May is National Masturbation Month!

I bet you didn't know that.



Sorry to be so late to inform you of this fact. You only have a few days left to catch up! :>)



I do apologize for not being around so much. Just so much to do and only one of me. I miss my blog here and I miss you guys. I know things do get slow when we head into the summer months. I feel the need for a hammock. Actually I always fall out of those things. But the thought is appealing.



I hope everyone is doing okay.



So what shall we talk about? Okay how about the topic of masturbation?



I wrote a question of the week for Health Central's Sexual Health site about that Oprah show where Oprah and her best friend Gayle got into it about whether or not parents should discuss the topic of masturbation with their kids. You can find my question about all this right here. I would rather you answer there than here if you don't mind terribly. I am trying to get some more community discussion on the site and it is like pulling teeth! So come on...don't be shy...voice your opinion.



And now for something completely different...



Have you ever wondered about the gluten free diet craze? My son is on such a diet and I feel that it has helped his allergic symptoms immensely. It seems to also have helped his behaviors. This diet has been used too...in order to lose weight by some. If you have any experience with this diet or just want to know what it is about come on over to read and to comment.



And on the Friend's of Quinn site I talk my personal experience trying to undo comments made by teachers due to some of my son's learning disabilities. It is a great site...I do hope you come to visit. Just follow this link.



On the Multiple Sclerosis site I have a two part series about the doctor/patient relationship. Doctor Sethi, a neurologist and fellow blogger has written the first part about his views on this topic. He did such an excellent job...I am hoping you can come by to read here.



I could definitely use your help on the depression site. I wrote up a lengthy piece about how to find mental health services including medication if you have no insurance or money. I would be most grateful if anybody could add more links to resources right here.



Also if you have ever taken antidepressants or are currently taking them...I have a discussion going on about side effects to meds. If you could share your experience here that would be wonderful.



I am going to really try to get with the program and write more freely here. I don't want to lose my spontaneity and free spirited writing.

So what is going on with you? Tell me all that I have missed!

Will write for donuts!

Or brownies.

I bought the most lushious brownies yesterday...they were huge with gooey chocolate icing on top. Just to die for. There were four of those big suckers in the package and I only have one left.

I will be extremely sad when my last brownie is gone. My precious! PMS and brownies go so well together. TMI?

Okay enough of my hormonal indulgences. It is time for links!

********************************
1. Friend's of Quinn site:

Look Beyond the Label and Discover the Gifts

2. ADHD site:

My Interview with Thomas McKean This was such a great interview with my friend Thomas who is on the autism spectrum himself. He talks about what life is like for him as an adult who has autism.

3. Sexual Health Site

My Question of the Week is...do you think sex stops at 40? What can respark sexual desire and interest? Stop by and give us your suggestions and comments.

4. The Multiple Sclerosis Site

"I'm not drunk, I just have MS!" Slurred Speech as a symptom of MS

5. My Depression Connection

Are you sabotaging your happiness?

Midweek Muse: Inspiration to get you over the hump


Stop on by to any of Health Central's sites. Show off your writing. Get noticed. Come answer some questions and help others. Make friends. All that cool stuff.

See you next week...

Change and a New Focus

Well...

Change is sometimes wonderful and especially when you call the shots and decide for yourself what is best for you.

Been writing about Multiple Sclerosis now since before my diagnosis. And I will continue to write about this topic for Health Central but I have decided that the extra responsibility of being the site's Community Leader was too much for me. I have multiple reasons for not wishing to continue on with my leadership role there but my primary reason is to preserve my mental health.

It never sat well for me to think about my disease 24/7.

I am so deeply affected by the stories I hear that sometimes I break down. I think the story that tore me up the most was a daughter who was asking if it was the end for her mother who had been struggling with her MS for decades. This daughter's question about her mother's end of life struck me to the core. I could not read her story and not feel that pain so acutely. I sat here and sobbed.

And then I thought, maybe I am not emotionally ready to dive into the deep end of this topic. I have always immersed myself in mental health. I am not afraid of mental illness. I am not afraid of autism. But I have to tell you that I am afraid of MS.

I cannot remain clinical and objective as....I have it.

When I found out that my son had autism I researched into the wee hours of the night. I went to conferences and still do. I read all the books. I always want to find ways to help my son. But for Multiple Sclerosis...I have no desire to be in some desperate place where I am seeking cures or obsessed with the details of this disease.

I want to live. I want to be happy. It is not mentally healthy to live and breathe MS. I am not my disease. I want to focus on wellness and sanity.

I want to help people the only way I know how...to share my humble experiences in coping with my MS. So I will have my own little island there to write. That is about all I can emotionally handle.

Besides...I would much rather talk about sex than MS any day of the week! It's like...gee...you wanna talk about my brain lesions? "Uhh....I think I will pass on that." But if you ask people if they want to talk about sex then you usually get a more gleeful reaction. :>)

I am very happy with my choice to change to being the community leader for the sexual health site.

Sometimes change....can be very good.