Have compassion
Mood:  bright
Topic: Something to consider

I had to go for my annual check up and while waiting for the doctor his nurse, Christie, talked to me. She proudly told me that she has just written a book. I want to share the book, Christian’s Story, with you. It is something everyone can relate to. I do want to state though that there is lots of help available. You have to be open to help. Unfortunately the biggest disease is denial. However, once you admit that there is a problem in your family and you do not have to keep it a secret you will also notice that AA, Al-Anon, Alateen, Children of Alcoholics and more are available. The resource list in the book, FOR TEENAGERS LIVING WITH A PARENT WHO ABUSES ALCOHOL/DRUGS is 20 pages long. What is hard is watching the abuser of alcohol/drugs damage him/herself and hurt the family.

 

Why won’t daddy stop drinking?

Triumph over alcohol seen through the eyes of a child

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. – Interventions didn’t work. The first two stints in rehab didn’t work. Not even jail time could convince Christie L. Appel’s son to stop drinking. And who was most affected? His children.

Appel tells the story of what lead her son to sobriety through the eyes of her grandson in her new book, Christian’s Story. Throughout this emotional journey, Christie discovered there isn’t much assistance for children of addicts. She wants this book to help the smallest victims of addiction.

“When Keith started struggling with alcoholism it became a family problem, but we didn’t have the tools to make sense of it all,” says Appel. “It became clear that I was a co-dependent and an enabler. As a family, we all had to do our part.”

The Appel family wants Christian’s Story to bring faith and encouragement to children who have been affected by alcoholism. Their story has a happy ending and shows that miracles can happen.

“Addiction has been a generational problem with my family and it became time to draw a line in the sand,” Appel says. “It was a devastating time in all our lives, but we are recovering one day at a time.”

Alcoholism doesn’t just affect the alcoholic, but the entire family. Christian’s Story lets children know it’s not their fault and there is hope.

Christian’s Story: Our Family’s Triumph Over Alcohol

By Christie L. Appel

32 pages

Paperback 11 x 8.5, retail price: $19.99

ISBN: 9781467877213

Available at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.

About the author

Christie L. Appel is a practicing RN, CLNC at Yampa Valley Medical Associates in Steamboat Springs, CO. She was raised in Steamboat and continues to live there with her husband, Larry.Christie has a real passion for her family. She is truly blessed to be writing this story with a happy ending. By sharing this story, she tries to provide faith, hope and encouragement to all who read it.

# # #

MORE HOLIDAY IDEAS
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Think about it

In my last blog I mentioned that it is important that you have resources outside your home. Here is SAMHSA’s most recent holiday info. You can look up SAMHSA (Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration) any time at www.samhsa.gov  Their toll free number is 877 726-4727. They list nationwide all kinds of cool activities such as “running for sobriety”, "awareness walk", "motorcycle rally", "hands across a bridge". If you join one of the groups perhaps you can help them organize a favorite activity of yours.

 

 

 

 

GOOD HOLIDAY WISHES TO ONE AND ALL
Mood:  cool
Topic: Something to consider

GIVE YOURSELF A PRE-CHRISTMAS/HANNUKAH  PRESENT

The holiday season is always an excuse for drinking and drugging. But then people who suffer from addiction will always find an excuse to satisfy their cravings. If you are in a home where the addictive habits really burst forth during the holidays there are several preparations you and your siblings can do.

1. Make a list of relatives and friends whom you feel comfortable visiting. Phone them and ask if in an emergency you could stay with them.
2. Always let your parents know where you are spending the night. Don’t just tell them but also write the name, address and phone number down and safety pin the paper on your bed. If your parents have email send it to them as well.
3. If you have no place to go have the phone numbers of your local Alcoholics Anonymous, and other addiction help centers available in case you need to talk to someone.
4. If all else fails be prepared to phone 911.
5. Depending on your relationships with your mother and father, the holidays are sometimes a good time to discuss what worries you about your parents’ habits. It is important to talk to your parents in a positive and non-insulting way. For example instead of saying, “I hate it when –“ you might say, “I really worry when you ---, or “My feelings hurt when you ---“. 

We are also living through financially difficult times which may be adding more stress to our families. Lets try and be grateful for the good things we do have. It may also be a good time if you are affiliated with a church or synagogue to talk to your clergyman about your personal concerns. Make some plans of your own where you can let off some steam. Is there a pool near your home? Bowling Alley? A gym? You get the idea. Get some healthy activities going outside of your home. Have some fun. To all my web site visitors a healthy, prosperous and peaceful new year. May you find the strength within you to make your wishes come true. Believe in yourself.

Might Be Of Interest To You
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Something to consider

I just received this email which I want to share with you.

Site Sponsored Academic Scholarship Contest Inside

 

Sometimes making your dream come true is just as simple as getting the right information or making the right contact, and the popular social networking website, Yourlifebox.com, is doing just that – helping high school students and young college-aged adults take proactive steps towards their futures – one dream at a time.

