August 2, 1999
--- list-admin@drDrew.com wrote:
> Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1999 07:28:58 -0700 (PDT)
> From: > To: mailinglist@drDrew.com
> Subject: August 2, 1999
> THE OFFICIAL DRDREW.COM NEWSLETTER
> August 2, 1999
>
> **********************************************************************
>
> In this issue:
> * Win a Trip to Hollywood to Meet Dr. Drew!
> * Personal note from Dr. Drew
> * Dr. Drew answers questions on abusive
> relationships, coming out,
> the death of a close friend, and women's health.
>
> **********************************************************************
>
> **********************************************************************
>
> WIN A TRIP TO HOLLYWOOD TO MEET DR. DREW!
> Now that you registered at drdrew.com you are
> eligible to win a trip for
> you and a friend to visit Hollywood and meet Dr.
> Drew. Also, every day one
> of our members will win an autographed copy of the
> "Dr. Drew and Adam
> Book." See site (www.drdrew.com) for details. You
> have a chance to
> win--make sure your friends do too!
>
> **********************************************************************
>
> **********************************************************************
>
> Dear Members,
> The recent passing of J.F.K. Jr. has been weighing
> on me lately, causing me
> to think about the fragility of life and how
> fleeting our stay is here. I
> am essentially the same age as J.F.K. Jr. and have
> intense memories of him
> saluting his father's coffin as it passed in the
> caravan down Pennsylvania
> Avenue. That moment is etched in my memory, and now
> J.F.K. Jr. has passed
> as well. I can't help but feel a sense of loss as an
> important figure in
> both the history of this country and my own history
> is lost forever. I also
> can't help but turn my thoughts back to my own life
> and the lives of those
> I care about most.
> Because life can be very painful for some of us, we
> don't often stop and
> think about how precious it is. I can tell you in my
> clinical
> practice when I come across young people who are
> facing an early demise,
> they struggle with what life's meaning has been, and
> almost without
> exception they come to the same conclusion, that it
> is the important
> relationships in their life that make life so
> precious and so meaningful.
>
> My family is so precious to me and these
> relationships always give me joy
> and meaning. Please be careful with yourselves and
> cherish those extremely
> important relationships. The human animal is truly
> fascinating, but we must
> not forget that much of what is most interesting
> about the human is what we
> do with and for one another.
>
> Be Well,
>
> Dr. Drew
>
>
> **********************************************************************
> QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
> **********************************************************************
>
> QUESTION 1: What makes an abusive relationship?
>
> DR. DREW: Interestingly, an abusive relationship is
> not always obvious. If
> someone is physically beaten, there is no question
> that abuse is occurring,
> but abuse may take on more subtle forms in everyday
> life. I dare say that
> all of us at some point or another have been
> somewhat abusive to another
> person. In a relationship, I believe abuse occurs
> when mutuality and
> empathy for one another do not exist. People often
> act out their own
> emotional experiences through their relationships.
> They do this without
> concern for the impact on the other person. This is
> fundamentally abusive.
>
> An "abusive" relationship," however, refers to a
> relationship in which this
> lack of empathy is a repetitive, recurrent pattern.
> The signs and symptoms
> of an abusive relationship can be quite varied.
> Many people are not aware
> when they are in an abusive relationship. They may
> only feel the initial
> symptoms of anxiety and depression. Furthermore,
> individuals who choose
> abusers often have a sufficiently low sense of
> self-esteem and are not able
> to easily identify when someone is abusing them. In
> fact, they may even
> expect or anticipate maltreatment due to their lack
> of self-worth. Here's
> good litmus test: simply take a look at your
> relationship and observe if
> your expression of some specific need is listened to
> and responded to
> satisfactorily by your partner.
>
> QUESTION 2: I am 15, gay, and entering high school
> in the fall. I would
> like to possibly form a relationship with someone.
> Do you have any
> suggestions on how to approach people at school or
> on gay/lesbian resources
> I might contact?
