A SICK LITTLE GIRL'S BUCKET LIST
And though we're sad she's so sick, we're happy to spread awareness about what she has:
"A Texas family has created a 'bucket list' for their infant daughter after learning she suffers from a fatal genetic disorder, myFOXhouston reported.
Mike and Laura Canahuati, from Bellaire, Tex, are on a mission to teach the world about their daughter Avery's fatal genetic disease. You've likely never heard of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, but 7.5 million Americans carry the gene that causes it.
Doctors have given Avery just 18 more months to live.
"Nothing will ever be the same as far as what's important," said Laura Canahuati, Avery's mommy.
"I don't want my daughter to die in vain, and I feel like if someone doesn't tell her story that's what's going to happen," said Mike Canahuati, Avery's daddy.
The couple's only child was born smiling and healthy on the luckiest of days, 11-11-11.
"I had hands down one of the easiest pregnancies, very easy delivery," said Laura.
They had no clue that five months later, on Good Friday, Avery would be diagnosed with the crippling and incurable genetic disease known as SMA Type 1, the most serious.
"We'd never heard of this. Nobody we knew had ever heard of this, and yet it's the number one genetic killer of infants in the United States," said Mike.
SMA attacks nerve cells, gradually weakening the muscles.
Avery's mind is intact, but she can no longer move her legs or hold up her head. Eventually she won't be able to breathe without the help of a machine.
"We looked at each other and said, 'Well, we can do one of two things. Crawl into a hole and die with her, or we can stand here, face each other, face her and live life," said Mike.
In their most painful hours, Laura and Mike made a choice. Avery's life wouldn't be defined by suffering, but by the word her name is found in, "BrAvery."
And so Avery's Bucket List was born, an online blog written by Mike in his daughter's point of view.
"The reason I thought of it to begin with is because I wanted to see my daughter get married. It's the one thing I had in mind. From there it snowballed to let's see her brush her teeth, let's see her sit up, let's see her smile, kiss us, hug us," said Mike.
The Canahuati family hopes Avery's story will inspire future parents to ask to be tested for SMA and encourage doctors to work toward a cure. In the mean time, they said they hope to enjoy the time they have left with Avery, creating as many memories they can."
“Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same.”---Francesca Reigler
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
MOEBIUS SYNDROME IN THE NEWS
Read about Moebius hero Jake Quinn, from the New England area:
"Berkley resident Jake Quinn has touched the lives of many, including this season’s Stonehill College men’s ice hockey team.
The Skyhawks recently drafted the fourth grader through Team IMPACT (Inspire, Motivate, Play Against Challenges, Together), a New England based non-profit that aims to improve the quality of life for kids facing life-threatening illnesses by creating unparalleled team-based support systems.
Quinn, 9, has been battling a rare illness which has resulted in vision issues and years of physical therapy since birth. Doctors recently diagnosis the illness as Moebius Syndrome — a rare condition that affects the nerves of the eyes and face.
Quinn loves the Boston Bruins and Stonehill player Chris Tasiopoulos (Norwell, Mass./Thayer Academy). Quinn goes bowling with the team and occasionally hangs out in the locker room."
Good for Jake...
"Happiness consists in the full employment of our faculties
in some pursuit." -Harriet Martineau
“Millions of men have lived to fight, build palaces and boundaries, shape destinies and societies; but the compelling force of all times has been the force of originality and creation profoundly affecting the roots of human spirit. ”--Ansel Adams (1902-1984
Read about Moebius hero Jake Quinn, from the New England area:
"Berkley resident Jake Quinn has touched the lives of many, including this season’s Stonehill College men’s ice hockey team.
The Skyhawks recently drafted the fourth grader through Team IMPACT (Inspire, Motivate, Play Against Challenges, Together), a New England based non-profit that aims to improve the quality of life for kids facing life-threatening illnesses by creating unparalleled team-based support systems.
Quinn, 9, has been battling a rare illness which has resulted in vision issues and years of physical therapy since birth. Doctors recently diagnosis the illness as Moebius Syndrome — a rare condition that affects the nerves of the eyes and face.
Quinn loves the Boston Bruins and Stonehill player Chris Tasiopoulos (Norwell, Mass./Thayer Academy). Quinn goes bowling with the team and occasionally hangs out in the locker room."
Good for Jake...
"Happiness consists in the full employment of our faculties
in some pursuit." -Harriet Martineau
“Millions of men have lived to fight, build palaces and boundaries, shape destinies and societies; but the compelling force of all times has been the force of originality and creation profoundly affecting the roots of human spirit. ”--Ansel Adams (1902-1984
Thursday, April 26, 2012
GENERAL HEALTH NEWS
Hmmm, what was I going to say again? Oh, yes, eat more berries--it's good for memory:
"As the number of Americans living with Alzheimer's disease continues to rise, researchers are investigating various ways that people can prevent memory decline through nutrients in foods we might eat often anyway.
So far, nothing has been proven to work for sure, but there's no harm in eating healthy foods.
The latest target of interest is berries. A study of more than 16,000 women over age 70 suggests there is a connection between berries and memory problems. Specifically, women who ate the most berries per week were likely to have up to a 2.5-year advantage in terms of when they showed signs of memory decline.
There's no reason think that results would be different in men, said the study's lead author, Elizabeth Devore, researcher at the Channing Laboratory at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston."
And here's how to get even more nutrients out of your food--specifically, what new foods you can try with your meals:
"You’ve probably seen troubling headlines recently about pink slime in ground beef and concerns that drinking too much coffee leads to depression. What you probably haven’t seen, however, are glowing stories about super-foods that can do no wrong. I’m talking about fruits and vegetables that standby like wallflowers when they actually deserve attention for being the nutritional superstars they are.
Hmmm, what was I going to say again? Oh, yes, eat more berries--it's good for memory:
"As the number of Americans living with Alzheimer's disease continues to rise, researchers are investigating various ways that people can prevent memory decline through nutrients in foods we might eat often anyway.
So far, nothing has been proven to work for sure, but there's no harm in eating healthy foods.
The latest target of interest is berries. A study of more than 16,000 women over age 70 suggests there is a connection between berries and memory problems. Specifically, women who ate the most berries per week were likely to have up to a 2.5-year advantage in terms of when they showed signs of memory decline.
There's no reason think that results would be different in men, said the study's lead author, Elizabeth Devore, researcher at the Channing Laboratory at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston."
And here's how to get even more nutrients out of your food--specifically, what new foods you can try with your meals:
"You’ve probably seen troubling headlines recently about pink slime in ground beef and concerns that drinking too much coffee leads to depression. What you probably haven’t seen, however, are glowing stories about super-foods that can do no wrong. I’m talking about fruits and vegetables that standby like wallflowers when they actually deserve attention for being the nutritional superstars they are.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
INSPIRATIONAL STORY OF THE DAY
A young lady wins a penmanship contest--even though she was born without hands. There are those with Moebius Syndrome who know what it is like to do without hands, or at least to do without full use of them. You are not alone:
"Annie Clark was born with no hands, but that’s not stopping the Pennsylvania first-grader who just won a national penmanship contest.
Clark, 7, was honored this week by Zaner-Bloser, an education publishing company, as one of two winners of its annual handwriting contest for students with disabilities. She received a trophy and a $1,000 prize.
Despite her disability, Clark’s parents say she’s committed to doing for herself.
In order to write, Clark wedges a pencil between the ends of her arms. She uses a similar technique to do everything from eating to dressing and painting her toenails. Admittedly, Clark says she must take her time when writing.
“She can ride a bike. She swims. She is just determined that there’s nothing she can’t do,” Clark’s father told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette."
To read more, go here.
“Fires can't be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men. Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks. --James Baldwin (1924-1987);
A young lady wins a penmanship contest--even though she was born without hands. There are those with Moebius Syndrome who know what it is like to do without hands, or at least to do without full use of them. You are not alone:
"Annie Clark was born with no hands, but that’s not stopping the Pennsylvania first-grader who just won a national penmanship contest.
Clark, 7, was honored this week by Zaner-Bloser, an education publishing company, as one of two winners of its annual handwriting contest for students with disabilities. She received a trophy and a $1,000 prize.
Despite her disability, Clark’s parents say she’s committed to doing for herself.
In order to write, Clark wedges a pencil between the ends of her arms. She uses a similar technique to do everything from eating to dressing and painting her toenails. Admittedly, Clark says she must take her time when writing.
“She can ride a bike. She swims. She is just determined that there’s nothing she can’t do,” Clark’s father told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette."
To read more, go here.
“Fires can't be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men. Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks. --James Baldwin (1924-1987);
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
NOTES AND ASIDES...
Interesting items today from here and there...
Natalie Abbott wrote the other day about something many with Moebius Syndrome have gone through--cooling your heels in a doctor's waiting room:
"My ophthalmologist was the worst. You could expect to wait absurdly long at any appointment with him, mainly because he squeezed every possible appointment in. My pulmonologist was the best, mainly because I was usually coming to him when I couldn't breathe, which I guess is important.
Now it's not as excruciating, with phones and iPads and many other distractions... far cry from doing my school reading in an array of waiting rooms during my childhood. But it's still the same drill, waiting, anticipating, sometimes worrying. And doing it all over again all too soon."
