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Messages By: jensen33

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January 4, 2006, 1:31 pm PST

01/03 Love Resolutions

Quote From: angelagc

I am stitting here feeling in the same boat as you when it comes to our husbands. 

He also refused conselling although I have gone on my own and I find that that only helped for a while. None the less I have read the Dr. Phil book relationship Rescue and he did not and we didnt do the excercices. I would like to do that now since my marriage is headed for divorce. Try being with someone who thinks they are always right and you cant talk to them because they keep it all bottled up inside!!!! 

I personallly think that you should buy as much as you can and read it to help yourself. The more knowledge you have about men the better. And you will learn things about yourself  too. 

You never know he may get into it as you will and that would be an asset to your relationship. 

Good luck! 

  

I do believe Dr. Phil when he said  if you change your behavior or the way you respond to something, changes will take place.  The easiest way to change someone else's behavior is to change yours.  I do not want to spend my life bickering about little things either.  Usually people do not want to change their behavior when they are criticized in a negative way, anyway.  For example, it used to irritate me that my boyfriend throws his cigarette butts on the ground.  I used to nag him about it.  He would flip a lit one onto the ground right in front of me and I would stomp it out, saying , "you know I can't stand that!"  He would make an excuse like someone else did it, or he forgot, and 8 years later, he is still throwing them on the ground.  For the past 5 years I have been just picking them up and throwing them away myself, along with any other trash in my yard, because I am not going to let something as petty as that make me unhappy the way it used to.  I am also not willing to lose a good man over cigarette butts, because he just won't stop doing it.  (He even claimed they are biodegradable).  All I can do is laugh.  Also, good advice Dr. Phil gave yesterday is on the importance in any relationship to continue to date, flirt,  and to seduce each other. 
 
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January 6, 2006, 2:35 pm PST

I do believe curses are REAL.

   VooDoo, Spell Casters, Black Majick........I believe people can become afflicted by evil in this way when it is sought by another person.  That is VERY REAL, from what I can tell.  However, another person must do this to you.  Anybody who would dabble in such wicked things is most certainly motivated by Satan, because he is the force behind evil.  I think when people are victims of a spell, sometimes they do not even know it, and it was put upon them by very wicked, evil people, who love Satan and his false promises, and who do not love people or JESUS.  These people who send negative energy to innocent people are in league with Satan.  Does anybody reading this remember the song "The Devil went down to Georgia"?  Well it completely frightened me as a child.  That awful fiddle sounded so wicked!  I was about 7 years old, and I lay in bed awake at night thinking that if the Devil went down to Georgia, then surely he could come to Michigan.  Yes, as an adult I believe he can come to Michigan, or wherever you are, but he no longer scares me.  If you rebuke him in the name of Jesus, he will have no choice but to stay away from you.  He gains power when people do not resist him, and he goes after you when you are weak.  To CHOOSE to cast evil energy at another person....the person who does that will have to answer for that one day.  I also strongly believe you reap what you sow.   

  

As far as spirits in the material world, yes,  it has not happened to me that I know of, but I believe spirits can return to the material world, and they also sometimes hang around where they died if they do not realize they have died yet.  (And of course our spirit lives forever, so it needs to change planes of existence and go to the light...HEAVEN).  I believe spirits can come back to a house where they lived or to the property where a house they lived in was, or they merely delay going to the "other side," and I do not believe their purpose is to harm the person living there.    As far as a spirit entering your body and possessing you, I believe it can happen, but it is my opinion that a true possession would be EXTREMELY rare.  I liked Dr. Phil's explanation about the use of positive symbols, and having a cross over one's bed.  All of this is very interesting to me, because I think there most certainly is more to our lives than what meets the eye.  

 
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January 6, 2006, 3:08 pm PST

An Answer....

