disorder diagnosed), anxiety disorders, and other mental health concerns. I think this data adds to the existing research showing that we’re missing something important here, as well as the ineffectiveness of many current treatment strategies for attention deficit disorder.

 

Want to see if you’re at risk for ADHD? Take our attention deficit disorder test to get immediate results.

 

References:

 

Biederman et al. (2010). Adult Psychiatric Outcomes of Girls With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: 11-Year Follow-Up in a Longitudinal Case-Control Study. Am J Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09050736

 

Biederman J., Monuteaux M.., Mick E., Spencer T., Wilens T., Silva J., Snyder L., & Faraone S.V. (2006). Young adult outcome of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a controlled 10-year follow-up study. Psychol Med, 36, 167–179.

 

Faraone S., Biederman J., & Mick E. (2006). The age-dependent decline of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analysis of follow-up studies. Psychol Med, 36, 159–165.

 

Source: 

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/02/18/what-do-girls-with-adhd-look-like-as-adults/

“Just living is not enough… One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”
– Hans Christian Andersen

Article Date: 18 Feb 2010

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has launched a new health education program to promote sound “mind and body” health practices among individuals who live with serious mental illness.

The “Hearts and Minds” initiative takes aim at risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and obesity for major illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

“Hearts and Minds” is funded by OptumHealth and the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center at the University of California-San Francisco.

The self-help program’s focus on wellness will inspire health and fitness practices familiar to many Americans-such as diet, exercise and smoking cessation. The main difference is the size of the challenge.

“Wellness is everyone’s concern,” said NAMI Executive Director Mike Fitzpatrick. “But it is especially urgent for people living with serious mental illness.”

People living with serious mental illness such as major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia live on average 25 years less than other Americans.

– One in four Americans experiences mental health problems in any given year.
– One in 17 lives with the most serious mental illnesses, such as such as major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
– One in ten children and adolescents struggles with serious, disabling conditions, including depression.

The program consists of five key components:

– A special interactive “Hearts & Minds” Web site including discussion groups
– A facilitator’s guide and tool kit for local community discussions
– A DVD that can be downloaded or purchased through NAMI’s online store
– A booklet on health strategies and risks that also can be downloaded or purchased
– Printed fact sheets on a broad range of topics

“Many kinds of risk factors contribute to health challenges for people with mental illnesses,” said NAMI Medical Director Ken Duckworth, M.D. “Many are preventable or reversible.”

“They include isolation, relatively low incomes, sedentary lifestyles, smoking as a form of self-medication and the side-effects of some medications for mental illness.”

“There has been significant progress in treatment options for mental illness to support recovery, but for every individual, each option requires careful assessment of benefits and risks.”

“Hearts and Minds will empower people to minimize and manage health risks to support wellness and recovery,” Duckworth said.

“Strong partnerships can create new resources and opportunities to help people with mental illness live full and productive lives,” said Andy Sekel, executive vice president, OptumHealth. “We are proud to sponsor NAMI’s ‘Hearts and Minds’ education program because it bridges mental and physical health to address the needs of the whole person.”

“Persons with mental illnesses deserve to live a full and healthy life,” said Steven A. Schroeder, M.D., director of the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center. “At present, far too many compromise that opportunity because they smoke cigarettes, are overweight and don’t get sufficient exercise.”

“‘Hearts and Minds’ includes a timely video that provides helpful suggestions for how to attain wellness. It should be watched by all persons affected by mental illness, including family members and other loved ones.”

About OptumHealth

OptumHealth Inc. helps individuals navigate the health care system, finance their health care needs and achieve their health and well-being goals. The company’s personalized health advocacy and engagement programs tap a unique combination of capabilities that encompass public sector solutions, care solutions, behavioral solutions, specialty benefits and financial services. Serving nearly 60 million people, OptumHealth is one of the nation’s largest health and wellness businesses, and is a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company. More information about OptumHealth can be found at http://www.optumhealth.com.

About the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center

The Smoking Cessation Leadership Center of the University of California-San Francisco is a national program office of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that aims to increase smoking cessation rates and increase the number of health professionals who help smokers quit. The Center creates partnerships for results with a variety of groups and institutions to develop and implement action plans around smoking cessation. For more information see http://smokingcessationleadership.ucsf.edu.

Source
NAMI  

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/179530.php

 

Friday 19th February 2010

By Hannah Crown

AIR CADETS from Edmonton will be flying successes at an awards ceremony in Edmonton next week.

The 1159 (Edmonton) Squadron Air Training Corps holds its Squadrons Award Night at Waverley School, The Ride, on February 24 at 7:30 pm.

The 40 cadets aged between 13 and 20 will celebrate their achievements in 2009, which include Duke of Edinburgh awards, flying theory courses, and certificates for best turned out cadet and best overall cadet.

One cadet, Sgt Jamie McClory, 17, will receive a certificate for achieving his gliding wings.

Sharon Hurst, civilian instructor, said: “We are very proud of them, they have all achieved a lot. They often don’t think they can achieve things. We have one cadet with Asperger’s syndrome who said ‘I have never passed an exam in my life’, now he has passed the priniciples of flight exam.

“These awards help them achieve a sense of discipline as well, something our country has lost. Often these kids don’t have respect for their teachers but they do show respect at cadets for staff and for each other.”

The Deputy Lieutenant for Enfield, Mr Grahame Eustance OBE, and Wing Commander Ian Davison, of the Middlesex Wing ATC will be handing out the awards.

Source:  http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/5016341.Air_cadets_flying_with_success/

 

(Steve Parsons/PA)Andrew Wakefield was found guilty of serious misconduct by the General Medical Council three weeks ago

February 19, 2010 

Andrew Wakefield, the disgraced doctor who first claimed that the MMR vaccine could cause autism, has resigned unexpectedly from the American clinic he set up after his work was widely discredited in Britain.

Three weeks after being found guilty of serious misconduct — when his US clinic offered the doctor its measured backing — the fallout appears to have cost Wakefield his job.

The Thoughtful House Centre for Children in Austin, Texas, which was set up by Wakefield in 2005 with the support of celebrity backers, confirmed to The Times yesterday that the gastroenterologist had left its employment.

Wakefield became executive director and research chief of the non-profit autism centre — on an annual salary of $270,000 (£170,000). He left Britain amid strong concerns over his work suggesting that the combined MMR vaccine — recommended for all children to guard against measles, mumps and rubella — could increase the risk of bowel disorders and autism.

Read More …  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article7032762.ece

A Healthy Relationship Depends on Your Patterns of Love

Do you make the same mistakes in love over and over again? For example, do you always seem to pick the wrong partner or always experience the same negative romantic outcome? If so, you need to understand your developmental history of love and break the pattern, according to Dr. Mark Beitel, a licensed clinical psychologist and psychotherapist at Greenwich Hospital’s Center for Integrative Medicine in Cos Cob, CT.

“Certain conditions for loving, and being loved, are created and then maintained across a person’s lifespan,” explains Beitel. “Negative life experiences can damage the developing capacity for love. People get stuck because the conditions that they have set up for loving tend to operate just outside of awareness.”

We all yearn for the kind of love that works. In fact, the very experience of loving is good for your health. Beitel explains that brain chemicals like oxytocin and endorphins are released during the experience of love. These substances are associated with pleasure and well-being.

There are simple ways to put yourself on the path for a healthy happy love life. It starts by taking better care of yourself. “It is much easier to develop the capacity to love yourself and others when your biology is in balance,” says Beitel, who works with patients on their mental health while encouraging them to seek help with nutrition and exercise as well.

One way to iron out the developmental wrinkles in the capacity for love is simply to be more present, or mindful, in everyday life. “The practice of mindfulness can also help us to see our loved ones as they are rather than as we want them to be. Negative expectations run outside of awareness, so increasing mindfulness gives them less room to operate. Seeing others clearly reduces the confusion, biases, and inappropriate expectations that prevent us from connecting authentically,” says Beitel. Psychotherapy is designed to help a person become aware of repeating negative expectations about love and to correct them so that a more enjoyable love life can be pursued.