Are you seeing a therapist? In Sunday's NY Times, a noted psychotherapist, Jonathan Alpert, argued against ineffective therapy that goes on too long. If it isn't working for you, he argues, end it. He explains:
"Therapy can — and should — focus on goals and outcomes, and people should be able to graduate from it. In my practice, the people who spent years in therapy before coming to me were able to face their fears, calm their anxieties and reach life goals quickly — often within weeks. Why? I believe it’s a matter of approach. Many patients need an aggressive therapist who prods them to face what they find uncomfortable: change. They need a therapist’s opinion, advice and structured action plans. They don’t need to talk endlessly about how they feel or about childhood memories. A recent study by the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Finland found that “active, engaging and extroverted therapists” helped patients more quickly in the short term than “cautious, nonintrusive therapists.” This approach may not be right for every patient, but the results described in the Finnish study are consistent with my experience. If a patient comes to me and tells me she’s been unhappy with her boyfriend for the past year, I don’t ask, as some might, “How do you feel about that?” I already know how she feels about that. She just told me. She’s unhappy. When she asks me what I think she should do, I don’t respond with a return interrogatory, “What do you think you should do?” If she knew, she wouldn’t ask me for my thoughts."
And there's some interesting news for women concerning aspirin use today:
"In a new study of more than 1,200 Asian women, those who took aspirin at least a couple of times a week had a much lower risk of developing lung cancer -- whether or not they had ever smoked.
Interesting items today from here and there...
Natalie Abbott wrote the other day about something many with Moebius Syndrome have gone through--cooling your heels in a doctor's waiting room:
"My ophthalmologist was the worst. You could expect to wait absurdly long at any appointment with him, mainly because he squeezed every possible appointment in. My pulmonologist was the best, mainly because I was usually coming to him when I couldn't breathe, which I guess is important.
Now it's not as excruciating, with phones and iPads and many other distractions... far cry from doing my school reading in an array of waiting rooms during my childhood. But it's still the same drill, waiting, anticipating, sometimes worrying. And doing it all over again all too soon."
Are you seeing a therapist? In Sunday's NY Times, a noted psychotherapist, Jonathan Alpert, argued against ineffective therapy that goes on too long. If it isn't working for you, he argues, end it. He explains:
"Therapy can — and should — focus on goals and outcomes, and people should be able to graduate from it. In my practice, the people who spent years in therapy before coming to me were able to face their fears, calm their anxieties and reach life goals quickly — often within weeks. Why? I believe it’s a matter of approach. Many patients need an aggressive therapist who prods them to face what they find uncomfortable: change. They need a therapist’s opinion, advice and structured action plans. They don’t need to talk endlessly about how they feel or about childhood memories. A recent study by the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Finland found that “active, engaging and extroverted therapists” helped patients more quickly in the short term than “cautious, nonintrusive therapists.” This approach may not be right for every patient, but the results described in the Finnish study are consistent with my experience. If a patient comes to me and tells me she’s been unhappy with her boyfriend for the past year, I don’t ask, as some might, “How do you feel about that?” I already know how she feels about that. She just told me. She’s unhappy. When she asks me what I think she should do, I don’t respond with a return interrogatory, “What do you think you should do?” If she knew, she wouldn’t ask me for my thoughts."
And there's some interesting news for women concerning aspirin use today:
"In a new study of more than 1,200 Asian women, those who took aspirin at least a couple of times a week had a much lower risk of developing lung cancer -- whether or not they had ever smoked.
The findings, which link regularly taking aspirin to a risk reduction of 50 percent or more, do not prove that aspirin directly protects against lung cancer
. There may be other explanations for the connection.
But the study backs up a number of previous ones linking regular aspirin use to lower risks of certain cancers, including colon, prostate and esophageal cancers."
“If your success is not on your own terms, if it looks good to the world but does not feel good in your heart, it is not success at all.”---Anna Quindlen (born 1953)
"Sometimes a winner is just a dreamer that never gave up."-Unknown
Monday, April 23, 2012
BRAIN TALK DEPT
Why are some able to resist temptation, while others just can't seem to do so? The answer might be in how different brains have different wiring:
"Jill, Ann, and Kimberly go off to college with warnings from their parents about sex and the “Freshman 15” ringing in their ears. Months later, Jill has gained 15 pounds and Ann has become a sexual adventurer. Kimberly, on the other hand, has not only maintained her weight, she's been too busy studying in the library stacks to hook up.
What accounts for the differences?
It could be the way each one’s brain reward center responds to food and sexual cues, reports a new study.
According to research out of Dartmouth College, in some people, hyperactivation of the nucleus accumbens, a key reward structure buried within the brain's striatum, predicted the eating and sexual behaviors of people (in this case, a group of freshmen women).
Six months later, the women returned to the lab where they were weighed and asked to fill out a questionnaire. Those whose accumbens reacted especially strongly to food cues had gained more weight. And those who reacted to sexual cues most strongly were more likely to have had sex and report stronger sexual desire."
And speaking of brains, how can you keep your brain fit, trim, and working well? Once again the answer is--exercise:
"
The fastest way to a fit brain is a fit body, writes Gretchen Reynolds in this week’s New York Times Magazine.
“Never let a problem to be solved become more important than the person to be loved. ”--Barbara Johnson (1947-2009)
Why are some able to resist temptation, while others just can't seem to do so? The answer might be in how different brains have different wiring:
"Jill, Ann, and Kimberly go off to college with warnings from their parents about sex and the “Freshman 15” ringing in their ears. Months later, Jill has gained 15 pounds and Ann has become a sexual adventurer. Kimberly, on the other hand, has not only maintained her weight, she's been too busy studying in the library stacks to hook up.
What accounts for the differences?
It could be the way each one’s brain reward center responds to food and sexual cues, reports a new study.
According to research out of Dartmouth College, in some people, hyperactivation of the nucleus accumbens, a key reward structure buried within the brain's striatum, predicted the eating and sexual behaviors of people (in this case, a group of freshmen women).
This suggests one’s ability to say “no” is not just a matter of willpower, but brain wiring.
The study, published this week in the Journal of Neuroscience, used fMRI brain imaging and pictures depicting food, erotica, landscapes, and people to gauge how the test subjects' accumbens reacted to each stimulus. (The 48 women who completed the study had no idea what it was actually about.)Six months later, the women returned to the lab where they were weighed and asked to fill out a questionnaire. Those whose accumbens reacted especially strongly to food cues had gained more weight. And those who reacted to sexual cues most strongly were more likely to have had sex and report stronger sexual desire."
And speaking of brains, how can you keep your brain fit, trim, and working well? Once again the answer is--exercise:
"
The fastest way to a fit brain is a fit body, writes Gretchen Reynolds in this week’s New York Times Magazine.
There is an easy-to-achieve, scientifically proven way to make yourself smarter. Go for a walk or a swim. For more than a decade, neuroscientists and physiologists have been gathering evidence of the beneficial relationship between exercise and brainpower. But the newest findings make it clear that this isn’t just a relationship; it is the relationship. Using sophisticated technologies to examine the workings of individual neurons — and the makeup of brain matter itself — scientists in just the past few months have discovered that exercise appears to build a brain that resists physical shrinkage and enhance cognitive flexibility. Exercise, the latest neuroscience suggests, does more to bolster thinking than thinking does."You can read more about this here.
“Never let a problem to be solved become more important than the person to be loved. ”--Barbara Johnson (1947-2009)
Friday, April 20, 2012
SOME NOTES AND ASIDES
Some blurbs here and there that many of you might find interesting...
A woiman, newly split up from her husband, offers some advice on how to establish some good independence:
"1. Resist the urge to explain yourself.
Why do guys go crazy watching their favorite teams in the big game on TV? (and I admit, I'm guilty of it) There are scientific reasons:
"You can witness this same ferocity among Philadelphia Eagles fans – so ornery they once booed a man dressed as Santa Claus before pounding Saint Nick with snowballs. Then again, if you are any sort of sports-obsessed guy – (OK, let’s just say, if you’re a guy), you, too, probably talk smack with your buds and vent venom at the flat screen whenever the score gets close.
Well, now we know exactly why – on a chemical level – boys will be boys when a ballgame hangs in the balance. According to a study published Wednesday, dudes actually become even more dude-like while watching their beloved teams compete.
Some blurbs here and there that many of you might find interesting...
A woiman, newly split up from her husband, offers some advice on how to establish some good independence:
"1. Resist the urge to explain yourself.
As you alter the way you live, people will object to the changes. Think of a phrase that you can deliver without elaboration, like "I'm doing this because it makes me happy."
2. Spend time with someone who has a different worldview.
He or she can offer fresh perspectives, which may inspire you to reevaluate your own routine and goals.
3. Make "alone dates"
And guard them as if they're dates with your best friend. On my inaugural alone date, I went to the National Gallery of Canada.
It was the first time in years I'd bought a ticket without purchasing an audio guide, too. John had always insisted on the earphones. To him, wandering was inefficient, but to me, following my whims could be revelatory -- as, indeed, that afternoon it was: In the quiet of the gallery, surrounded by beauty and limitless time, I realized that my life felt truly my own."
"People have placed lots of stock in vitamin C to address all kinds of health issues; many people swear by it as a way to ward off the common cold, for instance, even though that connection is scientifically shaky.