Quote From: stuffedcat

     I don't believe in curses or possession, personally, I believe in psychology and the mind's flukes. Granted, I do recognize that sometimes unexplainable things happen and I -am- open to understanding that religion -can- be correct but we can't really know for sure. For now I rely on more earthly reasoning for what goes on. Now that I got that disclaimer down I'll get to the point:
   I have problems believing in curses and possession - possession especially - because of what I think a false belief in it can do. I spoke to a friend of mine about some problems I myself have (my family has a history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression and I have reoccurring 'problems' that could be categorized under any of those) and he understood and said that he has some of the more violent problems, but that he believed it to be caused by demons. Now, I understand that him and his family are all very heavily religious, but we have also talked about his childhood which included abuse, abandonment by his father, and the need for him to pick up parenthood for his two little sisters. When I pointed out that he obviously didn't have an easy childhood (I had realized that he had some depression problems by this point and I spoke to him unheedingly, thinking he'd understand because at the time he had been looking into psychology) he refused to talk about it and said that the Christian thing to do was to forgive and forget. Unfortunately, it seems that all he's tried to do is forget, and I know first-hand what suppression of something terrible can do to someone. Now he's plagued with depression, terrible nightmares, and on occasion he even 'sees' things (but mostly when he's just coming out of a nightmare). I tried to suggest multiple times that he see a psychiatrist but he won't because of the religious answer he's deemed his lifesaver. Granted, this hasn't helped him at all, and I worry about how the degenerative aspects of certain mental illnesses will effect him in the future.


Him and I don't speak anymore because when he gets depressed he becomes manipulative and lashes out at people close to him and anyone close to the person he's targeting.

I would really appreciate knowing if anyone with an objective view can enlighten me on this. Psychologically speaking, what could his problem be? Any insights would be wonderful, thanks.
This is my objective view of your post.  It certainly is noble of you to try and help your friend, and shows you are a caring person to worry about his well-being.  I myself am also extremely interested in psychology, and obtained a bachelor's degree and continue to read psychological journals and text books, with a strong interest in the clinical area of psychology.  I currently work as a special education teacher.  However, with all of the knowledge I believe I have, I am definitely not qualified to give advice--that could only come from someone with at least a Master's Degree in clinical psychology, and who was also being supervised by someone with a PhD, or of course from a Medical Doctor specializing in psychiatry.  I remember in college one of my favorite professors who actually specialized in treating people with schizophrenia through psychotherapy, he was brilliant--he studied at Harvard and Yale...but he cautioned us that in learning psychology,  things you learn will sound like you in a way, or one of your friends, and to never try to interpret your friend's dreams, because "you will scare the bloody hell out of them."  In other words, it takes years of intensive training to be qualified to treat or help someone, and the person has to commit/consent  to the evaluation and treatment.  Your friend is resisting your suggestion to see a psychiatrist, and you did your duty as a friend by expressing your concern.  Many times people with mental illnesses are in denial about any difficulties they are having because they cannot be objective about themselves perhaps, and also sometimes their overall insight is diminished.  (If in fact your friend is suffering from any mental illness).     You stated you made your suggestion clear repeatedly, and that it was met with resistance, so as a friend, I would respect his choice to "forgive and forget," even if you do not agree with him taking a religious view point.  I hope that helps. 
 
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January 10, 2006, 9:47 am PST

You are right, Ronin2.

Quote From: ronin2

To all you folks who are mad about Dr. Phil saying step parents should step down from disiplining roles, I think you are misinterperating what he said. I don't think he means they have to totally avoid reprimanding or disiplining them whatsoever. I specifically remember him telling a stepmother or two all they need to do is reinforce rules that the biological parent has already made and enforced. You don't have to stand by and twidle your thumbs while a child plays with broken glass or something, you just can't make up any new rules of your own.

You are right about your interpretation of what Dr. Phil said.  He also discusses this in one of his books where he is defining and discussing what each family member's role should be.  There is a special section on blended families, and I agree wholeheartedly with what he says.  Step-parents should stay out of the discipline arena, unless they are enforcing an already defined rule.  I would personally say, "I am going to let your father know about this just as soon as he gets home," if I were a step-mother.  Then, my husband would need to consistenty enforce whatever discipline he deemed appropriate.   

 
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January 10, 2006, 10:12 am PST

My boyfriend of 8 years is an attorney.

Quote From: dorisflaiz

Boy do I feel for you but more for your son, I'm affraid that this is where my own battle is headed and like you say it's all about MONEY it has nothing to do with taking care of the kids or doing what is best for the kids. 

  

I know I married the guy and I'm still paying the price, there is not one day that goes by where I do not regret having children with this man. I love my children so much and this is not what they deserve.   

  

You are living my worst nightmare and I can only imagine how you are making it though. 

  

Doris 

He is a good lawyer who cares about people.  He fights to the end for his clients.  He does not like doing divorce cases for this very reason--because the children suffer, and he cannot bear to see it.  However, he is a court-appointed guardian ad litum, for several children, meaning, if someone is not taking care of a child appropriately, they will have to answer to him.  In fact, he has the power to take a child to the doctor himself if the foster parent neglects to, and can even petition the court to remove the child, whatever is in the child's best interest.   

