Hey there mysterious 'net wanderer. Welcome to Peace, Love, and Hope: A Web Site on Eating Disorders. Included here is information not just on anorexia and bulimia, but also on the many other demons that tend to accompany anorexia and bulimia (ie - depression, self-injury, OCD, etc.) Take your time and relax, and as always, let me know if there is anything that I can do for you.=)

Alexandra

...and Alexandra's rants.and.raves

Table of contents:

• About the Author
• Anorexia: Why We Can't "Just Eat'
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder: When the Mirror Lies
• Bulimia: More than 'Ox Hunger'
• Eating Disorders F.A.Q.
• Eating Disorder Treatment Centers and Therapists
• Medical Problems Associated with Anorexia and Bulimia
• Prevention of an Eating Disorder Relapse
• Self-Mutilation: The Truth Behind the Shame
• Articles on Eating Disorders and Others
• Compulsive Exercising
• Depression and Eating Disorders: When Sadness Never Fades
• Eating Disorder Relapses: What to Do and How to Prevent Them
• Eating Disorders Prevention: What You and Others Can Do
• The Truth on Laxatives, etc.
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: When Too Much Isn't Enough
• Rules' of Support: What and What NOT to Say
• The Signs of an Eating Disorders Relapse

next: About the Author
~ eating disorders library
~ all articles on eating disorders

The Creation and Collapse of Values

Values and beliefs play an even more complex role in depression than do ordinary goals. For example, Warren H. believes that it is very important that each person dedicate himself or herself to the welfare of the community. But unfortunately he lacks the talent and energy to make a large contribution to the community. When he compares his actual contribution to the contribution he believes one should make, his self-comparison is negative, leading to sadness and depression.

Values are more fundamental than ordinary goals. We can think of values as goals that are based on the individual's deepest beliefs about human life and society, assessments of what is good and what is evil. Even if a person's values are obviously implicated in a depression--for example, the soldier who refuses to kill during a battle, and is therefore judged by other soldiers and himself as unpatriotic and worthless--no one would suggest that he should simply alter for convenience his belief that life is good and killing is bad.

There is nothing irrational about the soldier's thinking or that of Warren H. Nor is there any logical flaw in the thinking of the English cabinet minister John Profumo who courted danger for his country by consorting with prostitutes who were also consorting with a Soviet spy. For his actions, Profumo did penance for ten years in charity work; that choice is not irrational.

Nor is a person irrational who kills a child in an avoidable auto accident and then judges himself harshly because he has contravened his highest value by destroying human life. There is nothing irrational about the subsequent negative self-comparisons between his behavior and his ideal self which result in depression. Indeed, the guilt and depression may be seen as an appropriate self-punishment, similar to the punishment of the person that society may inflict by sending the person to jail. And the acceptance of the punishment may be part of a process of doing penance which may result in the person finding a new and better life. In such a situation some clergymen say "Judge the sin but not the sinner", but that may not be psychologically or morally appropriate.

These are the kinds of cases that take us beyond psychology and into philosophy and religion.

Values and the Choice of Comparisons

Values present harder-than-usual questions about whom you should compare yourself to. Should you compare your moral behavior to a saint, or to an ordinary sinner? To Albert Schweitzer, or to the fellow next door? You cannot be as casual about this choice for comparison as when you choose a level of competitive tennis to set as your standard.

The value of meeting one's felt obligations to family, community, and society according to prevailing standards is often involved in depression (The prevailing standards usually are, however, far more demanding than is the norm of other people's actual conduct!) Another troublesome value is the relative importance of various aspects of life, for example, of devotion to family versus community, or devotion to success in one's profession versus family. Sometimes, even if you are very successful in many aspects of your life, your values may focus your attention on dimensions on which you do not excel, which can result in negative self-comparisons.

The development of a person's values and beliefs is complex, and differs from person to person. But it is clear that childhood experiences with parents and the rest of society influence one's values. And it seems likely that if your childhood was rigid, pressure-filled, and traumatic, you will be more rigid in your values, and less flexible in choosing a new set of values upon adult reflection, than a person who had a more relaxed childhood.

In particular, loss of love, or loss of a parent, must heavily influence one's fundamental view of the world and oneself. Loss of a parent or parental love is likely to make one feel that success, and the ensuing approval and love, are not automatic or easy to get. The loss likely makes one believe that it takes very high achievement, and the attainment of very high standards, to obtain such approval and love from the world. A person with such a view of the world is likely to conclude that her actual and potential achievements are, and will be, less than they must be to achieve love and approval; this implies hopelessness, sadness, and depression.

Of course childhood experiences persist in the adult not only as the objective experiences they were, but as the memory and interpretation of those experiences--which often are far from the objective facts.

Collapse of Values

Sometimes a person suddenly thinks, "Life has no meaning." Or to put it differently, you come to think that there is no meaning to, or value in, the activities which you had formerly thought were meaningful and valuable to yourself and the world. For one reason or another, you may come to cease accepting the values you had formerly accepted as the foundation of your life. This is Tolstoy's famous description of his "loss of meaning" and collapse of values, his subsequent depression, and his later recovery.

...something very strange began to happen to me. At first I experienced moments of perplexity and arrest of life, as though I did not know how to live or what to do; and I felt lost and became dejected.... Then these moments of perplexity began to recur oftener and oftener, and always in the same form. They were always expressed by the questions: What's it for? What does it lead to?... The questions... began to repeat them- selves frequently, and to demand replies more and more insistently; and like drops of ink always falling on one place they ran together into one black blot.

Then occurred what happens to everyone sickening with a mortal internal disease. At first trivial signs of indisposition appear to which the sick man pays no attention; then these signs reappear more and more often and merge into one uninterrupted period of suffering. The suffering increases and, before the sick man can look round, what he took for a mere indisposition has already become more important to him than anything else in the world--it is death!

That was what happened to me. I understood that it was no casual indisposition but something very important, and that if these questions constantly repeated them- selves they would have to be answered. And I tried to answer them. The questions seemed such stupid, simple, childish ones; but as soon as I touched them and tried to solve them I at once became convinced, first, that they are not childish and stupid but the most important and profound of life's questions; and secondly that, try as I would, I could not solve them. Before occupying my- self with my Samara estate, the education of my son, or the writing of a book, I had to know why I was doing it. As long as I did not know why, I could do nothing and could not live. Amid the thoughts of estate manage- ment which greatly occupied me at that time, the question would suddenly occur: 'Well, you will have 6,000 desy- atinas of land in Samara Government and 300 horses, and what then?'... And I was quite disconcerted and did not know what to think. Or when considering plans for the education of my children, I would say to myself: 'What for?' Or when considering how the peasants might become prosperous, I would suddenly say to myself: "But what does it matter to me?' Or when thinking of the fame my works would bring me, I would say to myself, 'Very well; you will be more famous than Gogol or Pushkin or Shakes- peare or Moliere, or than all the writers in the world-- and what of it?' And I could find no reply at all. The questions would not wait, they had to be answered at once, and if I did not answer them it was impossible to live. But there was no answer.