The idea that vitamin C might help lower blood pressure got a bit of a boost with the publication on Monday of a study showing a modest reduction in blood pressure readings associated with consumption of vitamin C supplements.
The catch? People in the study, which was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, had to take about 500 milligrams of vitamin C a day to see their blood pressure drop. That’s more than five times the 75 to 90 milligrams currently recommended for most adults."Why do guys go crazy watching their favorite teams in the big game on TV? (and I admit, I'm guilty of it) There are scientific reasons:
"You can witness this same ferocity among Philadelphia Eagles fans – so ornery they once booed a man dressed as Santa Claus before pounding Saint Nick with snowballs. Then again, if you are any sort of sports-obsessed guy – (OK, let’s just say, if you’re a guy), you, too, probably talk smack with your buds and vent venom at the flat screen whenever the score gets close.
Well, now we know exactly why – on a chemical level – boys will be boys when a ballgame hangs in the balance. According to a study published Wednesday, dudes actually become even more dude-like while watching their beloved teams compete.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
ATTACKING THE USE OF THE R-WORD
Hooray--a public service announcement starring a key member of the show "Glee" not only is made, but it wins an award:
"A public service announcement featuring “Glee” star Jane Lynch decrying use of the word “retard” is being honored for its fearless take on the issue.
The ad in support of the “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign is one of four winners of the YouTube-backed DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards in the “Fearless Video” category, besting over 1,000 entrants for the title.
Dubbed “Not Acceptable,” the PSA includes Lynch alongside her “Glee” co-star Lauren Potter, who has Down syndrome. The two liken use of the r-word to other derogatory terms like “nigger” and “fag.”
“The r-word is the same as every minority slur. Treat it that way and don’t use it,” says Lynch in the PSA, which debuted last spring with spots on network and cable television.
In naming the PSA as one of the top fearless videos of 2011, one of the award sponsors — The Case Foundation — said the ad shows that “sometimes taking big risks and experimenting in filmmaking can lead to big wins.”
The honor comes with a $2,500 prize."
GOT PAIN? DEPT
Meanwhile...do you suffer from chronic pain? Many people with Moebius Syndrome do. So know this--know that you're not alone, and if you know you suffer from that pain, don't let anyone tell you that you're imagining it all:
"Doctors are inadequately trained to treat chronic pain, experts say.
Hooray--a public service announcement starring a key member of the show "Glee" not only is made, but it wins an award:
"A public service announcement featuring “Glee” star Jane Lynch decrying use of the word “retard” is being honored for its fearless take on the issue.
The ad in support of the “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign is one of four winners of the YouTube-backed DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards in the “Fearless Video” category, besting over 1,000 entrants for the title.
Dubbed “Not Acceptable,” the PSA includes Lynch alongside her “Glee” co-star Lauren Potter, who has Down syndrome. The two liken use of the r-word to other derogatory terms like “nigger” and “fag.”
“The r-word is the same as every minority slur. Treat it that way and don’t use it,” says Lynch in the PSA, which debuted last spring with spots on network and cable television.
In naming the PSA as one of the top fearless videos of 2011, one of the award sponsors — The Case Foundation — said the ad shows that “sometimes taking big risks and experimenting in filmmaking can lead to big wins.”
The honor comes with a $2,500 prize."
GOT PAIN? DEPT
Meanwhile...do you suffer from chronic pain? Many people with Moebius Syndrome do. So know this--know that you're not alone, and if you know you suffer from that pain, don't let anyone tell you that you're imagining it all:
"Doctors are inadequately trained to treat chronic pain, experts say.
Stephanie Hester, of Dana Point, Calif., said she's been in pain her whole life.
"I'm almost always in pain in some form," the 41-year-old said.
Popping pain pills with no relief and a parade of disbelieving doctors left her feeling defeated and frustrated.
"I've been to a lot of doctors over the years, and a lot of them told me that the pain is all in my head. They always say, that can't be, there's got to be some reason," Hester said. "I think because they didn't know how to quantify it, they just brushed it off and said it couldn't be. The other response was just to throw prescriptions at me."
Hester is one of millions of Americans struggling with chronic pain. More than 116 million Americans struggle with pain that lasts for weeks or years, according to a 2011 report from the Institute of Medicine. That number, nearly one third of the U.S. population, is more than the number of patients with cancer, heart disease and diabetes combined. It may even be an underestimate, since the IOM didn't include the numbers of children, prisoners, military personnel or people in long-term care facilities who have chronic pain in their estimates.
The costs of the problem are huge. The IOM's report estimates that chronic pain costs the U.S. up to $635 billion each year, both in medical costs and in wages lost when pain keeps people from working.
But despite America's big pain problem, the care offered to patients in pain is woefully inadequate, according to an editorial published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
"Pain is real and it is a complex problem, but the responses within the health care system to help people deal with it are pretty inadequate," said Dr. Noreen Clark, one of the editorial's authors and director of the Center for Managing Chronic Disease at the University of Michigan.
Pain can come from an injury that never heals correctly, a disease like cancer or HIV, or it can be an illness all its own, when the nerves associated with pain in the body become constantly active. Without an obvious cause of pain, doctors may run tests, do surgery and prescribe powerful medications to relieve the patient's suffering. But in some cases, these solutions do nothing more than drive up the cost of chronic pain care.
"Repeated MRI scans and CT scans done for headache, back pain or other pain significantly inflates the costs," said Dr. Timothy Collins, assistant professor of neurology at Duke University Medical Center. Although doctors give the scans to figure out why a patient still hurts, "they don't actually help care for the pain or give new information."
Without an obvious source of the pain, physicians may end up blaming the patient.
"For some, there's a willingness to accept the pain as real. But for others, if they can't see it, find it, or measure it, then it must be in [the patient's] head," said Dr. Philip Pizzo, one of the editorial's authors and dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine. "You can see how that would reinforce the suffering and depression that surrounds pain."
Powerful painkillers like vicodin or percocet relieve pain but aren't intended to treat patients long-term. And many physicians are reluctant to prescribe them for fear of the pills getting into the hands of painkiller addicts, not to mention the legal consequences they could face.
"If you can't find an explanation for the pain, then you're reluctant to prescribe medications and have them become an ongoing long-term treatment plan," said Dr. Glen Stream, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "The challenge is trying to sort out who's in pain and who potentially is drug-seeking. There's a lot of pressure on physicians to be vigilant in their prescribing. We try to balance that with the desire to not have people suffer needlessly."
How to fix America's pain problem? The issue "will require a cultural transformation in the way clinicians and the public view pain and its treatment," Pizzo and Clark said in an editorial published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
According to the IOM report, the transformation should start in medical schools. Doctors say medical students and current professionals are woefully undereducated in how to treat patients in pain. In a survey of 117 medical schools, only a handful reported including even a few lessons on pain for their students. The problem is large enough that several states have ordered currently practicing doctors to get a certain amount of additional training in chronic pain management.
Although there are doctors who specialize in treating chronic pain, their numbers are too few to care for every patient. The IOM reports that there are fewer than 4,000 pain specialists in the U.S.
Other changes will have to reach deeper into the U.S. health care system. Doctors say the current system of medical reimbursement doesn't allow them to spend a long time with patients treating illnesses that are not easily defined on a medical record.
"Physicians need to be empowered to take time and listen to their patients," said Dr. Doris Cope, director of the Pain Medicine Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "Unfortunately, the way the medical system works today, everything is very mechanized and is supposed to fit into a box. But patients are unique in their pain and suffering."
And then, there's overcoming the notion that medical help must always come with a pill or under the knife. The IOM report recommends that patients use a variety of medical tools to confront their pain, including physical therapy, rehabilitation, even alternative treatments like meditation.
Hester said she found the greatest relief in holisitic treatments and physical therapy. She does exercises for about 45 minutes each day and sees a doctor three days per week for spinal decompression and physical therapy. The treatments help, but they are not covered by her medical insurance, so she and her husband are using the money they had saved for a downpayment on a house to cover the costs of her care – about $23,000 in the last year alone.
"It's hard to force yourself to get up and be active, to say, I'm going to get out and at least walk today, take all my supplements, do all my therapies," Hester said. "It does interfere with life. I'm trying really hard not to let it."
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. ”
Viktor Frankl (1905-1997)
Viktor Frankl (1905-1997)
"Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown." -George Shinn
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
ARE THEY BORN THAT WAY?
This is a question that I'm sure at least some people with Moebius Syndrome, when they've been on the receiving end of cruel mocking, have wondered: what makes mean people mean? Read on:
"Let's face it - everyone isn't nice. In fact, being nice is more difficult for some people than others. But is it possible that "niceness" is predetermined by our genes?
A new study in the journal Psychological Science suggests this: If you think the world is full of threatening people, you're not going feel compelled to be generous by doing things like volunteering and donating to charity. But if you have certain gene variants, you're more likely to be nice anyway.
Now hold on a minute - this doesn't give your mean neighbor an excuse to blame his DNA for not letting kids on the block play on his lawn.
It's a little more complicated than that.
The research: A few questions and some spit
Researchers offered an online survey to participants asking questions like:
–do people have a duty to pay taxes?
–are people basically good or bad?
