ÿþ<rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"> <channel> <title>Turning Point: The Official Dr. Phil Blog</title> <atom:link href="http://blog.drphil.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>http://blog.drphil.com</link> <description>Dr. Phil- Start A Change Reaction</description> <lastBuildDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:04:29 +0000</lastBuildDate> <generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8</generator> <language>en</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <item> <title>World Arthritis Day</title> <link>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/10/12/world-arthritis-day/</link> <comments>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/10/12/world-arthritis-day/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:03:16 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Dr. Phil</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Check This Out]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category> <category><![CDATA[obesity]]></category> <category><![CDATA[rheumatoid arthritis]]></category> <category><![CDATA[World Arthritis Day]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.drphil.com/?p=3078</guid> <description><![CDATA[Today, October 12, is World Arthritis Day  a chance for us to show our concern and support for all those affected by rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. It s astounding just how many of us are affected by arthritis. In the United States alone, more than 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions rob at [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3083" title="arthritis" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/arthritis1.jpg" alt="arthritis" width="300" height="208" />Today, October 12, is World Arthritis Day  a chance for us to show our concern and support for all those affected by rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. It s astounding just how many of us are affected by arthritis. In the United States alone, more than 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions rob at least 50 million adults and 300,000 children of living life to its fullest. I am one of the 27 million Americans who battle a particular form of arthritis called osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease.</p> <p>Even before I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis  and for me it s all in the knees  I was deeply interested in the reality of chronic disorders and long-term injuries for which we have no cure; no pill, no  silver bullet fix. A lot of my education, professional training and subsequent practice was in an area of psychology called Behavioral Medicine, a specialty in which we helped patients with such diseases and disorders as arthritis, cancer, heart disease, diseases of the central nervous system, diabetes, head and spinal diseases and disorders, chronic organic-based pain, obesity and other conditions for which there is no cure. We helped these patients learn how to cope and manage  often with very good results.<span id="more-3078"></span></p> <p>It is not always a simple answer. Chronic diseases often interact and complicate one another, which makes it really interesting sometimes. And arthritis is one of those conditions that can be greatly impacted by other disorders such as obesity. Obviously, if you have an arthritic condition and are seriously overweight, it can present challenges. By the way, if you recently heard me discussing obesity and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), another devastatingly painful form of arthritis, on <em>Dr. Phil</em> or <em>The Doctors</em>, I actually misspoke. I meant to say obesity can complicate RA, not that it can cause RA, which is, of course, an autoimmune disorder that is systemic, affecting the whole body, not only joints, but soft and connective tissues and, in some cases, organs.</p> <p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-3084" title="arthritis2" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/arthritis2.jpg" alt="arthritis2" width="300" height="199" />I think the reason I got so interested in this subject so early in my career is because I am one of those people who believe we have to focus on the things we can control rather than anguish over the things we cannot control. Once we decide to do everything we can do to maximize our health, we become change agents in our own lives. When I met cancer patients who believed themselves to be terminal, I would always say,  Stay alive even one more day. Fight to survive even one more day, because one of those &#8216;one more days&#8217; is going to bring a breakthrough, a cure, a new strategy that will make a difference. I believed it every time I said it and I believe it now. But it costs money to do the research that discovers new treatments, and we all have to be willing to give to the causes that need funding the most.</p> <p>Back in 1979, I wrote my doctoral dissertation at the University of North Texas titled <em>Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Psychological Intervention</em>. Clearly, the research we were excited about then is outdated, and I hope that we all take today as a reminder that there is important research to be done now. Some young researcher who s obsessed with this subject like I was back then needs funding to find answers  and I encourage all of us to do what we can.</p> <p>That s why I am very thankful we have a day like World Arthritis Day. We need more information, more research, and far more public attention about what is happening; because this disease is not slowing down. Within 20 years, if things stay the same, without improved treatments, an estimated 67 million Americans (one in four adults) will have some form of arthritis. That is a scary forecast. For those of you looking for more information about the various forms of arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis, check out <a href="http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/?ic=1102" target="_blank">MyRACentral.com</a>.  And go to <a href="http://www.worldarthritisday.org/" target="_blank">WorldArthritisDay.org</a> to show your support on World Arthritis Day.</p> <p>I hope you will join me in raising awareness of arthritis.