tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53563669110531077122024-03-19T01:32:13.148-07:00Laura C. StromLaura C. Strom, MS, LMFT - a blog about mental health issues and advocacy.Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-74440584225097794392011-11-20T08:57:00.000-08:002011-11-20T08:57:17.183-08:00New article: "Hillary Adams: A Brand Spanking New Poster Child"I was moved by the horrific viral video of Texas Judge William Adams beating his then 16 year old daughter to write this article. You can see the article in its entirety by clicking <a href="http://halfmoonbay.patch.com/blog_posts/hillary-adams-a-brand-spanking-new-poster-child">here</a>. I used the story as a way to highlight the cycle of abuse that is prevelant in domestic abuse relationships. Hillary Adams has gone on to speak very eloquently about her abuse in numerous interviews. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sMEz-0hTwSY/Tskww-b7UII/AAAAAAAAAFY/75xYkAAkaNw/s1600/Hillary%2BAdams%2Bon%2Bthe%2BToday%2BShow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sMEz-0hTwSY/Tskww-b7UII/AAAAAAAAAFY/75xYkAAkaNw/s200/Hillary%2BAdams%2Bon%2Bthe%2BToday%2BShow.JPG" /></a></div><blockquote>“I could tell because of the pattern that things were escalating again, so I set up my video camera on my dresser and covered the little red light with a scarf.” And with that one action the previously secret video Hillary Adams uploaded on YouTube has propelled her into the national spotlight as the poster child for both domestic violence and child abuse.<br />
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</blockquote>Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-86354092300242702042011-10-27T14:16:00.000-07:002011-10-27T14:16:20.865-07:00Redefining CrazyPlease check out my newest article on serious mental illness, "Redefining Crazy". <a href="http://halfmoonbay.patch.com/blog_posts/redefining-crazy">Here is the link</a>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bKg-rYdIaBU/TqnJJEeSH2I/AAAAAAAAAFM/QJ9ks51Xq6c/s1600/Britney%2BSpears%2Bperforming%2BCrazy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="109" width="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bKg-rYdIaBU/TqnJJEeSH2I/AAAAAAAAAFM/QJ9ks51Xq6c/s200/Britney%2BSpears%2Bperforming%2BCrazy.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>Which of these people is the “crazy” one?<br />
<br />
<br />
A. A person who reads the newspaper everyday, grocery shops, cooks healthy meals and has an immaculately clean house.<br />
<br />
B. A person who is petting an imaginary cat and speaks in “word salad”.<br />
<br />
C. A person who is a talented creative visual and musical artist.<br />
<br />
D. A person who has 12 inch paths through their house due to clutter.<br />
<br />
E. A person who loves to talk about cultural history, has a lovely apartment and drives every day.<br />
<br />
F. A successful writer with multiple publications and speaking engagements.<br />
<br />
Did you pick Person B, or maybe D? <br />
</blockquote><br />
You'll have to read the article to see what the answer is! <br />
<br />
Video still of Britney Spears performing "Crazy".Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-29482985472552657382011-10-10T12:17:00.000-07:002011-10-10T12:17:46.357-07:00An excellent article on Sjogren's Syndrome by Angela HillHere is a <a href="http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19064498?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com">really well done article</a> on Sjogren's Syndrome featuring local Bay Area folks who suffer with this disease. According to Dr. Sarah Schafer, MD, who suffers with Sjogren's, "It's the most common disease that nobody's heard of"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxvIRvdRgjk/TpNEiX6asjI/AAAAAAAAAFE/5K5YB7L0tXU/s1600/Venus%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="164" width="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxvIRvdRgjk/TpNEiX6asjI/AAAAAAAAAFE/5K5YB7L0tXU/s200/Venus%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Ron Hansman, 67, says "I'd love to have diabetes instead of this"</blockquote><br />
The author makes a great point about how this is one of those illnesses in which people look great, but feel terrible - a hidden disability. This leads to misdiagnosis, underdiagnosis, relationship problems, even suggestions of hypochondriasis. Many thanks to Venus Williams for going public about her struggles with Sjogren's Syndrome which has caused an upsurge of interest in the most common autoimmune disorder nobody's ever heard of!<br />