–do you engage in charitable activities?
Then some participants sent in samples of their saliva so researchers could check out their DNA. A total of 348 U.S. residents were included in the final analysis.
Researchers analyzed the spit samples. They looked at the particular variants of receptor genes these people had for the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin.
In case you're wondering, oxytocin and vasopressin are very similar structurally, and seem to have some similar social effects. For example, they're both associated with pair bonding - aka bringing closer together two spouses or a mom and her child.
In fact, that's why oxytocin has been called "the cuddle hormone."
But while the hormones have similar effects on the brain, they differ in the rest of the body. Oxytocin can induce labor. Vasopressin increases when you're thirsty and prevents the formation of urine.
As the authors of the new study expected, people who see the world as a threatening place tended to not engage in charitable activities - except if they had particular variants of the receptor genes that the researchers were looking for.
It turns out that if the receptors are especially sensitive to oxytocin and vasopressin, even people who fear others in society will do nice things, said Michael Poulin, assistant professor of psychology at the University at Buffalo and study co-author.
"We’ve found that these genes also predict people’s willingness to be nice on behalf of other people or aggressive on behalf of other people," Poulin said. In other words, such biological factors may influence your willingness to defend someone else.
That is consistent with other research, which found that rat mothers are more willing to be aggressive on behalf of pups when they received oxytocin.
Previous research has also shown that these hormones make people more socially active.
Blame the DNA?
Keep in mind that this study only shows associations between genes, hormones and behavior, and doesn't prove direct causal links.
It's not a "blame your DNA" situation, Poulin said.
"While we found some interesting interactions with genes and perceptions of the world, I would resist saying that we found genes that control behavior," he cautioned.
The next step for this area of study is to look at how sensitive people are to different kinds of threats.
A few questions that might be posed by future researchers:
–Is it important for people to believe they're helping good people?
–Is there something in a person's background or upbringing that influences how threatening they believe the world is?
Poulin and colleagues will also look at what other behaviors these genes might influence.
So it's probably a little too early for mean people to start using their DNA as a convenient excuse for their bad behavior. But maybe someday..."
"Happiness is like perfume: you can't pour it on somebody
else without getting a few drops on yourself." -James Van Der Zee
This is a question that I'm sure at least some people with Moebius Syndrome, when they've been on the receiving end of cruel mocking, have wondered: what makes mean people mean? Read on:
"Let's face it - everyone isn't nice. In fact, being nice is more difficult for some people than others. But is it possible that "niceness" is predetermined by our genes?
A new study in the journal Psychological Science suggests this: If you think the world is full of threatening people, you're not going feel compelled to be generous by doing things like volunteering and donating to charity. But if you have certain gene variants, you're more likely to be nice anyway.
Now hold on a minute - this doesn't give your mean neighbor an excuse to blame his DNA for not letting kids on the block play on his lawn.
It's a little more complicated than that.
The research: A few questions and some spit
Researchers offered an online survey to participants asking questions like:
–do people have a duty to pay taxes?
–are people basically good or bad?
–do you engage in charitable activities?
Then some participants sent in samples of their saliva so researchers could check out their DNA. A total of 348 U.S. residents were included in the final analysis.
Researchers analyzed the spit samples. They looked at the particular variants of receptor genes these people had for the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin.
In case you're wondering, oxytocin and vasopressin are very similar structurally, and seem to have some similar social effects. For example, they're both associated with pair bonding - aka bringing closer together two spouses or a mom and her child.
In fact, that's why oxytocin has been called "the cuddle hormone."
But while the hormones have similar effects on the brain, they differ in the rest of the body. Oxytocin can induce labor. Vasopressin increases when you're thirsty and prevents the formation of urine.
As the authors of the new study expected, people who see the world as a threatening place tended to not engage in charitable activities - except if they had particular variants of the receptor genes that the researchers were looking for.
It turns out that if the receptors are especially sensitive to oxytocin and vasopressin, even people who fear others in society will do nice things, said Michael Poulin, assistant professor of psychology at the University at Buffalo and study co-author.
"We’ve found that these genes also predict people’s willingness to be nice on behalf of other people or aggressive on behalf of other people," Poulin said. In other words, such biological factors may influence your willingness to defend someone else.
That is consistent with other research, which found that rat mothers are more willing to be aggressive on behalf of pups when they received oxytocin.
Previous research has also shown that these hormones make people more socially active.
Blame the DNA?
Keep in mind that this study only shows associations between genes, hormones and behavior, and doesn't prove direct causal links.
It's not a "blame your DNA" situation, Poulin said.
"While we found some interesting interactions with genes and perceptions of the world, I would resist saying that we found genes that control behavior," he cautioned.
The next step for this area of study is to look at how sensitive people are to different kinds of threats.
A few questions that might be posed by future researchers:
–Is it important for people to believe they're helping good people?
–Is there something in a person's background or upbringing that influences how threatening they believe the world is?
Poulin and colleagues will also look at what other behaviors these genes might influence.
So it's probably a little too early for mean people to start using their DNA as a convenient excuse for their bad behavior. But maybe someday..."
"Happiness is like perfume: you can't pour it on somebody
else without getting a few drops on yourself." -James Van Der Zee
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
THOSE TEACHABLE MOMENTS
One of my friends the other day on Facebook was talking about the fact that many ordinary people don't know anything, have never heard of, Moebius Syndrome; and so what do you do if, for example, your child has Moebius and some adult is urging him or her to smile? How do you handle this? How do you address it? Do you need to address it? Well, so, here's my handy-dandy quick take on how you might look at "teachable moments" when it comes to Moebius Syndrome.
1. Many people do need to be taught. Most people from outside our circle have no idea of Moebius Syndrome. Very few people have it, compared to the world's population at large. So most have never heard of it. So yes, many people can certainly benefit from an explanation of Moebius; it can help us raise awareness of it and make ordinary people understand that people do have physical differences, but those people are still...people.
2. How will teachable moments arise? There are many ways for a "moment" to come up. Maybe you're a parent of a Moebius child, and someone wants your child to smile. Or another child asks you why your son or daughter is different. Or another adult will ask you why your child is retarded, or something along those lines, not understanding that physical differences don't automatically mean any lack of mental capacity. Teachable moments can also come to you as an adult. As a teacher, on the first day of class, I have the chance to tell students why I look different. Or it can come in the most mundane of ways--once, when I was having my hair cut, and the stylist was about to trim my mustache, she asked me to close my mouth all the way; I explained why I couldn't.
3. But you certainly shouldn't feel like you have to "teach" others all the time. Of course not. Sometimes you're tired. At other times, there simply might not be time; or the situation isn't right for a discourse on Moebius Syndrome. You can simply say that it's a form of facial paralysis, and leave it at that.
4. But the more you do it, the better at it you will become. You'll learn shorter, snappier ways to explain it. I think you'll find that, once they know, people are understanding; it's the not knowing and not understanding that can make people uncomfortable and weird. But once they know, people are good with it. That's certainly been my experience. And people need to know.
"Ain't about how fast I get there; ain't about what's on the other side; it's the climb."--M. Cyrus.
One of my friends the other day on Facebook was talking about the fact that many ordinary people don't know anything, have never heard of, Moebius Syndrome; and so what do you do if, for example, your child has Moebius and some adult is urging him or her to smile? How do you handle this? How do you address it? Do you need to address it? Well, so, here's my handy-dandy quick take on how you might look at "teachable moments" when it comes to Moebius Syndrome.
1. Many people do need to be taught. Most people from outside our circle have no idea of Moebius Syndrome. Very few people have it, compared to the world's population at large. So most have never heard of it. So yes, many people can certainly benefit from an explanation of Moebius; it can help us raise awareness of it and make ordinary people understand that people do have physical differences, but those people are still...people.
2. How will teachable moments arise? There are many ways for a "moment" to come up. Maybe you're a parent of a Moebius child, and someone wants your child to smile. Or another child asks you why your son or daughter is different. Or another adult will ask you why your child is retarded, or something along those lines, not understanding that physical differences don't automatically mean any lack of mental capacity. Teachable moments can also come to you as an adult. As a teacher, on the first day of class, I have the chance to tell students why I look different. Or it can come in the most mundane of ways--once, when I was having my hair cut, and the stylist was about to trim my mustache, she asked me to close my mouth all the way; I explained why I couldn't.
3. But you certainly shouldn't feel like you have to "teach" others all the time. Of course not. Sometimes you're tired. At other times, there simply might not be time; or the situation isn't right for a discourse on Moebius Syndrome. You can simply say that it's a form of facial paralysis, and leave it at that.
4. But the more you do it, the better at it you will become. You'll learn shorter, snappier ways to explain it. I think you'll find that, once they know, people are understanding; it's the not knowing and not understanding that can make people uncomfortable and weird. But once they know, people are good with it. That's certainly been my experience. And people need to know.
"Ain't about how fast I get there; ain't about what's on the other side; it's the climb."--M. Cyrus.
Monday, April 16, 2012
ENCOURAGING NEWS
More companies seek to hire those with disabilities:
"As people with disabilities face a stubbornly high unemployment rate, a new survey of hiring professionals finds that most companies are taking steps to recruit those with special needs.
Nearly two-thirds of the the 662 human resources staff surveyed in a poll out this week said that their companies include disability in their diversity plans and train staff on how to interview people with various needs.