I felt that what I had been standing on had collapsed and that I had nothing left under my feet. What I had lived on no longer existed, and there was nothing left.

My life came to a standstill. I could breathe, eat, drink, and sleep, and I could not help doing these things; but there was no life, for there were no wishes the fulfillment of which I could consider reasonable. If I de- sired anything, I knew in advance that whether I satisfied my desire or not, nothing would come of it. Had a fairy come and offered to fulfill my desires I should not have known what to ask. If in moments of intoxication I felt something which, though not a wish, was a habit left by former wishes, in sober moments I knew this to be a delusion and that there was really nothing to wish for. I could not even wish to know the truth, for I guessed of what it consisted. The truth was that life is meaningless. I had as it were lived, lived, and walked, walked, till I had come to a precipice and saw clearly that there was nothing... ahead of me but destruction. It was impossible to stop, impossible to go back, and impossible to close my eyes or avoid seeing that there was nothing ahead but suffering and real death--complete annihilation.1

Some writers use the term "existential despair" to describe the same phenomenon.

A collapse in values often results from philosophical and linguistic misunderstanding of such key concepts as "meaning" and "life". These concepts seem obvious at first thought. But they are in fact often obscure and misleading, both the concepts and the words which stand for them. Making clear the confusion often reveals the implicit values.

The sense of loss of meaning is usually followed by depression, though it sometimes is followed by uncontrolled elation or by a violent oscillation between the two poles. The basic idea of this book, negative self-comparisons, explains this phenomenon: Before the event, actuality and the person's values were in balance or positive most of the time. But with the removal of one's customary values there is no longer a basis of hypothetical comparison for one's activities. Hence the result of the comparison is indeterminate but very large in one direction or the other, because there is no boundary to the comparison. The comparison is more likely to be negative than positive because the former values are likely to have been a support for, rather than a constraint of, the person's activities and life style.

Values Can Cure the Sickness Values Cause

The most interesting curative possibility for collapse of values is the discovery of new values, or the re-discovery of neglected old ones. This is what happened to Tolstoy, when he later came to believe that life itself is its own value, a belief which he also thought characterized peasant life.

Values Treatment for collapse of values will be discussed in detail in Chapter 18. We should here note, however, that though values are interwoven from childhood into the very foundations of a person's character and personality, they are nevertheless subject to change as an adult. That is, values can be accepted and rejected as a matter of personal choice, though one cannot do so lightly and casually.

Tolstoy and modern existential thinkers have thought that the "despair" of loss-of-meaning depression is the educated person's common condition. It seems to me, however, that most "educated" people's training, interests, and life circumstances do not lead them to question the values they accepted in childhood, for better or for worse, in such manner as to lead to loss of meaning.

Summary

Values and beliefs play an even more complex role in depression than do ordinary goals. Values are more fundamental than ordinary goals. We can think of values as goals that are based on the individual's deepest beliefs about human life and society, assessments of what is good and what is evil.

The collapse of a person's values can lead to depression. The most interesting curative possibility for collapse of values is the discovery of new values, or the re-discovery of neglected old ones. These possibilities will be discussed later.

next: Good Mood: The New Psychology of Overcoming Depression Chapter 7
~ back to Good Mood homepage
~ depression library articles
~ all articles on depression

Comprehensive information on ALA (Alpha-linolenic acid) for possible treatment of ADHD, eating disorders, depression, IBD, and heart disease. Learn about the usage, dosage, side-effects of ALA.

• Overview
• Uses
• Dietary Sources
• Available Forms
• How to Take It
• Precautions
• Possible Interactions
• Supporting Research

Overview

Alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA, is an essential fatty acid, which means that it is essential to human health but cannot be manufactured by the body. For this reason, ALA must be obtained from food. ALA, as well as the fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), belongs to a group of fatty acids called omega-3 fatty acids. EPA and DHA are found primarily in fish while ALA is highly concentrated in certain plant oils such as flaxseed oil and to a lesser extent, canola, soy, perilla, and walnut oils. ALA is also found in wild plants such as purslane. Once ingested, the body converts ALA to EPA and DHA, the two types of omega-3 fatty acids more readily used by the body.

It is important to maintain an appropriate balance of omega-3 and omega-6 (another essential fatty acid) in the diet as these two substances work together to promote health. These essential fats are both examples of polyunsaturated fatty acids, or PUFAs. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation and most omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation. An inappropriate balance of these essential fatty acids contributes to the development of disease while a proper balance helps maintain and even improve health. A healthy diet should consist of roughly two to four times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids. The typical American diet tends to contain 11 to 30 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids and many researchers believe this imbalance is a significant factor in the rising rate of inflammatory disorders in the United States.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce inflammation and help prevent certain chronic diseases such as heart disease and arthritis. These essential fatty acids are highly concentrated in the brain and appear to be particularly important for cognitive and behavioral function as well as normal growth and development.

Uses of ALA

Studies suggest that ALA and other omega-3 fatty acids may be helpful in treating a variety of conditions. The evidence is strongest for heart disease and problems that contribute to heart disease, but the range of possible uses for ALA include:

Alpha-linolenic Acid for Heart Disease
One of the best ways to help prevent and treat heart disease is to eat a low-fat diet and to replace foods rich in saturated and trans-fat with those that are rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (particularly omega-3 fatty acids). In addition to reducing risk factors for heart disease, namely high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol, evidence suggests that people who eat an ALA-rich diet are less likely to suffer a fatal heart attack.

Alpha-linolenic Acid for High Cholesterol
People who follow a Mediterranean-style diet tend to have higher HDL ("good") cholesterol levels. This diet consists of a healthy balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. It emphasizes whole grains, root and green vegetables, daily intake of fruit, fish and poultry, olive and canola oils, and ALA (found in flaxseed oil), along with discouragement of ingestion of red meat and total avoidance of butter and cream. In addition, walnuts (which are rich in ALA) have been shown to lower cholesterol and triglycerides in people with high cholesterol.

Alpha-linolenic Acid for High Blood Pressure
Several studies suggest that diets and/or supplements rich in omega-3 fatty acids (including ALA) lower blood pressure significantly in people with hypertension. Fish high in mercury (such as tuna) should be avoided, however, because they may increase blood pressure.

Alpha-linolenic Acid for Acne
Although there are few studies to support the use of omega-3 fatty acids for skin problems, many clinicians believe that flaxseed is helpful for treating acne.

Alpha-linolenic Acid for Arthritis
Several studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acid supplements reduce tenderness in joints, decrease morning stiffness, and improve mobility. Many people who take these supplements report that they do not need as much medicine to relieve their painful symptoms.