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Photo of Venus Williams by Nhat V. Meyer, Mercury NewsLaura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-50618369323712906412011-10-06T15:44:00.000-07:002011-10-06T15:44:53.629-07:00October 6th is National Depression Screening DayDepression affects many people at some point in their lives. Here is a <a href="http://www.helpyourselfhelpothers.org/">little assessment</a> you can take to check on your own mental health. If the depression lasts more than two weeks, it's time to get help. Call me if you or someone you love is depressed. I'm happy to chat with you about it. My number is 650-720-0912.Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-28236755240728037472011-09-23T07:41:00.000-07:002011-09-23T07:41:18.290-07:00Dangerous communication - how are you communicating with your partner?Please read <a href="http://halfmoonbay.patch.com/blog_posts/dangerous-communication">my newest article on couples' communication</a> about the four communication styles that spell doom for a relationship along with tips to improve things. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PgHyoumDuNY/TnyYWSEJapI/AAAAAAAAAE8/_vp1C7xCPcM/s1600/the-four-horsemen-of-apocalypse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="112" width="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PgHyoumDuNY/TnyYWSEJapI/AAAAAAAAAE8/_vp1C7xCPcM/s200/the-four-horsemen-of-apocalypse.jpg" /></a></div><blockquote>Ever heard of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? I’m not referring to those of the biblical John the Divine, but the Four Horsemen of John Gottman. Dr. Gottman is the foremost authority on couples thanks to several decades of research at the Gottman Relationship Institute’s famous “Love Lab” in Seattle, WA. According to him these are the four types of communication that spell doom for a relationship.</blockquote><br />
"Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" by Michael Newlyn can be viewed <a href="http://digitalart.org/art/59771/spiritual/the-four-horsemen-of-apocalypse/">here</a>.Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-54020763965596850502011-09-17T19:16:00.000-07:002011-09-17T19:16:54.062-07:00To Spank or Not to Spank?Here is a <a href="http://halfmoonbay.patch.com/blog_posts/to-spank-or-not-to-spank">link to my latest article on Patch</a> entitled, "To Spank or Not to Spank?". <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yqYTNM-Sl_Y/TnVT_zikT_I/AAAAAAAAAE0/nKiTdkhC5ls/s1600/KateGosselin0617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="136" width="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yqYTNM-Sl_Y/TnVT_zikT_I/AAAAAAAAAE0/nKiTdkhC5ls/s200/KateGosselin0617.jpg" /></a></div><blockquote>The California spanking law essentially states that a parent may spank a child on the buttocks with an open palm hand. If you leave a mark that lasts more than 24 hours or you use any other object besides your open palm hand you have broken the law. Now most people reading this are thinking that their parents would have been put in jail, and feeling that is ridiculous – and you are right. We did not have research on the outcomes of spanking back then. Children’s Protective Services was not even born until 1974.<br />
<br />
</blockquote><br />
Article on Kate Goesslin spanking Leah can be seen <a href="http://www.intouchweekly.com/2009/06/in_touch_exclusivekate_gosseli.php">here</a>. Photo by Ant Griffith.Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-8225389190426033252011-09-11T06:30:00.000-07:002011-09-11T06:30:57.587-07:00The children of 911 - a sweet videoHere is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Ly56f-87Y">link to a lovely video</a> about the children born on 9/11 who lost a parent in the Twin Towers. I thought this was a touching way to remember the day by seeing the beautiful faces of the children. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uv-j9SSQqQg/Tmy3gl_SNvI/AAAAAAAAAEs/EsZzvgoxYvg/s1600/911%2Bkids.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="130" width="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uv-j9SSQqQg/Tmy3gl_SNvI/AAAAAAAAAEs/EsZzvgoxYvg/s200/911%2Bkids.JPG" /></a></div><br />
This is a photo of the story. Click the link above to watch the video on YouTube.Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-69226272190455816422011-09-10T11:21:00.000-07:002011-09-10T11:21:39.965-07:00The 911 MemorialA <a href="http://youtu.be/fqdkOLnZWZM">video</a> about the construction of the 911 Memorial. How will you spend 9/11/2011?<br />
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<iframe width="530" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fqdkOLnZWZM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-51198651990213830102011-09-09T08:17:00.000-07:002011-09-09T08:17:25.339-07:00"True Colors" - It Gets Better: LA Gay Men's ChorusThis is so beautiful it will give you chills. <br />
