 And away we go! So many different topics.  A Dad sent a question over the DrClaudia.net "Ask Me" button about his 16-year old son who lives and breathes for the sea and fishing. They see that he's not made for the traditional college route and frankly, he hasn't been a solid student throughout his career. They went to a vocational counselor to explore ways to morph his love of the sea into a job. It was a "non-starter". I recommended the IYRS School of Technology and Trades where boat building and restoration skills are taught. The school is in Newport, Rhode Island. It's a 2-year program and apparently, the graduates are snapped up as there aren't many folks these days willing to learn and use the skills. I can't wait for his son to learn about this. I think it's a perfect fit! I've had strong success placing some of the most learning disabled kids in my practice into vocational programs such as Toyota's T-Ten master mechanics training. We're always going to need mechanics, plumbers, tradespeople of all kinds. Some kids just aren't cut out for college. Let them lead the way.  A man reached out to us about his wife becoming increasingly controlling now that their kids are getting older. Their daughter is 8 and their son, 6. He related that she had a tough time growing up. Her parents were alcoholic and at a very young age, she took responsibility for her younger brother and sister. I explained that, before 1982 when Claudia Black, Ph.D., wrote her book, "It Will Never Happen to Me", we thought that the kids who survived abusive alcoholic parents went on to lead typical lives. Nothing could have been further from the truth. In 1983, Jan Woititiz, Ph.D. wrote her book, "Adult Children of Alcoholics" and research began into the truth of how parents' alcoholism impacted their children for the rest of their lives. I explained to Dad/Husband, that he needed to educate himself about "what" might have gone on with his wife. It may be the case that she was physically, emotionally and sexually abused and that, at age 8, the current age of their daughter, a traumatic even happened and now, she's reliving the trauma. When parents drink, they are disinhibited meaning that the hard-wired drive to protect their children is compromised and they may act out in ways that they would not do if they were sober. They abuse, neglect, abandon and molest their kids. They also fail to protect them from predators. Parents who drink also damage the fetus, long before they can inflict their own brand of horror. Perhaps his wife is also experiencing some level of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder that makes her vulnerable to anxiety and depression. Every stone needs to be unturned. He needs to educate himself so that he can approach her with the goal of going into therapy, both as a married couple and her, individually, to expose the trauma, stare it down and resolve it so that the terror of her life does not impact their children. The damage needs to stop here and it needs to stop now. Here's an article that I think does a solid job of getting to the nuts and bolts of these dynamics. Here's a quiz referenced in the article to help you determine if you have the most common traits of an adult child of an alcoholic parent.  Muwahaha. I loved the Momma who wrote in about her 4th grade daughter's math homework. She needs to help her daughter herself because there's no budget for tutors or the hassle of scheduling them as Momma has an intense work life. I recommended the book that saved my life when our kid was in middle school and taking math that I had never seen before. The book was in it's first edition then, and now, there's a second edition. It's call the Math Teacher's Book of Lists by Judith and Gary Robert Muschla. I can't explain how incredible this book is. Just buy it already. Here it is on amazon. It's $20-ish and you can get it used for super cheap.  Oh, and while you're at it, new research has shown that if you sit up straight while working through math problems, you're more likely to work efficiently. It's about lung capacity, oxygen to the lungs and a sense of being capable. Hmmmm....interesting! Healthy posture also reduces neck and back strain and increases blood circulation. As a result of the healthy posture, you have increased awareness and greater levels of concentration. Sounds good to me! Need an app to help you out? Here are a few! Nothing like a digital "nag" to remind you to sit up straight!! Here are 5 more!  