My name is Catherine Morgan, I'm a writer, nurse, and mother. This is a blog about women's issues, health & wellness, and inspirational thoughts. If you like this blog, you will love BlogHer.com where I am also a contributing editor.
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Find out all the places I blog at Catherine Blogs.
It’s the last day of 2007, and I thought I would do this post on some of the hot topics from BlogHer Health and Wellness. So, in no particular order, here is what I think are the top ten. — read the full post at BlogHer.
The nation’s teen birth rate has risen for the first time in 14 years, according to a new government report.
The birth rate had been dropping since 1991. The decline had slowed in recent years, but government statisticians said Wednesday it jumped 3 percent from 2005 to 2006.
“It took us by surprise,” said Stephanie Ventura of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a co-author of the report. — see full article here
It seems to me that this latest report proves that abstinence-only programs are not working.
Ideology, not science, has been driving America’s response to the twin epidemics of teen pregnancy and STD/HIV infections. Funding for abstinence-only censorship programs is dramatically increasing. All told, abstinence-only programs have received over half a billion dollars in federal funds since 1997, and the Bush administration requested yet another sharp increase to $204 million for fiscal year 2007. By 2009, President Bush proposes that funding for abstinence-only programs reach $270 million.
This huge investment of taxpayer funds in abstinence-only programs conflicts with scientific and medical research: abstinence-only programs are not proven effective and may in fact result in riskier behavior by teenagers. Responsible sex education programs, on the other hand, have demonstrated positive results such as delayed initiation of sex, reduced frequency of sex, and increased contraceptive use. — read full article here
I would love to know how these programs have spent over half a billion dollars of taxpayer money teaching abstinence? I would also like to know what the current presidential candidates will do when elected to lower the rate of teen pregnancy in this country?
Are you making significant life decisions from a place of fear or anger? Most of us do. When we make choices and respond to people and situations in our life, in reaction to fearful and angry emotions, we are choosing unhappiness. From the little responses and decisions in our life, right up to the big ones.
You can read this full post at my new blog - CatherineBlogs.com (my first attempt at a blog with ads), I’d love to know what you think. Thanks. And, don’t worry…I still plan on continuing my blogging here and at all my other blogs.
TO: All Presidential Candidates And Their Campaign Managers.
REGARDING: A Political Strategy That Could Win The Election, While Regaining The Trust Of The American People.
FROM: A Mom Who Cares About America.
All this talk about the millions of dollars being raised by the Presidential candidates really got me thinking……Are these campaign managers really getting the most “bang” for their “buck”? And, is any of this money contributing to the overall welfare of the American people?
After just three months of fundraising, the candidates for president in 2008 have already raised more than $150 million. No presidential money chase has ever started so quickly. By some predictions, the eventual nominees will need to raise $500 million apiece to compete—a record sum. — see specific breakdown of each candidate
The promotion, called “Thanks, Mom,” urges people to join the marrow registry in honor of their mothers, thereby giving the gift of life to others to commemorate the life that your mother gave to you.
The best part of the promotion is that you can join the registry from 7 May to 21 May FOR FREE. The NMDP has received funding to allow people to register at no cost to them (the registration fee is usually $52, to cover the cost of the tissue-typing kit and the associated lab costs).
I am so excited to tell everyone that I am now a contributing editor for Health and Wellness at BlogHer. What that means is; I will be surfing their BlogRoll for other women bloggers that are blogging on health and wellness issues, so I can feature them in my posts. There are contributing editors for all topics, so just register your blog…and there is a good chance you will be noticed and have your blog featured on BlogHer. It’s also a great idea to comment on topics you like….because your site link will be within the comment. Well, check it out and see what you think.
Yesterday President Bush said, “The Supreme Court’s decision is an affirmation of the progress we have made over the past six years in protecting human dignity and upholding the sanctity of life. We will continue to work for the day when every child is welcomed in life and protected in law.”
I found this video, and I thought it would make a good post. I hope you like it.
If you liked this video, you should also check out what I put up on my other site…..It is a video of inspirational quotes set to the song “Starry Starry Night”. It is really beautiful. You can see it at BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN YOURSELF
If you or someone you know is in a physically or emotionally abusive relationship, there is a lot of information available and people that can help. Below is an article and links to help you understand domestic violence and abuse, and to find help. You are not alone.
No matter how troubling life gets, no matter how much pain surrounds you; never stop expecting to find a door cracked open. And when you see the flicker of light from that door, push through it, out of your pain and into your future.
CHRONIC ILLNESS AND DEPRESSION — What came first? - by Catherine Morgan
If you found out you had Diabetes and became depressed, the doctor would tell you that it is normal to feel depressed after a diagnosis such as this. And the doctor would be correct. Chronic illness changes your life, it is scary, it is frustrating, and yes it can also be very depressing. And, there is no shame in admitting that you are depressed, there are many things your doctor can do to help you with this problem.
Just about every person that suffers from a chronic illness will also suffer in some way with depression. If you are diagnosed with Lupus, or MS, or cancer, or any other chronic medical condition, your doctor will be totally understanding when you come to him with your feelings of depression, as he should be. And treating your depression should be an important part of the overall treatment of your illness.
It would be virtually unheard of for a doctor to suggest that a persons depression was the cause of their Lupus, or the cause of their MS, or the cause of their cancer. But, in the case of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a condition that the CDC considers to be just as devastating as these other chronic illnesses, doctors will often insist that the depression is causing the disease, and not the other way around.
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