Helping Those Needing Help

As a medical doctor and psychiatrist for 45-years I have been blessed to care for thousands of people.

In my clinical experience many individuals receiving psychiatric disability have substance abuse problems in addition to a primary psychiatric disorder---panic, bipolar disorder, depression, etc. These primary psychiatric disorders can be sufficiently treated enabling a vast majority of patients to work at a regular job. 

Nonetheless many psychiatric patients find an attorney who works on a contingency fee. Most of the time the patient fails to tell the attorney they have a substance abuse problem along with their primary psychiatric illness. The attorney pleads their case and then the patient capable of working receives disability payments.

Substance abuse treatment should be required for all addicts receiving disability but there exists no requirement for drug testing. Drug testing although expensive in no way matches the cost of untreated substance abuse. There are plenty of free clinics for alcohol/drug abuse, plus Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotic Anonymous programs are free. Most addicts on disability refuse treatment. 

Substance abusers use their disability money to buy street drugs. Giving money for drug abuse expands the problem. 

Thus in my opinion all psychiatric patients receiving disability payments should have routine drug testing. The welfare state has failed to help people and enables addicts to keep using street drugs. Periodic drug testing for psychiatric patients would help mandate treatment for substance abuse. 

Work cures misery and tough love works. Some people disagree believing that compassion without individual responsibility along with money cures all problems. This belief is called enabling. In my experience enabling never helps anyone change for the better.

Nevertheless, let us examine  all view points. Let us study all ideas. Let us listen to each other without arguing. Let us come together as community thinkers, not fighters. Let us develop a plan that works. 

In my view the federal government has never solved social problems. I believe that individual communities and states unfettered by government control can solve social problems because different approaches vary in different areas. 

We the people can solve many problems if we argue less, listen more and work together.

Please comment to enhance learning and inspire interaction. We don't know what you are thinking until we read what you write. Did the blog entry bring to mind a personal story you would like to share? Any ideas you would like to contribute? Any disagreements?

Helping Those Needing Help

As a medical doctor and psychiatrist for 45-years I have been blessed to care for thousands of people.

In my clinical experience many individuals receiving psychiatric disability have substance abuse problems in addition to a primary psychiatric disorder---panic, bipolar disorder, depression, etc. These primary psychiatric disorders can be sufficiently treated enabling a vast majority of patients to work at a regular job. 

Nonetheless many psychiatric patients find an attorney who works on a contingency fee. Most of the time the patient fails to tell the attorney they have a substance abuse problem along with their primary psychiatric illness. The attorney pleads their case and then the patient capable of working receives disability payments.

Substance abuse treatment should be required for all addicts receiving disability but there exists no requirement for drug testing. There are plenty of free clinics for alcohol/drug abuse, plus Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotic Anonymous programs are free. Most addicts on disability refuse treatment. 

Substance abusers use their disability money to buy street drugs. Giving money for drug abuse expands the problem. 

Thus in my opinion all those receiving disability payments should have routine drug testing. The welfare state has failed to help people and enables addicts to keep using street drugs. 

Work cures misery and tough love works. Some people disagree believing that compassion without individual responsibility along with money cures all problems. This belief is called enabling. In my experience enabling never helps anyone change for the better.

Nevertheless, let us examine  all view points. Let us study all ideas. Let us listen to each other without arguing. Let us come together as community thinkers, not fighters. Let us develop a plan that works. 

In my view the federal government has never solved social problems. I believe that individual communities and states unfettered by government control can solve social problems because different approaches vary in different areas. 

We the people can solve many problems if we stop yelling and start working together. 

Unsolicited Words from a Grandfather

Grandfathers seem compelled to offer advise to their grandchildren. It is our duty, our responsibility, our obligation, our mission to bestow unsolicited wisdom. This irresistible urge cannot be denied even though our grandchildren almost never listen to us.

Last year when Lori left for the University of North Carolina School of Arts I couldn’t resist writing her some “words of wisdom.” Because I didn’t want to waste them, I offer the nuggets here. Feel free to pass them on to your grandchildren. It’s your duty.

• The master word is work. To quote Sir William Osler:
• Work will make the dull man bright, the bright man brilliant and the brilliant man steady.
• Try to remember that no one wants to hear your story. They want to talk about themselves. Although you say very little about yourself, you will gain a reputation of being a tremendous conversationalist by letting the other person talk.  And remember that everyone knows something that you don’t. Discover as much as you can about those you meet:
• What kind of experiences have they had?
• What are their likes and dislikes?
• What is most important to them?
• What are their goals and aspirations?
• What fun things have they done?
• What are their major concerns?
• Help people feel good about themselves by telling them you appreciate them and by sincerely praising them...but never lie or write an untruthful letter. If you feel they have done nothing praiseworthy don’t say anything. Everyone enjoys sincere praise and most of us avoid making appreciative comments.
• Ask, seek, knock. Boldly ask for what you want and ask with value. Always give something in return for those who help you get what you want.
• Learn something everyday for the rest of your life. Study, read and learn from others.
• Remember to give God all the glory. Everything we accomplish comes from the talents, gifts and grace God has bestowed upon us. There is no such thing as a self made man or woman although many of us tend to think so.  
• Pray one sentence prayers throughout the day praising God and asking the Holy Spirit for guidance and help.