Alpha-linolenic Acid for Asthma
Preliminary research suggests that omega-3 fatty acid supplements (particularly perilla seed oil which is rich in ALA) may decrease inflammation and improve lung function in adults with asthma.

Alpha-linolenic Acid for Eating Disorders
Studies suggest that men and women with anorexia nervosa have lower than optimal levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (including ALA and GLA). To prevent the complications associated with essential fatty acid deficiencies, some experts recommend that treatment programs for anorexia nervosa include PUFA-rich foods or supplements.

Alpha-linolenic Acid for Breast Cancer
Women who regularly consume foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids over many years may be less likely to develop breast cancer and to die from the disease than women who do not follow such a diet. This is particularly true among women who consume fish instead of meat. Laboratory and animal studies indicate that omega-3 fatty acids can inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cells and may even prevent the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. Several experts speculate that omega-3 fatty acids, in combination with other nutrients (namely, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, and coenzyme Q10), may prove to be of particular value for preventing and treating breast cancer.

Alpha-linolenic Acid for Burns
Essential fatty acids have been used to reduce inflammation and promote wound healing in burn victims. Animal research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids help promote a healthy balance of proteins in the body -- protein balance is important for recovery after sustaining a burn. Further research is necessary to determine if this may apply to people as well.

Alpha-linolenic Acid for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Some people with Crohn's disease (CD), one form of IBD, have low levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their bodies. Evidence suggests that fish oil supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids may reduce symptoms of CD and ulcerative colitis (another inflammatory bowel disease), particularly if used in addition to medication. Preliminary animal studies have found that ALA may actually be more effective than EPA and DHA found in fish oil supplements, but further studies in humans are needed to confirm these findings.

Alpha-linolenic Acid for Depression
People who do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids or do not maintain a healthy balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in their diet may be at an increased risk for depression. The omega-3 fatty acids are important components of nerve cell membranes. They help nerve cells communicate with each other, which is an essential step in maintaining good mental health.

Alpha-linolenic Acid for Menstrual Pain
In a study of nearly 200 Danish women, those with the highest dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids had the mildest symptoms during menstruation.

Other - Alpha-linolenic Acid for ADHD
Although further research is needed, preliminary evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may also prove helpful in protecting against certain infections and in treating a variety of conditions including ulcers, migraine headaches, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), preterm labor, emphysema, psoriasis, glaucoma, Lyme disease, and panic attacks.

Dietary Sources of ALA

Dietary sources of ALA include flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, soybeans and soybean oil, pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil, purslane, perilla seed oil, walnuts and walnut oil.

Available Forms

There are two types of commercial ALA preparations: cooking oils (including canola oil and soybean oil) and medicinal oils (including flaxseed oil and dietary supplements containing flaxseed oil).

Some manufacturing methods can destroy the nutrient value of products that contain ALA by exposing these oil-rich products to air, heat, or light. Generally, high-quality oil is bottled in light-resistant containers, refrigerated, and marked with an expiration date. All sources of omega-3 fatty acids are best kept refrigerated to protect the quality of the oil.

Be sure to buy ALA supplements made by established companies who certify that their products are free of heavy metals such as mercury.

How to Take ALA

The recommended adequate intake of ALA in the diet is listed below:

Pediatric

• Infants that are breastfed should receive sufficient amounts of ALA if the mother has an adequate intake of this fatty acid.
• Infant formula should contain 1.5% ALA.

Adult

• 2,200 mg/day of ALA

(100 grams of raw flaxseed provides 22,800 mg of ALA; 100 grams of dried butternuts provides 8,700 mg of ALA; 100 grams of English and Persian walnuts provides 6800 mg of ALA; 100 grams of cooked soybeans provides 2,100 mg of ALA)

Precautions

Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, dietary supplements should be taken only under the supervision of a knowledgeable healthcare provider.

People with either diabetes or schizophrenia may lack the ability to convert ALA to EPA and DHA, the forms more readily used in the body. Therefore, people with these conditions should obtain their omega-3 fatty acids from dietary sources rich in EPA and DHA.

Although studies have found that regular consumption of fish (which includes the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA) may reduce the risk of macular degeneration, a recent study including two large groups of men and women found that diets rich in ALA may substantially increase the risk of this disease. More research is needed in this area. Until this information becomes available, it is best for people with macular degeneration to obtain omega-3 fatty acids from sources of EPA and DHA, rather than ALA.

Similar to macular degeneration, fish and fish oil may protect against prostate cancer, but ALA may be associated with increased risk of prostate cancer in men. More research in this area is needed.

Possible Interactions

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use ALA without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Blood-thinning Medications
Omega-3 fatty acids may increase the blood-thinning effects of warfarin, aspirin, or other blood-thinning medications. While the combination of aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids may actually be helpful under certain circumstances (such as heart disease), they should only be taken together under the guidance and supervision of your healthcare provider.

Cholesterol-lowering Medications
Following certain nutritional guidelines, including increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet and reducing the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, may allow a group of cholesterol lowering medications known as "statins" (such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin) to work more effectively.

Cyclosporine
Taking omega-3 fatty acids during cyclosporine therapy may reduce toxic side effects (such as high blood pressure and kidney damage) associated with this medication in transplant patients.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
In an animal study, treatment with omega-3 fatty acids reduced the risk of ulcers from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). More research is needed to evaluate whether omega-3 fatty acids would have the same effects in people.

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Supporting Research

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Okamoto M, Misunobu F, Ashida K, Mifune T, Hosaki Y, Tsugeno H, et al. Effects of dietary supplementation with n-3 fatty acids compared with n-6 fatty acids on bronchial asthma. Int Med. 2000;39(2):107-111.

Okamoto M, Misunobu F, Ashida K, Mifune T, Hosaki Y, Tsugeno H et al. Effects of perilla seed oil supplementation on leukotriene generation by leucocytes in patients with asthma associated with lipometabolism. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2000;122(2):137-142.

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Prisco D, Paniccia R, Bandinelli B, et al. Effect of medium term supplementation with a moderate dose of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid on blood pressure in mild hypertensive patients. Thromb Res. 1998;91:105-112.

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Self-Therapy For People Who ENJOY Learning About Themselves

If we work and live around other people, we get angry about twenty times every day.

And yet many people would swear they seldom get angry at all. We tend to be so afraid of our anger that, as a culture, we pretend it isn't there.

OBSTACLES
Our anger is there to protect us and to help us overcome obstacles to what we want. But if we are too afraid to use it, we become our own obstacle.

ANGER AND GUILT
The biggest problem with anger is guilt.

Since we have been taught that anger is bad, we pretend that we aren't angry and claim to be "hurt" instead.

This waters down the intensity of our anger, greatly complicates our attempts to get what we want, and ultimately sets us up as "victims" or "martyrs."