What’s more, in 57 percent of cases, hiring managers said their companies have relationships with local groups that promote employment of those with disabilities.
The survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management and the Cornell University ILR School Employment and Disability Institute indicates that large, publicly-traded companies are most likely to have policies and practices to urge hiring of those with disabilities.
In addition to policies, those behind the survey said that having a senior management team committed to hiring those with special needs appeared to make a big difference.
Despite the efforts, however, people with disabilities continue to experience high unemployment. As of March, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that 15.2 percent of people with disabilities were unemployed compared to 8.2 percent of the general population."
“Nothing happens to any man that he is not formed by nature to bear. ”--Marcus Aurelius (121-180)
"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have mastered, you will never grow." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
More companies seek to hire those with disabilities:
"As people with disabilities face a stubbornly high unemployment rate, a new survey of hiring professionals finds that most companies are taking steps to recruit those with special needs.
Nearly two-thirds of the the 662 human resources staff surveyed in a poll out this week said that their companies include disability in their diversity plans and train staff on how to interview people with various needs.
What’s more, in 57 percent of cases, hiring managers said their companies have relationships with local groups that promote employment of those with disabilities.
The survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management and the Cornell University ILR School Employment and Disability Institute indicates that large, publicly-traded companies are most likely to have policies and practices to urge hiring of those with disabilities.
In addition to policies, those behind the survey said that having a senior management team committed to hiring those with special needs appeared to make a big difference.
Despite the efforts, however, people with disabilities continue to experience high unemployment. As of March, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that 15.2 percent of people with disabilities were unemployed compared to 8.2 percent of the general population."
“Nothing happens to any man that he is not formed by nature to bear. ”--Marcus Aurelius (121-180)
"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have mastered, you will never grow." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Friday, April 13, 2012
BEWARE OF NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES
Research would seem to show that the fact is, if you have a facial difference, even persons who should know better will have negative thoughts about you:
"Even among caregivers of those with disabilities, new research suggests that the sight of someone with facial characteristics typical of Down syndrome triggers negative thoughts.
In a study published this month in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers showed a group of 165 adults standardized images of children with Down syndrome and typically developing kids, all exhibiting neutral expressions.
As the photographs flashed before them on a screen, participants were asked to use keys to respond as quickly as possible to assess both positive and negative character traits, judging for example whether or not a child appeared “affectionate” or “stupid.”
While the adults in the study expressed more positive than negative thoughts about kids with and without Down syndrome, negative opinions became more frequent as a child’s facial features tended more toward those characteristic of Down syndrome.
This trend held true even among the 55 study participants working as professional caregivers for people with intellectual disabilities, though these individuals held the most positive thoughts of all the study participants about kids with Down syndrome.
Researchers from Aix-Marseille University in Marseille, France who were behind the study say that the findings are significant because their test measured implicit thoughts, or feelings that people may not freely divulge.
“Research into the social perception of intellectually disabled persons has been largely one-sided, focusing predominantly on thoughts and feelings, which may be distorted by social desirability concerns. In the current research, we found evidence of subtle forms of prejudice toward children with special needs at both the explicit and implicit levels,” they wrote.
The fact that professional caregivers were more likely to express positive impressions, however, suggests that relationships with individuals who have intellectual disabilities do make an impact, the study authors said."
Now this is not, of course, a reason to hide yourself from the world, and give up. The fact that the research also shows that those who have relationships with those with physical differences have their feelings and opinions changed is a very good thing. Instead, we simply have to remember that the more awareness we sow, the more "out there" we get, the more people get to know about us, the better it will be.
“Often the difference between a successful person and a failure is not one's better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on one's ideas, to take a calculated risk- and to act. ”---André Malraux (1901-1976);
Research would seem to show that the fact is, if you have a facial difference, even persons who should know better will have negative thoughts about you:
"Even among caregivers of those with disabilities, new research suggests that the sight of someone with facial characteristics typical of Down syndrome triggers negative thoughts.
In a study published this month in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers showed a group of 165 adults standardized images of children with Down syndrome and typically developing kids, all exhibiting neutral expressions.
As the photographs flashed before them on a screen, participants were asked to use keys to respond as quickly as possible to assess both positive and negative character traits, judging for example whether or not a child appeared “affectionate” or “stupid.”
While the adults in the study expressed more positive than negative thoughts about kids with and without Down syndrome, negative opinions became more frequent as a child’s facial features tended more toward those characteristic of Down syndrome.
This trend held true even among the 55 study participants working as professional caregivers for people with intellectual disabilities, though these individuals held the most positive thoughts of all the study participants about kids with Down syndrome.
Researchers from Aix-Marseille University in Marseille, France who were behind the study say that the findings are significant because their test measured implicit thoughts, or feelings that people may not freely divulge.
“Research into the social perception of intellectually disabled persons has been largely one-sided, focusing predominantly on thoughts and feelings, which may be distorted by social desirability concerns. In the current research, we found evidence of subtle forms of prejudice toward children with special needs at both the explicit and implicit levels,” they wrote.
The fact that professional caregivers were more likely to express positive impressions, however, suggests that relationships with individuals who have intellectual disabilities do make an impact, the study authors said."
Now this is not, of course, a reason to hide yourself from the world, and give up. The fact that the research also shows that those who have relationships with those with physical differences have their feelings and opinions changed is a very good thing. Instead, we simply have to remember that the more awareness we sow, the more "out there" we get, the more people get to know about us, the better it will be.
“Often the difference between a successful person and a failure is not one's better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on one's ideas, to take a calculated risk- and to act. ”---André Malraux (1901-1976);
Thursday, April 12, 2012
HOW TO PREVENT EYE PROBLEMS
And of course many of us with Moebius Syndrome already have "eye problems", you might say--many of have strabismus. Some of us have been able to have that corrected; some of us haven't. But still, whether you have strabismus or not, you can still use your eyes to see--and you still want to prevent, therefore, deterioration of your sight, near-sighted or far-sightedness, etc. There are simple ways to do it:
"More women than men are diagnosed each year with eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a progressive eye disease that is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the elderly. According to the National Eye Institute, women are more predisposed to eye diseases due to hormonal factors and because women generally live longer.
And of course many of us with Moebius Syndrome already have "eye problems", you might say--many of have strabismus. Some of us have been able to have that corrected; some of us haven't. But still, whether you have strabismus or not, you can still use your eyes to see--and you still want to prevent, therefore, deterioration of your sight, near-sighted or far-sightedness, etc. There are simple ways to do it:
"More women than men are diagnosed each year with eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a progressive eye disease that is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the elderly. According to the National Eye Institute, women are more predisposed to eye diseases due to hormonal factors and because women generally live longer.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
FIVE WAYS TO SMASH STRESS
Something we can all use--here they are:
"You know you should take a few deep breaths when you feel stressed. Instead you inhale a doughnut (or five). Strange? Not at all. Your strained brain craves instant gratification, often in the form of a quick fix like food or alcohol, says James Herman, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at the University of Cincinnati. "These things activate reward pathways while quieting the amygdala, the emotional, overwrought area of your brain."
The trouble with the Krispy Kreme cure, besides the inevitable risk of obesity and the powdered sugar on your neckties, is that it's really just a stress Band-Aid. In the long term you may feel more mentally steamrolled than ever. And when your psyche suffers, so does your body. In fact, in a new Oregon State University study, researchers found that chronically stressed middle-aged men were almost 50 percent more likely to die during an 18-year period than those who experienced fewer stressful events. Which of these guys do you want to be?
Good choice. Now follow this plan for replacing your current so-called coping strategies with techniques that'll feel like a shiatsu massage for your mind.
How you cope: Down a dessert
There's a reason you equate sugar with serenity. When you consume the sweet stuff, your prefrontal cortex, a part of your brain that helps control emotions, is activated, says Herman. The danger of a sugar binge: Men with higher anxiety are also more likely to have elevated glucose levels, according to scientists in Japan. In fact, the American Diabetes Association warns that long-term stress may push your blood-sugar levels into the diabetic range if they're already higher than normal.
Do this instead: Savor a small portion of ice cream
The stress-busting benefits of dessert are due more to the flavor than the fat and calories, says Herman. "High-calorie foods often taste better, but calories aren't necessary for food's effects on stress." Buy a single-serve treat and take half an hour to eat it; savoring the flavor can extend the calming effect.
How you cope: Pour a drink
After a few shots of Jack, the office jackass is the last person on your mind. When alcohol enters your bloodstream, it seems to activate reward pathways for temporary relief. Ultimately, though, it may intensify your depression, says William Pollack, Ph.D., a Men's Health mental health advisor. In a University of Chicago study, stressed-out men injected with alcohol felt anxious longer than guys in a placebo group. Booze may disrupt your body's calming process, prolonging the mental misery.
Do this instead: Self-medicate with music
A study in Nature Neuroscience found that listening to favorite tunes or anticipating a certain point in a song can cause a pleasurable flood of dopamine. Listen to a few songs in a row several times a day. "These doses of dopamine can lower your stress, removing the trigger that causes you to seek alcohol," says Edward Roth, M.T.-B.C., a professor of music therapy at Western Michigan University.
