This and That
We've been without a computer for a couple of days. L managed to pick up a nasty Trojan via spyware from one of several sites he visited Thursday morning. Z was ecstatic that Dad did it this time. Z usually contracts these when he visits freeware sites that his Dad has told him NOT to visit.
The weather here is depressing. We've had 15 minutes of sunshine in the last 3 weeks. The forecast is the same, day after day after day..... lows in the 20s, highs in the 30s, 30% chance of light snow or freezing rain. We've had 1 below zero night, all winter. We haven't even had to plug our vehicles in yet. This is NOT winter in northern MN!!
35% of MN loggers have given up logging this winter. The ground hasn't frozen enough to prevent rut damage. The other 65% are harvesting in dry land areas, which they normally save for summer harvest. This means that the rest of the loggers will be unemployed this summer. This is a HEAVY blow to the MN economy!
Does anybody else have a problem with a group of American evangelists creating a 25 acre "Christian tourist center" in Israel? The plans for this park also include a theme park. WTF?! I don't want to think about the possible names for the rides in this theme park!! Israel has kicked Pat Robertson out of this venture. Hopefully they'll shitcan the WHOLE IDEA!
Z had a major meltdown Monday night. He gets so frustrated with his disabilities. Fortunately, we had an appointment with his psychologist on Tuesday. She feels that anti-anxiety meds may be in order. The only psychiatrist in town is booked solid for the next 5 months, so she suggested that we see our family doctor. Z is totally against ANY meds. I guess the next step is to have Z research the various anti-anxiety meds and their effectiveness and side effects. MAYBE this will convince him to give it a try.
I'm EXHAUSTED! I've had to work 18 of the last 21 days. I'm so looking forward to having next weekend off! In addition, our morning dishwasher didn't show up Monday-Thursday last week, so I had to wash dishes in addition to waittressing. I KNEW that a week with Friday the 13th AND a full moon wouldn't be a good one.
We are now working at getting more structure in our cluttered lives. Structure is a very important ingredient to Z's learning environment. The Holiday Season took it's toll on what little structure we had in place. A new year is the perfect time to re-structure ourselves and HOPEFULLY move forward.
posted by tshsmom @ 9:02 AM
29 comments
29 Comments:
I can't remember the last time I saw sun, either - until this morning! I might actually have to go out and take a walk in it.
I hadn't heard of the Christian theme park - what's the purpose?
Re. anxiety meds. I usually say to friends that if they're gonna help you cope better and therefore make it easier to deal with your issues, then they're not a bad idea - short term. There's nothing wrong with a bit of symptom management to get you to a place where you can then learn some tools to deal with anxiety without meds. That's my two cents, for what it's worth.
Good advice WC! That's exactly what I told him. Unfortunately, he's not convinced, YET.
I assume the purpose of the "park" is to make the evangelists richer. Isn't that what ALL their projects accomplish?
yeah for structure
not that I've really tried that out yet...
I'm having computer problems myself. I'm trying to switch my computers over to the Linux OSX system instead of DOS and MS Windows. I can't even get the software installed because my computers want to boot from the floppy instead of the CD. I've tried changing this in the BIOS settings, but neither computer is letting me do that. Ugh! As for meds, having battled depression for years, determined to go without meds, which I've pretty much successfully done, I always thought, as long as I can handle it and I'm not suicidal, I'm good to go. But after staying with my friend and her mom for a couple of weeks, her mom came to me one day and gave me an herbal supplement (to calm me down). I said I felt fine and didn't want to take it. She said take it before we both strangle you and hide your body. So, it's not just about your child dealing with the problems, it's also how he interacts with others and how they can also cope with his behavior. I took the supplements and became Glinda the Good Witch once again.
VV: very interesting story re. the herbal supplement. Sometimes we have no perspective and it takes an outside source to let us know when we need help or resources. I'm glad you had good friends there for you at that time.
Terrible to go without the sun like that - we had about 10 days of no sun and I was going stir crazy. I had no idea that the less-cold weather would negatively affect the loggers like that. I hope that it gets nice and cold for you soon.
I'm against the themepark in Israel.
No reason to be a hero with the meds. If they help - then thank GOD it's 2006 and meds are available to help! Better living through better chemistry - that's MY motto! All kidding aside - I've been through the ringer with meds and misdiagnosed stuff and wrong meds given and back and forth. It's hell. I would be worried about a tranquilizer type of thing but there are other meds that help with anxiety that are not tranquilizers. Herbals are a good way to try, too. (IMHO..) LOL Vancouver Voyeur - good story and I can so relate..