FEAR OF RAGE
Intense anger is called rage. It is so intense, that it begs for a physical release.

It is very common to think about violence when we feel rage, but thought is not action and violence is never necessary (except to protect our lives, of course).

When You Have Violent Images, Remember:

1. The images are only a fantasy, and it is normal to have them at times like this.
2. You do not have to act out what you imagine, so there's no reason for fear.
3. Violent fantasies are just a measure of how angry you are. It's good for you to know you are so angry.
4. The fantasies are only telling you that you want to use your body to express all this anger. Go ahead! Hit a pillow, smash some old glassware, do anything that helps you to release all that anger - as long as it doesn't physically hurt you or anyone else.
5. When you are finished, you will feel relief.
6. After the relief, decide what you are going to do about the situation that got you so angry in the first place.

PROBLEMS WITH UNNATURAL ANGER

Unnatural anger occurs when we think we are angry but we are actually feeling some other feeling (sadness, scare, joy, excitement or guilt).

MOST COMMON PROBLEM

The most common problem is using unnatural anger to cover up both sadness and fear.

We all know some "grouches" or "chronic complainers." From our perspective on the outside, these people seem to be constantly angry. They may yell, or say mean things, or simply complain all the time.

When you meet these people, know that they are not particularly angry! (If they were really angry there would be a natural duration to their anger and they would have been finished with it a long time ago.)

These people usually have suffered intense sadness and fear for years. They gave up on life many years ago, possibly after feeling abandoned by someone.

They are sad because they feel they've "lost everything." They are fearful because they think they have nobody to help them stay safe.

What they need is a close relationship with people they trust. But, sadly, they will fight this off very, very well.

OTHER PROBLEMS

When I hear this, I usually ask: "Well, would you?"
And they say: "No, of course not!".
And I say: "Then all you need to do is believe yourself...."
(Of course if you really are afraid you might kill or hurt someone - yourself or anyone else - stop reading this right now, get on the phone, and call a good therapist!)

"Who Do You Think You Are, Young Man!" When children get angry at adults, the adults frequently respond with demeaning comments designed to "put the child in his place." As adults, we need to overcome this negative childhood conditioning and reclaim our power.

Anger = Energy = Power
When we are angry we are feeling raw energy that is ready for use. This is our power.

The only real decision we have to make is: "How will I use all this power?"

Your anger is like a laser beam. Aim it precisely where it will do you the most good.

A REMINDER

We all confuse our feelings sometimes.

If you thought you had a problem with anger but these words don't fit, your problem may be related to one of the other feelings.

Also, be sure you've read ---> ANGER - HOW IT WORKS NATURALLY

Enjoy Your Changes!

Everything here is designed to help you do just that!

next: Problems With Sadness

There's so much misinformation about ADHD, our expert Dr. Billy Levin provides a clear, concise description of what ADHD is and isn't.

I have decided to write this very short article in response to the many parents and patients experiencing major problems with  ADHD and not being aware why this is happening or what can be done to achieve success. I sincerely hope this very brief description will foster and encourage more attempts at obtaining detailed and accurate information and insight and demand better management for them or their children.

ADHD (Attentional Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)  is a very real and devastating genetically inherited neurological condition. For most, the condition is severe enough to warrant medical treatment and possibly further intervention. It presents as either a right brain dominance behaviour problem (Hyperactivity) or a left-brain immaturity-learning problem (Attentional Deficit Disorder), or various degrees of both. As both hemispheres have so many varied functions the symptoms are very wide and varied. It is not caused by diet factors, poor parenting or family strife, but these factors may aggravate the condition.

It presents at any age but the behaviour problems are more readily recognised as they are so disruptive. ADD is often missed and neglected. However no person is too young or too old to be treated, if treatment is necessary.

The condition has, not only classical symptoms but also, often, external features to testify to the inherited nature of this condition. There is a clear-cut examination procedure that does not require any Psychological investigation nor an electro-encephalo-gram .The diagnosis can be finalised within two hours in a doctor's consulting room. However spesific-rating scales completed by parents and teacher are essential, as is the evaluation of the developmental and family history and previous school reports. The 12 question, modified Conner's rating that I use can show behaviour, learning and emotional problems as well as their severity with 95% accuracy. Used in a series it can instantly reveal the effectiveness or lack there of, of medical treatment and other interventions. There is no need for an Occupational therapy assessment. Because it is a medical condition it is the doctor's responsibility to not only diagnose, but also fully inform patient, parents and school about the diagnosis and treatment\and request cooperation from all, including the patient.

There is also an absolute need to monitor medication using rating scales on a regular basis, preferably monthly. To do this effectively the school and parents must have complete insight into how the rating scales function. The purpose of monitoring is to evaluate the need to adjust medical treatment to an optimal level. Anything less will not allow the patient to be taught or to behave in an acceptable manner. Sympathetic recognition of this situation will prevent the patient from being punished for an inherited condition inadequately treated. Effective medical treatment is possible within ten days, but success takes longer.

The medical treatment is stimulant medication used seven days a week. There are no long-term serious side effects to this treatment. The minor transient side effects are easily managed by a competent doctor and enlightened patients or parents of the patient. There is almost never a need to stop medical treatment because of the minor transient side effects. The timing of medication is vital as rebound symptoms flare up if treatment is not continuous. Very young children do sometimes not respond well to stimulant medication. Thus there is sometimes a need for other medication as well.

Some patient, tend to outgrow  ADHD due to maturity taking place, if it is mild enough. These individuals usually have a good I.Q. tinuous treatment like in Gout, Hypertension, Diabetes and many other medical conditions. Thesand the circumstances for motivation and acceptance are favourable and treatment is continuous and started early enough. Delayed diagnosis, ineffective treatment, poor circumstances and petty parenting may lead to complications like Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder (delinquency) in the teenage years. Some patients will unfortunately require permanent and cone conditions, as in ADHD, the treatment is aimed at effective control as there is no cure.

In teenagers and adults, non-treatment or non recognition or ineffective treatment may lead to school drop-out, delinquency, drugging, driving accidents, job drifting, drinking problems, depression, divorce and in extreme cases death. Death from drugging over dose, driving under influence of alcohol and accidents, depression and suicide. The condition must be seen as far too serious to be taken lightly or neglected. It affects not only the patient but the whole family and even society. Doctors must have the knowledge insight and understanding to fully recognise, advise and treat effectively. If ten percent of our population have this condition, at least half (5%) need treatment. Nowhere are more than two percent receiving treatment and less than one percent are receiving effective treatment. Drug holidays are not advisable.