How you cope: Play Call of Duty all night
The lure of a record-breaking kill/death ratio isn't the only thing keeping you up till 3 a.m. Stanford researchers found that playing video games stimulates the brain's mesocorticolimbic system, a key reward region. And the more you win, the more the area lights up. The downside: Most video games are sedentary and mimic the competitiveness of a stressful job, which may negate any brain benefits, says Michael Addis, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Clark University.
Do this instead: Build a fence
Learn to braise meat. Practice the ukulele. Activities that give you a sense of mastery can also activate the mesocorticolimbic system, deploying a rush of dopamine. Plus, as you practice your new skill, you enter a healthy psychological state known as flow. "You lose track of time and are completely immersed in what you're doing," says Addis. "It's incredibly relaxing to the mind."
How you cope: Drive too fast
Why do guys love Vegas? Or consider cliff jumping a worthy pastime? The same reason they speed: Risk taking produces a surge of endorphins, which numb pain, says Cleveland Clinic psychologist Michael McKee, Ph.D. But if you chase those thrills while you're stressed, they could kill you. Your judgment tends to become clouded, so it's harder to take calculated risks, explains Addis. "You're more likely to put yourself in unnecessary danger."
Do this instead: Hightail it to the gym
But don't default to your regular workout. If you're bored with your routine, you may not experience the normal post-gym endorphin rush, making exercise less effective as a stress fighter than it could be, says Addis. So try something new: Sign up for a martial arts class, check out an indoor rock-climbing center, or go mountain biking. These activities combine physical exertion with a bit of benign risk taking.
How you cope: Bury yourself in work
It's tempting to battle the stress of a massive workload by immersing yourself until it's done. Don't do it. "Concentration and productivity suffer when your brain doesn't have a chance to unwind, relax, and reset," says McKee. And your work performance may not be the only thing to suffer. In a new British study, people who worked 11 or more hours a day were nearly 70 percent more likely to develop heart disease over a 12-year period than those who worked 7-to 8-hour days.
Do this instead: Take a 60-second vacation
Each hour, spend a minute perusing a funny blog. (We like passiveaggressive notes.com.) Periodic breaks help you process and absorb new information, increasing your efficiency, says McKee. During your hiatus, take 10-second breaths, inhale 4 seconds, exhale 6, to bolster your heart's ability to recover from stress.
How you cope: Hibernate in your cave
If stress makes you want to retreat and hole up at home, here's why: Research shows that men generally favor the fight-or-flight stress response, whereas women are more likely to "tend and befriend" when they feel stressed. Which way is better? A 2009 British study linked social isolation with a more prolonged spike in heart-straining systolic blood pressure after a stressful event, and higher stress-hormone output throughout the day.
Do this instead: Watch the game with your buddies
And don't spend halftime bitching about your boss. Venting can actually be counterproductive; with men, it often turns into a stress-inducing "who has it worse" showdown, says Addis. Besides, the social aspect alone is enough to activate your brain's GABA receptors, which control fear and anxiety, in turn triggering feelings of calm and satisfaction, says Pollack."
“The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity. ”--Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885
Something we can all use--here they are:
"You know you should take a few deep breaths when you feel stressed. Instead you inhale a doughnut (or five). Strange? Not at all. Your strained brain craves instant gratification, often in the form of a quick fix like food or alcohol, says James Herman, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at the University of Cincinnati. "These things activate reward pathways while quieting the amygdala, the emotional, overwrought area of your brain."
The trouble with the Krispy Kreme cure, besides the inevitable risk of obesity and the powdered sugar on your neckties, is that it's really just a stress Band-Aid. In the long term you may feel more mentally steamrolled than ever. And when your psyche suffers, so does your body. In fact, in a new Oregon State University study, researchers found that chronically stressed middle-aged men were almost 50 percent more likely to die during an 18-year period than those who experienced fewer stressful events. Which of these guys do you want to be?
Good choice. Now follow this plan for replacing your current so-called coping strategies with techniques that'll feel like a shiatsu massage for your mind.
How you cope: Down a dessert
There's a reason you equate sugar with serenity. When you consume the sweet stuff, your prefrontal cortex, a part of your brain that helps control emotions, is activated, says Herman. The danger of a sugar binge: Men with higher anxiety are also more likely to have elevated glucose levels, according to scientists in Japan. In fact, the American Diabetes Association warns that long-term stress may push your blood-sugar levels into the diabetic range if they're already higher than normal.
Do this instead: Savor a small portion of ice cream
The stress-busting benefits of dessert are due more to the flavor than the fat and calories, says Herman. "High-calorie foods often taste better, but calories aren't necessary for food's effects on stress." Buy a single-serve treat and take half an hour to eat it; savoring the flavor can extend the calming effect.
How you cope: Pour a drink
After a few shots of Jack, the office jackass is the last person on your mind. When alcohol enters your bloodstream, it seems to activate reward pathways for temporary relief. Ultimately, though, it may intensify your depression, says William Pollack, Ph.D., a Men's Health mental health advisor. In a University of Chicago study, stressed-out men injected with alcohol felt anxious longer than guys in a placebo group. Booze may disrupt your body's calming process, prolonging the mental misery.
Do this instead: Self-medicate with music
A study in Nature Neuroscience found that listening to favorite tunes or anticipating a certain point in a song can cause a pleasurable flood of dopamine. Listen to a few songs in a row several times a day. "These doses of dopamine can lower your stress, removing the trigger that causes you to seek alcohol," says Edward Roth, M.T.-B.C., a professor of music therapy at Western Michigan University.
How you cope: Play Call of Duty all night
The lure of a record-breaking kill/death ratio isn't the only thing keeping you up till 3 a.m. Stanford researchers found that playing video games stimulates the brain's mesocorticolimbic system, a key reward region. And the more you win, the more the area lights up. The downside: Most video games are sedentary and mimic the competitiveness of a stressful job, which may negate any brain benefits, says Michael Addis, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Clark University.
Do this instead: Build a fence
Learn to braise meat. Practice the ukulele. Activities that give you a sense of mastery can also activate the mesocorticolimbic system, deploying a rush of dopamine. Plus, as you practice your new skill, you enter a healthy psychological state known as flow. "You lose track of time and are completely immersed in what you're doing," says Addis. "It's incredibly relaxing to the mind."
How you cope: Drive too fast
Why do guys love Vegas? Or consider cliff jumping a worthy pastime? The same reason they speed: Risk taking produces a surge of endorphins, which numb pain, says Cleveland Clinic psychologist Michael McKee, Ph.D. But if you chase those thrills while you're stressed, they could kill you. Your judgment tends to become clouded, so it's harder to take calculated risks, explains Addis. "You're more likely to put yourself in unnecessary danger."
Do this instead: Hightail it to the gym
But don't default to your regular workout. If you're bored with your routine, you may not experience the normal post-gym endorphin rush, making exercise less effective as a stress fighter than it could be, says Addis. So try something new: Sign up for a martial arts class, check out an indoor rock-climbing center, or go mountain biking. These activities combine physical exertion with a bit of benign risk taking.
How you cope: Bury yourself in work
It's tempting to battle the stress of a massive workload by immersing yourself until it's done. Don't do it. "Concentration and productivity suffer when your brain doesn't have a chance to unwind, relax, and reset," says McKee. And your work performance may not be the only thing to suffer. In a new British study, people who worked 11 or more hours a day were nearly 70 percent more likely to develop heart disease over a 12-year period than those who worked 7-to 8-hour days.
Do this instead: Take a 60-second vacation
Each hour, spend a minute perusing a funny blog. (We like passiveaggressive notes.com.) Periodic breaks help you process and absorb new information, increasing your efficiency, says McKee. During your hiatus, take 10-second breaths, inhale 4 seconds, exhale 6, to bolster your heart's ability to recover from stress.
How you cope: Hibernate in your cave
If stress makes you want to retreat and hole up at home, here's why: Research shows that men generally favor the fight-or-flight stress response, whereas women are more likely to "tend and befriend" when they feel stressed. Which way is better? A 2009 British study linked social isolation with a more prolonged spike in heart-straining systolic blood pressure after a stressful event, and higher stress-hormone output throughout the day.
Do this instead: Watch the game with your buddies
And don't spend halftime bitching about your boss. Venting can actually be counterproductive; with men, it often turns into a stress-inducing "who has it worse" showdown, says Addis. Besides, the social aspect alone is enough to activate your brain's GABA receptors, which control fear and anxiety, in turn triggering feelings of calm and satisfaction, says Pollack."
“The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity. ”--Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
NEGATIVE ASSUMPTIONS
Something occurred to me the other day; too often, too many of us with
Moebius probably are too negative about ourselves; we make certain
negative assumptions, assume they are always true, and thus inhibit
what we can accomplish. I know, because in the past, I have done it.
Maybe you have too. But we shouldn't do this.
For example, maybe some of you assume that nobody of the opposite sex
will ever find you attractive. You're afraid you'll never have a
relationship or get married. But look at the Moebius community--I
know a number of people who have in fact been married, have had
children, and have had very satisfying relationships. You can, too.
Maybe some of you assume that, because you're different, no one will
want to hire you for a job. But look at the Moebius community--I know
a number of people who have now, and have had, good and satisfying
jobs. You can find one, too. Or if you lost your job, you can find
another one.
