bakingmom's Comments (207)

“Total agreement! This is EXACTLY the strategy the DNC must employ going forward. Fight the words with truth and find the power within those true words. Fanning you for hitting the mark!”

“PERFECT contrast! LMAO too and fanning you!”

“Welcome to the enlightened, EthanLambe. Spread the word and re-establish the UNITED states of America where we still take great pride in honors bestowed upon us.”

“Well said. Fanned!”

“GO DNC!!!! FINALLY!!!! Say it with meaning and hit them with words that count. I absolutely love the last line: "It's no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore - it's an embarrassing label to claim." ~~~ The DNC won't persuade the truly wingnuttier wingnuts but it will open the eyes of those rational, middle-of-the-road, independents who must be growing increasingly disillusioned with the non-patriotic, non-supportive, totally CRAZY Rethugs!”

“Let's not expend any more energy trying to convince the rethugs how to love and embrace this country. Their denial of any patriotism or any joy for America's shining example to the world is gone. Instead, let's revel in the applause of nation's (and our own populace) for a man whose vision is shared. Let's work to make peace universal, starting on Capital Hill and going throughout our great land.”

“Congratulations, Mr. President. The promise of what can be is the foundation of all that can be. The naysayers are devoid of hope, optimism, joy. Let them secede and leave this country that I love so deeply and am so very honored that you lead us on the world's stage.”

“Ummmm . . . restless leg syndrome is a real condition (my father-in-law's life and sleep quality has changed b/c of the medication he takes to control it). But I suppose that the flavor of the day is to stigmatize anyone with something the rest of us haven't heard of or lived through or experienced on our own?”

“I could not disagree more. I think existential angst is a bummer but it is not clinical depression. Clinical depression is a reflection that our bodies are chemical entities with fine-tuned balances in all organ systems. Cardiac rhythm can be affected by potassium. Thyroid function can be affected by iodine. Brain chemistry can be altered when the brain is bathed in stress hormones like adrenaline or cortisol. Brain chemistry can also change for reasons we don't even know yet. Thus, it is critical that funding for research and better imaging and blood studies be continued. This is a scientific issue, not a philosophical or psychological one.”

“It is hard to understand that depression is as much a chemical disorder as diabetes or thyroid disease. The psycho-babble is so last century.”

“Ditto. And thank you for saying it so well.”

“Not all women can (or should) take birth control pills so anti-depressant meds absolutely help those women (with classic PMDD -- pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder) tremendously.”

“This post perpetuates the stigma surrounding depression. Anti-depressants are sometimes over-prescribed but there are millions of people who have benefitted greatly from anti-depressants. Big Pharma, for all its ills, has changed lives. Not long ago people were institutionalized or separated from society b/c of depression.

There is no doubt that the cycle of substance abuse/domestic abuse/work absenteeism/family discord is altered when clinical depression is not in the picture. The difference between being human & clinical depression is the intensity, duration, & the degree of impairment. To have a bad day or a rough weekend or even a tough week is within the scope of normal human experience. But when that persistent sadness or irritability or agitation results in insomnia or hypersomnia or road rage or withdrawal from society, that is not normal.

It is true that some people can withstand that degree of discomfort but others cannot. So who are we to judge??? Congrats to those who have the stoic contenance to take all that life dishes out but not everyone is like that. Don't stigmatize those who struggle every day, just not in visible objective ways like blood pressure numbers or cholesterol counts (as Dr. Weil references). It IS a subjective experience so let people listen to their own internal sense. It is terribly paternalistic (in my opinion) to tell people that they are not able to discern for themselves whether or not what they are feeling is depression.

Okay. Stepping off soapbox now . . .”

“Ummm . . . Let's really work on the patriotic thing and not bash geography. I'm in flyover country (Minnesota) and my home state (iowa) gave O the momentum, remember?”

“Strongly and strenuously disagree with you ~ individidual therapy is such an important and powerful dynamic. For anyone who has been traumatized, feeling safe (physically, emotionally, psychologically) is so critical to self-awareness and self-understanding. That sense of self is absolutely critical before revelations can be made within a group.

While rage is therapeutic for some, that is not true for all. One of the dangers of group therapy that comes with an agenda is the idea that all members of the group must connect the dots in the same way. There are some people whose grief IS manifest in sadness and pain. There are also people who experience re-traumatization when they are exposed to the rage & anger of others (because witnessing other's reactions is reminiscent of what the survivor also experienced). And there are people who are very vulnerable to "suggestion" so a group dynamic shapes their outcome b/c they seek to please others. To group all sexual abuse survivors in one big group disregards each person's individual experience.