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<iframe width="530" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KnYa9R4N-8c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-50443236452035295052011-09-07T07:44:00.000-07:002011-09-07T07:44:15.153-07:00Depression and Melancholy, meet InflammationHere is a nice blog article by a rheumatologist at UCLA, Dr. Mark Borigini entitled "<a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/overcoming-pain/201109/inflammation-and-chronic-pain-influencing-culture">Inflammation and Chronic Pain: Influencing Culture</a>". Did you know painter Paul Rubens probably had rheumatoid arthritis? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zsLxJM_n0t0/TmeBXPzDj3I/AAAAAAAAAEk/xBDRfqu2_y4/s1600/the_holy_family_with_st__anne-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="151" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zsLxJM_n0t0/TmeBXPzDj3I/AAAAAAAAAEk/xBDRfqu2_y4/s200/the_holy_family_with_st__anne-large.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>"A close analysis of Rubens's paintings over the last thirty years of his life reveals the deformities of arthritis depicted in various subjects, chronologically documenting the natural progression of the disease. Look at the painting, "The Holy Family with St. Anne": The left arm of St. Anne, resting on Mary's shoulder, is a classic depiction of a typical swollen wrist seen in an inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis."</blockquote><br />
Michelangelo, Paul Klee, Frida Khalo and Renoir all likely had autoimmune disorders, too, according to Borigini. Inflammation in the body can cause crippling pain, leading to depression, or as Freud termed it, melancholy.Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-53263541298072354482011-09-05T07:40:00.000-07:002011-09-05T07:40:46.948-07:00Researcher Murray Straus weighs in on spanking kidsHere is an <a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-06-23/news/29710674_1_spanked-harm-smoking">opinion piece</a> by Murray Straus, a longstanding researcher on spanking and its effects on kids/adults later in life. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A6UTDqGDk0k/TmTedex8VZI/AAAAAAAAAEc/cCX6jx0PjHk/s1600/Rockwell%2Bgrandma%2Bspanks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="152" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A6UTDqGDk0k/TmTedex8VZI/AAAAAAAAAEc/cCX6jx0PjHk/s200/Rockwell%2Bgrandma%2Bspanks.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>When a Texas judge this week handed down a sentence of five years' probation to a mother for spanking her child, he set off outrage and ridicule. "You don't spank children today," Judge Jose Longoria lectured Rosalina Gonzales in the courtroom. "You understand?"<br />
<br />
The reporting on the case was cursory - it failed to point out that spanking is, in fact, legal in Texas and neglected to mention that Gonzales had a history of abusive behavior - but the cat was out of the bag. A raging debate has been reignited: Traditionalist parents - and millions of people who vividly remember getting spanked or hit with a belt when they stepped out of line as a kid - cannot believe that government may actually try to get inside the home and regulate the way they discipline their children.<br />
<br />
</blockquote><br />
Picture by Norman Rockwell, and retrieved from <a href="http://committedparent.wordpress.com/2010/03/20/why-its-harmless-to-spank-your-kids-if-theyre-black/">The Committed Parent</a>.Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-19522738756407288182011-09-02T17:56:00.000-07:002011-09-02T17:56:16.178-07:00The US Senate - "It Gets Better"This is a <a href="http://youtu.be/5GjS2XrD2wc">pretty nice video</a> from the US Senate. See what you think. <br />
<br />
<iframe width="510" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5GjS2XrD2wc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-33819323452735611432011-09-01T07:58:00.000-07:002011-09-01T07:58:12.082-07:00Project No SpankHere is a link to <a href="http://www.nospank.net/">Project No Spank</a>, a "resource for parents, students, educators, education policymakers, healthcare providers, children's advocates, and all others who are concerned with the safety and wellbeing of children". <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8QzWehLHaQI/Tl-dBu9jydI/AAAAAAAAAEU/xhfLY_f17_8/s1600/spanking3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="152" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8QzWehLHaQI/Tl-dBu9jydI/AAAAAAAAAEU/xhfLY_f17_8/s200/spanking3.jpg" /></a></div><blockquote>"If we are ever to turn toward a kindlier society and a safer world, a revulsion against the physical punishment of children would be a good place to start." — Dr. Benjamin Spock <br />
</blockquote><br />
Image retrieved from <a href="http://committedparent.wordpress.com/2010/03/20/why-its-harmless-to-spank-your-kids-if-theyre-black/">http://committedparent.wordpress.com/2010/03/20/why-its-harmless-to-spank-your-kids-if-theyre-black/</a>Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-75605015118344914062011-08-31T17:58:00.000-07:002011-08-31T18:05:49.985-07:00Venus Williams & Sjögren's SyndromeToday Venus Williams did a very brave thing. She let the world know she is suffering from Sjögren's Syndrome (pronounced SHOW-grins). This is a very debilitating autoimmune disease that many people think just causes dry eyes and dry mouth, and say, "What's the big deal?" When you've experienced the bone crushing roadkill fatigue it can cause, along with the severe joint pain and brain fog, you'll know. <br />