Source:  http://newsblaze.com/story/2010021206400600003.wi/topstory.html

Bess Myerson once wrote that “to fall in love is awfully simple, but to fall out of love is simply awful,” especially if you are the one who wanted the relationship to last. But to stop loving isn’t an option. Author Henri Nouwen writes, “When those you love deeply reject you, leave you, or die, your heart will be broken. But that should not hold you back from loving deeply. The pain that comes from deep love makes your love ever more fruitful.” But how do we get beyond the pain? Here are 12 techniques I’ve gathered from experts and from conversations with friends on how they patched up their hearts and tried, ever so gradually, to move on.

1. Go through it, not around it.

I realize the most difficult task for a person with a broken heart is to stand still and feel the crack. But that is exactly what she must do. Because no shortcut is without its share of obstructions. Here’s a simple fact: You have to grieve in order to move on. During the 18 months of my severe depression, my therapist repeated almost every visit: “Go through it. Not around it.” Because if I went around some of the issues that were tearing me apart inside, then I would bump into them somewhere down the line, just like being caught in the center of a traffic circle. By going through the intense pain, I eventually surfaced as a stronger person ready to tackle problems head on. Soon the pain lost its stronghold over me.

2. Stand on your own.

One of the most liberating thoughts I repeat to myself when I’m immersed in grief and sadness is this: I don’t need anyone or anything to make me happy. That job is all my own, with a little help from God. When I’m experiencing the intense pangs of grief, it is so difficult to trust that I can be whole without that person in my life. But I have learned over and over again that I can. I really can. It is my job to fill the emptiness, and I can do it … creatively, and with the help of my higher power.

3. Detach.

Attempting to fill the void yourself–without rushing to a new relationship or trying desperately to win your lover back–is essentially what detaching is all about. The Buddha taught that attachment that leads to suffering. So the most direct path to happiness and peace is detachment. In his book, Eastern Wisdom for Western Minds, Victor M. Parachin tells a wonderful story about an old gardener who sought advice from a monk. Writes Parachin:

“Great Monk, let me ask you: How can I attain liberation?” The Great Monk replied: “Who tied you up?” This old gardener answered: “Nobody tied me up.” The Great Monk said: “Then why do you seek liberation?”

4. List your strengths.

As I wrote in my “12 Ways to Keep Going” post, a technique that helps me when I feel raw and defeated to try anymore is to list my strengths. I say to myself, “Self, you have been sober for 20 years!! Weaklings can’t pull off that! And here you are, alive, after those 18 months of intense suicidal thoughts. Plus you haven’t smoked a cigarette since that funeral back in December of last year!” I say all of that while listening to the Rocky soundtrack, and by the last line, I’m ready to tackle my next challenge: move on from this sadness and try to be a productive individual in this world. If you can’t list your strengths, start a self-esteem file. Click here to learn how you build one.

5. Allow some fantasizing.

Grief wouldn’t be the natural process that it should be without some yearning for the person you just lost. Dr. Christine Whelan, who writes the “Pure Sex, Pure Column” on BustedHalo.com, explains the logic of allowing a bit of fantasy. She writes:

If you are trying to banish a sexual fantasy from your head, telling yourself “I’m not going to fantasize about her” or “I won’t think about what it would be like to be intimate with him” might make it worse: In a famous psychological study from the 1980s, a group of subjects were told to think about anything but whatever they did, they were not supposed to think about a white bear. Guess what they all thought about?

6. Help someone else.

When I’m in pain, the only guaranteed antidote to my suffering is to box up all of my feelings, sort them, and then try to find a use for them. That’s why writing Beyond Blue contributes a big chunk to my recovery, why moderating Group Beyond Blue has me excited to wake up every day. When you turn your attention to another person–especially someone who is struggling with the same kind of pain–you forget about yourself for a split moment. And let’s face it, that, on some days, feels like a miracle.

7. Laugh. And cry.

Laughter heals on many levels as I explain in my “9 Ways Humor Heals” post, and so does crying. You think it’s just a coincidence that you always feel better after a good cry? Nope, there are many physiological reasons that contribute to the healing power of tears. Some of them have been documented by biochemist William Frey who has spent 15 years as head of a research team studying tears. Among their findings is that emotional tears (as compared to tears of irritation, like when you cut an onion) contain toxic biochemical byproducts, so that weeping removes these toxic substances and relieves emotional stress. So go grab a box of Kleenex and cry your afternoon away.

8. Make a good and bad list.

You need to know which activities will make you feel good, and which ones will make you want to toilet paper your ex-lover’s home (or apartment). You won’t really know which activity belongs on which list until you start trying things, but I suspect that things like checking out his wall on Facebook and seeing that he has just posted a photo of his gorgeous new girlfriend is not going to make you feel good, so put that on the “don’t attempt” list, along with e-mails and phone calls to his buddies fishing for information about him. On the “feels peachy” list might be found such ventures as: deleting all of his e-mails and voicemails, pawning off the jewelry he gave you (using the cash for a much-needed massage?), laughing over coffee with a new friend who doesn’t know him from Adam (to ensure his name won’t come up).

9. Work it out.

Working out your grief quite literally–by running, swimming, walking, or kick-boxing–is going to give you immediate relief. On a physiological level–because exercise increases the activity of serotonin and/or norepinehrine and stimulates brain chemicals that foster growth of nerve cells–but also on an emotional level, because you are taking charge and becoming the master of your mind and body. Plus you can visualize the fellow who is responsible for your pain and you can kick him in the face. Now doesn’t that feel good?

10. Create a new world.

This is especially important if your world has collided with his, meaning that mutual friends who have seen him in the last week feel the need to tell you about it. Create your own safe world–full of new friends who wouldn’t recognize him in a crowd and don’t know how to spell his name–where he is not allowed to drop by for a figurative or literal surprise visit. Take this opportunity to try something new–scuba diving lessons, an art class, a book club, a blog–so to program your mind and body to expect a fresh beginning … without him.

11. Find hope.

There’s a powerful quote in the movie The Tale of Despereaux that I’ve been thinking about ever since I heard it: “There is one emotion that is stronger than fear, and that is forgiveness.” I suppose that’s why, at my father’s deathbed, the moment of reconciliation between us made me less scared to lose him. But forgiveness requires hope: believing that a better place exists, that the aching emptiness experienced in your every activity won’t be with you forever, that one day you’ll be excited to make coffee in the morning or go to a movie with friends. Hope is believing that the sadness can evaporate, that if you try like hell to move on with your life, your smile won’t always be forced. Therefore in order to forgive and to move past fear, you need to find hope.

12. Love deeply. Again and again.

Once our hearts are bruised and burned from a relationship that ended, we have two options: we can close off pieces of our heart so that one day no one will be able to get inside. Or we can love again. Deeply, just as intensely as we did before. Henri Nouwen urges to love again because the heart only expands with the love we are able to pour forth. He writes:

The more you have loved and have allowed yourself to suffer because of your love, the more you will be able to let your heart grow wider and deeper. When your love is truly giving and receiving, those whom you love will not leave your heart even when they depart from you. The pain of rejection, absence, and death can become fruitful. Yes, as you love deeply the ground of your heart will be broken more and more, but you will rejoice in the abundance of the fruit it will bear.

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/02/14/12-ways-to-mend-a-broken-heart/

Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. Updated: Feb 18th 2010

One of the consequences of the high rate of divorce and remarriage is that family structure has changed. People who remarry find themselves blending two sets of families from former marriages. That means that the newly remarried are now both continuing to be the natural parent to their existing children and step parent to the children who come with the second spouse. Sometimes it is only one spouse who brings children into the marriage. Regardless of the particular configuration of children and stepparents, everyone involved has to deal with difficult challenges. Here, at Mental Help.Net, we hear about those challenges when the wife or husband writes to us complaining that their new spouse seems to love their biological children more than their new spouse.