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/10/12/world-arthritis-day/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>46</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>A Tribute to Our Accidental First Lady</title> <link>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/07/21/a-tribute-to-our-accidental-first-lady/</link> <comments>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/07/21/a-tribute-to-our-accidental-first-lady/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:05:42 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Dr. Phil</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category> <category><![CDATA[In The News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Inspirational]]></category> <category><![CDATA[addiction]]></category> <category><![CDATA[alcoholism]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Betty Ford]]></category> <category><![CDATA[breast cancer]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Death]]></category> <category><![CDATA[drug addiction]]></category> <category><![CDATA[hero]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.drphil.com/?p=3054</guid> <description><![CDATA[Former First Lady Betty Ford was recently laid to rest beside her husband  the man she always called her boyfriend  her amazing life of 93 years having come to a peaceful end. Because many of you under the age of 40 may know little about her, I want to share with you some [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Former First Lady Betty Ford was recently laid to rest beside her husband  the man she always called her boyfriend  her amazing life of 93 years having come to a peaceful end. Because many of you under the age of 40 may know little about her, I want to share with you some insight into this remarkable woman and the path she blazed for all of us.<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-3060" title="AP781107025_sized" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/AP781107025_sized1.jpg" alt="AP781107025_sized" width="300" height="232" /></p> <p>In 1974, due to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, and after serving as vice president for only one year, Gerald Ford took over our nation s highest office. Suddenly, Betty Ford was unexpectedly thrust into the White House and the limelight, and became known as  the accidental first lady. As accidental as it may have been, she embraced the role like Americans had never seen before; with a candor and humanity that was unheard of at the time.</p> <p>Betty used her position to become an advocate for women s rights. Remember, the early 70s was a far more chauvinistic era than today. She will be remembered for enforcing the notion that  being ladylike does not require silence. She spoke of the contributions of women as wives and mothers.  We have to take the  just out of the phrase,  just a housewife,  she insisted. <span id="more-3054"></span><ins datetime="2011-07-21T12:10" cite="mailto:fischekr"></ins></p> <p><ins datetime="2011-07-21T12:10" cite="mailto:fischekr"> </ins></p> <p>In arguably one of the programs most candid interviews of its time, she brazenly went on <em>60 Minutes</em> in 1975 and discussed the topic of premarital sex and how she would counsel her own teenage daughter. And she famously told a magazine reporter that she had sex with her husband  as often as possible. </p> <p>Presidential advisers told Gerald that she was out of control and a political liability. But  and this is what I loved about Gerald Ford  he took a stance and held his ground to support his wife, come hell or high water. It was well chronicled how he loved the way she badgered him to pass the Equal Rights Act, and the need to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court.</p> <p>But it was after her years in the White House that Betty Ford made her most lasting impact. She publicly discussed her battle with breast cancer and her struggles with drugs and alcohol, bringing much-needed awareness to the then-taboo subjects.</p> <p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3065" title="AP9408301209_sized" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/AP9408301209_sized1.jpg" alt="AP9408301209_sized" width="250" height="334" />In fact, much like the courageous people who come on the <em>Dr. Phil </em>show, she confronted her demons head on, including openly admitting to taking as many as 20-30 pills a day, most of them tranquilizers. She talked about missing meetings, shuffling groggily around the house in her bathrobe, forgetting conversations with her children, and even falling and cracking a rib. She spoke of the pains her addictions caused her family and of the intervention orchestrated to save her life. One week before her 60<sup>th</sup> birthday, family, friends and a team of medical professionals gathered in the Ford s California home and one by one told Betty how her addictions were hurting them and destroying her.  I was dying, she said,  and everybody knew it but me. </p> <p>And remember, Betty opened this dialogue at a time when millions of women were going through the same issues suffered in silence. It may be difficult for those of you born after 1980, or even 1970, to understand that these things were just not talked about. But Betty Ford gave other women the courage to speak the truth about what was going on in their lives. When she discussed her breast cancer diagnosis, the American Cancer Society reported a 400% increase in requests for breast cancer screenings, meaning tens of thousands of women sought mammograms.</p> <p>Then, she raised money to build the non-profit <a href="http://www.bettyfordcenter.org/index.php" target="_blank">Betty Ford Center</a> in Rancho Mirage, CA that provides treatment services to those who suffer from addictions. That might be her greatest legacy. In doing so, she reduced social stigmas surrounding addiction and inspired thousands to seek much-needed treatment. Her contributions were more than name only. Well into her 80s, Betty remained actively involved at her center, regularly welcoming new residents. Once a month, she began a meeting with patients by saying,  Hello, I m Betty Ford, and I m an alcoholic and addict. </p> <p>An accidental first lady? I don t think so. Her legacy was that of someone born for the role, and her outspoken courage and candor made her more of a hero than anyone could have imagined. Thank you, Mrs. Ford, for being an inspiration to women, sharing with us your remarkable life and encouraging people to continuously better themselves.