<br />
Here is a link to the <a href="http://www.sjogrens.org/">Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation website</a>. This disease is named for the Swedish researcher that first started putting it all together. Sjögren's affects so many bodily systems that the average time to diagnosis is seven years! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ieEnkokKVl0/Tl7XNe4XrzI/AAAAAAAAAEM/NAYjoRMtbD0/s1600/Venus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ieEnkokKVl0/Tl7XNe4XrzI/AAAAAAAAAEM/NAYjoRMtbD0/s200/Venus.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>Like Venus, I also have Sjögren's Syndrome. So I understand how serious this autoimmune disease can be. I'm very sorry she has come down with this, but I hope she can use this to bring more awareness to the difficulties of Sjögren's. She's a beautiful woman. I hope she'll be a beautiful spokesperson for those of us with Sjögren's as well. <br />
</blockquote><br />
Photo taken from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/VenusWilliams">Venus Williams' Facebook page</a>. Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-41588688938190183002011-08-21T10:16:00.000-07:002011-08-21T10:16:54.474-07:00Narcissism survey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NvnLmf5ihm4/TlE7SaD6HSI/AAAAAAAAAEE/6vQNSl4eYwg/s1600/bd_mom_mommiedearest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="131" width="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NvnLmf5ihm4/TlE7SaD6HSI/AAAAAAAAAEE/6vQNSl4eYwg/s200/bd_mom_mommiedearest.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Click <a href="http://www.willieverbegoodenough.com/survey.php">here</a> to read the entire narcissistic survey. Here are 10 of the 33 questions <a href="http://www.willieverbegoodenough.com/about-karyl.php">Dr. Karyl McBride</a> says are typical of a narcissistic mother, but these can also be applied to fathers. <br />
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<blockquote>1.When you discuss your life issues with your mother, does she divert the discussion to talk about herself?<br />
2.When you discuss your feelings with your mother, does she she try to top the feeling with her own?<br />
3.Does your mother act jealous of you?<br />
4.Does your mother lack empathy for your feelings?<br />
5.Does your mother only support those things you do that reflect on her as a “good mother”?<br />
6.Have you consistently felt a lack of emotional closeness with your mother?<br />
7.Have you consistently questioned whether or not your mother likes you or loves you?<br />
8.Does your mother only do things for you when others can see?<br />
9.When something happens in your life (accident, illness, divorce), does your mother react with how it will affect her rather than how you feel?<br />
10.Is or was your mother overly conscious of what others think (neighbors, friends, family, co-workers)?<br />
</blockquote><br />
Photo credit: Paramount/Everett. Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-83071641460336172742011-08-16T23:17:00.000-07:002011-08-16T23:17:03.035-07:00White House Staff - "It Gets Better" videoHere is another surprisingly good <a href="http://youtu.be/iL2Ed_iKiG4">"It Gets Better" video</a>. <br />
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<iframe width="510" height="299" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iL2Ed_iKiG4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-36749625569736549902011-08-03T14:37:00.000-07:002011-08-03T14:37:26.234-07:00It Gets Better - Love, Pixar<a href="http://youtu.be/4a4MR8oI_B8">A very nice video</a>!<br />
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<blockquote><iframe width="490" height="299" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4a4MR8oI_B8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></blockquote>Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-59723141026888828902011-07-25T22:21:00.000-07:002011-07-25T22:22:44.276-07:00The Most Delicious Cookies in the Whole World: A Story of Domestic ViolencePlease read my newest article on Patch, "<a href="http://halfmoonbay.patch.com/blog_posts/the-most-delicious-cookies-in-the-whole-world">The Most Delicious Cookies in the Whole World: A Story of Domestic Violence</a>". The article includes the cookie recipe. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DNdCMZypm7E/Ti5NsOLVrSI/AAAAAAAAAD8/ndPdoODjPAs/s1600/cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="132" width="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DNdCMZypm7E/Ti5NsOLVrSI/AAAAAAAAAD8/ndPdoODjPAs/s200/cookies.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>“That’s the biggest cookie I’ve ever seen!” I was watching the most beautiful Korean woman in the whole world pull the tray from the oven. The cookies were so big, there were only four on the tray. The smell was intoxicating, and filled the whole house...When I was twelve, Oksoon introduced me to something completely new – domestic violence.</blockquote><br />
