Thoughts and stories, by Pal

Dear readers, I know I haven't written much lately.  I have been getting used to life here in an Assisted Living Center, a very nice one, with activities and a thriving Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I hope to make more entries soon, and more regular.  I am 89 years old at this point in time, and have a slipped or herniated disc in my back.  It can be painful at times, but I do have things that help.  I hope you enjoy this article from LDS Living.  and Merry Christmas to all of you! LATTER-DAY SAINT LIFE You can let go of a ‘perfect’ Christmas: The reminder from a psychologist we all need this season By  Dr. David T. Morgan   December 15, 2023 12:41 PM MST Email Print Shutterstock One of my favorite characters from Christmas lore is Ebeneezer Scrooge. Prior to his transformation, he has no love for Christmas. Perhaps some of us can relate to his grumpy demeanor when we feel overwhelmed by Christmas celebrations. And, l...

  Patterns in Stories of Lasting Healing From Depression By  Jacob Z. Hess  · January 26, 2023 This is a longer post, but is very much worth reading! The following first appeared  on Public Square Magazine .  What can we learn from people who find sustainable healing from depression?  This has been a question burning under my fingernails ever since learning about a remarkable researcher named Kelly Turner. Dr. Kelly Turner noticed  something usual in her early studies at the University of California at Berkeley. Across the 1,000+ cases of “spontaneous” or “radical” remission from cancer (where someone heals in a statistically unlikely way after conventional medicine has failed), very few questions were asked of the survivors themselves. So, she set about doing just that—conducting interviews with initially just 20 people and ultimately gathering many hundreds of stories all around the world. Her findings are summarized in the bestseller,  Rad...

Long term, short term effects of medicine, Covid Vaccine for children?     from Meridian Magazine, with references.   Long-Term, Short-Term By  Jacob Z. Hess  · October 21, 2021 The following first appeared  in Public Square Magazine . My professional interest in long-term treatment outcomes started when someone I loved dearly began experiencing the anguish of profound depression and anxiety. We did what many families do—encouraging her to “get help.” She subsequently started a treatment designed to provide some immediate relief from the emotional pain. It worked for a while … until it didn’t. A few good weeks or months, and she was right back in it.  Up and down, year after year … with the lows becoming measurably lower over time. What was going on?  I started asking what many families today still wonder:  Is it possible for someone grappling with difficult emotional burdens to find deeper, more sustainable healing? If so, what kind of a tre...