>
> DR. DREW: Gay or straight--we all have concerns
> about finding that special
> person to share our lives! You should be commended
> for having such
> insights into who you are at this age. As we
> continue to learn about
> ourselves, we become more open to meeting people.
> Building a support system
> of friends who share in your experience is
> incredibly important.
>
> Often times, coming out is one of the most difficult
> and challenging
> experiences for a young person. High school peers
> can be very abusive to
> one another. Studies show that gay and lesbian
> youth are at particular
> risk for depression and suicide in your age group.
> This may result from
> extraordinary distress from a perceived judgment by
> peers or family
> members. This is one more reason for you to develop
> a very supportive
> network of friends.
>
> Gay and lesbian youth centers, often listed in your
> local yellow pages,
> offer an opportunity to connect with people your age
> who can support you
> through your experience. Similarly, this is an
> opportunity to socialize
> and meet people your own age with a similar
> orientation.
>
> QUESTION 3: How do you tell the different between a
> Yeast Infection and a
> Bacterial Vaginosis?
>
> DR. DREW: Basically, you don't. It's something that
> your doctor needs to
> do. "Vaginitis" is an overgrowth of bacteria or
> yeast that is limited to
> the vagina and is different from a Sexually
> Transmitted Disease. The two
> most common types present are vaginal irritation and
> discharge. Yeast
> infections tend to produce a thick, cheese-like
> discharge with no special
> scent.
>
> Bacterial Vaginosis produces a thinner, grey-white
> to yellow secretion with
> a "musty" or "fishy" odor. This type of bacteria
> stays in the vagina and
> does not spread deeper to the uterus or the
> fallopian tubes. However, if
> you have been sexually active, there is no way to
> distinguish this from a
> Sexually Transmitted Disease. In this case, the
> organisms--most likely
> Chlamydia or Gonorrhea--can infect deeper female
> organs and cause very
> serious infection which impacts your ability to have
> children.
>
> Vaginitis is very common and most women experience
> one or both at some
> point and occasionally repeatedly throughout their
> life. Often, women feel
> unnecessarily ashamed about this condition. It is
> important to feel
> comfortable discussing this issue with your health
> provider. This way a
> proper diagnosis can be made and treatment given to
> you. Both,
> fortunately, are treated with specific antibiotic
> creams. Treatment is
> important since you may transfer these infections
> back and forth between
> partners. Males tend to have no symptoms.
> Sometimes, if a young person is
> afraid to go to the doctor, I suggest trying an
> over-the-counter vaginal
> yeast cream. If that does not work, she probably
> has a Bacterial Vaginosis
> and it would be important to seek treatment from a
> doctor or other health
> care professional.
>
> QUESTION 4: I am a 15-year-old girl and I have been
> going through a hard
> time the past few days due to the death of a close
> friend. I haven't been
> able to sleep or to eat but I have been doing
> illegal things like drinking
> alcohol. I don't think it is very safe but I don't
> know what to do.
>
> DR. DREW: This must be an extremely difficult time
> for you. In this
> situation, to have marked distress is a normal
> response, particularly in
> young people. Many people have a natural reaction
> to look for an easy
> escape from this often overwhelming and threatening
> experience.
>
> Unfortunately, using chemicals to avoid your healing
> process only
> complicates and adds to the problem. Perhaps the
> most important step for
> you is to stay connected with the people who
> emotionally support
> you. Keeping close friends around you and
> continuing to talk about your
> feelings is crucial right now. If you continue to
> feel overwhelmed, please
> talk with an adult person in your life, such as a
> parent, teacher,
> counselor, or minister. Above all, be careful not
> to isolate yourself.
> Know that with time these intense feelings will
> subside and you will
> continue in your path of healing.
>
>
> **********************************************************************
>
> IMPORTANT NOTE: The content presented in this
> newsletter is not intended to
> take the place of professional medical treatment.
> For specific medical
> concerns, you should seek the advice of a qualified
> health provider.
>
> **********************************************************************
> **********************************************************************
>
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