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/07/21/a-tribute-to-our-accidental-first-lady/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>23</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Senate Hearing on Domestic Violence</title> <link>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/07/18/the-senate-hearing-on-domestic-violence/</link> <comments>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/07/18/the-senate-hearing-on-domestic-violence/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:54:42 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Dr. Phil</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Check This Out]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category> <category><![CDATA[In The News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[domestic violence]]></category> <category><![CDATA[End the Silence on Domestic Violence]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Senate Hearing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[silence breakers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[violence]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Violence Against Women Act]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.drphil.com/?p=3022</guid> <description><![CDATA[Listen up, all you Silence Breakers out there, it s game time. A very vital piece of legislation that protects millions of victims of domestic violence is now before Congress, and we ve got to make some noise to make sure it s passed. The legislation is called the Violence Against Women Act. It was first ushered into law [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3026" title="345301452_resize" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/345301452_resize.jpg" alt="345301452_resize" width="300" height="225" />Listen up, all you Silence Breakers out there, it s game time. A very vital piece of legislation that protects millions of victims of domestic violence is now before Congress, and we ve got to make some noise to make sure it s passed.</p> <p>The legislation is called the Violence Against Women Act. It was first ushered into law in 1994 and is now up for reauthorization by Congress. I was recently invited to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee as a content expert to talk about VAWA, which funds programs that help survivors of domestic violence rebuild their shattered lives. The money from VAWA goes to building vital emergency family shelters and creating domestic abuse hotlines. It also trains police officers on how to better protect victims and prosecutors on how to establish better criminal cases that will stand up in court. And because of VAWA, these women have access to resources such as counseling, financial literacy education, gainful employment, long-term housing options and legal assistance.<span id="more-3022"></span></p> <p>In my testimony, I took great care to remind the senators just what is at stake here  every 15 seconds a woman is abused in this country. I did the math for them; during the first hour of that committee hearing alone, 228 women would be beaten, terrorized and intimidated  and by the end of day, three women would be murdered as a result of domestic violence. I also stressed the dangerous, long-term effects that domestic violence has on the more than 10 million children who will see their mothers, sisters or aunts beaten or intimidated this year, and how the violence they are having to endure will cause deeply-rooted problems, including eroding their personalities, mental health and mental fitness, resulting in a host of long-term issues, including alcoholism, drug addiction, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, to name a few.</p> <p>I showed the committee those devastating before-and-after photos of women who had been on our show  beautiful, healthy looking wives and mothers who had been beaten by their husbands or boyfriends. I talked about <a href="http://drphil.com/shows/show/1492/" target="_blank">Audrey,</a> whose ex-husband set her on fire after she left him, and I talked about <a href="http://drphil.com/shows/show/1530/" target="_blank">Sandra,</a> who lost her left eye when her boyfriend found out where she was hiding and attacked her. And I talked about how difficult it s been to prosecute men who do such acts  and that we have to keep pushing for legislation to make sure that domestic abuse is taken out of the family courts and put into the criminal justice system, or at a minimum, we create a system of sharing information from one court to the other.  Red tape in the system means that red blood will be spilled in the home, I told the senators.</p> <p>Needless to say, I also informed them about our <a href="http://drphil.com/shows/page/end_the_silence/" target="_blank">End the Silence on Domestic Violence campaign,</a> and I told them about the thousands of you who have signed up to become Silence Breakers, always ready and able to give your time and resources to help.</p> <p>And as the hearing came to an end, I thought, Boy, we need the Silence Breakers to come through for us right now. This summer, as I m sure you know, Congress is looking for all sorts of ways to cut the federal budget, and I m afraid adequate funding for the Violence Against Women Act is in jeopardy. The co-chair of the committee, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, went so far as to declare during the hearing that reviews of VAWA grants have uncovered problems with record-keeping and unallowable expenditures.  In today s economic environment, he said,  we cannot tolerate this level of malfeasance in federal grant programs. </p> <p>I agree with Sen. Grassley completely. We need to ensure that VAWA s programs are held to strict accountability.  However, we need to make equally sure that we never turn our backs on women who are in crisis. And make no mistake, this crisis is getting worse, largely due to our economic downturn. Domestic violence numbers spike when people are stressed out over money. One recent report found that some 9,500 women each day cannot get the help they need. They are told there s no room at the inn.</p> <p>I worry about those 9,500 women because I know the danger they face.  As we ve talked about many times on the show, nearly 70 percent of injuries and murders in domestic violence cases happen to women after they leave abusive relationships. It s a phenomenon known as  separation assault.   So they need a safe place. And if the federal government doesn t step in with the funding, then those women are in real trouble, because right now, states and localities can t afford to keep many of their shelters open, let alone build desperately-needed new ones.