Unremitting Love

She’s more enchanting than a summer's day, her enduring radiance calling back the lovely April of her prime. 

Her enlivened greetings brighten the common hour. In conversation she listens more than she talks, her green eyes intense and sparkling. 

Her presence enables everyone to feel special because she believes they are. She facilitates hope for a peaceful and cultured civilization. She’s as soothing as a downy pillow. 

Her home radiates warmth and welcome. She turns a sandwich into an charming meal and makes fantastic potato soup, malted milkshakes and iced mint tea. No restaurant can outdo her elegant meals. Watching her in the kitchen warms the heart. 

You never hear her boast about her family or herself. You won’t find her discussing her accomplishments, her famous friends or her worldly travels. She avoids all things pretentious and flees ostentation. Fancy cars and gaudy excess fail to impress her.  

Born of a cooler race with distrust for sweet-faced hypocrisy she endures no evil and tolerates no lies. She tells you what she thinks in way that makes you feel good about yourself and her. When she makes a request you feel disappointed if you fail to meet her expectations. 

Her pleasing counsel, sweet to the soul and healing to the spirit, comes from a discerning heart. She avoids nagging and guards against quarrelsome words, but remains firm-footed about her convictions. 

If she can’t find anything good to say about someone, she doesn’t say anything at all. She speaks the truth from her heart, respects everyone and casts no slur on anyone. She looks for the good. She understands and forgives. 

She’s as steady as an incoming tide. Once she makes up her mind, she almost never changes it. Because our strengths are, in excess, our greatest weakness, she’s hard headed and cursed by perfectionism.

She’s intolerant of overabundant fervor and vigorous gusto. I must curb my enthusiasm for improving a story with expanded truth. Her upturned eyes tell me that my free use of gesticulation and theatrics have overextended her tolerance for my unfettered excitement.       

She covers her eyes during crucial parts of an Aggie game and at the scary parts of a movie. She fears mice and getting her finger pricked, but other than that she can withstand just about anything from man or beast. When malice attacks a loved one or friend she comes to the rescue firm-chinned and determined.

She avoids religious babble and fundamental hypocrisies, but she’s rock faithed and spiritually solid. She trusts in the Lord with all her heart and in all ways acknowledges him. 

Her actions reflect her conviction that God comes first in her life. She comforts those in trouble with the peace she herself has received from God.

She avoids foolish arguments on the mind of God. She pays no heed to religious debates that are beyond the reach of our souls. She believes that all are predestined for grace and that free will gives us the opportunity to have an abundant life filled with love, peace and joy. 

She’s centered on each day, treasures time and wastes no hour. She abhors regret and believes the future will work out the way it has been planned. 

Fifty-one years ago I was just a boy with overflowing ambition made awkward by doubt when I married her, a girl as fresh as spring blossoms possessing a wide-eyed belief in the future and me. Her love and steadiness bring out my best.

The PC Debate: "Left" Behind or the "Right" Word

The political kerfuffle may be decided with words. Which do you prefer?:

• A lie or a factually false statement
• Bum or motivationally challenged
• Crazy or serotonin deficient  
• Example: 
• The sex-crazed bum left me and my kids broke and homeless. 
• The motivationally challenged libidinous serotonin deficient sperm donor abandoned the children rendering us a single mom family without a domicile or financial sustenance.
• Criminal or behaviorally challenged
• Example: 
• Lockup those ghetto-bred criminals. 
• The behaviorally challenged citizens who live in an economically disadvantaged area have an environmental induced tendency to behave in an improper manner that incarceration exacerbates.
• Temper tantrums or bipolar tendencies
• Garbage or sanitation challenged products so that a garbage man becomes a sanitation engineer
• Custodian or hygienic artist 
• Failure or deferred success
• He failed because he couldn't read, write or do arithmetic.
• His deferred success was no longer delayed when academic qualifications became equalized for all students so that no child was left behind.
• Fat people or the hormone induced rotund
• Foreign food or ethnic cuisine
• Example: 
• Fat people get high blood sugar 'cause they don't eat good"
• Ethnic cuisine of the Mediterranean variety may help the hormone induced rotund to attain a svelte physique that enhances a healthy life-style. 
• Housewife or domestic engineer, or, perhaps, CEO of a small cooperation 
• Natural disaster or climate change event
• Hot weather or increased global warming confirmation 
• Politician or self-serving autocrat

In summary let us endeavor to articulate in a culturally diverse manner so that our inoffensive communication enhances harmony with all people can be expostulated with less verbosity. In plain speech: Speak kindly and clearly.