Welcome to Healthy Thoughts

July 2009

A Message for Fathers, and Families...

By Shelly Baron with Steve Buelow

America is a GREAT country.

Regardless of your political persuasion, or your views on the economy… whether you believe taxes are too high for some, or too low for others… no matter how you’re feeling about the NEXT industry bailout… it is nice to know that the powers that be have guaranteed at least one recession-proof business.

Yes, evenly spaced and sprinkled throughout the year… and by acts of Congress no less… are major and minor holidays… which virtually insure that the fine folks who work at greeting card companies the world over will always have a chicken in the pot.

Your job may be in jeopardy… the church in disarray… the country in political turmoil… but as the pages of the calendar are turned… you’ll still buy cards. After all, it’s Happy New Year! Happy Valentines Day! Happy Easter! Happy Mother’s Day!

And Happy Father’s Day!

Yes, I certainly hope you had a wonderful day yesterday… with your fathers and your families. At the same time, statistics tell an increasingly troubling tale. As addiction has moved into millions of American homes… it has destroyed relationships between parents and children… husbands and wives… friends, neighbors, and relatives.

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You know it’s been said that everyone knows someone who is suffering from the effects of one addiction… or another.

It may be the obvious physical destruction associated with drugs or alcohol. In fact, when most people hear the word addiction… this is what they have in mind… drugs and alcohol.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Tens of millions more are living and dying with more subtle and long-term physical consequences, the result of diseases that are associated with food addiction and smoking… illnesses such as heart disease, obesity, cancer, stroke, and diabetes.

Or maybe it’s the mental and emotional devastation caused by activities like gambling or pornography… behaviors that tear families and relationships to shreds.

Whatever the addiction, each takes a tremendous toll on friends and loved ones. And I suppose that of all the topics we could discuss on THIS Monday morning, none may be more volatile.

To be sure, in more than thirty-five years in the field, having successfully treated more than 9000 patients and their families… seldom have I seen any affliction that can cut so close to the bone… and dominate and destroy the relationships where it is involved.

And nothing seems to point that out as quickly as three simple words: “HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!” For in far too many homes, the weight and pain of addiction has removed any joy that once existed.

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If that is where you find yourself today… if holidays are no longer happy… if worry penetrates your relationships… I want you to know that you are not alone.

If you’re at your wits end… and JUST getting together with family HURTS… I’ll say it again… you are NOT alone. Please know that as bad as it seems, recovery and restoration are possible.

And while the best time to act may have been years ago… the second best time… is today.

I look forward to your call.

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