</p> <p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-3028" title="345298042_resize" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/345298042_resize.jpg" alt="345298042_resize" width="300" height="225" />So let s keep active, Silence Breakers. Write to your <a href="http://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml" target="_blank">U.S. representative</a> and <a href="http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?" target="_blank">senator</a> and let them know how important it is that they vote to re-authorize VAWA. Let s make sure that money continues to flow into the programs that fund safe havens for those women who have made the brave decision to leave their abusive relationships.  For those of you who haven t become a Silence Breaker and want to join our campaign, you can <a href="http://drphil.com/pledge_to_end_violence" target="_blank">go here to take the pledge</a><a href="http://drphil.com/pledge_to_end_violence" target="_blank">.</a></p> <p>And, as always, if someone you know is an abusive relationship  or if that someone is you  we ve got a lot of <a href="http://www.drphil.com/articles/page/DomesticViolenceResource" target="_blank">resources at DrPhil.com</a> <a href="http://drphil.com/articles/page/DomesticViolenceResource/"></a> to help you or your friend get help.</p> <p>Let s do what we can to create a world where women feel safe. And let s certainly make sure our daughters and granddaughters don t grow up in a world that looks the other way or fails to react if they are the victims of violence. This epidemic cannot remain silent!</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/07/18/the-senate-hearing-on-domestic-violence/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>50</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Putting Obesity out of Business</title> <link>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/05/14/putting-obesity-out-of-business/</link> <comments>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/05/14/putting-obesity-out-of-business/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sun, 15 May 2011 00:37:08 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Dr. Phil</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Straightforward]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Children]]></category> <category><![CDATA[health]]></category> <category><![CDATA[obesity]]></category> <category><![CDATA[weight]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.drphil.com/?p=1731</guid> <description><![CDATA[I m worried about kids today for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that so darn many are getting overweight and out of shape. Today, one out of three children under the age of 12 is now considered medically overweight. And the tragedy is that we know that very few of [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1736" title="junkFood1" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/junkFood1.jpg" alt="junkFood1" width="300" height="199" />I m worried about kids today for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that so darn many are getting overweight and out of shape. Today, one out of three children under the age of 12 is now considered medically overweight. And the tragedy is that we know that very few of those children ever lose that weight. Seventy percent of those children will become overweight and obese adults and endure all the problems both psychological and physical that come with it. Diabetes and heart disease are exploding among the overweight and obese  so much so that experts now say the lethal effects of obesity are literally greater than cigarette smoke. Are you hearing that? Today, obesity is our number one public health issue above all others.<span id="more-1731"></span></p> <p>I lived it personally as I grew up and saw those very disorders present in family members. Both of my parents and all three of my sisters have battled obesity their entire lives. I lost my father way too early due to problems associated with being way too heavy. I have extended family members who are over 500 pounds and had a number of aunts and uncles who were over 300 pounds. I have seen the pain and loss of function it causes. I have had to watch it myself, because I have inherited conditions that make it easy to let it get away.</p> <p>Which is why if you re a parent of an overweight child, you have some work to do. It isn t just up to the child. You are the one who buys, prepares and presents most of the food they eat, or you give them the money to buy what you don t prepare. You can t do it for them, but you can sure contribute to the solution!</p> <p>They have learned what they &#8220;like&#8221; to eat, and what is learned can be unlearned.</p> <p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1737" title="junkFood2" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/junkFood2.jpg" alt="junkFood2" width="300" height="225" />I m committed to helping you with this issue. On <a href="http://drphil.com/shows/show/1343/" target="_blank">Friday s show</a>, I show you <a href="http://drphil.com/articles/article/620" target="_blank">three major mistakes </a>you can stop making today with your children when it comes to their eating. On top of that, we ve <a href="http://drphil.com/articles/category/7/" target="_blank">got all kinds of tips to help you on DrPhil.com</a>. We ve got a lot of strategies on the Web site for those of you <a href="http://drphil.com/shows/show/423/" target="_blank">parents who also are overweight and out of shape.</a> You re not going to be able to help your kids nearly as effectively unless you become <a href="http://drphil.com/articles/article/466" target="_blank">good role models</a> for them.</p> <p>I m so committed to this endeavor; in fact, I ve asked two people whom I deeply respect  Robert Reames, a certified strength and conditioning specialist who was the trainer for our &#8220;Ultimate Weight Loss Solution&#8221; series, and Dr. Frank Lawlis, the Chairman of our Advisory Board  to write entries for my blog that will run over the next couple of days, after Friday&#8217;s show. What they have to say will go a long way to helping you power up and start making real changes.</p> <p>Meanwhile, give me your questions and comments. What s your biggest challenge? What do you need info about to make some real changes? I promise, I ll do my best to answer your questions.</p> <p>We can do this, but it starts with one home, one life at a time. Make a commitment to give your kids a different and a very special gift this Christmas. Give them a healthy lifestyle and a chance at freedom from obesity and all the side effects that come with it. Like cousin Eddie said to Clark in <em>Christmas Vacation</em> when he got jerked around by getting a membership to the Jelly of the Month Club,  It s the gift that will keep on giving. HA! But this time, it s true!