Here is a sample E. Mail recently posted on “Reader Questions,”

“I have been divorced from my daughter’s father for almost 11 years. The man I am now dating is the first real boyfriend I have had since my divorce. He is also divorced and has 3 daughters who live with their mother in another state.

The issue I have is with my 11 year old daughter. She is very jealous of every aspect of my relationship. She wants to know what we are talking about when he and I are having a conversation. She wants to know what he and I are doing when we are out on a date. We spend one night a weekend with her and allow her to invite a friend. We play board games, go bowling, to the movies, sporting events, dinner, all types of things and this was my boyfriend’s idea. He wants things to be easier with her but nothing seems to be working. It’s putting strain on our relationship and I don’t know what to say to her to get her to understand how it makes me feel. I feel very stressed and caught in the middle because I want everyone to be satisfied and happy, including me.”

Mother, boyfriend and daughter are struggling with lots of anxiety over impending changes in the dynamics of the family. The 11 year old daughter, on the threshold of adolescence, may be experiencing fears about losing her mother, knowing how to cope with a stepfather and attempting to interfere with and even destroy the new relationship the mother and boyfriend have in order to maintain the status quo. From the child’s point of view, the status quo feels much safer than the changes represented by the boyfriend.

Read More …  http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=35623&cn=51

Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies:

Flattery can work it’s magic, even when we know it’s insincere. The Boston Globe covers a new study that found that even when we realise the compliments we’re hearing are an attempt to butter us up, they can still have a persuasive effect.

Insincere flattery gets a bad rap. Sure, it sounds cheesy or even awkward. But new research suggests that one’s initial conscious reaction – discounting the flattery as a self-serving ploy – may mask a more durable implicit positive emotional association with the flatterer. People who were given a printed advertisement from a department store that paid compliments to their sense of fashion had higher opinions of the store, but only when they weren’t given much time to think about it, or when they were asked several days later. This effect was boosted after people engaged in self-criticism but was nullified after people engaged in self-affirmation, suggesting that flattery – even the patently insincere type – will be especially effective on folks who are down on their luck.

Sadly, the study itself is locked behind a paywall, but there’s a longer summary of the experiment at the journal website which has a few more details.

Read in Full:  http://www.mindhacks.com/blog/2010/02/tell_me_lies_tell_m.html

Low Sexual Desire Has Emotional Impact

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on February 19, 2010

A European study finds women with low sexual desire and associated distress experience personal and emotional distress related to the sexual issue.

The DESIRE (Desire and its Effects on female Sexuality Including Relationships) study identified 7,542 women with low sexual desire and associated distress.

Among these women, 5,098 participated and were surveyed on a wide range of attitudes and behaviors relating to their experience of low sexual desire.

The reports of their frequency and level of sexual desire over the last 12 months were significantly correlated with reports of their level of distress about their low sexual desire and with each of these negative emotional responses.

Researchers discovered many women report experiencing negative emotions, such as dissatisfaction with their sex life, guilt about sexual difficulties and distress about their sex life, frequently or always during the previous three months.

The DESIRE study methodology consisted of 65,129 women, ages 18-88 years, from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, participating in a demographically representative research panel. These women completed an initial screening comprised of the first four questions of the Decreased Sexual Desire Screener (DSDS).

The DSDS is a five-question diagnostic tool that assists non-expert clinicians in the clinical diagnosis of generalized, acquired Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), with more than 85 percent accuracy. In total, 7,542 women answered “yes” to all four questions and did not attribute their desire problem to partner sexual issues or physical trauma and 5,098 women further chose to participate in the in-depth survey.

About the HSDD Patient Registry

To understand the natural course of HSDD in women, the New England Research Institutes in Watertown, Mass., is conducting the first-ever registry in female sexual health. The HSDD Registry for Women is a prospective, multicenter, observational study, which will provide data on the natural history and long-term consequences of HSDD.

“The HSDD Registry for Women is the first sexual medicine registry of its kind to investigate the history and clinical course of generalized, acquired Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in women,” said Ray Rosen, Ph.D., Chief Scientist of the New England Research Institutes.

“With its in-depth analysis of medical co-morbidities, lifestyle factors and long-term outcomes, we expect the HSDD Registry to address a number of knowledge gaps surrounding HSDD in women.”

Nearly one in 10 women report low sexual desire with associated distress, which may be HSDD, an often under-diagnosed condition that is defined as a decrease or lack of sexual desire that causes distress for the patient, may put a strain on relationships with partners, and is not due to the effects of a substance, including medications, or another medical condition.

“Many of the women I see with HSDD experience a high level of guilt and feelings of confusion,” said Sheryl Kingsberg, Ph.D., President of ISSWSH, Chief of Behavioral Medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, and professor in reproductive biology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

“They also complain about the distance they feel between themselves and their partner. The emotional impact of HSDD is significant, so I am excited by the growing body of research being presented this year as it provides an in-depth look at this under-recognized but distressing condition.”

The study and patient registry are supported by unrestricted grants through Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

About the DSDS

The DSDS diagnostic tool consists of five Yes or No questions:

• In the past, was your level of sexual desire/interest good and satisfying to you?
• Has there been a decrease in your level of sexual desire/interest?
• Are you bothered by your decreased level of sexual desire/interest?
• Would you like your level of sexual desire/interest to increase? 

 

In a fifth Yes or No question, women are asked to note any factors from the following list they feel may be contributing to a loss of sexual desire or interest.

• Medications, drugs or alcohol you are currently taking
• Pregnancy, recent childbirth, menopausal symptoms
• Other sexual issues you may be having (pain, decreased arousal or orgasm)
• Your partner’s sexual problems
• Dissatisfaction with your relationship or partner
• Stress or fatigue 

 

If a woman answers “Yes” to questions one through four, and “No” to all of the factors in question five, then she may meet the criteria for the diagnosis of generalized, acquired HSDD.

However, following the completion of the DSDS, a clinical assessment and review with the clinician is required to confirm the diagnosis of generalized, acquired HSDD.

Source: Ogilvy Public Relations

• http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/02/19/low-sexual-desire-has-emotional-impact/11597.html

Do Wife’s Earnings Create Marital Stress?

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D.

As women embrace professional occupations and become leaders in corporate America, becoming the primary breadwinner may or may not lead to marital strife.

According to two financial therapists, the issue depends largely on expectations.

“If men and women have the expectation that it’s OK for a spouse to earn more, it’s not going to affect their relationship like it would if they go into the marriage with the expectation that the husband will have the job that pays more,” said Kristy Archuleta.

She co-directs Kansas State University’s Financial Therapy Clinic, which blends financial counseling with marriage and family therapy. She works with Sonya Britt, a financial therapist at the clinic.

Archuleta said she doesn’t see wives earning more money as a big problem among couples she works with. But it may make a difference how wives end up with greater earning power.

If it’s always been that way or if it’s a temporary solution to make ends meet, she said those expectations may temper any potential problems. Not so much if it’s an unexpected and unwanted shifting of roles.

A study released in January by the Pew Research Center showed that 22 percent of men made less money than their wives in 2007 — a shift from 1970 when it was just 4 percent of husbands. The Pew researchers have said that the recession following the 2007 study will make that percentage increase.

If couples see the wife’s larger salary as a potential minefield, Archuleta and Britt said husbands and wives should address any problems from the start.

“If things aren’t laid out in the open, it creates a lot of resentment and distrust, and you start treating the other person with disrespect,” Archuleta said.

She and Britt said some topics couples should discuss include:

• *What are the expectations for earning power? If the wife earning more than the husband is a short-term solution to make ends meet, will it make a difference if that pattern continues? Archuleta said research shows that men more than women link their self-worth with how much money they make.