I wish you the best. Anxiety is horrible. ((hugs))
I feel for you, TSHS. Even though I'm not in crappy weather right now, I would be if I hadn't moved (Seattle has had how many days of straight rain?). I understand Z not wanting meds - my son is the same way. I just explain to him that, if he can't manage his "x" naturally, then he should give meds a shot. Since he hates pills, I know pretty quickly if he can find some alternatives or if we have to visit the doc.
Just down the road from me in Orlando is the theme park Holy Land. I just shiver every time I drive by it.
It makes no sense! But the puns I can come up with would send me straight to hell.
We've been working at it for years, Euro! ;)
VV, Z is afraid of becoming suicidal on meds. Those pharmaceutical commercials on TV are NO HELP!
Bridg, we told him that he probably wouldn't have to be on them forever; just long enough to get his OCD under control. As it stands right now, we're giving him a week to try to pull himself out on his own. We only gave him a week because I'm positive he can't do it by himself. We don't have time to delay this any longer. We're afraid that he'll just keep sinking lower.
Monica, we don't want to go the tranquilizer route either. Mostly because he's starting to get depressed and we don't want to aggravate that situation. Stimulants tend to make tics worse with Tourette's, so we're between a rock and a hard place. We're hoping there's a 3rd alternative, which only the doctor would know. ;)
Northern MN is mostly swamp. State law says that the loggers can't disturb wetlands by leaving ruts with their heavy equipment, so winter logging is their only option.
Notta, I guess we should be thankful that they don't want to drug themselves, but there are times when they can't handle it alone.
Robin, I'm wondering if they'll have a "Holy Rollercoaster"? ;)
tshs: while I admire your trying to teach Z to be responsible for his own mental health and take responsibility for his treatment/healing, there comes a time when you have to make the call yourself because he's not mature enough to see the consequences of not managing his challenges properly. I applaud you for giving him a time limit - that was an excellent idea. But like I said to VV, when we are in a state of anxiety and it's spiralling, we lack perspective and we then need someone to come in and call the shots for us.
So good for you. I know you'll follow through, too.
Y'all were on the weather channel tonight. (Yes! I actually sit and watch the weather channel..) It was a special story they did on the lack of cold weather in MN. I thought of you when I saw it.
I am terrified of picking up a virus or trojan or anything else like it! Glad you have your computer back.
Bad news about the loggers and all the washing up you have had to do! I hate washing up :(
I thought the theme park idea was a joke at first and I still think so :)
The best thing I've found to help brain chemistry in a natural way is strenuous daily exercise, sunlight, and herbal supplements. I refuse to take the prescription meds too. Too afraid of the side-effects. Keep looking for alternatives if your son won't take prescriptions. More than likely you'll be able to find a natural way to cope. Good luck.
Wasn't the "Christian tourist center" stolen from Ned Flanders?
Weather is so weird this year. Our snow started early and came on hard. Then it got warm just before Christmas and we haven't had measurable snow since. In MI we rarely get sunny days in the winter. I'll bet we've had four of them in the last two weeks. Weird.
A holy land theme park to make evangelists rich. So what's new here?
Good luck on the anti-anxiety meds for Z.
ZF, don't tell anybody, but ALL evangelists are addicted to The Simpsons...shhhh. ;)
Milady, this whole park thing came out after Pat Robertson insulted the Israelis over Sharon. Israel kicked Robertson out of the park plan, but maintained negotiations with the other evangelists.
Monica, Z obsessively watches the Weather Channel in the summer. We just watch the forecasts in the winter.
Between logging and winter tourism our winter economy is pretty much in the shitter. :(
VV, I've been successfully treating my perimenopause with herbals for the last couple of years. Z is already taking zinc and flaxseed oil, which can help his ADD. Now I just have to see what's available for OCD before we go to the doctor.
We've also been working on a better exercise plan for the winter. Exercise is easy in the summer, but winter has it's challenges.
Squirl, I've been telling everybody about the green grass pictures you posted. This weather is getting spooky!
We've had 15 minutes of sunshine in the last 3 weeks.
I thought you lived in Minnesota, not Seattle. ;)
Don't you love it when dishwashers don't show up? I've waited tables for years so I know exactly how you feel. That's frustrating.
Vancouver - Once you get Linux installed, you'll never want to go back. Installation and configuration are the hard parts, but once you've dabbled with any kind of Unix, you'll learn to hate everything Dos and windows.
Unix performs better, is a heck of a lot more secure, and doesn't get viruses.
At home, we have several machines from Macs to Linux. Everyone has gone the Unix route except for Microsoft.
We've had 15 minutes of sunshine in the last 3 weeks.
I thought you lived in Minnesota, not Seattle. ;)
Don't you love it when dishwashers don't show up? I've waited tables for years so I know exactly how you feel. That's frustrating.