Here is the recipe for The Most Delicious Cookies in the Whole World. <br />
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Oksoon’s Super Delicious Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies<br />
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Mix well:<br />
<br />
1 c. white sugar<br />
<br />
1 c. brown sugar<br />
<br />
2 eggs<br />
<br />
2 sticks margarine or butter<br />
<br />
Add:<br />
<br />
1 t. vanilla<br />
<br />
Sift together and add:<br />
<br />
1 1/2 c. flour<br />
<br />
1 t. salt<br />
<br />
1 t. baking soda<br />
<br />
Add:<br />
<br />
3 c. dry oatmeal<br />
<br />
1 1/4 c. semi sweet chocolate chips<br />
<br />
Optional 1 c. pecans<br />
<br />
Bake on ungreased sheets <br />
<br />
350 degrees, 10-15 minutes<br />
<br />
Enjoy!<br />
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Photo courtesy of www.bakingandboys.com/2009/03/not-your-mama-oatmeal-chocoLaura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-45102456764146621782011-07-13T09:12:00.000-07:002011-07-13T09:12:45.355-07:00An <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/fear-and-courage/stealth-super-powers">interesting article</a> on the power that comes from extreme fear. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KzZGi5myBjQ/Th3D5_rNJQI/AAAAAAAAAD0/iqJ5W5QAD5I/s1600/49741-38728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="183" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KzZGi5myBjQ/Th3D5_rNJQI/AAAAAAAAAD0/iqJ5W5QAD5I/s200/49741-38728.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<blockquote>Before he even knew what he was doing, Tom Boyle Jr. was out of the truck and running. He'd been in the front seat of a pickup with his wife, feeling relaxed after a dinner at a Tucson mall, waiting for the line of cars in front of them to make a right turn out of the parking lot. The Camaro at the front of the queue lurched into the street, wheels squealing, and roared away trailing sparks.<br />
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"Oh God, do you see that?" his wife said.<br />
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Boyle saw it: the crumpled frame of a bike under the car's bumper, and tangled within it a boy, trapped. That's when Boyle got out and started running. For an agonizing eternity the Camaro screeched on, dragging the mass under it. As it slowed to a stop he could hear the bicyclist pounding on the car with his free hand, screaming. Without hesitating Boyle bent down, grabbed the bottom of the chassis, and lifted with everything he had. Slowly, the car's frame rose a few inches. The bicyclist screamed for him to keep lifting. Boyle strained. "It's off me!" the boy yelled. Someone pulled him free, and Boyle let the car back down.<br />
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</blockquote>Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-8905536488425011722011-07-08T06:24:00.000-07:002011-07-08T06:45:34.383-07:00Contemplating the Anthony verdictDr. Keith Ablow, <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/07/05/why-casey-anthonys-verdict-makes-sense/">a forensic psychiatrist has another explanation</a>. What do you think about this? <br />
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<blockquote>Some emotionally vulnerable people can experience mania—the “high” phase of bipolar disorder, essentially the opposite of depression—in the setting of unthinkable trauma or loss.<br />
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Even if you despise Casey Anthony, you have to admit that the death of her daughter (if she did not kill her) would qualify as such a trauma or loss. Symptoms of mania could then ensue, including: overspending, hypersexual behavior, sleeplessness and a sense of euphoria (which would be seen in photographs as seeming joy).<br />
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Indeed, one could imagine that a human being’s mind might well “snap” into mania if, for example, she were the victim of rape as a child (something Casey accuses her father of perpetrating), then learned that the man responsible for her rape had tried to sexually assault her daughter while using chloroform to drug her, only to cause her death “accidentally.”<br />
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And, believe it or not, a young woman in denial of her assailant’s depravity, preferring to think she was actually “chosen” as a little girl over her mother, might even cover up for her assailant and the killer of her daughter, because she has been trained to hide his assaultiveness her whole life. She might even sit still for a long, long time, despite that man making the death of her daughter look like murder by a third individual.<br />
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I’m not saying that anything really happened this way, but it could have. Really. And if it did, it would certainly explain why George Anthony would contemplate suicide in the middle of this case<br />