</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/05/14/putting-obesity-out-of-business/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>127</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Rory McIlroy: Dignity in the Face of Defeat</title> <link>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/04/13/rory-mcilroy-dignity-in-the-face-of-defeat/</link> <comments>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/04/13/rory-mcilroy-dignity-in-the-face-of-defeat/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:50:09 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Dr. Phil</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Golf]]></category> <category><![CDATA[in the news]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Masters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rory McIlroy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.drphil.com/?p=3007</guid> <description><![CDATA[I m a big golf fan, and on Sunday, I did what I do every year during the first weekend of April: I watched the final round of the legendary Masters golf tournament at Augusta National. Even if you re not a fan of the sport, you may have heard about this year s dramatic outcome, because the [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3013" title="rory_1" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/rory_1.jpg" alt="rory_1" width="250" height="292" />I m a big golf fan, and on Sunday, I did what I do every year during the first weekend of April: I watched the final round of the legendary Masters golf tournament at Augusta National. Even if you re not a fan of the sport, you may have heard about this year s dramatic outcome, because the big story wasn t about who was awarded the green jacket  Charl Schwartzel of South Africa  it was about who lost it. </p> <p>With a four-shot lead going into the final round, Irishman Rory McIlroy was on the brink of winning one of the world s most prestigious golf tournaments. But his game began to melt down. At one point, when he knocked his drive into a small tributary, he dropped his head on his right forearm, his body slumped in confusion and embarrassment, and by the time he stepped off the course, he had fallen to a tie for 15<sup>th</sup> place. It was one of the greatest collapses in Masters history.<span id="more-3007"></span></p> <p>I have had the honor of playing Augusta, and let me tell you, it is an intimidating place when there is no one there except you, your buddies and the caddies. I can only imagine the pressure of having to play that course during the biggest, most pressure-packed and most-watched golf tournament in the world.</p> <p>But it isn t Rory s collapse in the face of that pressure that I m going to remember. It s what the 21-year-old did off the golf course that made me take notice. Instead of throwing down his clubs and heading straight for the locker room, he saluted the huge crowd that had been behind him, tipping his hat, acknowledging the applause. Then, at a press conference, he calmly answered every question from reporters with the grace and experience of a seasoned veteran. And he later tweeted: &#8220;Congratulations Charl Schwartzel! Great player and even better guy! Very happy for him and his family!&#8221;</p> <p>Never has poise been more on display than how the young golfer handled Sunday night after the tournament. Some of you may be thinking, Dr. Phil, if McIlroy had <em>any</em> poise he would have held onto his lead and won the tournament. But the way I see it, the measure of a man is taken when he is down. When facing complete failure, does he give up? Or does he get back up, dust himself off and try again?</p> <p>Sure, this is a loss that is no doubt going to take McIlroy a while to get over. But the grace he showed in spite of that loss is a sure sign of who he is as a person  his ability to overcome adversity and get on with it. He obviously knows failure is only that: a single event in his life, not something that will define him. I m convinced he ll learn from this, and come back better than ever.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/04/13/rory-mcilroy-dignity-in-the-face-of-defeat/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>23</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Is it a Crime to Snoop on Your Spouse?</title> <link>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/04/11/should-you-get-arrested-for-snooping-on-your-spouse/</link> <comments>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/04/11/should-you-get-arrested-for-snooping-on-your-spouse/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:51:50 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Dr. Phil</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category> <category><![CDATA[In The News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[crime]]></category> <category><![CDATA[in the news]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marriage]]></category> <category><![CDATA[snooping]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.drphil.com/?p=2985</guid> <description><![CDATA[Should it be considered a crime to read your spouse s email? That s what some prosecutors in Michigan believe. Relying on a legal statute typically used to prosecute crimes such as identity theft, they have charged 33-year-old Leon Walker with a felony, after he logged onto a laptop in the home he shared with his wife, Clara. Why [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2990" title="spouseEmail1" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/spouseEmail1.jpg" alt="spouseEmail1" width="300" height="225" />Should it be considered a crime to read your spouse s email?</p> <p>That s what some prosecutors in Michigan believe. Relying on a legal statute typically used to prosecute crimes such as identity theft, <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20110324/NEWS03/103240453/Trial-go-Rochester-Hills-hacking-case" target="_blank">they have charged 33-year-old Leon Walker with a felony</a>, after he logged onto a laptop in the home he shared with his wife, Clara.</p> <p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/28/leon-walker_n_802020.html" target="_blank">Why did Leon use her computer?</a> According to reports, he used her password to access her Gmail account, because he suspected she was having an affair. Indeed, he found out, she was. And what did playing detective get him? A trial date this month where he could be sent to prison for up to five years. Prosecutors insist that by snooping through his wife s email, Walker was committing a felony.