Vancouver - Once you get Linux installed, you'll never want to go back. Installation and configuration are the hard parts, but once you've dabbled with any kind of Unix, you'll learn to hate everything Dos and windows.
Unix performs better, is a heck of a lot more secure, and doesn't get viruses.
At home, we have several machines from Macs to Linux. Everyone has gone the Unix route except for Microsoft.
ZS, the whole midwest has been having weather like this. It's the weirdest MN winter I can remember.
Our dishwasher is a GREAT worker, when she bothers to show up. She's got serious drinking and, maybe, drug issues. :(
My boss needs to have a heart-to-heart talk with her and give her some consequences. Unfortunately, my boss is too wishy-washy.
Holy Rollercoaster. Heehee.
As someone who NEEDS his meds. Also as a professional who has seen both the good and bad sides to medication I say this. A "cocktail" is naever a good idea. What this means is your heath care proffesional (whom ever it may be)Will review you case before you enter. Then will listen closely to any "catch phrases" that you may use to describe your state. At tjis point "labels" are discussed. Are you "generalized anxiety disorder", "Obsessive", Compulsive". Both? If you have not been honest with yourself or helped another be honest, to come up with a full blown discription of how you feel, when, proable triggers ect. They will I repeat WILL do one of two things
1: Generalize, load up the meds then subtract, add, change sequence, untill you are convinced you are ok. This my friends is a cocktail (happens to every child who comes into care)
2: Perscribe meds and then offer "at no cost to you" sample/trial packs of medication. and chart your reaction. And swap in and out untill you are "level"
The number one thing to remember is this,.... TALK,TALK,TALK. Explore yourself or the person you care for. Meds are a tool not a fad.(Dexadrine was taken by Hugh Heffner whilst building his empire. Was also up untill recently given to fighter piolts because of the "up" effect. But now is routinly perscribed to CHILDREN who have been labeled with "oppositional/diffiant" issues? I mean when you can sell Riddelin to high school kids, for them to cruch and snort because it has the opposite effect. And get a higher price than Coke. Anyway you are not going to put a nail through a piece of wood using a eyeglass screwdriver?...Right? There is no such thing as a quick fix. That is as true today as it was 100 yrs. ago. Treat a medical condition and hug a problem. Talk to each other. You will find if you speak first many, many people have had the same feelings/problems. Belive it or not we healed oneantoher before and we are still capable of it!!!
We are about to do some restructuring too, we will be busy packing before and after our projected holiday.
Hope to get things into perspective tomorrow, will post soon.
Davey, you are soooo right! Both my kids have now had psychological counseling. I always tell them that counseling is only as good as what you put into it. You gain NOTHING if you're not totally honest with yourself! This process can be devastating at times. If you come out knowing yourself better in the end, it's worth it.
Thanks for the new term. I didn't know they called that a cocktail. Here they do the process you described in reverse. The doctor first tries to find the drug that works best for the condition. THEN, if there are serious side effects, they prescribe drugs to combat the side effects. Pretty soon you're taking 4 or 5 meds and only ONE of them is doing you any good. I REFUSE to go that route. Thanks so much for the advice. You've worked with TS kids before, so I'm SURE that you have a lot more good advice for us. Don't be shy about offering it!
weather here sucks, so does Pat Robertson's isreali theme park, which I think has been brought to a merceul death. Good luck with Z and his meds!
UGH, chicago weather has been crappy lately too. Yesterday it was 55 degrees and sunny (WTF?) and today it's snowing. Go figure.
That sucks about the logging.
I used to take Prozac for anxiety & winter depression. I have to say it did help b/c it would help me turn off my brain and stop obsessing over little meaningless things. John definitely noticed the difference. Pretty much every woman in my family is on something for anxiety. But I kept forgetting to take them, so...
GWB, I don't CARE if it's merciful. I just hope the idea is DEAD!
Laura, people don't realize how screwed up our thought patterns become when we're seriously depressed. Once the meds straighten out the thought patterns, we ARE able to talk ourselves out of depression. The sufferer is unable to recognize this pattern and must rely on those close to them(like you and John) to take action.
This is what angers me so much in the cases of women who kill their children in the throes of post-partum depression. WHY didn't their husbands do something to help their wives?!
Stress, worry and so forth are sometimes a sign of the times. For a free MP3 that really helps release the presure and anxiety, go to www.mindmint.com. Use their pull down menu under free downloads. Thanks for the blog.
Thanks for the blog. There is a free MP3 subliminal program at www.innertalk.com/mp3.html#free that really is very helpful.
Best regards from NY!
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