This clearly suggests a large percentage of our population are not only, not receiving treatment, they do not even know why they have problems. Lack of knowledge and insight particularly in schools cannot help and misinformation is a major factor fostered by media sensationalism. Neglected and abused patients have a legal, moral and ethical right to recognition and effective and scientific treatment. The cost to society caused by neglect of ADHD runs into millions annually! A knowledgeable and sympathetic team is the secret to attainable success for 95% of cases. Is it not long overdue for patients, parents, schools, doctors and society to unite in a common Cause? After all our children are our future!

About the author: Dr. Levin is a paediatrician with nearly 30 years of experience.   He is a specialist in treating ADHD and has published many papers on the subject.   Dr. Levin is our "ask-the-expert."

women and sex

I know it says "women and sex." This area, though, is really for women who want to know more about men and sex. This is our little insight into how you guys work.

If you're a man and you want to know how we women work, go to men and sex. I'm happy to clue you in.

Now that "they're" gone ladies, here are a few truths about men. Many of us "older" ladies have probably already figured this out, but for you younger ones...

First, let's get to men and why they always have trouble figuring us out.

next: Men, Sex, and Emotional Connection or the Women and Sex table of contents for all articles in this section

Information to help ADHD teens with school issues and/or preparing for work after graduating high school.

ADHD and learning

Teenagers with ADHD are more likely to have specific learning difficulties than their peers.

They are also likely to have problems with written expression, including poor handwriting and an inability to get their thoughts on to paper in a logical way.

Getting help in school for your ADHD child

Someone with ADHD may warrant extra help for tests or exams.

This can be anything from doing the exam in a quiet room away from the rest of his peers, through to extra time to do the exam.

Ask your teen's teacher to set up a meeting with you, your teen and the SENCO, so you can find out what help is available.

Revision help

Listed below are some ideas that can help your teen revise for exams at any level.

Working on revision notes

• Assignment sheets, daily schedules and 'to do' lists help organise revision.
• Label, highlight, underline, and add colour to important parts of tasks and notes.
• Writing notes out again can help commit them to memory - as can reviewing and listening to them by reading the notes aloud and recording them on tape.
• Word association, images or drawing diagrams or pictures can help to memorise concepts.
  Use mnemonics as often as possible. For example, if a list of items needs memorising, use the first letter of each item and string the letters together.
• Break up the material into smaller sections, and give each section a title.
• Turn facts into bullet lists: remember first there are seven ways to improve revision and three to practise exams, then move on to the detail of remembering each item.

Exam practice

• When taking notes in class, make a note of the questions your teacher asks - they may be the kind of questions that appear in the test.
• Make use of past papers - going through old questions is often the basis of class preparation for SATs, GCSE and AS/A-level exams. Try as many different practice tests as possible.
• For essay-based exams, go through revision notes and see if you can answer previous essay questions. Write a short mini-plan that outlines the main points you would write about.

Exam tip

It's good to get used to drawing up mini-plans for essay questions. In the exam itself marks can be given for the plan if there isn't time to finish the essay.

On the day of the exam

• Get a good night's sleep before the exam, and eat a healthy breakfast that morning.
• Read the test instructions - it sounds simple, but answering the wrong number of questions or too many/few from one section can be the undoing of years of work.
• Circle or underline words that will help you to follow the directions precisely, such as summarise, explain or compare.
• Don't be panicked into starting prematurely by those who pick up their pens and begin to scribble away frantically.
• Allow 10 minutes to read the paper, 10 minutes to read through answers at the end, and split the rest of the time between the questions.
• Go through the test and answer the questions you know first. Put a mark next to the questions you don't answer.
• Once you've answered the ones you know, go back to the ones you haven't - the marks mean you won't miss any.
• For essay-based exams, start with the question you like most.
• If you're stuck on a question, leave it and move on. You can go back when you've finished the ones you can answer - this way you won't waste any time or marks.

Further education Further education (FE): post-16 education that is below degree level, eg NVQs, BTEC, Access courses, AS-levels and A-levels.

If your ADHD teenager has a statement of special educational needs, this should be reviewed every year.

Your LEA will write to you when your teen is 14 (Year 9) to draw up a transition plan. The transition plan should set out what steps will be taken to meet your teen's needs after the age of 16. This could be:

• staying at school
• going to a sixth form or FE college
• starting an apprenticeship or other training course
• going straight into employment

The plan should be drawn up with the involvement of all the local services involved in your teen's care, including a personal adviser (PA) from the government-run Connexion Services.

The transition plan is updated at the annual reviews in Years 10 and 11.

Choosing a course

Your teenager is more likely to do well if he chooses a course in a subject he enjoys.

Local schools and colleges will have course information and open days that can help answer the following questions.

• How is the course structured? Will it be assessed by coursework and end-of-year exams - or both?
• How is the course taught? Is it through lectures, classroom discussions or practical workshops?
• How much onus is on the student? Is work expected to be done to tight deadlines without chasing?
• Where will the course lead? Will it help entry to a certain career or degree course? If your teenager doesn't know what he wants to do in the long term, the best thing is to choose a course that keeps his options open.

Statements after 16

Statements continue to be legal documents if your ADHD teen stays at school to study. This means extra support for learning difficulties should carry on per usual.

If your teenager chooses to go to college, he is still entitled to support, but the statement no longer gives him a legal right to it.

Colleges do receive money to pay for additional support for students with learning disabilities. Your teen will need to discuss what arrangements are available with the college's disability or learning support co-ordinator.

The college should draw up a learning agreement that sets out:

• what they expect from your teen
• what they are going to do to help

ADHD and an unstructured environment

At college, your teen is likely to attend fewer classes and spend more time studying on his own. If he has organisation problems, he may fall behind.

Encourage him to use tools such as schedules and 'to do' lists to help him organise his studies and meet assignment deadlines.

Getting help for college students with ADHD

Most colleges give each student a personal tutor - someone they can ask for help if they get stuck. The tutor can help if your teenager:

• has a problem with studies
• needs extra time to complete an assignment
• needs accommodations in exams, eg arranging for answers to be typed to overcome handwriting difficulties.

Careers and jobs for people with ADHD

Your teenager should think about the following when looking at future careers.

• His interests and skills: what would he do without being paid? Is there a career that uses those skills?
• His qualifications: does he need to get more qualifications for a job he'd enjoy?
• His particular pattern with ADHD. If he's disorganised or a slow reader he'll hate a career that involves a lot of paper-pushing. If he has a high level of activity and gets restless easily, he'll be better off in a job where he moves about a lot and can burn off the energy.
• Careers offices at schools and colleges have different questionnaires that can help your teen match his interests and likes to certain careers.

Disclosure of ADHD on application forms

If the application form asks about your ADHD teenager's medical history, the best thing is to be honest and say he has ADHD.

Employers are not allowed to discriminate against your teen because of his condition. It also gives him the chance to put a positive spin on it by saying how he's managing the condition.