• *Will decisions be made differently? If the wife is earning more money, should she have more say in how money is spent, saved and invested? “Often times couples think that if they both contribute, they both should make decisions about finances,” Archuleta said. “If the woman starts making as much money and she thinks she should be getting a little more involved, it makes it difficult if she’s still being somewhat shut out.”

• *Will money be managed differently? Britt said couples need to decide what to do with a shift in earnings, such as whether the husband is now going to get an allowance or whether accounts will be separate or joint.

• *What type of message will be sent to others? If a couple has children, this includes the message that they’ll get about their parents. “If you’re OK with it, you’re probably not going to care what other people think, and you’ll portray to your children that it’s OK that mommy makes more money than daddy,” Archuleta said. “There’s nothing wrong with traditional views, but it makes it harder because then you are more concerned with what other people think. As parents, you might be badmouthing mom without realizing it by saying something like ‘I have to stay here and cook dinner, because mom’s not home again tonight.”

• *Will household roles change? If the wife is earning more money because she’s spending more time at work, a couple needs to decide whether the husband will step in with household and child care duties. If mom’s bigger salary comes with business travel, for example, is dad comfortable taking on a role as primary caregiver? “A larger burden may be put on the husband than was there before, and he may or may not be comfortable doing that,” Archuleta said. “Talking about your role expectations is important, because it does lead into all areas of your marriage.”

• *Ultimately, what’s financially best? “It doesn’t really make sense for the wife to take off an afternoon of work for a sick child if she’s the one making more money,” Britt said. “It makes financially better sense for the husband to take off, even if that’s not the way it’s been in the past.”

Source: Kansas State University

http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/02/15/do-wifes-earnings-create-marital-stress/11453.html

Is your marriage alive and well, or is it time to dial 911? Chances are the health of your relationship falls somewhere in the middle — slightly out of shape and tired. Unfortunately most of us tend to take the health of a marriage for granted. And we don’t realize how important a happy, healthy relationship is until it’s time for marital CPR.

Maintaining personal health requires work — exercise, good nutrition, rest and regular checkups. No one teaches us that the same kind of maintenance is also necessary in order to keep a marriage alive. Love between a parent and child is unconditional. Love between a husband and wife is not. As divorce statistics would indicate, an untended marriage falls apart too easily. The good news is that there are ways to make a marriage survive, and better yet, thrive.

Your Marital Diagnosis

There are warning signs or “symptoms” when your marriage is “under the weather.” Here are some key symptoms:

• *feelings of chronic resentment toward your spouse
• *lack of laughter between the two of you
• *desire to spend free time with someone other than your mate
• *too much time spent playing the “blame game”
• *conversations between you are laced with bitterness and sarcasm

Relationship Revival Program

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? If so, it’s time to revive your marriage by following this program.

• *Make the marriage your priority, not an afterthought. Set aside regular time to be alone with your partner. If kids are in the picture, hunt for a “network” of trusted babysitters. If money is a concern, compare the cost of a night out with that of marital therapy or a divorce attorney! Get the drift? Start doing some of the things that used to bring you joy, and helped you to feel more connected. There are plenty of activities that you can do for free — a long walk, star gazing or window-shopping are all simple pleasures that can bring you closer together.
• *Resuscitate your romance. Remember how the sparks flew when you first met? It’s probably not too late to rekindle the embers. Surprise your spouse with a homemade Valentine (any day of the year!) and a bottle of champagne. Light up the bedroom with candles, or put a love note in his briefcase. Last but not least, initiate lovemaking. Passion is the glue in a marriage — it helps you feel close to your mate, and makes getting through rough times a lot easier.
• *Accept what you can’t change. Much marital strife is caused by the belief that you cannot be happy in your marriage as long as you must live with your partner’s bad habits or imperfections. Have you noticed that no matter how much you gripe and moan, these things don’t change? Rather than trying to control what you can’t, work around his quirks and focus on the positive. We all respond much better to praise than to criticism. And here’s the paradox: Sometimes when we stop fighting the way things are, they actually do change. No guarantees, but it’s worth a try.
• *Be attractive, inside and out. “Married” doesn’t have to mean complacent. Continue to learn and experience new things, and share these with your partner. Eat right, exercise, rest and make the most of your appearance. Doing these things is taking good care of yourself, but it’s also a way of showing your mate that you want to be your best and share yourself with him.
• *Improve communication and negotiation skills. Being a good listener is key to healthy communication. Even if you don’t agree with what he’s had to say, empathize with his position. This will open the door to more effective conflict resolution. If you must be critical, convert criticism into a request for behavioral change by stating it positively. Most important, apologize when you are wrong.

There are no marriages made in heaven. But by devoting time and energy to reviving your marriage, you’ll once again feel your relationship pulse beating strong and steady.

 

HEADLINES

“Socialite kills son, 8, in failed murder-suicide”:

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Mom-Charged-in-Sons-Death-Made-Cult-Abuse-Claims-83759662.html

“Mother pleads innocent in murder of son at NY Peninsula Hotel”:

http://www.cheaphotelbookings.com/news/mother-pleads-innocent-in-murder-of-son-at-ny-peninsula-hotel/3979.html

“Mother killed autistic son with bleach”:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100211/tuk-mother-killed-autistic-son-with-blea-45dbed5.html

“Autistic child, left alone, dies after setting fire”:

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/autistic-child-left-alone-dies-after-setting-fire-1.1767086

“Autistic boy dies in N.Y. Fire; grandmother charged”:

http://www.ohio.com/news/nation/84613277.html

“Our son is dead and no one will pay … how can this be justice?”:

http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/free-press-news/Our-son-is-dead-and.6061287.jp

“Family want answers after autistic teen’s death”:

http://www.3news.co.nz/Family-want-answers-after-autistic-teens-death/tabid/423/articleID/141381/Default.aspx?ArticleID=141381

“Ex-soldier jailed for attack on disabled man”:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/5011920.Ex_soldier_jailed_for_attack_on_disabled_man/?ref=rss

“Child psychiatric diagnosis on trial”:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18534-child-psychiatric-diagnosis-on-trial.html

“6-year-old student handcuffed, committed by school”:

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local-beat/6-Year-Old-Handcuffed-at-School-84136922.html

“£10,000 reward for missing man”:

http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/newsmain/10000-reward-for-missing-man.6052579.jp

“Latest on missing St Leonards man Piers Hopson”:

http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/hastings-news/Latest-on-missing-St-Leonards.6067385.jp

“Police trained to deal with disabilities”:

http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/feb/15/police-trained-to-deal-with-disabilities/?newswatch

“Carers of disabled offered breaks”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8505985.stm

“Disabilities advocates bemoan cuts”:

http://www.timesargus.com/article/20100218/NEWS02/2180324/1003/NEWS02

“Inconsistent mental health provision disadvantaging young people in care”:

http://www.24dash.com/news/Local_Government/2010-02-18-Inconsistent-mental-health-provision-disadvantaging-young-people-in-care-Ofsted

“Blow for Norfolk autistic youngsters … Two hundred parents with autistic youngsters will lose dedicated support from a charity which specialises in caring for them, as the cuts facing public services in Norfolk begin to bite.”:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED16%20Feb%202010%2019%3A33%3A31%3A767

“Autistic boy’s family win fight to keep Motability car”:

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/Autistic-boy-s-family-win-fight-Government/article-1839449-detail/article.html

“Gary McKinnon Updates: Charlie McKinnon on his son’s fight against US extradition”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/gary_mckinnon_updates_charlie_mckinnon_on_his_sons_fight_a.htm

HEALTH & RESEARCH

“A Look at the DSM-V Draft”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/a_look_at_the_dsmv_draft.htm

“Proposed autism diagnosis changes angers “Aspies”/Move to merge Asperger’s, Autism stirs debate”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/proposed_autism_diagnosis_changes_angers_aspiesmove_to_me.htm