Maybe some of you assume that you can't make new friends. But when I
look at the Moebius community, I see so many of us with wide circles
of friends, and who make new friends. All of you have friends. That
shows that you can make them. And it means you can make new ones.
Maybe some of you worry about driving a car. Your vision is
different; will you be able to master driving. But again, I know so
many in the Moebius community who drive, who have been driving for a
long time, and have been able to learn to do it and to master it.
It's being done. You can do it, too.
Come to the Moebius Syndrome conference this summer in Philadelphia.
Not only will it be a great time, but the chance you'll get, if you've
never done it before, to meet the wide circle of people in the Moebius
community will teach you all the things that others are doing--and all
the things you can do, too.
Something occurred to me the other day; too often, too many of us with
Moebius probably are too negative about ourselves; we make certain
negative assumptions, assume they are always true, and thus inhibit
what we can accomplish. I know, because in the past, I have done it.
Maybe you have too. But we shouldn't do this.
For example, maybe some of you assume that nobody of the opposite sex
will ever find you attractive. You're afraid you'll never have a
relationship or get married. But look at the Moebius community--I
know a number of people who have in fact been married, have had
children, and have had very satisfying relationships. You can, too.
Maybe some of you assume that, because you're different, no one will
want to hire you for a job. But look at the Moebius community--I know
a number of people who have now, and have had, good and satisfying
jobs. You can find one, too. Or if you lost your job, you can find
another one.
Maybe some of you assume that you can't make new friends. But when I
look at the Moebius community, I see so many of us with wide circles
of friends, and who make new friends. All of you have friends. That
shows that you can make them. And it means you can make new ones.
Maybe some of you worry about driving a car. Your vision is
different; will you be able to master driving. But again, I know so
many in the Moebius community who drive, who have been driving for a
long time, and have been able to learn to do it and to master it.
It's being done. You can do it, too.
Come to the Moebius Syndrome conference this summer in Philadelphia.
Not only will it be a great time, but the chance you'll get, if you've
never done it before, to meet the wide circle of people in the Moebius
community will teach you all the things that others are doing--and all
the things you can do, too.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
LOOK WHO'S IN THE TOP 100
Some folks are becoming famous--and they have connections to those of us with physical differences:
"A researcher and a Hollywood insider, both with ties to the disability community, are among more than 200 notable people nominated for Time Magazine’s annual “Time 100.”
Some folks are becoming famous--and they have connections to those of us with physical differences:
"A researcher and a Hollywood insider, both with ties to the disability community, are among more than 200 notable people nominated for Time Magazine’s annual “Time 100.”
The list posted on the magazine’s website includes Jason Katims, the executive producer of NBC’s “Parenthood,” as well as Karen Pierce, an autism researcher at the University of California at San Diego.
Katims, who has a son with Asperger’s syndrome, is well-known in the autism community for including a character with the developmental disability on “Parenthood” and making disability issues a significant part of the drama’s storyline.
Meanwhile, Pierce is working to establish screening tests which could be used to identify autism in children as young as 12 months.
Others nominated for the list of influential “leaders, artists, innovators, icons and heroes” include everyone from Beyonce to Warren Buffett.
Candidates are up for an online vote through Friday. The final list of the “Time 100″ will be revealed April 17."
Awareness continues to grow...
"A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and
a deadline." -Harvey MacKay
Katims, who has a son with Asperger’s syndrome, is well-known in the autism community for including a character with the developmental disability on “Parenthood” and making disability issues a significant part of the drama’s storyline.
Meanwhile, Pierce is working to establish screening tests which could be used to identify autism in children as young as 12 months.
Others nominated for the list of influential “leaders, artists, innovators, icons and heroes” include everyone from Beyonce to Warren Buffett.
Candidates are up for an online vote through Friday. The final list of the “Time 100″ will be revealed April 17."
Awareness continues to grow...
"A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and
a deadline." -Harvey MacKay
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
6 SIGNS YOU NEED MORE SLEEP
Do any of these apply to you?
"1. You're not hungry for lunch. A lack of sleep can make you constantly want to eat more, or persistently feel like you're not hungry. It throws off your internal clock resulting in abnormal feelings, which is why so many people lose or gain weight during periods of sleeplessness.
2. You've looked at three other Web sites in the last 5 minutes, and checked your email twice. No, you (probably) don't have Attention Deficit Disorder. Whether you're writing a quick email or solving chemical equations; a lack of sleep can make focusing seem impossible.
3. You can't remember where you put the car keys. Your brain needs sleep to refresh and regenerate. Without it, your short-term memory may be impaired, which is why pulling an all-nighter rarely yields better results than getting quality shut-eye, according to Dr. Neil Kline, a sleep physician and representative of the American Sleep Association.
4. You can't carry on a conversation. Come Saturday night you may work a party like a pro, but as long as you're sleep-deficient, coming up with witty, or even coherent, one-liners is out of the question.
5. You're drowsy at the wheel. Your eyes may glaze over now and then when you're staring at the computer screen or stuck in an endless meeting, but if you struggle to stay awake behind the wheel, or doing any task that puts your life at risk, you're not just bored. You need more sleep.
Caffeinated drinks, blasting music, or rolling down the windows (in January) may arouse you briefly, but it won't keep you alert for long drives.
6. You feel sick, and you never get sick. Your immune system repairs and strengthens while you sleep. So in addition to eating flu-fighting foods, log at least seven hours a night to stay healthy all season."
MOEBIUS SYNDROME IN THE NEWS
You may have already seen this story, but in case you haven't...read more about young Moebius hero Jack Marshall, from Great Britain, and the honor he will receive:
"
FOUR people from the Isle will have the honour of carrying the Olympic Flame as it makes its way towards London this summer.
Belton pair Jack Marshall (13) and Jonathan Buckley (27) will both take their turn carrying the torch on Tuesday, June 26, as it travels from Armthorpe, near Doncaster, towards Scunthorpe.
Crowle paratriathlete Alan Rayment (36) will also take hold of the Olympic Flame on the same day as it passes through the Isle, close to the A18 near Ealand and the High Levels Bank.
Making up the ‘fantastic four’ is Axholme Academy schoolgirl Katie Chester, of Eastoft, who will pick up the torch on June 27 as it travels from Cleethorpes to Lincoln.
Jonathan, training for the Brighton Marathon on April 15 and the London Marathon just seven days later, both for charity, reacted to the Olympic news.
“You each do 500 metres but I won’t find out which section until the day before,” he explained.
“I’m very excited and it’s nice the organisers are recognising small places, not just big towns and cities.”
An average of 115 torchbearers a day will carry the Olympic Flame during its 8,000 mile journey around the UK, starting on May 19 and ending at the Olympic Stadium on July 27.
Once there, the flame will light the cauldron at the opening ceremony, signifying the official start of the London Games.
Alan is a bilateral amputee who has been in a wheelchair since 1997 but this has not stopped the father-of-two raising thousands of pounds for charity via various sporting challenges.
“It’s fantastic to be given the opportunity to carry the torch, it will be a phenomenal experience, one to tell the grandchildren about,” he added.
Alan, of Windsor Road, has also secured tickets to watch the Paralympic Games which will follow on from the Olympics.
And as a National Facilitator for Sports Matters, he is doing his bit to create 40,000 volunteers for the games and its subsequent legacy.
He also applauded the third Isle torch bearer, Jack Marshall, who, like Alan, has overcome disability to raise thousands of pounds for worthy causes.
Jack, of Green Lane, suffers from a rare neurological condition called Moebius Syndrome which affects his life in many ways - and he was once told by doctors that he would never walk.
“Jack deserves this honour as he’s always climbing mountains or running races for charity,” said Alan.
“This is what any Paralympic or Olympic Games is all about, bringing communities together and getting the best out of people. Jack Marshall deserves every bit of this.”
Jack’s proud mum, Linda, said she would be buying an Olympic torch and holder to remember the unique event.
She added: “I think Jack appreciates the significance of the occasion and we will be watching and supporting him on the route.”
The fourth Isle torch bearer is 14-year-old Katie Chester who was the unanimous nomination of Axholme Academy staff.
Teachers recognised her commitment to all aspects of academic life, including sporting and musical achievements, involvement with the school council and her many extra-curricular activities. “I am really excited and really didn’t think they would pick me,” said Katie, of Washinghall Lane. I have always watched the Olympics when it’s been in other countries and it’s really good that it’s coming here. This is a once in a lifetime thing and it’ll be something I always remember.”
“One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness. ”--Josh Billings (1818-1885
Do any of these apply to you?
"1. You're not hungry for lunch. A lack of sleep can make you constantly want to eat more, or persistently feel like you're not hungry. It throws off your internal clock resulting in abnormal feelings, which is why so many people lose or gain weight during periods of sleeplessness.
2. You've looked at three other Web sites in the last 5 minutes, and checked your email twice. No, you (probably) don't have Attention Deficit Disorder. Whether you're writing a quick email or solving chemical equations; a lack of sleep can make focusing seem impossible.
3. You can't remember where you put the car keys. Your brain needs sleep to refresh and regenerate. Without it, your short-term memory may be impaired, which is why pulling an all-nighter rarely yields better results than getting quality shut-eye, according to Dr. Neil Kline, a sleep physician and representative of the American Sleep Association.