Interview tips

• Research the company before the interview.
• Prepare questions in advance - what does he want to know about the job and the company?
• Prepare answers for common questions such as: 'Tell me about yourself. What are your best/worst traits? Why do you want this job?'
• Dress the part: find out the company's dress code. If in doubt, smart is always best.
• Be on time.
• Tell the truth - a common interview technique is to ask the same question again in a different way. This can trip people up if they haven't answered truthfully the first time or can't remember what's been said.

Taken from a Criteria compiled by ADHD Library

I have included this explanation for ADD/ADHD because I personally love things to do with Winnie the Pooh and Friends, also over the years since our son has been diagnosed we have often commented on the similarities of some of the characters from these stories and some of the people we know who have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD.

Over the years Simon has made various screen savers and games based on all of these characters - for no reason other than we kept finding the similarities and therefore these were quite often topics of conversation when he was working on these games and screensavers. Coincidence - or What??

Then while browsing the Internet I came across a website, ADHD Information Library, that appeared to have similar views as we did on this subject. However they had taken it a bit further than we ever had and written a type of diagnostic criteria based on the characters with one added bonus character of Taz the Tasmanian Devil which again is another comparison we have often used. Please check out their site by clicking on the link below to see more of their explanations.

Research literature, recent books, and common sense, all point to the fact that there are different types, or styles, of ADHD. In the past people would have referred to Attention Deficit Disorder: Inattentive Type, or Impulsive/Hyperactive Type, or a Combined Type. Today the diagnostic differences are a bit less clear, but the reality doesn't change.

Dr. Daniel Amen, from the Amen Clinic has written a great book on the subject, titled "Healing ADHD:The Breakthrough Program That Allows You to See and Heal the 6 Types of ADD" where he uses his SPECT scans of patient's brain activity to help in making his six classifications. His classifications include these "Types" ...

The Different Types of ADHD: in Detail...

Classic ADD - Inattentive, distractible, disorganized. Perhaps hyperactive, restless and impulsive.

Inattentive ADD - Inattentive, and disorganized.

Over-focused ADD - Trouble shifting attention, frequently stuck in loops of negative thoughts, obsessive, excessive worry, inflexible, oppositional and argumentative.

Temporal Lobe ADD - Inattentive and irritable, aggressive, dark thoughts, mood instability, very impulsive. May break rules, fight, be defiant, and very disobedient. Poor handwriting and trouble learning are common.

Limbic System ADD - Inattentive, chronic low-grade depression, negative, low energy, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness.

Ring of Fire ADD - Inattentive, extremely distractible, angry, irritable, overly sensitive to the environment, hyperverbal, extremely oppositional, possible cyclic moodiness.

Classifications from the ADHD Information Library whose Clinical Director is Dr. Doug Cowan, are a bit different, and are based more on their clinical observation and experiences. They are based on the classic children's stories of Winnie the Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.

Different Types, or Styles, of ADHD

Winnie the Pooh Type ADD - Inattentive, distractible, disorganized. Nice, but lives in a cloud.

Tigger Type ADD - Inattentive, impulsive, hyperactive, restless, bouncy. Tiggers like to bounce...

Eeyore Type ADD - Inattentive, with chronic low-grade depression. Eeyore says "Thanks for noticing me..."

Piglet Type ADD - Trouble shifting attention, excessive worry, easily startled, Piglet is nervous and worries...

Rabbit Type ADD - Trouble shifting attention, inflexible, argumentative. Rabbit tends his garden

Troubled Type ADD (slight difference but this is Taz) - Irritable, aggressive, impulsive, defiant, disobedient. Learning problems.

Tiggers Like to Bounce... Bouncin' is What Tiggers Do Best!

They call this type of ADHD "Tigger Type." Classic ADHD is characterized by Inattention, Impulsivity, Hyperactivity, Restlessness, and Disorganization. This type of ADHD reminds us of Tigger from the Winnie the Pooh stories.

Dr. Daniel Amen refers to this type of ADHD as "Classic ADHD" for good reasons. When you think about someone who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, this is the classic picture that you think of.

Those with this type of ADHD are often seen as:

Being easily distracted
Has a LOT of energy, and is perhaps Hyperactive
Can't sit still very long
Is fidgety
Talks a LOT, and can be LOUD
Is very impulsive, does not think before he acts
Has trouble waiting his turn in line, or in games
and more...

Tigger Type ADHD results from UNDERACTIVITY in the Prefrontal Cortex, both when at rest, and when performing concentration tasks.

This type of ADHD is most often seen in males.

Inattentive ADD: Just Like Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh is the classic picture of Inattentive ADHD.

In other works people would have called this "Space Cadet" style ADHD.

Dr. Daniel Amen refers to this as "Inattentive ADD". These are people that suffer from "brain fog" as they go through their day.

Although Pooh is very lovable and kind, he is also inattentive, sluggish, slow-moving, unmotivated. He is a classic daydreamer.

People with this type of ADHD are often seen as being:

Easily distracted
Having short attention spans to a task that is not interesting, or is hard
Daydreams when others are talking to him/her
A person who cannot find anything that they have just put down somewhere...
A person who is always late
Is easily bored

This type of ADHD is caused by the prefrontal cortex of the brain actually slowing down (instead of speeding up activity) when placed under a work load, like reading or doing homework. This part of the brain looks normal when "at rest" but actually looks like it is starting to fall asleep when asked to "go to work." This makes it very hard to pay attention to school work, get homework done, listen to the teacher, clean your room, and so on.

They have actually observed this hundreds of times with subjects on an EEG. When at rest, the brainwave activity is pretty normal. But once the subject is asked to read, or to do a math worksheet, the subject's brainwave activity begins to look like the subject is falling asleep. This sure makes school hard for these students!

Winnie the Pooh style inattention is seen mostly in girls. It responds well to stimulants, such as Ritalin and Adderall, but other interventions work well also.

Over-Focused ADHD: Rabbit Tends to His Garden... and don't bother him.

The least flexible character in all of the stories of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin has got to be Rabbit. Oh, he can get a lot of things done, and he's the one character who will be prepared when winter comes, but he has a very hard time shifting from one activity to another. He is absolutely "task oriented" and is focused to whatever that task might be.

The person with "Over-Focused ADHD" is much the same. He has trouble shifting attention from one activity to another, and he frequently "gets stuck" in loops of negative thoughts. He can be obsessive, and very inflexible. He can also be oppositional and argumentative to parents.

He may be like a "bull dog" and not give up until he gets his way, or until his worn-out parents finally say, "yes," to his 100th request for something. His parents are often worn-out, worn-down, fed-up, and ready to break. Parenting a child like this is hard.

Someone with "Over-Focused ADHD" is like Rabbit, in that he:

May worry a LOT, even over things that don't really matter much
Can be very oppositional to parents
May like to argue
May be somewhat compulsive about the way things ought to be done
Will have a very hard time shifting from one activity to another
Always wants to have his way

The cause of this type of ADHD is an over-active Anterior Cingulate Gyrus. This part of the brain is over-active all of the time.