“Children labelled ‘Bipolar’, may get a new diagnosis … Wozniak wrote all this up in a now famous paper proposing that some of the kids characterized as having ADHD were actually bipolar. The paper won awards. Clinicians began to approach Wozniak at meetings saying her insights made intuitive sense. She had helped transformed their practice.”:

http://www.wbur.org/npr/123544191

“The Top Five Autism Myths”:

http://www.thetakeaway.org/blogs/takeaway/2010/feb/15/top-five-autism-myths/

“Autism underdiagnosed in women, say Brit boffins”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/autism_underdiagnosed_in_women_say_brit_boffins.htm

“Oxytocin improves social behaviour of autistics”:

http://www.southasiamail.com/news.php?id=57709

“Fish oil supplements beat psychotic mental illness”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8490937.stm

“Developmental delay in brain provides clue to sensory hypersensitivity in autism”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/developmental_delay_in_brain_provides_clue_to_sensory_hypers.htm

“Touch aversion in autism explained”:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20100211/tsc-touch-aversion-in-autism-explained-4b158bc.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1250461/Why-autistic-people-avoid-hugs-loved-ones.html

“IC physician explains Whooping Cough and gives personal advice to parents”:

http://www.bclocalnews.com/kootenay_rockies/arrowlakesnews/opinion/letters/83852197.html

“Kids & Depression: Parents’ Call To Action, Part 3”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/kids__depression_parents_call_to_action_part_3.htm

“Special Needs Children: Depression & Anxiety Symptoms”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/special_needs_children_depression__anxiety_symptoms.htm

“Psychosocial problems are common in children with dental fear”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/psychosocial_problems_are_common_in_children_with_dental_fea.htm

“Give kids space to develop passions”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/give_kids_space_to_develop_passions.htm

NYTimes “When to worry if a child has too few words”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/health/09klass.html?ref=health

“Sensory Processing Disorder comorbid with autism”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-38171-Fargo-Autism–Parenting-Examiner~y2010m2d8-Sensory-Processing-Disorder-comorbid-with-autism

“UT Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders combines Discovery, Patient Care”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/ut_center_of_excellence_on_mood_disorders_combines_discovery.htm

NYTimes “Understanding the Tics of Tourette’s”:

http://consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/understanding-the-tics-of-tourettes-syndrome/?ref=health

“Personality Disorders: Unhealthy Narcissism”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/personality_disorders_unhealthy_narcissism.htm

“Fish Oil may reduce risk of Psychotic Disorders in high risk individuals”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/fish_oil_may_reduce_risk_of_psychotic_disorders_in_high_risk.htm

“John Hopkins Health Alert: Do You Need A PAD(Psychiatric Advanve Directive)?”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/johns_hopkins_health_alert_do_you_need_a_padpsychiatric_ad.htm

“An Interview with Mary Forsberg Weiland on Addiction and Bipolar Disorder”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/an_interview_with_mary_forsberg_weiland_on_addiction_and_bip.htm

“Genes behind stammering uncovered”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8507086.stm

“What Is Social Anxiety Disorder? What Causes Social Anxiety Disorder?”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/what_is_social_anxiety_disorder_what_causes_social_anxiety_.htm

“People with Anxiety Disorder less able to regulate response to negative emotions, study shows”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/people_with_anxiety_disorder_less_able_to_regulate_response_.htm

“Anxiety Disorders: Fear of Swallowing(Phagophobia)”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/anxiety_disorders_fear_of_swallowingphagophobia.htm

“Chamomile for Anxiety”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/chamomile_for_anxiety.htm

“PTSD: Intrusive Images and Intrusive Verbal Thoughts Are Different Phenomena”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/ptsd_intrusive_images_and_intrusive_verbal_thoughts_are_dif.htm

“Virtual Reality for PTSD”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/virtual_reality_for_ptsd.htm

“MindApps releases eCBT Trauma”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/mindapps_releases_ecbt_trauma.htm

“Bees give the buzz about smells”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/bees_give_the_buzz_about_smells.htm

“Sleep: Impact of Sleep Deprivation on brain functioning different than previously thought”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/sleep_impact_of_sleep_deprivation_on_brain_functioning_diff.htm

“Teens: Nocturnal Teens Need Sunlight, Teen Driving, Focus On Fun Gets Teens Active”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/teens_nocturnal_teens_need_sunlight_teen_driving_focus_on.htm

“Heart Health: February is National Heart Month”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/heart_health_february_is_national_heart_month.htm

“What To Do When Life Falls Apart: The Essential 6 Step Program”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/what_to_do_when_life_falls_apart_the_essential_6_step_progr.htm

“BPS Research Digest: The Special Issue Spotter”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/bps_research_digest_the_special_issue_spotter_7.htm

“Blue Brain Year One/Neuro Case 1 – Using Transcranial Doppler for Basilar Occlusion”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/blue_brain_year_oneneuro_case_1__using_transcranial_dopple.htm

“BMJ Review: The Soloist”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/bmj_review_the_soloist.htm

“Relationships: Kindness Key To Dating Success?, Tips For Valentine’s, Just Met, Do I Know You?, If Marriage Is So Good …”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/relationships.htm

“Relationships: Support, Jealousy, Valentines, Keeping The Flame Alive, Cars & male Appeal, Living Together, Taller Than Your Man?, Pride”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/relationships_support_jealousy_valentines_keeping_the_fl.htm

“Why happiness may spoil your taste in movies”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/why_happiness_may_spoil_your_taste_in_movies.htm

“Obsessive driving fanatics are prone to drive aggressively”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/obsessive_driving_fanatics_are_prone_to_drive_aggressively.htm

“Virtual Hospital”:

http://www.uihealthcare.com/vh/

EDUCATION

“Autistic boy’s gift inspires Haiti fundraiser at Friends School”:

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100214/ZONE02/2140349/1008/NEWS01/Autistic+boy+s+gift+inspires+Haiti+fundraiser+at+Friends+School

“What to do when you have an autistic child in your class”:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2686139/what_to_do_when_you_have_an_autistic.html?cat=4

“Schools seek to identify special needs children”:

http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/bexley/stories/2010/02/17/0218beguest-column_ln.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=104

“Parents access special programs”:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Parents+access+special+programs/2580326/story.html

“TES Connect Download Resources: Boardmaker Emotions Posters”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6036145

“TES Connect Download Resources: Van Gogh’s Paintings”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6035202

“TES Connect Download Resources: British Prime Ministers”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6035288

“TES Connect Download Resources: The Gunpowder Plot Symbols”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6035206

“TES Connect Download Resources: Reading Symbols”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6035297

“TES Connect Download Resources: Caribbean Symbols”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6035296

“TES Connect Download Resources: Footwear Symbols”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6035187

“TES Connect Download Resources: Wet and Dry Symbols”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6035355

“TES Connect Download Resources: 5 Little Men In A Flying Saucer”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6034908

“TES Connect Download Resources: Story Character Symbols”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6035442

“TES Connect Download Resources: At the Gym Symbols”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6035438

“TES Connect Download Resources: Holiday Symbol Board”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6035439

“TES Connect Download Resources: Male Personal Care Symbols”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6035437

“TES Connect Download Resources: Relax Reminders(Posters)”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6036147

“TES Connect Download Resources: 100 Different Ways To Say “Good”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6036146

EMPLOYMENT

“For some jobs, Asperger’s Syndrome can be an asset”:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123567371

“Disability tests in need of overhaul – The tough Work Capability Assessment is stopping disabled people getting the support they need for a return to employment”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/09/work-capability-assessments-disabled

“Volunteering – Good For You, And Good For The Day Job”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/volunteering__good_for_you_and_good_for_the_day_job.htm

“7 Office Depression Busters: Tips for Work Depression/Bonuses Generate More Heat Than Light”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/7_office_depression_busters_tips_for_work_depression.htm

“Creative Support Ltd”:

http://www.creativesupport.co.uk/

“Autelligent Laboratories

We believe all people have a contribution to make and deserve an opportunity to be productive.