4. You can't carry on a conversation. Come Saturday night you may work a party like a pro, but as long as you're sleep-deficient, coming up with witty, or even coherent, one-liners is out of the question.
5. You're drowsy at the wheel. Your eyes may glaze over now and then when you're staring at the computer screen or stuck in an endless meeting, but if you struggle to stay awake behind the wheel, or doing any task that puts your life at risk, you're not just bored. You need more sleep.
Caffeinated drinks, blasting music, or rolling down the windows (in January) may arouse you briefly, but it won't keep you alert for long drives.
6. You feel sick, and you never get sick. Your immune system repairs and strengthens while you sleep. So in addition to eating flu-fighting foods, log at least seven hours a night to stay healthy all season."
MOEBIUS SYNDROME IN THE NEWS
You may have already seen this story, but in case you haven't...read more about young Moebius hero Jack Marshall, from Great Britain, and the honor he will receive:
"
FOUR people from the Isle will have the honour of carrying the Olympic Flame as it makes its way towards London this summer.
Belton pair Jack Marshall (13) and Jonathan Buckley (27) will both take their turn carrying the torch on Tuesday, June 26, as it travels from Armthorpe, near Doncaster, towards Scunthorpe.
Crowle paratriathlete Alan Rayment (36) will also take hold of the Olympic Flame on the same day as it passes through the Isle, close to the A18 near Ealand and the High Levels Bank.
Making up the ‘fantastic four’ is Axholme Academy schoolgirl Katie Chester, of Eastoft, who will pick up the torch on June 27 as it travels from Cleethorpes to Lincoln.
Jonathan, training for the Brighton Marathon on April 15 and the London Marathon just seven days later, both for charity, reacted to the Olympic news.
“You each do 500 metres but I won’t find out which section until the day before,” he explained.
“I’m very excited and it’s nice the organisers are recognising small places, not just big towns and cities.”
An average of 115 torchbearers a day will carry the Olympic Flame during its 8,000 mile journey around the UK, starting on May 19 and ending at the Olympic Stadium on July 27.
Once there, the flame will light the cauldron at the opening ceremony, signifying the official start of the London Games.
Alan is a bilateral amputee who has been in a wheelchair since 1997 but this has not stopped the father-of-two raising thousands of pounds for charity via various sporting challenges.
“It’s fantastic to be given the opportunity to carry the torch, it will be a phenomenal experience, one to tell the grandchildren about,” he added.
Alan, of Windsor Road, has also secured tickets to watch the Paralympic Games which will follow on from the Olympics.
And as a National Facilitator for Sports Matters, he is doing his bit to create 40,000 volunteers for the games and its subsequent legacy.
He also applauded the third Isle torch bearer, Jack Marshall, who, like Alan, has overcome disability to raise thousands of pounds for worthy causes.
Jack, of Green Lane, suffers from a rare neurological condition called Moebius Syndrome which affects his life in many ways - and he was once told by doctors that he would never walk.
“Jack deserves this honour as he’s always climbing mountains or running races for charity,” said Alan.
“This is what any Paralympic or Olympic Games is all about, bringing communities together and getting the best out of people. Jack Marshall deserves every bit of this.”
Jack’s proud mum, Linda, said she would be buying an Olympic torch and holder to remember the unique event.
She added: “I think Jack appreciates the significance of the occasion and we will be watching and supporting him on the route.”
The fourth Isle torch bearer is 14-year-old Katie Chester who was the unanimous nomination of Axholme Academy staff.
Teachers recognised her commitment to all aspects of academic life, including sporting and musical achievements, involvement with the school council and her many extra-curricular activities. “I am really excited and really didn’t think they would pick me,” said Katie, of Washinghall Lane. I have always watched the Olympics when it’s been in other countries and it’s really good that it’s coming here. This is a once in a lifetime thing and it’ll be something I always remember.”
“One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness. ”--Josh Billings (1818-1885
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
COULD YOUR CHILD BE A "BLOOMER"?
As this explains, it can happen to children born with autism. I suspect it can happen to children with Moebius Syndrome, too. I'll explain more of what I mean below--but first, let's get a taste of what the article has to say:
"Karen Melville remembers when her son Danny was diagnosed with autism so severe that his doctor feared he might never even talk, much less go to school. “It was like a freight train hit,” said Melville, a 39-year-old mother of two who lives in Brunswick, Ohio.
As this explains, it can happen to children born with autism. I suspect it can happen to children with Moebius Syndrome, too. I'll explain more of what I mean below--but first, let's get a taste of what the article has to say:
"Karen Melville remembers when her son Danny was diagnosed with autism so severe that his doctor feared he might never even talk, much less go to school. “It was like a freight train hit,” said Melville, a 39-year-old mother of two who lives in Brunswick, Ohio.
Five years of intensive therapy have paid off. Danny, now age 7, is OK’d to go to school next year in a mostly mainstream class that will have a total of three “high functioning” kids with autism. “Now when he finds something he thinks is really cool on the computer -- like a humpback whale swimming -- he wants to show me,” Melville said.
Danny may be one of what researchers are now calling “bloomers” – kids who start out as severely affected but who manage to grow beyond most of their symptoms.
About 10 percent of children who are severely affected by autism at age 3 seem to have “bloomed” by age 8, leaving behind many of the condition’s crippling deficits, a new study shows. And while these “bloomers” still retain some of autism’s symptoms, like the tendency to rock back and forth when stressed or to repeat the same behavior over and over, they become what experts dub, “high functioning,” according to the study published today in Pediatrics. That means their social skills and their ability to communicate have vastly improved."
And I think this can happen with children who have Moebius Syndrome, too. I think that due to my own story. When I was very little, I had pretty severe symptoms, too. It took me a long time to learn how to talk, to communicate. (Now I suppose my problem is that I never shut up. :+) I had a hard time controlling my saliva. It took me forever, I'm sure it seemed, to be able to print letters, to write my name, to tie my own shoes.
But the same thing happened to me that happens to some children with autism--at a certain point, I bloomed. I learned how to talk, I learned how to write, I could be "mainstreamed", I did well in school. I think that, when it comes to speaking, the thing to remember is that persons with Moebius Syndrome usually have a mouth that is shaped differently than others have; we can't get full lip closure; our tongues don't function the same way as others' might. So we want to talk, we want to make the same sounds and say the same words that others do, but it takes us maybe a bit longer to figure out how we have to use our mouths and our tongues to make those words. But once we do, look out. I was eventually lucky enough to get a Ph.D. in history, and I now teach history...
So if you are a Moebius parent, and you have a young child with Moebius, and it seems all very severe--then it's only natural to wonder, will my child get better? What kind of a life will he or she have? But take heart. There are plenty of us Moebius adults who appeared to have it pretty tough; but we bloomed. And with some hard work and dedication, on your part, and on the part of your child, your child can, too.
Monday, April 2, 2012
THE MOVIE "BULLY"
Looks like those of us in the Moebius community might want to see it--and it's apparently a movie the whole family can see:
"In a widely publicized decision, the ratings board of the Motion Picture Association of America insisted on an R rating for the movie “Bully,” a documentary about children who are bullied, their tormenters and the adults who let both of them down, because of profanity in the film. An R rating means the children who could most benefit from the film would not be able to see it without their parents.
The film has now been released without a rating after the association denied both an appeal and a nationwide petition drive, leaving the decision about whether children can attend without their parents to individual theaters.
But as A.O. Scott’s review reveals, “Bully” is a film for the whole family to see, and will certainly give parents much to think about and discuss with their children. Mr. Scott writes:
Looks like those of us in the Moebius community might want to see it--and it's apparently a movie the whole family can see:
"In a widely publicized decision, the ratings board of the Motion Picture Association of America insisted on an R rating for the movie “Bully,” a documentary about children who are bullied, their tormenters and the adults who let both of them down, because of profanity in the film. An R rating means the children who could most benefit from the film would not be able to see it without their parents.
The film has now been released without a rating after the association denied both an appeal and a nationwide petition drive, leaving the decision about whether children can attend without their parents to individual theaters.
But as A.O. Scott’s review reveals, “Bully” is a film for the whole family to see, and will certainly give parents much to think about and discuss with their children. Mr. Scott writes:
Alex, a 14-year-old in Sioux City, Iowa, whose daily routine includes being teased, humiliated and assaulted (especially on the school bus), cannot bear to tell his parents what is going on. He even sticks up for his tormenters, who he says are “just messing around” when they stab him with pencils and call him vile names.“Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.”--Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965
“If not for them, what friends do I have?” he asks his distraught, confused mother.
It’s a heartbreaking moment. Equally sad — and also infuriating and painfully revealing — is a scene in which an assistant principal at Alex’s middle school tries to settle a conflict between two boys who apparently had been fighting at recess. When she insists that they shake hands, one eagerly obliges, with a smile and an apology. The other sullenly resists, and as she scolds him for his noncooperation (letting his antagonist go), it becomes clear that this boy is the victim, and that the assistant principal’s rushed attempt to be fair is in fact perpetuating a terrible and continuing injustice….
There is a little swearing in the movie, and a lot of upsetting stuff, but while some of it may shock parents, very little of it is likely to surprise their school-age children."
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