December 12, 1999
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 14:12:33 -0800 (PST)
From: "drDrew.com"
To: "drDrew.com Newsletter"
Subject: drDrew.com's Weekly Dose
THE OFFICIAL DRDREW.COM NEWSLETTER
December 13, 1999
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GREETINGS FROM DREW
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Dear member,
Thanks for registering at drDrew.com. This "weekly dose" of drDrew.com is to let you know what stories and celebrities will be appearing on the site this week. We also give you selected questions and my answers which are only available in this newsletter.
We appreciate your participation and feedback. We want to make our community as lively and useful as possible. This is where you can talk about and explore the things that matter most to you.
Please invite your friends to register and become active participants in our new community.
Stay Well,
Dr. Drew
To receive the drDrew.com Weekly Dose, go to:
http://www.drdrew.com/user/register.html
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IN THIS WEEK'S DOSE:
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* The drDrew.com Show
* What's New on drDrew.com
* Bonus Q&A with Drew
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THIS WEEK WITH DR. DREW:
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* The next drDrew.com Show is on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15 at 7:30 p.m.
P.S.T. where the special guest will be actor ANNE-MARIE JOHNSON from the hit CBS show, "JAG". Watch the drDrew.com Show live at http://www.drdrew.com/show/index.html. You can also call in toll-free during this half-hour show to ask Drew your questions at 1-888-4DR-DREW.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY (http://www.drdrew.com/office/qotd.html)
ASK DR. DREW YOUR QUESTION at http://www.drdrew.com/office/askqotd.html
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* Today: Help, I think I might have gotten herpes.
* Tuesday: I get crushes on girls and guys. Am I a lesbian?
* Wednesday: Can a primary care doctor prescribe an antidepressant?
* Thursday: I'm scared I might have gotten my girlfriend pregnant.
* Friday: Why do I always cheat on my boyfriends?
Scroll down for more Q & A!
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PERSONALITIES: STRAIGHT TALK FROM THE STARS
http://www.drdrew.com/profiles/index.html
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* Today: Counting Crows' frontman Adam Duritz on love in Hollywood
* Wednesday: R&B superstar Kelis on being a "Thunderbitch"
* Friday: Rock actress Courtney Love
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HEALTHWISE: HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE ISSUES THAT MATTER
http://www.drdrew.com/office/index.html
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* Tuesday: Orgasms, orgasms, orgasms: Did she or didn't she?
* Thursday: Madonna's trainer Ray Kybartas gives expert advice on how he keeps celebrities in shape.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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QUESTION:
I think that I was depressed about a year ago, but I heard that depression usually recurs in about five years. Is that true?
DR. DREW:
Yes, it is true. If you've had one depressive episode, there's a 50 percent chance you'll have another in five years. If you've had three or more episodes, there's a 90 percent chance you'll have another within five years. Although it doesn't sound like you were officially diagnosed, the fact that you experienced a major depressive episode suggests that you are prone to depression. It's very important for you to take care of yourself, create balance in your life, and maybe even participate in talk therapy to help you deal with this. At the very least, you need to start the healing process, or learn to manage the psychological circumstances that may have contributed to your depression in the first place. I highly recommend the book Restoring Intimacy: The Patient's Guide to Maintaining Relationships During Depression if you're interested in learning more about the impacts of depressive illnesses.
QUESTION:
I'm an 18-year-old college student and I'm very interested in becoming a sex therapist. Do you have any advice for pursuing this career, starting with what I should major in?
DR. DREW:
In all honesty, since this is your last chance to get a liberal education, I suggest you get as broad an education as possible. Obviously, you need a very strong background in science, but this is the last time you'll be able to round out your education in the humanities, such as literature and art. Speaking from personal experience, I guarantee you will call upon
what you've learned in those classes throughout your career. Of course, you should also focus on getting the highest degree possible, such as an M.D., Ph.D. or L.C.S.W., all of which will give you the most flexibility in the range of training available to you. In your post-graduate training, you should focus on a very thorough training in psychiatry or psychology, depending on your degree. After such training, you can focus on interpersonal and sexual issues. Talk to your college advisor, or better yet, find a mentor who has experience as a sex therapist who can guide you throughout your college career.
QUESTION:
I am 19 years old and have been smoking cigarettes since I was 15. At the request of my girlfriend, as well as my own desire to stop, I am trying to quit. I can't afford any of those patches or inhalers, so what's the best way to kick the habit?
DR. DREW:
The first thing I tell people who are trying to stop smoking cigarettes is to be sure that you are actually ready to stop. Just like dieting or any other major behavior change, if you really are ready for change, you are much more likely to be successful. In addition to the nicotine replacement products you mentioned, there's a prescription anti-depressant that eases withdrawal symptoms and decreases cravings. There are also many community-based behavior programs that are quite successful.
If money is the biggest issue for you in not getting treatment, think about it this way: in the long-run, it'll cost you a lot more to maintain the habit and deal with the inevitable health problems associated with smoking.
QUESTION:
After I masturbate, my vagina smells bad for a week or two, and there's white, filmy foamy stuff on the toilet paper when I wipe. What is this?
DR. DREW:
You may have a bacterial vaginosis: a vaginal infection often accompanied by vaginitis. Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina characterized by a strange or unpleasant odor, discharge and sometimes itching. This type of infection is quick and easy to treat with a cream or antibiotic pill, but you have to see doctor to get a prescription and to rule out any other possible problems. Usually, these infections are limited to the vagina and don't have much of an impact on your overall health, but you should get treated just to be safe. Researchers are still investigating the link between pelvic infections and infertility and tubal (ectopic) pregnancies.
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IMPORTANT NOTE
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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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MORE DRDREW.COM QUESTIONS COMING YOUR WAY NEXT WEEK
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