Gerlach Artikel

LESSON 1 - Reducing Psychological Wounds

These selected research reports support the premise that the unseen [wounds + unawareness] cycle is spreading and degrading the wholistic health of typical families and societies.

Grown Wounded Children (GWCs)

A rich source of research on early-childhood trauma can be found at the ACES (Adverse Childhood Events Study) Web site

• A 4-part YouTube presentation "The Bomb in the Brain" summarizing research studies on the self-reported toxic effects of "child abuse" over 50 years in typical men and women. The first video validates key claims in this Web site about the long-term effectsof such trauma, and the vital need for public awareness.
• A YouTube video by 4 Human Nature experts describing research suggesting that early-childhood trauma can activate genes that may promote physical and/or mental problems.
• A YouTube video: TEDx Talk on Pulling Out the Root of Domestic Violence Against Children, by Robbyn Peters Bennett (ACES (member). Comments on the adverse long-term effects of physical violence on child development - specially spanking.
• How abuse and neglect affect brain development\
• News article describing typical GWC behavior (murder - suicide)
• News article describing typical GWC behavior (self-defacement, lying publicly)
• News article describing typical GWC behavior (a 23-year identity deception)
• Article: Personality set for life by 1st grade
• Psychology Today blog on our many selves
• Study: Early life violence tied to mental disorders
• How pre-birth environmental trauma affects unborn kids
• Agency: Schools helped (school-shooter) Lanza's mom 'appease' him
• NIMH report that US "mental health disorders" are increasing and more costly
• 2008 Time magazine/Yahoo article on Why Do the Mentally Ill Die Younger?
• Research summary: People with Mental Disorders Risk an Early Death
• Almost half of Americans aged 19 - 25 have "psychiatric problems"
• Report on "nudging' people to make more "rational" decisions
• How Early Social Deprivation Impairs Long-Term Cognitive Function
• Loneliness Is Bad for Your Health, Study Suggests
• Abuse Changes Brains of Suicide Victims
• Childhood ADHD may lead to troubles later on: study
• How childhood tauma can be mistaken for ADHD
• Spanking promotes adult mental-health problems

Excessive Shame and Related Self-neglect

• Widespread US self-neglect
• Self-esteem can be "fragile"
• Proposed reasons for keeping "bad habits" despite "knowing better"
• U.S. men's poor health
• Widespread binge eating in America
• Male eating disorders
• Opinion: Fat and Happy - Why Americans Don't Diet
• Americans not getting enough sleep, causing physical and mental problems (self neglect)
• The US ranks 16th amoung 132 countries in advance social progress

Addiction - (Self-medication of Inner Pain)

• Serious increases in US overweight and obesity
• Emotionally distressed people have a harder time losing weight
• Widespread U.S. "mind wandering" (false-self dominance and "fuzzy thinking"
• Alcoholism damages female brains faster than male brains
• Statistics on US Kids who live with an addicted parent
• 2009 Time article: Battling Addiction: Are 12 Steps Too Many?
• Is excessive Internet usage an "addiction"?
• Research: US kids start drinking alcohol at an early age
• 1 in 5 Young Adults Has a Personality Disorder
• Study: Surprising number of teens think they'll die young

Excessive Emotions

• Serious health risks of chronic anxiety in men.
• Anger and depression may promote heart disease and sudden failure
• Relaxing can stress some people

Media Unawareness

• Opinion - 8 Toxic Personalities to Avoid
• Nearly 40% of Europeans Suffer Mental Illness
• CDC study about US kids with "mental problems"

Wound Reduction (Recovery)

• Talk therapy can be as effective as drugs
• Having a life purpose can extend your life

LESSON 2 - Learn to think and communicate effectively

In several years' of science-news watching, I have found almost no meaningful research reports on this vital topic. Implications (a) researchers don't see communication as an important topic, and/or (b) media science writers and editors don't see value in reporting such research.

• Staying Silent in Marital Spats (is) a Killer for Women
• The value of describing feelings (like grief-related sadness and anger)
• Avoiding Couple Karate - Lessons in the Marital Arts

Perspective: Over 80% of site visitors who respond to this poll say they are "extremely interested" in learning to communicate more effectively. Does that describe you?

LESSON 3 - Evolve a pro-grief family

• The health hazards of incomplete ("complicated") grief
• The value of describing feelings (like grief-related sadness and anger)
• Normal or not? When grief and depression mingle
• Is depression ever just depression?"
• Grief: The Price of Love - by Meredith F. Small,
• The Health Benefits of Tears - by Dr. Judith Orloff
• The similarity in symptoms of grief and depression

LESSON 4 - optimize your relationships

• Having a Supportive Mom Helps You Commit
• Divorce Hurts Health Even After Remarriage
• Will divorce increase your chance of dying?
• British research: unmarried families break up more often
• Declining U.S. divorce trends
• Traits of divorcing Australian couples / US government program supports marriage
• U.S. marriage is less about raising kids now
• Staying Silent in Marital Spats (is) a Killer for Women
• Will Divorce Increase Your Chances of Dying (Early)?
• 8 Toxic Personality Types to Avoid (from Lesson 1)
• An example of misguided marital advice in the media
• Another example: "Respect the heart of every successful marrige."
• Another example: "Love is not enough."
• Another example: "Prenuptial Cohabiting Can Spoil Marriage"

LESSONS 5 and 6 - High-nurturance Families

and Effective Parenting

• UCLA study on kids from "risky families"
• Questions from young people posted on a major Web portal
• Parents need to teach grade-school kids to avoid alcohol
• Two research summaries on teen depression
• Swedish research: childhood autism linked to parental mental illness
• U.S. parents' baby knowledge lacking, study finds
• Swedish research: the effects of divorce on kids
• How abuse and neglect affect brain development
• Summary reports on (a) maternal bonding and (b) its effects on later relationships
• Effects of Early Attachment on Childhood and Beyond
• Study on the toxic long-term effects of bullying.
• Report on "How Not to Raise a Bully - the Roots of Empathy"
• Study: Early life violence tied to mental disorders
• U.S. marriage is less about raising kids now
• Stress in Womb Can Alter Life Later
• Maternal anxiety can promote ecessive baby crying
• Mother’s Depression when Kids are Young Linked to Risky Teen Behaviors
• How childhood trauma could be mistaken for ADHD
• Many American teens expect to die young
• 2006 CDC findings about abuse and neglect of US infants
• Most "mental illness" starts by age 14
• Kids' docs urged to screen new moms for depression
• Research: US kids start drinking alcohol at an early age
• Childhood ADHD may lead to troubles later on: study
• Spanking promotes adult mental-health problems
• Frequent moves can damage a child's mental health
• How to talk to kids and teens about mental illness
• Want Kids to Do Better in School? Get Serious About Mental Health.