<span id="more-2985"></span></p> <p>Seriously? Reading your spouse s email is now supposedly a crime?</p> <p>Well, in truth, Clara and Leon were going through divorce proceedings at the time the snooping took place last summer. Clara says she had a right to privacy, and she felt  violated by Leon s actions, attempting to discover things about her new personal life.</p> <p>But they were still sharing a residence, and Leon was still regularly using that very computer. According to Leon, Clara also kept all of the passwords to her accounts in a book she stored next to the computer, an allegation Clara denies, so it wasn t as if he had to do something really underhanded to access them. Leon claims he felt obligated to look through her Gmail account because he was worried about the affair (it turned out she was having an affair with her second husband) and the effect it might have on their daughter and his stepson.</p> <p>We all hate hackers who illegally try to access our private online information. Is it reasonable to consider Leon just another criminal hacker? Or does someone have a legitimate right to know about his spouse s online activities, even while going through a divorce?</p> <p>Actually, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/update-snooping-case-husband-trial-judge-rules/story?id=12814391 " target="_blank">Leon s upcoming trial could have a lot of repercussions.</a> It s estimated that about 45 percent of divorce cases involve some online snooping: gathering emails, reading Facebook postings, and so on. But divorces are civil cases. No one has ever heard of a criminal case getting filed because someone sneaked onto his or her spouse s computer  until now.</p> <p>I look forward to reading your comments.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/04/11/should-you-get-arrested-for-snooping-on-your-spouse/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>138</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Stoicism of the Japanese</title> <link>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/04/04/the-stoicism-of-the-japanese/</link> <comments>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/04/04/the-stoicism-of-the-japanese/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:14:57 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Dr. Phil</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category> <category><![CDATA[In The News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[disaster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[earthquake]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[tsunami]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.drphil.com/?p=2971</guid> <description><![CDATA[For the last several weeks, we have all watched, horrified, as Japan has been devastated by one of the worst earthquakes in modern history, followed by a massive tsunami, and then culminating in plumes of radiation seeping into the atmosphere from its damaged nuclear reactors. The images of physical destruction are simply mind-boggling, and the [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2977" title="JapanAP_large" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/JapanAP_large.jpg" alt="JapanAP_large" width="300" height="197" />For the last several weeks, we have all watched, horrified, as Japan has been devastated by one of the worst earthquakes in modern history, followed by a massive tsunami, and then culminating in plumes of radiation seeping into the atmosphere from its damaged nuclear reactors. The images of physical destruction are simply mind-boggling, and the emotional toll also seems unimaginable. This is a country that is going to be dealing with this tragedy for years to come.</p> <p><strong></strong>Yet, do you know what astonishes me? It s watching the people of Japan face their catastrophe with a kind of stoicism and, strangely, a grace. We haven t seen any looting in Japan for desperately-needed supplies, like bottled water. We haven t seen fistfights break out among the people waiting in line for hours to get gasoline or groceries. For years, I ve heard about the legendary politeness of Japanese people in everyday life, but I just thought it was a cliché. How are they able to maintain such calm in the face of overwhelming disaster?</p> <p><span id="more-2971"></span><strong></strong></p> <p>I m hardly someone who thinks Japan s way of life is in any way better than ours. But at the same time, I will say, there is something to be said for the ordinary Japanese citizen s respect for order, good manners and hospitality. The other day, I was stunned to watch one elderly woman, standing in the cold outside her wrecked home, offer ABC anchor Diane Sawyer some water because she looked thirsty.</p> <p>And what about the selflessness epitomized by those workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant,  risking dangerous doses of radiation without complaint as they struggle to prevent a complete meltdown that would endanger their fellow citizens?</p> <p>I m no expert in culture, and I m not going to pretend to say I understand why the vast majority of Japanese people are enduring these impossible hardships with impeccable dignity, but we could all learn a few lessons from their example. I also hope we ll all say a little prayer for that country. Yes, Japan is one of our great industrialized powers, and it will someday recover. But it has a long way to go. Hundreds of thousands of Japanese who live in the northern part of the country will have to endure months of homelessness and hunger.</p> <p>If you want to help, you can go to the <a href="https://american.redcross.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=cogp_main&amp;s_affiliatecode=05180&amp;s_formid=3877&amp;JServSessionIdr004=tr890hh7m1.app234a " target="_blank">American Red Cross website</a> and make a contribution for the victims of the earthquake and the tsunami, as well as for those families fleeing the nuclear radiation. My prayers are with Japan.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/04/04/the-stoicism-of-the-japanese/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>26</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Little Avery Turns 1!