And, to make things worse, when a "work load" is put on the brain, such as school work or a chore to be completed, there is the common ADHD symptom of decreased activity level in the Pre-Frontal Cortex.

In this type of ADHD some stimulants, and too much use of L-Tyrosine to increase dopamine production can actually make the problem of over-focus worse. So be careful.

Piglet is a great friend, but sure scares easily...

Piglet is that small, almost frail character from the Hundred Acre Wood. He is a great friend, and very loyal. But he is always worried, nervous, and easily startles. Sometimes he is so nervous that he stutters. So it is with some kids with ADHD.

This style of ADHD is very similar to the Rabbit style, except that with "Piglet style" the child's mid-brain is so over-aroused that the child is hypervigilant and very easily startled. He may be talking all of the time, and is probably touching everything in the room. And, this child is nervous or worried, or anxious. He has trouble shifting attention from one activity to another, and he frequently "gets stuck" in loops of negative thoughts. He can be obsessive, and very inflexible.

In this type of ADHD some stimulants, and too much use of L-Tyrosine to increase dopamine production can actually make the problem of over-focus worse. So be careful.

"Thanks for Noticin' Me" says Eeyore...

He walks slowly. He looks sad. He doesn't accomplish much. He's just glad to be noticed. This is Eeyore, the stuffed donkey who is so often in need of his tail being pinned back on.

Those with this type, or style of ADHD are often:

Inattentive;
Have a chronic sadness or low-grade depression;
The seem to be negative, or apathetic;
They have low energy levels;
They just do not seem to care. They often feel worthless, or helpless, or hopeless.

This type of ADHD is called "Limbic System ADHD" by Daniel Amen. And for good reason. SPECT scans show that when the brain is at rest, there is increased activity deep in the limbic system, in parts of the brain called the thalamus and hypothalamus. There is also a decreased level of activity in the underside of the pre-frontal cortex.

When the brain is placed under a work load, as during a homework assignment, nothing changes. The over-active limbic system remains over-active, and the under-active pre-frontal cortex remains under-active.

This type of ADHD looks very much like a combination of ADHD and Depression. Some have suggested that up to 25% of children with ADHD are also depressed or suffer from a mild depression called Dysthymic disorder.

Other, More Difficult Kinds of ADHD

There are two other kinds, or types, of ADHD that you should be aware of. There are no Winne the Pooh characters for these two types, as the creator of these children's stories would never have created a character with these challenging, difficult traits.

These two distinct types of ADHD can be very severe. They require significant treatment, and great patience on the part of the parents.

The Temporal Lobes and ADHD

Some people with ADHD can be very hard to live with. They can have gigantic mood swings, get very angry for almost no reason, and be nearly impossible to live with on a daily basis. The key to look for with this type of ADHD is anger outbursts for little or no reason...

People with decreased activity in the left temporal lobes can especially have problems with temper outbursts, aggressive behaviours, and even violence toward animals or other people.

Temporal Lobe ADHD is characterized by:

Inattention, just like in other kinds of ADHD because during concentration there is a decrease in activity in the pre-frontal cortex;
Being easily irritated or frustrated;
Aggressive behaviours;
Dark moods, big mood swings;
Impulsivity;
Breaking rules, in trouble a lot, in fights a lot;
Defiant toward authority, disobedient toward parents and others;
Can't get along with others, can be anti-social or just in trouble a lot;
Often has terrible handwriting and problems learning;
You expect him to be arrested at any time...

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"When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves." David Orr

My mother and I were reminiscing as we sat outside on the deck yesterday, admiring the Cosmos' and Zinnia's blooming in my modest little garden. We sipped coffee and nibbled on pumpkin muffins while exchanging favorite stories from our shared treasure of memories.

"Do you remember all those frogs that we found in the basement?" my mother asked. "They were everywhere! On the stairs, on the furniture, in boxes, it took us forever to get rid of them," she recalled, shuddering. The memory was still a decidedly unpleasant one for her. I felt my lips twitch as I tried not to smile. All of the sudden, I felt very much like I suspect my daughter feels when I've caught her in the act.

When I was a little girl, I used to ride on the lawnmower with my father. One day I noticed the frogs jumping in front of the mower. I asked him what happened to the frogs when we mowed the lawn. He told me that most of them probably jumped out of the way. But what about the ones who're sleeping, or who aren't fast enough to get out of the way? I wanted to know. He answered that they probably got run over. I was horrified! The poor frogs!

That summer I was far less of a bother to my mother. I entertained myself from morning till dinnertime, coming in from outside only when she called me. I also slept well at night, exhausted by my outdoor adventure. Mom was pleased that I was playing outside in the sunshine, instead of cooped up indoors with a book.

And that was also the summer that the frogs took over our basement. You see, what mom didn't know, was that I had not only discovered a way to amuse myself, I'd become an activist! My mission - to save the frogs! I filled an old wash pail over and over, day after day, with the little furless creatures. Then, I dumped them in the basement. No lawnmower was gonna chew these guys up!

What occurred to me as I remembered the summer the frogs took over the basement, was that there didn't seem to be nearly as many frogs around as there used to be.

An article in the New York Times, published in 1992, confirmed my suspicion. It noted that the number of frogs in the world are diminishing at an alarming rate. They're not only dying, many of their eggs aren't hatching, and according to an article in the Washington Post, a significant number of frogs in the Great Lakes region have been spotted with severe deformities and mutations.

"Why is this so alarming? They're only frogs," you may very well respond. "They don't make good pets, and don't build, buy, or vote."

But I am alarmed. I'm afraid more than anything else of what the very possible message of the frogs may mean for my child and for yours.

It's as a mother most of all that my stomach muscles clench when I read an article in Scientific America which advises that the diminishing amphibian population is cause for concern because they, "may serve as indicators of the overall condition of the environment." The authors point out that a species now in rapid decline, one which has managed to survive for hundreds of millions of years, and prevailed during periods of mass extinction when many species (including the dinosaurs) did not, takes with it more than most of us recognize. Frogs who feed on mosquitoes (among other tiny creatures), provide food for fish, mammals, aquatic insects, and birds. When we go to the local drug store to fill a prescription, few of us stop to consider the source from which many of our medicines are derived. Frogs and other amphibians contribute significantly to the storehouse of pharmaceutical products upon which humans depend. Scientific America warns that, "As amphibians disappear, potential cures for a number of maladies go with them."

Do you remember hearing about how miners used to take canaries with them down into the mines? When the canary died, it served to warn the miners that their lives too were in danger. Gary W. Harding in, "Human Population Growth and the Accelerating Rate of Species Extinction," points out that the frog very well may be to us, what the canary was to the miner.