 

There are a number of social websites on the Internet today, but Your LifeBox sets itself apart from the pack with the site’s central mission: to help young members connect with other members by promoting their dreams and seeking the support of their peers through social outreach. The site provides a special feature called, the YLB Wish, a forum to ask site community members for their support or a connection, non-monetary to help them fulfill their passions and goals.

 

YourLifeBox.com, a site that currently boasts over fifteen-hundred members was founded by young, Manhattan born, Internet entrepreneur Jonathan Bullard, who says, "When I created Your LifeBox I wanted users to have the functionality of popular social utility websites, but with an important twist – to focus on sharing their dreams, passions and ambitions in their profile, with the added benefit to ask for something non-monetary – something practical, like a social connection, opportunity or introduction, to find support from other members to help make their dreams a reality.”

 

Jonathan was inspired to create Your LifeBox based on his belief that we all have the ability, but that many are lacking the opportunity to reach full potential. “There are so many talented individuals in the world who have ideas and dreams that never become a reality because they are in an environment that does not support their dreams and hopes. A simple thing like positive encouragement and support can potentially change the world for people who might be otherwise neglected or ignored,” states Bullard.

 

Along with the YLB Wish, Your LifeBox offers a multi-faceted, social utility for members to create their own profiles, make friends, manage their messages, blogs, invites and interactive commentary. Members who share a common goal, concern or interest can create a network of friends and contacts to offer guidance and support to each other, and can also add links to their videos and broadcasts on YLB TV.

Your LifeBox has already been used as a vehicle for users to take steps and find support towards achieving their goals. Celia Flores, a user of Your LifeBox, shared her dream on the site with the hope that someone could help her fulfill it. Celia, wanting to apply to be a physician’s assistant, realized she needed health care shadowing experience to get into Physician’s Assistant school but did not have a connection in that industry. Through Your LifeBox, she received information from a doctor regarding a shadowing opportunity that he could facilitate for her.

Another member, Dean Kabeli, a recent graduate of Valencia film school had a dream of working in New York City in the TV/Film industry.  He was contacted by another member who provided him job information and listings for his field in New York City and he ended up landing an interview with a production company.  

 

In addition to individual support, Your LifeBox founder Jonathan Bullard, who is also pursuing his masters degree in business and finance, stays connected to the education and college community by helping to sponsor career oriented campus events. Most recently, the company congregated with over 750 college students at the University of North Carolina for an event designed to teach advertising and marketing strategies and to develop personal selling and communication techniques in preparation to become marketing representatives for fortune 500 companies. Part of the event’s theme sponsored by Your LifeBox, enabled students to share their dreams, goals, ambitions and passions at Your LifeBox.com in a public arena through photos, video and print with the network of participating students.

 

Bullard is excited by the recent upturn in membership for the website and has been implementing a number of growth strategies in the past few months including Internet, viral and word of mouth marketing. Your LifeBox is also focused on growing partnerships with those who share the same vision for the site, and encourage business, organizations, public figures and potential investors to create a professional page as a point of connection with site members for career networking opportunities.  In return Your LifeBox exchanges free advertising, PR, promotion of products and services and other benefits as of way of saying thanks for supporting site member’s dreams.   

 

In support of student academic goals, Your LifeBox has now launched a program to reward scholarships to participating members, with the first scholarship award of $1000.00 dollars to be given out this Summer, and on a quarterly basis throughout the year. The scholarship winner will be chosen based on their Dream, and how many votes they receive for their profile.

 

To enter, users will be asked to fill out a complete profile, post a picture, insert their school into the school section and under YLB wish, type $1000 scholarship.

 

How to win a YLB (Yourlifebox.com) Scholarship

 

To compete for Yourlifebox.com’s current scholarship award, site visitors are asked to:

 

- Log on to Yourlifebox.com and fill out a complete profile, including a picture and dream

- Include attended school under the school section on the profile page

- Insert $1,000 tuition scholarship under the YLB wish section on the profile page

- Get people to vote on their profile by sharing their dream with everybody

 

 

Connect with Your Life Box at: www.yourlifebox.com and http://twitter.com/yourlifebox.

 

Also on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Your-LifeBoxcom-Broadcast-Your-Dreams/310617973215.

 

 

Uplifting Entertainment
Mood:  happy
Every once in a while we need an uplifting movie or TV show to watch. GMC specializes in such shows. You can take many of their DVDs out in your library. If your library does not have their movies ask them to get them. Here are some of my favorite titles. A Mile In His Shoes, the story of a boy who suffers from Asberger's Syndrome who makes it big with a minor league baseball team.  Another is The Love You Save, the story of growing up without a Father.  For a complete list go to http://web.gospelmusicchannel.com/movies

I said this earlier in the year, but it is such good info that I am going to repeat it again. I found a web site I would like to share with you. It's www.teenadvisor.com/teenmagazines/teenalpha-websites.html

These magazines cover everything from being popular to health questions and even queries about schools.