With your caring and excellent help, we are creating jobs for the 40 million people worldwide who are diagnosed with Autism and Asperger Syndrome. Today less than one in five of us are currently employed. We are motivated and competent and we deserve equal employment. Help make this a reality.

Autelligent Laboratories is dedicated to creating a space where autistic software engineers can more than contribute, we can excel.”:

http://www.autlabs.com/

Luxury Quality Scented Candles “Humbolt Candles – Autism & Disability Employment Company”:

http://www.humboldtcandles.com/index.html

“Auties.org”:
Individuality, Diversity, Equality, Achievement

Auties..org is an Aspie & Autie friendly site for all people on the Autistic Spectrum who are ready to dare reach out to occupation and employment, open the doors to the community and market their abilities directly to the public and for those interested in supporting these pioneers.

http://www.auties.org/

“Prospects”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=473&a=2348

“AutismJobs”:
Linking job seekers with vacancies in work related to autism, Aspergers and ASDs

http://www.autismjobs.org/?section=00010009

“Current job vacancies within the NAS”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=170

For further employment information, please view”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/employment_on_the_autism_spectrum.htm

GENERAL/HUMAN INTEREST

Ireland (Letters)“Protecting the disabled from abuse”: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2010/0205/1224263812345.html

“Life looking up down on the farm … Plans to create so-called care farms to give vulnerable people a better life across Worcestershire have received a financial boost. ”:

http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/local/5012605.Life_looking_up_down_on_the_farm/

Life Skills & Social Values – ‘I Can Do It!’ Program “Business with social benefits”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/business_life_skills__social_values__i_can_do_it_progr.htm

“Volunteering for kids with disabilities in Peru”:

http://www.livinginperu.com/features-1191-society-volunteering-kids-with-disabilities-peru

Keith Duffy “Duffy admits money woes forced him back on the ‘Street”:

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/independent-woman/celebrity-news-gossip/duffy-admits-money-woes-forced-him-back-on-the-street-2060315.html

“LEGO Designer Auction – Bid Today!”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/lego_designer_auction__bid_today.htm

“Best websites on autism”:

http://www.helium.com/items/1502236-best-websites-for-autism-information

NORWAY

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway

http://www.norway.org.uk/

Autismeforeningen i Norge
Postboks 6726 Etterstad
0609, Oslo
NORWAY
tel: +47 23 05 45 70
fax: +47 23 05 45 61 or 47 23 05 45 51
e-mail: post@autismeforeningen.no
Website: http://www.autismeforeningen.no/

Street address:
Grenseveien 99, Entrance A, Third floor
0663 Oslo
NORWAY

Geiranger Fjord

“Norway Facts”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/norway-facts/

Nightfall, Norway the aurora mirrored in the ice…

“Norway – Ice Paradise”:

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/04/svalbard/barcott-text

Paragliding along the Aurlandfjords

“48 Hours in Oslo”:

http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/2007/09/48-hour-guide/oslo-text

Waterfall, Feigefossen – named after the village Feigum. The free fall is 218 m.
Sognefjord is the longest fjord in Norway, this place is almost 200 km from open sea. The summer is therefore almost as sunny and dry as in the inland, but cold rivers draining the mountains and glaciers cool the fjord and reduce summer temperatures slightly. The Gulf Stream is also 200 km away, but the deep and wide fjord ensures that the winters do not get too cold. 

“Oslo Destination Guide – Includes Blogs, Podcasts, Newspapers, Magazines, Maps, Books & Movies”:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/features/48hours_oslo0709/oslo.html

Leif Ericson ~970/~1020
The first European to arrive in America
It is commonly believed that Christopher Columbus was the first European to arrive in the New World in 1492. Indeed, Columbus marks the starting point of the mass migration of Europeans to America. However, he was not the first European to set foot in the New World. That happened during the Viking age, 500 years earlier, when Leif Ericson explored new lands west of Greenland in the year 1000 AD. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leif_Ericson

The Rock carvings at Alta are part of an archaeological site near the town of Alta in the county of Finnmark in northern Norway. Since the first carvings — or more correctly, the petroglyphs — were discovered in 1972, more than 5000 carvings have been found on several sites around Alta. The main site, located at Jiepmaluokta about 4 kilometers outside of Alta, contains around 3000 individual carvings and has been turned into an open-air museum. The site was placed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites on 3 December 1985. It is Norway’s only prehistoric World Heritage Site. Read More … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_carvings_at_Alta

The Eurasian Brown Bear is a subspecies of the brown bear, and found across northern Eurasia. The brown bear is also known as the “common brown bear”. A full grown male weighs on average 135–410 kg and a female 90–200 kg.Photo taken in Vassfaret Bjørnepark – Norway. Vassfaret is a forest valley between Hallingdal and Valdres. It is about 30 km long, with large lakes and rivers with remnants from the timber floating era. In Vassfaret Bjørnepark (Bear Park) there are 7 bears in an area of 40.000 sq. meters. He might look like Winnie the Pooh but always be careful…

Tall ships moored at VÃ¥gen, the inner harbor of the city of Bergen (Western Norway)

Houses of Bryggen
All the front houses of Bryggen have been rented out as commercial shops catering to the tourists and the townspeople. But at the back are these wondrous well-preserved wood houses that jump at your senses. They are an amalgam of tradition, function and drama.
Bryggen, Bergen, Summertime, Norway

Bergen

Tromso

Oslo Plaza Hotel ~ The Plaza is Norway’s tallest building and largest hotel.
The building is 117 metres tall.

“The Drunk Bridge” Atlanterhavsveien – Atlantic road – La strada atlantica – Norway 

Edvard Hagerup Grieg (15 June 1843 – 4 September 1907) was a Norwegian composer and pianist who composed in the Romantic period. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen‘s playPeer Gynt (which includes Morning Mood and In the Hall of the Mountain King), and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edvard_Grieg

“Edvard Grieg ~  Norway’s greatest Composer:  http://www.mnc.net/norway/EHG.htm

Norwegian Embroidery – Evju-tunet

 

ADD/ADHD

Australia “Kids on ADHD drugs poor at school … Children with ADHD who use prescription drugs to manage their condition are 10 times more likely to perform poorly at school than ADHD kids who avoid medication, a new report reveals.”:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/kids-on-adhd-drugs-poor-at-school/story-e6frg6nf-1225831116701

“Understanding Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-36055-Hartford-Disability-Examiner~y2010m2d12-Understanding-Attention-DeficitHyperactivity-Disorder-ADHD?cid=channel-rss-Health

“Medications for ADHD”:

http://www.kivitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11940944

“Less sleep links to myriad problems in kids … Sleep disorders may also disguise themselves. In a pediatrics study, 28 percent of kids referred to a doctor for sleep problems also had ADHD. After treating the sleep disorder, 50 percent no longer qualified for an ADHD diagnosis.”:

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?id=7256571&section=news/health/your_health

ADRES “Adverse Drug Reaction Electronic System(Adverse Drug Reactions Website)”-This website provides patients, doctors, and other medical professionals with a comprehensive examination of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), side effects, and other safety information for both prescription and over-the-counter medications.. Our goal is to allow users of our website make informed decisions when taking (patients) or prescribing (doctors) drugs. We are providing unmatched information and analysis tools.

http://www.adverse-drug-reaction.net/

“adders.org”:
Our objective is to promote awareness to AD/HD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and to provide information and as much free practical help as we can to those affected by the condition, both adults and children, their families in the UK and around the World via this website.

http://www.adders.org/

“ADDISS” The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service…

http://www.addiss.co.uk/index.html

“ADDA”:

http://www.add.org/index.html

“hi2u ADHD Pages”:

http://www..adhd..org.uk/

“CHADD”:

http://www.chadd.org/am/CustomPages/home/CHADD_Home.htm?CFID=2282059&CFTOKEN=38105335&jsessionid=f2303343221169802693562

SPORT

“Autistic football player an inspiration to many”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/autistic_football_player_an_inspiration_to_many.htm

Yoga “Exercise in program provides tremendous benefits to youngsters”:

http://newsok.com/exercise-in-program-provides-tremendous-benefits-to-youngsters/article/3439758

“Swimming Challenges ~ Includes Great Swim Series 2010(June – September 2010)”:

The Great Swim series is taking place at various locations during summer 2010. There will be four televised one-mile outdoor swims, staged in lakes, lochs and docks around the UK.