A Momma contacted the show to ask about her 15-year old son who was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia. The doctors asked her if she had the flu while pregnant and didn't understand the implications of the question. I explained that the World Health Organization was tasked with exploring the reasons for the schizophrenia "hot spots" around the world. They went to the areas and looked at the air, soil, water, food supply, everything and they couldn't find the reasons. Finally, they realized that a certain type of the flu went through the regions and those women who contracted it during the first 3 months of pregnancy were vulnerable to having children who ended up with a schizophrenia diagnosis. There are 4 ventricles in the brain that house the cerebrospinal fluid, the clear fluid that runs up and down the spine and in and out of the brain. Apparently, the flu caused the ventricles in the front of the brain to be larger, creating schizophrenic symptoms. I recommended that she read E. Fuller Torrey's book, Surviving Schizophrenia, A Family Manual, now in it's 7th Edition. It's absolutely worth the time. He's a remarkable clinician and researcher and has been an integral part of getting the answers we have today as to the mystery of schizophrenia.  For my KSUE segment last night (as well as on the show), we talked about the danger of the starvation clinics popping up around the world as well as "drunkorexia". I feel strongly that parents need to read these three brief articles (links below in the blue font) to educate themselves about the trends that are being promoted "out there" in the world. If you have the facts, you won't have to rely on pressure and emotions to teach your kids how to keep themselves safe. Drunkorexia Even though this isn't a formal diagnosis, there are very serious problems associated with this behavior. Is your kid doing this? Starvation clinics This article has medical information that I did not see in other research. If you're an undiagnosed diabetic, you could accidentally kill yourself. Well, on that merry note, I'll see you next week on the radio! Have a great week. Claudia Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch. At DrClaudia.net, click on the "Ask Me" button and send me a question. Sign up for the Sunday newsletter. Don't miss a thing!  Photo credit to developthemindofachampion.com Did you know you can learn while you sleep?
The whole brain doesn’t shut down to get some shut eye. Much of the brain is very alert and that’s the part that learns. Research has shown we can improve our musical ability, learn to associate a smell with a sound or solidify negative feelings. Falling asleep after a negative experience can cement those feelings in the brain, so stay awake after a trauma to reduce the impact. If rotten fish is placed under your nose while you sleep and a tone is played at the same time, you’ll associate the note with the smell when you awaken. You can expand your vocabulary by listening to tapes while you sleep. After listening to a song while you are napping, you’ll find it easier to hit the right notes on a keyboard. Since we still don’t understand why we need to sleep, maybe we’re better off by leaving the brain alone at night so it can do what it needs to do. Claudia Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch. At DrClaudia.net, click on the "Ask Me" button and send me a question. Sign up for the Sunday newsletter. Don't miss a thing!  How does the miracle of sleep happen?
We know that when brain cells or neurons fire while we’re awake, they release special molecules that attach to other neurons. This is when the magic begins. These ‘other’ neurons absorb chemicals in the brain that make them sleepy. This means that only part of the brain sleeps which accounts for the “alertness” that’s experienced when we sleep. While in deep sleep, the brain is still active. We can sleepwalk with our eyes open and have no conscious awareness of our activities. We can learn while snoozing. Extended periods during the day of brain “laziness” and physical rest won’t make you tired enough to fall asleep because not enough of the special molecules were released. A key to a good night’s sleep is a balance of both brain and physical activity. Claudia Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch. At DrClaudia.net, click on the "Ask Me" button and send me a question. Sign up for the Sunday newsletter. Don't miss a thing!  Though it sounds a bit like “fake science”, there is research to support the idea that the season in which you are born makes you vulnerable to certain mental illnesses.
Those born in winter and spring have a 5 to 8 percent increase of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and those born in spring are more likely to develop depression. Night owls are more likely born in spring and summer while morning birds are born in fall and winter. Curiosity, imagination and an outgoing personality are associated with summer birth. The amount of daylight and seasonal variations in mother’s diet are likely to account for these patterns. Now that you’re aware of these birth patterns, look around at your family and see if these patterns fit. Family members may find comfort knowing that aspects of their personality are related to circumstances outside of their control. Claudia Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch. At DrClaudia.net, click on the "Ask Me" button and send me a question. Sign up for the Sunday newsletter. Don't miss a thing! |
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