</title> <link>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/03/21/little-avery-turns-1/</link> <comments>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/03/21/little-avery-turns-1/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:09:47 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Dr. Phil</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Avery McGraw]]></category> <category><![CDATA[birthday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[granddaughter]]></category> <category><![CDATA[kids]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.drphil.com/?p=2958</guid> <description><![CDATA[I know it s been a while since my last blog posting  I know. I know!  but I can t resist sharing this special day with all of you. This past weekend, Robin, Jay, Erica, Jordan and I gathered friends and family to celebrate little Avery s first birthday, and let me tell you, she had [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2956" title="Avery-bday" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Avery-bday.jpg" alt="Avery-bday" width="300" height="200" />I know it s been a while since my last blog posting  I know. I know!  but I can t resist sharing this special day with all of you. This past weekend, Robin, Jay, Erica, Jordan and I gathered friends and family to celebrate little Avery s first birthday, and let me tell you, she had a ball!</p> <p>Thank you to Mother Nature for holding off the rain, which came on Sunday. I mean, we got pounded, pouring all day with winds on the mountain up to 50 mph. So blessed we didn t get blown away on Saturday.</p> <p>What an incredible day. It s hard to believe an entire year has gone by since that little girl came into this world and just stole my heart. Yeah, and my friends are still shaking their heads and asking what s happened to me! HA! I admit it, she s got me wrapped around her finger like never before  but look at her there with the cake all over her face. I know I m biased, but is she not the cutest thing you ve ever seen?!<span id="more-2958"></span></p> <p>I told Jay and Jordan, if I had known how great it would be to be a grandparent, I would ve had her first.</p> <p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2957" title="Avery-bday2" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Avery-bday2.jpg" alt="Avery-bday2" width="300" height="200" />I remember Robin telling me when Avery was born,  Honey, you are going to walk around with your heart in your hands. And, boy, was she right. But it s not just Avery s cuteness and blooming personality that gets to me. There is something so moving and captivating about watching her get excited over the littlest of things, like a new stuffed toy or pulling on my mustache! If it sounds like I m smiling as I write this, it s because I am. We couldn t be prouder of the parents Jay and Erica have become; watching them together is like seeing the world again through a brand-new set of eyes.</p> <p>And I should mention that Robin, Uncle Jordan and I are the best babysitters you ll ever find. There s nothing we wouldn t do for that little girl. We are here to give her one more safe place beyond her own home with her parents. We are here to make sure she knows she ll always have back up in an unfamiliar world. It s an awesome responsibility. And we couldn t be more honored to fulfill it.</p> <p>Tune in Monday and you ll see how precious little Avery is. And, Jay and Erica make a surprise announcement. I can&#8217;t wait to tell my old friends the news.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/03/21/little-avery-turns-1/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>193</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Love, Sex and the American Man</title> <link>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/02/20/love-sex-and-the-american-man/</link> <comments>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/02/20/love-sex-and-the-american-man/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sun, 20 Feb 2011 20:57:30 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Dr. Phil</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Check This Out]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category> <category><![CDATA[men]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sex]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.drphil.com/?p=1712</guid> <description><![CDATA[Once again, it s time to share with you all the interesting, and sometimes very silly,  scientific studies and surveys that come my way. Lately, I ve been getting a lot of reports about what s going on with men when it comes to love and romance. Some of these reports make me shake my head in disbelief. [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1722" title="couple" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/couple.jpg" alt="couple" width="300" height="199" />Once again, it s time to share with you all the interesting, and sometimes very silly,  scientific studies and surveys that come my way. Lately, I ve been getting a lot of reports about what s going on with men when it comes to love and romance. Some of these reports make me shake my head in disbelief. But I have to admit, some of them do make me wonder. What do you think?</p> <p><strong>Finally, a Reason to Get Your Man to Church </strong></p> <p>A University of Kentucky study found that <a href="http://www.livescience.com/health/090930-spirituality.html" target="_blank">spirituality has a greater effect on the sex lives of young adults</a>  especially women  than impulsivity or alcohol. According to Jessica Burris, one of the study s researchers, a woman who believes sexual intimacy possesses  a divine or transcendent quality will make her want to have more sex.  Ascribing sacred qualities to sex has been positively associated with positive affective reactions to sex, frequency of sex, and number of sexual partners among university students,  Burris writes.</p> <p>And if that doesn t work, there s always the power of prayer!<span id="more-1712"></span></p> <p><strong>A Reason to Get Him Vacuuming </strong></p> <p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1723" title="mancleaning" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/mancleaning.jpg" alt="mancleaning" width="300" height="215" />Here s one way to close the gap on the amount of housework wives do (an average of 41.8 hours a week) versus the paltry amount done by their husbands (an average of 23.4 hours). Get this, in an online study of nearly 7,000 married couples, the <em>Journal of Family Issues</em> found that <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704500604574485351638147312.html?mod=googlenews_wsj" target="_blank">men who did more chores, got more sex.