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2551

“10-kilometre runs”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1816

“Trek the Sahara – 5-25 March 2010 or 29 Oct-8 Nov 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2542

“Trek the Inca Trail – 22-31 May 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1863

“Trek Snowdon – 11–3 June 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2524

“Trek the Jurassic Coast – 16-18 July 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2525

“Trek Mount Kilimanjaro – 29 Sept-10 Oct 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2200

“Trek the Great Wall of China – 9-18 Oct 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2356

“Trek to Everest Base Camp – 5-21 November 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2354

“Cycle Cuba – 14-22 March 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2357

“London to Paris 2010 – 5-8 June”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2407

“L’Etape du Tour 2010 – 18 July 2010”

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2404

“Sky Diving – All Year Round”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1726

MUSIC

“The Raventones”:

http://www.raventones.com/

“The AutisMusic Project”:

http://www.autismusic.com/

ART

Closing Date: Wednesday 24^th March 2010 “Young Brits at Art, Suggested Topic, Your Rights”

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is asking young Britons to express their vision of a world free from prejudice for Young Brits at Art 2010. This year the national art award invites 11-19 year olds to explore their beliefs, opinions and judgments by asking: “What would the world look like if we lived without prejudice?” Young Brits at Art 2010 includes new categories such as photography, sculpture and motion animation, as well as its previous sections for painting and drawing.

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6033713

GLIMPSE – the talents of the autism community

They are painters, sculptors and photographers; poets and storytellers; musicians and creators of amazing video games. They are kids, teens and adults. Last year, a new online publication arose to celebrate the talents of autistic individuals and other developmental disabilities: GLIMPSE, offered by ICDL (The Interdisciplinary Council of Developmental and Learning Disorders). In late 2008, Volume 2 of GLIMPSE was released, and was expanded into a print book and notecards. The works are serious, humourous, deeply personal and illuminating. See it for yourself, share it with others, submit your own/your child’s work for inclusion in Volume 3, to release later this year. Find information and ordering details at www.icdl.com

“ARTROOM ………where under 17s can make and display art online”:

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artroom/index.php

MOVIES/ENTERTAINMENT

“Picturehouse Cinemas hold autism-friendly film screenings”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/picturehouse_cinemas_holds_autismfriendly_film_screenings.htm

“Daryl Hannah says she is blacklisted by Hollywood”:

http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=16764&count=0#ixzz0fW69XY9u

“Helena Bonham Carter: ‘We’re the bonkers couple”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/feb/06/helena-bonham-carter-interview

“Bollywood film about man seeking to meet Obama storms UK box office”:

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1534468.php/Bollywood-film-about-man-seeking-to-meet-Obama-storms-UK-box-office

“My Name Is Khan will entertain, not make statement: Shah Rukh”:

http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/b8de8e630faf3631/id/598297/cs/1/

“Mumbai braces for Khan film release amid political row”:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100212/wl_asia_afp/entertainmentindiabollywoodpoliticspolice;_ylt=AsKKf5L0xQr263YlqfchHtmQOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTM3c245NHBkBGFzc2V0A2FmcC8yMDEwMDIxMi9lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50aW5kaWFib2xseXdvb2Rwb2xpdGljc3BvbGljZQRwb3MDMjQEc2VjA3luX3N1YmNh

“Claire Danes – Danes ‘overwhelmed’ by animal shoots”:

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/danes-overwhelmed-by-animal-shoots_1131062

“Claire Danes reveals an autistic pioneer’s strength in ‘Temple Grandin”:

http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2010/02/05/claire_danes_reveals_an_autistic_pioneers_strength_in_temple_grandin/

“Dear John … Since they don’t call the film “Dear John” for nothing, there are many bumps and breakups for the couple to suffer through, what with the distance and his bad temper and her temptations. There are side stories, as there always are. In this case it’s autism – Jenkins as John’s high-functioning, coin-collecting, emotionally distant, undiagnosed father, and “E.T.’s” Henry Thomas as the single dad in the beach house next door to Savannah, whose son Alan (played by a 6-year-old autistic boy, Braeden Reed) is autistic. To keep the theme going, Savannah dreams of opening a camp for special-needs kids after she graduates. As I mentioned before, she’s just that good.”:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/bal-ae.mo.john05feb05,0,3157539.story

“Actors for Autism”:
http://www.actorsforautism.com/

BOOKS

“Helping Children to Cope with Change, Stress and Anxiety: A Photocopiable Activities Book”

Deborah M. Plummer

Illustrated by Alice Harper

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843109600

“Asper Girls: Empowering Females with Asperger Syndrome”

Rudy Simone

Foreword by Liane Holliday Willey

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849058261

“Stand Up for Autism: A Boy, A Dog, and a Prescription for Laughter”

Georgina J Derbyshire

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849050999

“Foundation Role Plays for Autism: Role Plays for Working with Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Parents, Peers, Teachers, and Other Professionals”

Andrew Nelson

Foreword by Pamela Wolfberg

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849050630

“Children and Adolescents in Trauma: Creative Therapeutic Approaches”

Edited by Chris Nicholson, Michael Irwin and Kedar N Dwivedi

Foreword by Peter Wilson

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843104377

“The Adolescent and Adult Neuro-diversity Handbook: Asperger Syndrome, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Related Conditions”

Sarah Hendrickx

With a contribution from Claire Salter

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843109808

“Great Answers to Difficult Questions about Sex: What Children Need to Know”

Linda Goldman

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849058049

“Writers on the Spectrum: How Autism and Asperger Syndrome have Influenced Literary Writing”

Julie Brown

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843109136

MOVIE

“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” Rated PG-13

Release Date: May 28 2010

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSrCIpa5Jw0

Synopsis: In this video game adaptation, Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a prince who must keep a powerful, mythical object called the Sands of Time out of the hands of villains. To do this, he needs the help of a strong-willed princess (Bond girl Gemma Arterton). PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME is directed by Mike Newell (HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE) and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

VIDEO GAME

“LEGO Harry Potter: Episodes 1-4 (Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, PC DVD)

Release Date: March 26 2010

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lego-Harry-Potter-Episodes-1-4/dp/B002BSH25K/ref=pd_nr_vg_h__30?ie=UTF8&s=videogames

“Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Announced (Xbox 360)”:

http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/ca/news/sonic-the-hedgehog-4-announced-2333ca.html

SPACE

“New Black Hole Simulator Uses Real Star Data”

A new interactive program reveals the spectacular light show you’d see if you dared to wander close to a black hole.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18498-new-black-hole-simulator-uses-real-star-data.html

 TECH

“The Location-Based Future Of The Web”:

… increasingly your location matters, and will alter what you see online. That could be empowering for some people, says Bharat Bedi, an emerging technology consultant at IBM Hursley in Hampshire, UK. For example, people with physical disabilities could easily obtain information about accessible places and routes based on where they are, he says.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527465.800-the-locationbased-future-of-the-web.html

Take care,

Julie

Moonlight Aurora (Mountains in between Tromvik & Rekvik)

 

 

Wednesday, 17 February 2010

Here’s one for the boys at Top Gear to think about – apparently having an obsessive passion for driving can predispose people towards aggression behind the wheel. The idea is that for these people, driving has become an overpowering compulsion, such that an obstacle – for example, a slow driver in front – provokes great frustration, which leads to anger, which explains why they sometimes drive right up your bumper and flash their headlights.