Speaking of school if you are having trouble in math or science go to www.Khanacademy.org  and let the academy's teachers explain the subject to you. These teachers make the most complicated material simple. Their graphs and drawings are sweet.

l

Back to school
Mood:  sharp
Topic: Think about it

It's that time of year again - school. Some of you like your studies and some of you don't. Some of you are happy at home and some of you are not. One good thing to do is to keep a journal. Don't write your thoughts on line but in a book with a good old fashioned ball point pen or pencil. Write your thoughts, your ideas, your feelings, your plans, your dreams, your questions, and descriptions. And, then hide your journal. Let it be your private, intimate journal. Let the journal be your hang out for all your feelings. The journal is your private place and only your place.

Take good care of yourselves
I just received the following from Mount Sinai Hospital in New YorkCity which I want to share  with you. There are other cities which have these medical facilities geared to teenagers. They cover everything from unwanted pregnancy, sexually  transmitted disease, to acne and delayed or precocious puberty.
 
To find a doctor who specializes in teenage health needs practicing near you check out Society For Adolescent Health And Medicine at:
http://www.adolescenthealth.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
 
Take good care of yourself and don't be afraid to talk to your doctor.


About Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center
 

The Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center was established in 1968 as the first primary care program in New York specifically designed for the health needs of adolescents.  Today, it is one of the largest, freestanding providers of comprehensive outpatient adolescent health services in the country.

 

The Center offers free, confidential and integrated physical health, sexual and reproductive health, mental health and health education to 10,000 vulnerable young people (who fall within the ages of 10 and 24) every year, teens who would otherwise go without any care whatsoever.  The Center's specialists in adolescent health provide physical, mental and reproductive health services, plus prevention, health education and support services, all geared to empower teens to  make responsible, informed decisions about their health for a lifetime.

 

No one who falls within the prescribed age group is turned away.  Every teen is treated with respect; every teen is valued.The Center is also a major training destination for health care professionals who specialize in adolescent medicine, psychology, social work and other health programs.  This, combined with an emphasis on documentation of results, research and the dissemination of information, enables the Center to be a strong voice in policy making, health promotion and the treatment and prevention of disease in adolescents.

End of School Info
Topic: Think about it

Not everyone is interested in going to college. As a matter of fact many a high school graduate is going on to study specific skills such as computer management, cosmetology, air conditioning technology etc. so that he or she can enter a specific job market. However, I thought the following statistics might be of interest to all teens.

The following information is presented by Fastweb, a website for scholarship and financial aid info.

* Social media:  The survey found that 49% of teenagers are concerned that their online image could affect their chances of getting into college. Evenly split, 23% of respondents were worried their online reputation would affect them getting a job while 23% thought online footprints are only something that adults should worry about. A mere 3 % of users said they would rather look cool to their friends versus worrying about the consequences of a potentially negative online image.

* What issues keep teenagers up at night: --- 39% cited getting good grades. ---- 19% were worried about getting into the college of their choice ---

* Celebrities: When asked which celebrity 16 year olds would most likely befriend, the high rankers were Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift and Emma Watson. 

You have heard it before
Mood:  d'oh
Topic: Think about it

OOOPS – forgot to tell you that I was asked a few weeks ago when the temperature was still in the 30’s (at least in the snow country)  to contribute to Dr. David Friedman’s newsletter.
Here’s the info:
Show: To Your Good Health Radio w/ Dr. David Friedman
When do we know we are drinking too much?
Written by Edith Hornik-Beer  www.answersforteens.com

Drinking usually starts out socially. We learn how to drink alcohol from our parents. As children we watched them pick that special wine for a dinner party, perhaps have a cocktail before dinner, or consume beer while sitting on the couch watching TV. Our children will learn to drink from us too.

So what causes a person to cross that line between social drinking and drinking too much?  One factor, inherited, is how we metabolize alcohol. If we can drink lots of alcohol without becoming sleepy or sick, alcohol has the opportunity to effect our nervous system adversely and cause us to become addicted to drinking. Many who have a history of alcoholism in their family teach their children to be aware of this when they become of drinking age. Some drink wanting to feel good about themselves. After a drink a man might feel more manly, a woman, more glamorous. A person who feels depressed might hope that drinking will cheer him or her up.

On the other hand who hasn’t come home after a challenging day at work and found a drink relaxing? What cook hasn’t after making an especially good meal found the perfect wine to enhance the taste?

So how do we know when our drinking has left the social stage? If you answer yes to any of the following symptoms you might want to discuss this disease with your physician.  Alcoholism is a required subject in medical school.

1) It isn’t how often I drink but when I drink I feel I had too much.
2) Frequently I don’t wait until cocktail hour to have my first drink.
3) At meals I drink more than I eat.
4) After drinking I don’t remember what I said or did.
5) I often have to sleep off the drinks I had and don’t feel well when I get up.
 
Written by Edith Hornik-Beer  www.answersforteens.com
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