As we enter this world as an infant, we grow, we learn, we get older, and we eventually die. It’s the natural order of life. One does not know when he or she will die or how he or she will die, yet we know that day is coming. For some individuals that day comes sooner than later as it did for Bobbi Kristian Brown. On July 26, 2015, Bobbi Kristina Brown the only child from pop icon Whitney Houston and R&B Singer Bobby Brown died that Sunday night. She was 22 years of age.
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July 27, 2015
by Lorna Hecht, MFT
The amount and intensity of the public response to photos of a young not-very famous woman and her decision to post photos of herself with and without make-up is very interesting. It highlights a well-known fact; people write things on social media they would be unlikely to say directly to someone they know. Family Systems Theory provides a particular framework for understanding such harsh rhetoric directed at strangers and/or posted anonymously.
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On Monday, Jeb Bush released his 2016 presidential campaign logo, right before his official announcement. The logo made waves on the internet as people critiqued the Republican candidate’s choice to use just his first name. Jeb Bush also finishes his logo with a prominent exclamation point. However, it is not as much the font, color, or exclamation point that makes Jeb’s logo interesting to people across the internet; it is what is missing from his logo.
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The common thread between the District of Columbia, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and Alaska is that they all have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes. Each state has their own set of rules on how they govern the purchase, selling, transportation, and cultivating of marijuana. There are many states that are working towards their own legalization of marijuana. Regardless of when or if that comes to be, the effects of marijuana are the same, it is substance that causes euphoria, a high that causes impairment. There is no employer that is going to take a risk of allowing a person to use marijuana and be employed. It is a risk hazard regardless of it being legal per certain states and remains illegal on the federal level. Therefore, people who want to get high and/or avoid anyone knowing that they have substances in their urine, aka pass a drug test; would use “fake marijuana” or “synthetic marijuana” or “Spice”
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Our society tends to believe that if one works hard enough, they will do well. However, according to the recent census, two-thirds of people living in poverty are working 1.7 jobs. Many people work hard and are still not making it, not even for basic needs.
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It seems to be common sense that having someone to lean on in a time of need would be a good thing. And, not surprisingly, social psychological and clinical psychological research has confirmed that. But, in delving into the scientifically based questions of how, why, when and what kind of social support is most beneficial to people in times of stress, mental illness or well-being, social scientists have identified the truly important role that our relationships with others play in our psychological and physical health. When it comes to health, who we know is just as important, if not more so, than what we know.
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It is a well-known fact that parenting does not come with a manual of standard procedure (which would indeed be helpful) and at times, various topics arise which make parents second-guess themselves. Recently, the topic of praise and narcissism has been at the forefront of social media and sensationalized pop-culture blogs. However, what is missing is an expert opinion on the matter based upon a combination of empiricism and years of experience with hundreds, even thousands of children.
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One of the biggest causes of conflict in relationships is differences in values, goals, and habits related to money, and communication about money issues. To keep a relationship happy and peaceful, it’s important for couples to understand their beliefs about money, learn how to talk about money, and learn how to align their financial goals. If you can do these things, you will be well on your way to having one less thing to argue about!
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Especially among combat veterans, the prevalence of depression, PTSD, and suicide rate is even more staggering. According to 2012 VA Suicide Data Report, rates of veteran suicide are much higher than previously thought – approximately 22 veterans commit suicide every day. It is further estimated that male veterans ages 18 to 24 are particularly susceptible as evidenced by their suicide rate still increasing.
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Rehoming. Disruption. Dissolution. These terms have been tossed around flippantly, often used interchangeably, in the news lately. However, they each encompass very different meanings and have different implications in the world of adoption. This month, Arkansas State Representative Justin Harris and his wife Marsha continually made headlines for rehoming their two adopted daughters to a friend they knew for years. This ‘friend’ eventually raped one of the girls (Arkansas State Representative, 2015).
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