Frederick Philippe and his colleagues make their claims based on three studies. The first was a survey of 133 undergrad drivers. Those who scored highly on obsessive passion for driving (e.g. agreeing with statements like ‘I have difficulty controlling my urge to drive’) also tended to score highly on driving aggression (e.g. ‘I speed up to frustrate another driver’). By contrast, ‘harmonious passion’, as indicated by agreement with statements like ‘driving is in harmony with other activities in my life’ was not linked with increased driving aggression.

A second study replicated these findings but with a sample of 458 middle-aged drivers, and with the addition of a question about a recent driving incident. Obsessive passion was again found to be linked with aggression.

Most convincing is the third study involving a driving stimulator. Forty-four male car fanatics were tricked into thinking they were completing the task with another participant in another car. In reality the behaviour of the other driver was fixed such that he got in the participant’s way on more than one occasion. Honking from the car behind helped crank up the pressure. Independent judges scored the participants’ driving for aggressiveness. Once again, participants who rated highly on obsessive, but not harmonious, passion for driving tended to drive more aggressively. Participants also completed a questionnaire about their anger during the simulated drive. Results from this suggested that obsessive driving passion led to aggressive behaviour purely because obsessive participants got more angry.

‘When obsessively passionate, the person wants to pursue activity engagement because of an internal compulsion that comes to control him or her,’ the researchers explained. ‘Within such a state, being prevented from engaging in the activity by an external agent is conducive to anger toward this agent.’

 

FL Philippe, RJ Vallerand, I Richer, E Vallieres, & J Bergeron (2009). Passion for Driving and Aggressive Driving Behavior: A Look at Their Relationship. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 39, 3020-3043

Source:  http://bps-research-digest.blogspot.com/2010/02/obsessive-driving-fanatics-are-prone-to.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BpsResearchDigest+%28BPS+Research+Digest%29

 

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on February 17, 2010

As many a parent would confirm, some teens would prefer to stay up all night, then sleep past noon –- every day.

Researchers have studied this behavior and now believe insufficient daily morning light exposure contributes to teenagers not getting enough sleep.

“As teenagers spend more time indoors, they miss out on essential morning light needed to stimulate the body’s 24-hour biological system, which regulates the sleep/wake cycle,” reports Mariana Figueiro, Ph.D., lead researcher on the new study.

“These morning-light-deprived teenagers are going to bed later, getting less sleep and possibly under-performing on standardized tests. We are starting to call this the teenage night owl syndrome.”

In the study just published in Neuroendocrinology Letters, Dr. Figueiro and Dr. Mark Rea found that eleven 8th grade students who wore special glasses to prevent short-wavelength (blue) morning light from reaching their eyes experienced a 30-minute delay in sleep onset by the end of the 5-day study.

“If you remove blue light in the morning, it delays the onset of melatonin, the hormone that indicates to the body when it’s nighttime,” explains Dr. Figueiro.

“Our study shows melatonin onset was delayed by about 6 minutes each day the teens were restricted from blue light. Sleep onset typically occurs about 2 hours after melatonin onset.”

Disrupting Biological Rhythms

The problem is that today’s middle and high schools have rigid schedules requiring teenagers to be in school very early in the morning. These students are likely to miss the morning light because they are often traveling to and arriving at school before the sun is up or as it’s just rising.

“This disrupts the connection between daily biological rhythms, called circadian rhythms, and the earth’s natural 24-hour light/dark cycle,” explains Dr. Figueiro.

In addition, the schools are not likely providing adequate electric light or daylight to stimulate this biological or circadian system, which regulates body temperature, alertness, appetite, hormones and sleep patterns.

Our biological system responds to light much differently than our visual system. It is much more sensitive to blue light.

Therefore, having enough light in the classroom to read and study does not guarantee that there is sufficient light to stimulate our biological system.

“According to our study, however, the situation in schools can be changed rapidly by the conscious delivery of daylight, which is saturated with short-wavelength, or blue, light,” reports Dr. Figueiro.

Source: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Focus On Fun Gets Teens Active – British Psychological Society

Article Date: 17 Feb 2010 – 3:00 PST

Emphasising the emotional benefits of exercise is more effective at increasing levels of physical activity than highlighting traditional health benefits. This is the finding of research published online today, 17th February 2010, in the British Journal of Health Psychology.

The study was carried out by Reema Sirriyeh and colleagues from the University of Leeds. Reema said: “There is evidence that people who believe that physical activity is enjoyable and fun are more likely to engage in sport and exercise. We investigated whether highlighting the emotional benefits of sport and exercise to young people increased their levels of physical activity, more than highlighting the physical health benefits.”

128 participants aged 16 to 19 took part in the study; all were recruited from the sixth forms of four schools in West Yorkshire. The teenagers all received a daily text message at 4pm for a period of two weeks. Some teens received text messages that highlighted either the emotional benefits of exercise – such as ‘Physical activity can make you feel cheerful. What activity will you do today?’ , a second group received texts that highlighted the physical benefits, such as – ‘Physical activity can keep your heart healthy. What activity will you do today?’ and a further group received text messages that were a combination of the two.

The participants recorded their levels of physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), which measured the time they spent on of moderate and vigorous exercise.

Analysis of the results found that the physical activity levels of all 128 participants increased after the two-week intervention by an average 31.5 minutes of moderate activity a week. The largest increase in physical activity was seen for inactive teenagers who received the text messages that highlighted the emotional benefits of exercise. This was equivalent to 120 more minutes of moderate exercise.

Reema continued: “Statistics from the British Heart Foundation show that from the age of 16, girls’ levels of physical activity begin to decrease. As patterns of behaviour that start in the teenage years tend to persist into adulthood, it’s vitally important that teenagers get into healthy patterns, like taking regular exercise. Our study shows that for inactive teenagers, emphasising the emotional benefits of exercise may be a more effective way to encourage exercise than highlighting traditional health benefits.”

Source
British Psychological Society

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/179388.php

 

By John M Grohol PsyD

We’re pleased to announce that our partner MindApps has released a new iPhone/iPod Touch app known as eCBT Trauma. As you can guess, eCBT Trauma is focused on individuals who are coping with posttraumatic stress disorder — PTSD — in their lives.

“With eCBT Trauma, we wanted to help people who have experienced a trauma by providing education and interventions to help them cope with the symptoms of PTSD,” said Michael Hufford, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and Co-Founder and CEO of MindApps.

“eCBT Trauma can serve as an adjunctive tool for therapists to use with their clients, or as a standalone intervention.”

eCBT Trauma is an iPhone application that provides users with a way to assess their symptoms after experiencing a trauma, graph their symptoms over time and e-mail their progress to a caregiver, learn relaxation and grounding skills to help cope with symptoms of PTSD, and it provides structured interventions to help users complete ‘exposure’ exercises, which have beenshown to reduce the symptoms of PTSD.

It also includes links to online content regarding PTSD, support groups, and provides help finding a therapist.

I’ve downloaded and used the app and can vouch that it’s even better in many ways than MindApps’ original eCBT app (which is still a cool tool for mental health).

Isn’t it cool when we can literally get psychological science delivered right to our palms?

While MindApps is our partner, we don’t get anything if you decide to purchase this app. We just recognize the benefits of providing tools like this in any kind of environment — on the go, wherever you may be — and want to promote such tools to our readers. We think they offer another treatment option to those in need (and it sure beats the cost of a therapy session!).

Check out the preview of the iPhone app eCBT Trauma here or visit the Mindapps website.

Source:  http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/02/16/mindapps-releases-ecbt-trauma/