  

I am sorry you ran up with a lawyer who did not care about your best interests, but not all lawyers are like that.  My bf's cell phone rings at all hours from clients, and he ethically and vigorously represents them.  In fact, I would hate to have to go up against him in court.  I know some lawyers just don't care because he tells me so.   Please don't give up.  Lawyers who just take people's money and don't fight for them ought to be ashamed of themselves.  You can petition the court to review the custody order citing your child's unhappiness.  Look in your area if there are any legal aid societies for people who cannot afford an attorney.  Surely this is an injustice to you and your son, and his emotional needs are important to the court.  Good luck, and hang in there!  

 
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January 10, 2006, 10:52 am PST

01/09 Nasty Custody Battles

Quote From: cpa2be

 I agree with you 100%. 

That situation between Angela, Chris, and their daughter bothered me all night.  After letting it percolate for a while, I recalled something that I have read about those who are/were addicted to crystal methamphetamine:  the drug pretty much reduces its users to becoming sociopaths, at least while they're using.  The only thing they're concerned with is getting their next fix.  These folks basically turn into zombies, and there's no guarantee that quitting will reverse that effect.

There's some medical evidence that meth can permanently damage portions of the brain that govern emotions and ability to experience pleasure, this is why it's very hard for people to kick a meth habit.  They either go back to it, or they develop other addictions, just so they can feel something.

I can only guess what meth does to a user who ALREADY has antisocial tendencies... I think that's at the root of what scares me about Chris.  Heck, I only saw the man on a TV screen and he scared the bejeebers out of me.  So I am seriously praying for Angela & her little girl.


What Dr. Phil was saying is that a psychologist would supervise the visit while the visit is happening.  The little girl would not go home with her dad, he would have to meet her and the psychologist perhaps at like the office of the psychologist.  In this way, the child can get to know him, and the psychologist would be observing his interactions with her, probably through a one-way mirror, or even may actually be in the room, I am not sure, probably so in the beginning.   I am certain Chris will have to prove that all drugs and alcohol are out of his system for an extended period of time before any psychologist would deem him safe to spend time with this child unsupervised, and also he would have to show no encounters with the law, and better impulse control.  The therapy Dr. Phil offered Chris will help him learn about himself and how to make better decisions.    If he truly wants a relationship with his daughter, he will most definitely have to prove himself.  Chris needs to learn that being in a situation that he needs to allegedly react in self-defense is no situation his daughter needs to be around.  The psychologist will help Chris to realize this. 

  

We are products of a combination of our biology and our environment.  Sad thing to me is this....to think of what kind of upbringing Chris must have had, and what kind of abuse he must have suffered, and what poor role-models he must have had, to develop into such a self-destructive person, and one who perpetrates violence and abuse onto other people and onto animals.  It bothered me too that nothing was his fault, like "where is the report?"  If someone killed my cat, I personally would have them prosecuted for animal crelty, and then I would sue them in civil court for my loss of personal property, and I would definitely keep the report.  Chris is definitely in a place where he does not recognize why he would be considered a danger to his child, but the psychological intervention I am sure will last over an extended period of time, and hopefully help him alot.   

  

I do think that the way this man was hurting over not being able to see his child was not an act.  I hope he can get himself turned around, because psychological pain is some of the most difficult pain to feel.  I am thankful for the upbringing I had, I sort of had an idyllic childhood, filled with trips to the beach, playing outside with my brother, and eating ice cream cones.  Surely Chris did not have an idyllic childhood.  Perpetrating violence onto others is a learned behavior.  He was either abused, or social learning theory would indicate his role models were violent.  The mark of an excellent psychologist, which I believe Dr. Phil is, was giving Chris a healthy dose of reality, but doing so with empathy, and obviously Dr. Phil cared enough about him to extend him the counseling he so obviously needs.  Chris did show enough social skills to know to say thank-you, he actually said it twice, and when someone gives you the chance to turn your life around, thank-you is definitely in order.    

  

Writing Chris off as a human being because of his past is callous and not fair.  He deserves a chance to prove himself, and it is actually his right.  We are all works in progress, and unfortunately the playing field is not level.  Chris's start in life was indeed shaky, and he may not ever get better, but I hope for him, his daughter's mother, and his daughter, that he does.   

 

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