</a> It seems that by mopping the floors and doing the dishes, husbands are showing a greater commitment to home and hearth. According to the researchers, this tends to be an aphrodisiac for their wives. Can you believe it? Cleanliness really could be next to godliness.</p> <p><strong>And, Are You Ready? & A Reason Real Men Should Do Yoga </strong></p> <p>According to <em>The Journal of Sexual Medicine</em>, <a href="http://www.livescience.com/health/081231-eastern-resolutions.html" target="_blank">yoga has been found to effectively improve sexual stamina in men</a>. The study concluded that men who practiced yoga for one hour each day &#8220;had both subjective and statistically significant improvements&#8221; in their performance capabilities.</p> <p>Needless to say, I can t wait to hear from those of you who are able to use this study to get your husbands doing the  downward dog yoga move. And please let me know what their faces look like when you talk to them about their performance capabilities.</p> <p><strong>A Reason Men Don t Get Much Accomplished </strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5970007/Men-spend-a-year-staring-at-women.html" target="_blank">A British survey</a> released this year found that the average guy stares at around 10 different women every day for a total of 43 minutes. That adds up to 259 hours &#8211; almost 11 days  each year, making a total of 11 months and 11 days between the ages of 18 and 50.</p> <p>That&#8217;s a lot of work. And it does cause some problems. More than half of those surveyed admitted they have also been left red-faced after being caught looking at women. A third of the guys have argued with their partner over their roving eye, and one in 10 confessed to splitting up with a partner because of it.</p> <p>But are they going to stop? Absolutely not. About 61 percent of those surveyed said they were worried about their eyesight fading, which means they wouldn&#8217;t be able to get in their daily ogling.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/02/20/love-sex-and-the-american-man/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>67</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Anger and Unanswered Questions in Arizona</title> <link>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/01/18/anger-and-unanswered-questions-in-arizona/</link> <comments>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/01/18/anger-and-unanswered-questions-in-arizona/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 19 Jan 2011 05:07:57 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Dr. Phil</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category> <category><![CDATA[In The News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arizona]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jared Loughner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[tragedy]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.drphil.com/?p=2930</guid> <description><![CDATA[I still can t wrap my mind around the senseless shooting in Arizona that left 13 wounded and six dead. I m glad to hear that doctors are optimistic about Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords recovery. This is a woman who has dedicated her life to public service, and she and her family remain in my prayers. My heart [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2947" title="victims2" src="http://blog.drphil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/victims2.jpg" alt="victims2" width="361" height="300" />I still can t wrap my mind around the senseless shooting in Arizona that left 13 wounded and six dead. I m glad to hear that doctors are optimistic about Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords recovery. This is a woman who has dedicated her life to public service, and she and her family remain in my prayers. My heart goes out to all the families affected by this tragedy.</p> <p>Whenever we hear stories of a guy who starts firing into a crowd, we shake our heads in horror and ask,  Could this have been predicted? As a mental health professional, that s a question that I always think about. But the truth is we don t have the psychological test to predict the next Columbine or Virginia Tech shooting.</p> <p>A lot of people are hurt, angry and want answers. I get that. Here s what we know about the alleged shooter, Jared Loughner: He railed on about the government. He listed <em>Mein Kampf</em> and <em>The Communist Manifesto</em> as among his favorite books. We know he had been arrested for drug paraphernalia, although that was ultimately dismissed. On December 30, he posted on his Facebook page:  My shot is now ready for aim, and  I define terrorist. <span id="more-2930"></span></p> <p>In looking back, the red flags were there. But here s the problem: There are thousands of people who behave this way, who write these things, but they don t actually commit an act of violence. So, talking about guns on a Facebook page is not predictive of who will do something violent. A lot of folks are asking,  Is this a sign of people being so upset with the economy and government that they are just taking matters into their own hands? But I think that is just a wrong way to look at this.</p> <p>I can tell you, from a psychological point of view, I think some of the rhetoric in America is getting very dangerous. Now, before you send me an e-mail about freedom of speech, let me say that I m a great proponent of the First Amendment. Even when the tabloids and gossip columns print all sorts of lies about me, I m still a proponent of free speech. But, I have to say, some of the rhetoric is getting very dangerous, to the point of inciting others to do reckless or irrational things. In America, we have the right to say what we want to say, but with rights come responsibilities. I think we have to not muzzle each other, but sometimes, we should muzzle ourselves.</p> <p>So, do I think Jared Loughner s alleged shooting was a political act? In my view, this was a mentally ill individual who had a hard time with impulses, and fantasies and really bizarre thinking. That doesn t trivialize the fact that six people will be buried this week and 13 others are still recovering from their wounds. But, we ve got to come together as a nation to talk through this and start the healing process. It s my hope that people close to someone who is in a meltdown phase, will raise a flag.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://blog.drphil.com/2011/01/18/anger-and-unanswered-questions-in-arizona/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>55</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>