HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING DISSOCIATIVE COPING

A trail in the middle of a field with yellow flowers.

Dissociation is considered an interference or disruption in our consciousness, memory, identity, emotions, awareness and motor control. These can be experienced as feeling detached from our bodies, thoughts or emotions; feeling like we are in a dream or that things around us are not real; gaps in our memory of things, especially if these are…

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HOW COMMON IS PTSD?

A view of the mountains from above with trees in the foreground.

Years ago post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] was only used for combat veterans. However, it is now considered much more common as it is recognized that a number of different experiences may lead to PTSD. What increases the likelihood that PTSD will develop? So, what is the significance of more people developing PTSD? One thing…

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“CONSCIOUSNESS…OUR HUMANITY BEGINS AND ENDS WITH CONSCIOUS LIFE, CONSCIOUSNESS. IT IS THIS THEN THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO ALL THE REST AND IT IS HOW WE USE ALL THE REST THAT SERVES FINAL JUDGEMENT ON WHETHER THAT CONSCIOUSNESS WAS A GIFT OR A TEST THAT WE HAVE FAILED.”

A rainbow over the top of a hill

The above is a quote from the ending of a series of lectures on consciousness by Daniel N. Robinson, Ph.D. presented by the Great Courses. Over 12 lectures Dr. Robinson carefully laid out the fact that we do not know what consciousness is and yet know how critical it is to who we are as…

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 LOW TSH LEVELS AND RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

A lake with trees and mountains in the background

I HAVE TREATED A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD HYPOTHYROID SYMPTOMS THAT PERSIST EVEN WHEN THEIR TSH LEVELS ARE LOW [< 0.4 mIU/L]. UNDERSTANDABLY, THEIR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS OR ENDOCRINOLOGISTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, SUCH AS ATRIAL FIBRILLATION, AND STROKE OR FRACTURES AS THESE ARE SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTHYROIDISM THAT COULD BE DIAGNOSED BY…

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MAID [MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING] IS A CANADIAN PROGRAM THAT OFFERS EUTHANASIA SERVICES FOR CANADIANS

A waterfall with water pouring over it.

THE MAID Program provides euthanasia services for Canadians who are: eligible for publicly funded health services; 18 years of age; able to make their own health decisions; have an untreatable [serious and incurable] illness; be in an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability; experiencde intolerable physical or psychological suffering that can not be relieved…

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IS THERE REALLY NO REASON TO REACT TO ANYTHING?

A field of daisies in the sunlight.

This seems like a ridiculous question as people can think of many things that demand and require a reaction from us. So what is wrong with reacting? What do we get by reacting? I, of course, believe that the only thing we get from reacting is feeling lonely.  When we react we are not connected…

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WHAT LEADS TO LONELINESS

DON'T GIVE IN TO BULLIES

A similar question would be what separates us from each other? Or, are we really social animals? Or , do we really need each other? Or, are we really all connected? Or, is anything that separates us bad? I believe that being (or even feeling) separated from each other leads to loneliness. Also, referring to…

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YOU ARE NATURE’S BEST HOPE

A field of flowers with purple and yellow flowers.

I have been inspired by Douglas Tallamay’s book entitled “Nature’s Best Hope.” In his book Mr. Tallamay convincingly and at times poetically makes the case for each of us to turn half of our lawns into pollinator gardens as this can help reverse the impact of climate change. Mr. Tallamay makes it very clear how…

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“US AGAINST THEM” IS KILLING OUR COUNTRY

Our country has become more and more divided over the last year and it is hurting all of us. When we demonize people it keeps us from working with them to solve problems. This separates us from those we criticize and actually separates us from even people that we agree with as our being critical…

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