While it is true that many therapists come to the field b/c of a personal story of understanding, that is not universally true at all. Most therapists are in the field b/c of empathy, understanding, and an ability to help hold and heal the pain. Curious to know why you discount this important arena of compassion???”

“She wrote it (ha!) but will she be able to read it?”

“PERFECT spot-on and hilarious! Fanning and fawning you jade!!!!”

“Michael,

Love all your work! Sicko really lit the spark of understanding for people to start critically evaluating healthcare. I cannot wait to see this film which sounds like it has already started a fire of its own. You absolutely know how to get people to think and to evaluate and to take action.

The best thing about your films is that they get our family talking! We don't always agree with the content portrayed and we don't always agree with each other. But you do ignite our discussions and our debates and, for that alone, I am so grateful.

The other thing we absolutely love about you is that you are an Eagle Scout. My three boys are also and, though we do not agree with all that the Boys Scouts stand for, we do hold you up as a role model of what the true meaning of the Scout Law and Oath stand for: community awareness, action, and service. Thank you for that piece of inspiration, too! You're the best, Michael!”

“It is so disturbing that this woman hails from the same great state that gave us Humphrey and Mondale and Klobuchar and Franken. MB is just as scary as Pale-in ~ narrow-minded, narcissistic, self-righteous, and hypocritical. They are not leaders; they are fear-mongerers who grow their base through negative messages that make people afraid and uncomfortable. I just hope that people remember that MB does NOT represent the whole state of Minnesota; just one small mis-guided section . . .”

“While I think the cause is worthwhile, and even meaningful, the publicity stunt behind it is (like all things Pale-in) annoying. I love that Dave calls her out on it but it also concerns me b/c I know there are so many (like some of the posts here) who don't see the conniving political ditz getting camera attention for her "charity" work.”

“Wow. Who was parenting Mac? Where were the adult role models for this poor child?

She had a father abusing and traumatizing her and a mother-figure who seems to be the poster mom of Dysfunctional Family Dynamics 101:
(1) denial is a very effective in a family system b/c everyone gets to pretend that nothing is happening that needs to be looked at. Alcohol abuse, drug abuse, domestic assault, sexual trauma, emotional & physical bullying -- all thrive when denial reigns;
(2) telling the truth is inconvenient, isn't it? It makes people stop, look, and listen. And, sometimes, keep on denying reality.”

“Survivors of sexual trauma often describe a sense of dissociation. Dissociation is the feeling of being suspended from reality. It is like a psychological escape hatch but the disconnect from what is real and what is not can last a lifetime. Drugs and alcohol just further complicate the picture.

I don't know whether or not to believe MP. And yet her behavior is so consistent with survivors of sexual trauma. She identifies with the aggressor and has a consenual relationship (maybe trying to normalize what clearly was a very sick and twisted relationship???). She escapes the emotional pain by using drugs and alcohol (a trick used by her aggressor who introduces her, by mutual admissions, to the world of disconnect). She tries to warn others (Bijou) but she cannot effectively help b/c she herself has never had models of effective care-taking from parent figures. And now she "tells all" b/c, honestly, what does she have to lose?”

“My heart just breaks for MP and JP. This is such a tragic story: so much pain with drug-fueled disengagement from reality. The sad sad sad thing is that this is the story for so many emotional cripples. Incest is real and my heart aches for the ways in which people discount the reality. MP is courageous to tell her story. I do not doubt it is true. I'm not entirely sure the forum is healthy b/c the public scrutiny will result in public denial and public disbelief (Electra and Oedipus caused revulsion and denial, too).But if even one person realizes that incest is a tragedy that can be changed, then MP's message will be invaluable.”

“are we so lacking in compassion that we would deny care to babies? Why is it so awful to think that we might actually take care of each other, "legal" or "illegal" but still human???”

“When? One example, please, of this level of disrespect shown to any Pres (dem or repub) during a speech??? It is one thing to critically evaluate and disagree but to hold up signs, text away on Blackberrys, and to heckle the President is a level of immaturity for which school-aged children would be sent to time-out! Do you truly condone an adult mis-behaving on national TV as being a reflection of civilized and respectful debate??? So, again, quit asserting about memories and give us some FACTS!”