Frog's are extremely vulnerable to ultraviolet light, as well as sensitive to water, air, and soil pollutants. If the hypothesis that the concentration of worldwide pollutants has reached a lethal level for a species that's survived for approximately 300 million years proves to be true, what does that mean for us? Harding speculates that, "if frogs go, can we be far behind?"

Ecologist, Wendy Roberts warns, "Since frogs and other amphibians are sensitive to environmental changes, their well-being and very existence carry a message about the state of their surroundings...I think it really is time to be worried about this."

An article in the Sierra begins, "Unprecedented biological collapse has begun worldwide according to a Worldwatch Institute report...Furthermore, climate change from carbon dioxide emissions is likely to accelerate the massive wave of extinctions."

I suspect that you may not want to read any more of this. You've heard it all before. I don't blame you. I was raised on doom and gloom, and frankly I'm sick and tired of it. I have no desire to surrender to despair and hopelessness. I've done that, been there, don't ever want to go back. Instead, I want to focus on hope and possibility.

My husband and I have tried very hard to be good parents. We've attempted to provide our daughter with love and security. We've made certain that she has her shots, physical and dental exams, and does her homework. Each night we tuck her into bed with hugs, kisses and at least one, "I love you." We've drawn up a will, and long ago began making provisions for college. But how does a person of my generation be a good parent if he or she ignores the fact that if we don't begin to take action now, there may not be much of a future for our children and grandchildren to grow into?

Kristen is eleven. According to a report by the Millennium Institute entitled, "State of our World Indicators," by the time she is thirteen, half of the worlds supply of crude oil will be gone. When she is eighteen, if we continue our current patterns of eating, there will be insufficient agricultural land to feed us all. By the time she is nineteen, one third of the world's species will have vanished forever (along with their contributions via food, medicine, etc.). Our beautiful blue planet consists of 70% water. However, what most of us don't recognize is that less than 3% of this precious liquid is fresh. If the Green Cross projections are correct, conflicts over diminishing water supplies "...will lead to significant global-scale problems..." by the time she reaches her thirty- second birthday. By the time she is thirty- three, 80% of the world's crude oil supply will be lost.

When my daughter was born, the earth's resources were already stretched thin, and yet based on the projections of Paul Erlich, an international expert on population trends, by the time she reaches her fortieth birthday, the population will be double what it was the year she entered this troubled but still beautiful world.

Today we are confronted with the painful fact (if we allow ourselves to feel it) that we live in a world in which 40,000 infants die of hunger each day. It's frightening to imagine what may confront my child the year she turns forty, when in all likelihood, she will share a world with far fewer natural resources, and twice as many people.

Many of us dream about secure futures for our children, and our own "golden" retirement years. The fact is, our children face a profoundly unstable future, and our later years may very well be far, far from golden, if we don't begin to act now.

"But what can just a few people do?" "Most people ignore what's going on, how can I really make a difference?" are common responses to frightening future projections. I said those very words for years. As a mother however, I recognize that my child can't afford for me to surrender to denial, helplessness, and passivity. The needs of our children are greater than they have ever been before. They not only must depend upon us to feed, love, educate and clothe them, we may very well be the only thing that stands between them and a dying world haunted by wars, famine, chaos, desperation, and despair of greater magnitude than ever experienced in the history of the planet.

I'm not as optimistic as I am hopeful. I believe in the tremendous power of natural processes, in the incredible resourcefulness of humankind, and above all, the love of parents for their children in every part of the world. More than a growing awareness, hard work, sacrifice, technological advances, or fear, I'm counting on our love to motivate us to do what must be done.

Looking back on the history of the United States alone, how many people believed that slavery would never be abolished? When my grandmother was a child, women weren't allowed to vote. How many people believed back then that the suffragette movement (one which took seventy long years to succeed,) was futile? At what about recent global events? Within a few remarkable years the world has witnessed the end of the cold war, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the end of Apartheid in South Africa, as well as the end of the Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall. How many truly believed that so much could possibly change as rapidly as it did in such a short time?

Before any major transformation, there are those who say, "it's always been this way, it's not going to change, it's hopeless" And yet it has changed again and again.

According to Duane Elgin author of "Voluntary Simplicity," it's been conservatively estimated that in the United States alone, 25 million Americans are consciously exploring new and more responsible ways of living. While that translates into only 10% of the US population, and many would say that that's not nearly enough, I maintain that it's a powerful beginning. Major societal change has always began with a small ripple. Anthropologist, Margaret Mead, once said, "never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." For the sake of our children, we can no longer afford to wait for government or God to save us. It's critical that we join the group of "thoughtful committed citizens" who are leading the way. Godspeed.

"If the people will lead, the leaders will follow."

next: Books That I Have Valued

Calm Focus

Robin Mott sent us the following...
Calm Focus is a nutritional supplement for the treatment of A.D.H.D. from Better Way, Inc.
"After my daughter was diagnosed with A.D.H.D., I did extensive research on seeking natural alternatives to some of the more common medications usually prescribed. Together with nationally known Naturmost Laboratories in Middletown Connecticut, we formulated this unique all natural supplement for the treatment of A.D.H.D."

Sandra wrote.......
A couple of years ago we tried our son on Calm Focus for a while but unfortunately with very little improvement. We have also tried (and continue to use) the elimination diets based on the Feingold diet and the Failsafe one from Australia, as well as omega 3 FAs , evening primrose oil, vitamin B group, zinc and magnesium etc with various successes. My latest find is a natural supplement called 'Attend' by Vaxa international - vaxa.com Vaxa make all sorts of supplements, not only for adhd, but as a family, we have been using 'attend' for a few months now with very good, positive results. Check out the web site for more information and I'll let you know how we get on with it. Thanks for the brilliant web site,
Regards
Sandra

Calmplex 2000

Mark sent us the following information about this......

"I am and Independent Business Owner with Rexall. I wanted to inform you of a few products that I have found very helpful with children, especially ADD/ADHD. One of my business partners is a pediatrician and has found these products to be very helpful in about 30% of his patients who then do not need other drugs.

The products are:
Nutri-Kids School Aid - a breakfast nutrient drink mix to improve brain function.
Calmplex 2000 - A homeopathic medicine for stress - helps children focus.
Defend-OL - A homeopathic remedy that has been outstanding for allergies.

I have 4 boys and one had a terrible time in school - just not being able to concentrate. I am thankful that he was not diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, but his grades suffered. After trying the Calmplex 2000 and School Aid, he greatly improved. Even though he does not need it regularly now, on days of tests or upcoming stress, he always asks for Calmplex 2000 as do my other boys.

You can find out more on my webpage when you logon and check out the product catalogue. There are research briefs you can read. www.rexall.com/.

Unfortunately these products are only available in the U.S. and Canada, but should be coming to Europe in the next couple of years.

I hope this helps."