(Grandparents don’t routinely try to kill themselves when their grandchildren go missing or are found dead; in fact, I have never, ever heard of it happening).<br />
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And it would also explain why George Anthony would have an affair while his granddaughter was missing (which he denies)—because in this scenario he would be unable to control his sexual impulses in a variety of venues.<br />
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Again, I am not saying that this is what happened. I am saying that it is plausible from the standpoint of a forensic psychiatrist. And I just don’t know how you send a woman to jail for life, or for decades, or to her death for killing her daughter, when there’s an alternate storyline that holds water just as well.<br />
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Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/07/05/why-casey-anthonys-verdict-makes-sense/#ixzz1RWIKxrVm</blockquote>Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-32716904342815564572011-07-01T13:51:00.000-07:002011-07-01T13:51:14.345-07:00You're talented, but you can't do that. No, you did not turn your ex-spouse gay.Here is <a href="http://halfmoonbay.patch.com/blog_posts/youre-talented-but-you-cant-do-that">a link to an article</a> I recently wrote on the difficulties of growing up as an LGBTQ youth. <br />
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<blockquote>“I turned my ex-husband gay” was a post I recently read by a woman on Facebook. Other people chimed in that she was too much of a woman for him. Then another woman said she turned her ex-husband gay, too.<br />
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I responded by saying something like, “You’ve got many wonderful qualities, but turning someone gay is not one of them. You’re talented, but you can’t do that.”<br />
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<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4Blh9Ere-Ig" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-32307880071746899362011-06-10T07:03:00.000-07:002011-06-10T07:03:34.403-07:00Childhood trauma linked to higher rates of mental health problems and obesity, says Stanford/Packard psychiatristHere is a <a href="http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2011/june/carrion.html">link to an interesting article</a> on a topic which is dear to my heart - childhood trauma. This is another study by my boss at Stanford exploring the link between trauma and problems in children. The problems include behavioral, mental issues and obesity. PTSD is often misdiagnosed in children as ADHD. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MttRoVfdolY/TfIjnOgnYjI/AAAAAAAAADY/MBckPWT6Jsg/s1600/carrion-150-rev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="163" width="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MttRoVfdolY/TfIjnOgnYjI/AAAAAAAAADY/MBckPWT6Jsg/s200/carrion-150-rev.jpg" /></a></div><blockquote>“Contrary to some people’s belief, these children don’t get used to trauma. These events remain stressful and impact children’s physiology.”<br />
</blockquote><blockquote>“If trauma goes untreated, it’s very costly for the individuals involved and for society in general.”<br />
</blockquote>Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-20634107084187395902011-06-06T12:40:00.000-07:002011-06-06T12:46:41.566-07:00It Gets Better ProjectHere's a <a href="http://youtu.be/7skPnJOZYdA">one minute video</a> on the It Gets Better Project. I spent a year and half working the San Francisco Suicide Hotline and many of the calls were from LGBT youth at their wits' end. Ten percent of all humans engage in homosexual behavior. That's quite a few people. This bullying needs to stop. Nice video - please check it out.Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-3550202581296770002011-06-04T18:30:00.000-07:002011-06-04T18:30:42.236-07:00Animals as HealersPlease check out my <a href="http://halfmoonbay.patch.com/blog_posts/animals-as-healers">latest article</a> on Patch. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_VD869QlThA/TerbxV1r19I/AAAAAAAAADQ/1hVjawX4cRY/s1600/Our%2Bpuppy%252C%2BThursday%252C%2B6-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="132" width="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_VD869QlThA/TerbxV1r19I/AAAAAAAAADQ/1hVjawX4cRY/s200/Our%2Bpuppy%252C%2BThursday%252C%2B6-10.JPG" /></a></div><blockquote>Sometimes the most gifted healers are not our medical and mental health professionals; they are the animals we love.</blockquote>Got any animal stories to share?Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356366911053107712.post-4351154407841588222011-06-02T23:48:00.000-07:002011-06-02T23:48:15.601-07:00It Gets Better by Sister UnityGreat 3 minute video. <iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/d9y1NP0Fuik" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Laura Stromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18311446640138737633noreply@blogger.com0