Stress and Its Relationship to Tumor Development

The word "Cancer" is terrifying to all. Given that cancer is on the rise, it would be helpful to identify the cause of this disease. New research is pointing to a relationship between stress and tumor development. In fact, findings suggest that black women develop more aggressive and lethal breast cancers at a younger age than white women. Given that 70% to 80% of breast cancer has no evidence of inherited mutation, it is hypothesized that black women's social behavior and environment may create genetic transformations that cause breast cancer. The above research was conducted by Dr. Martha McClintock and she suggests that racial identity along with implications of belonging to a certain group may play a role in the unique stress that an individual experiences. Dr. McClintock believes that one's racial identity may place black women in social environments and psychological states that change their hormone function. The hormone imbalance may then serve as a catalyst to genetic mutations and mammary tumor growth. Living in a state of stress increases the chances that one's body produces stress hormones. Lacking adequate resources to manage the stress excerbates one's experience of stress and can cause mental, emotional and physical problems. It is hoped that as individuals can better manage stress or be connected to resources that can assist them in constructively coping with stress, cancer rates for all individuals will decrease. For more information, please contact Dr.Drecun at Dr.Drecun@a4ct.com or visit us at Association for Compassionate Transformation.

Stay-at-Home Dads and Job Satisfaction

Stay at home dads may be suspiciously watched by mothers at the playground. New statistics indicate that stay at home fathers have increased by over 60% since 2004 (APA Monitor). Research is suggesting that stay at home dads are doing well psychologically and experience marital satisfaction. One word of advice, is to not call them Mr. Mom. A benefit to father's staying home with their children is that a father's job is being redefined. There are several reasons that influence a dad's decision to stay home with his kids. Decisions that were noted include their wives' stronger earning potential, their own desire to be a primary caretaker and the apprehension that both mother and father have about allowing someone else to care for their children. Not surprisingly, men who stayed home with their children were more likely to be affectionate and nurturing. Regardless of the men being happy and confident in their decision to raise their children, a social stigma still remains. Family and friends voice their mixed reactions to the care-taking arrangement. Similar to the women, men also miss the daily adult interaction and stimulation. Being a stay at home father may also isolate the men from other full-time parents. Sadly, some stay at home dads reported being rejected from play-groups. Given such information, it is pertinent that father's are provided with support by creating daddy-friendly playgroups, or online support networks where stay-at-home dads can share stories, attain parenting suggestions and find a sense of camaraderie in the elation and challenge that raising children offers. For more information, please contact Dr. Drecun at Dr.Drecun@a4ct.com or visit us at Association for Compassionate Transformation.

Are Young Girls Over-Sexed?

Psychological research is being conducted to explore the messages advertisers are sending to young girls and how these messages are affecting their development. The findings of the research indicate that children in the U.S. are being bombarded by negative messages that objectify pre-teen girls. The findings are devastating. Young girls are becoming sexualized at earlier ages. Sexualization is the process that invites girls and young women to value themselves, and others, primarily for their sexual appeal above all other characteristics. Sadly, there is an awareness that society places great emphasis on an unattainable body image which damages the health and self-image of countless girls and women. Such detrimental emphasis can lead to eating disorders, anxiety and depression. Rather than placing emphasis on physical appearance as one's greatest attribute, parents and society alike should encourage participaton in sports, artistic expression and meditation. These avenues can assist girls and women to develop a healthier self-image that is not based on sexualization. Advertisers promote sexualization by highlighting young girls as sweet, feminine and nurturing. Such coaching is presented in the "princess" or "pretty in pink" phase that many young girls experience. As these young girls develop, they are molded to become sexy vixens. The media needs to convey a different approach, that women do not need to rely on being sexy and attractive or a makeover to have power. Young girls are being brain-washed to adhere to this ridiculous societal standard. Shockingly, thong underwear and padded bras are marketed to 6 year old girls. The sexualized images women are exposed to are connected to depression, low self-esteem and eating disorders. Parents need to educate their children how to understand the media's manipulation. As a society, it is our responsibility to teach our young girls core values that are not based on beauty. It is encouraged that parents write to companies and support consumer-advocacy groups that work to counter media messages that are unhealthy. For more information, please contact Dr. Drecun at Dr.Drecun@a4ct.com or visit us at our website at Association for Compassionate Transformation.

Are Men Really Commitment Phobic?

Columnist Neil Chethik collaborated with the University of Kentucky Research Center to study men's inner lives and how they relate to relationships. The results revealed very interesting findings. According to the research and contrary to popular belief, men do enjoy talking about relationships. The caveat is, that they enjoy discussing relationships on their own terms and in a different manner than women. To further elaborate, men are willing to talk about feelings when they feel comfortable and using their own language. During the research, when men were questioned about their feelings toward their wives, they felt uncomfortable and withdrew from the conversation. However, when the men were approached using action phrases to decipher how they felt about their wives, the men became engaged. The men also appeared more comfortable discussing their thoughts about their wives rather than their feelings. What does this finding suggest? Men are more likely to share their inner worlds with someone when they can do so in a language they feel comfortable with. Men also have a negative reputation for not being as willing as women to commit to a relationship. Nevertheless, the results from this study also discredited this popular belief. The results indicate that men do want to make a commitment, and take more time because they want to be confident that they are making the right decision. This conclusion points to the idea that men take commitment very seriously and desire a good fit between their mate and themselves. As men should because marriage as a commitment offers joys and challenges. The question remains, "Are men overwhelmed by fear or are they being cautious with a decision that they are cognizant will affect the rest of their life? Maybe women could also benefit from placing more weight on the decision as well? In addition, the completed survey suggested that 90% of currently married men would marry the same women again! This is a very important statistic. The majority of men are indicating that they believe they had made the right decision and are satisfied with their choice. This statistic corresponds well to the finding that women initiate 2/3rds of all divorces. Hence, when men commit to marriage, they intend to be in the relationship for good. Lastly, another myth was extinguished. The aphorism that men who treat their mother's well will make good husbands was found to be inaccurate. Men who had good relationships with their mothers were as likely to have positive or negative relationships with their wives. Rather, the results indicated that men who had a good relationship with their fathers had better relationships with their wives. Fathers obviously play a large role in modeling behaviors for their sons. If father's treat their wives well, their sons have a better role-model. In essence, sons learn to relate as men by watching their fathers.

Support Group Benefits

Support Groups: Description and Benefits--Support Groups allow members to assist themselves without dependence on others. To further elaborate, a therapy support group is a process where individuals who share a common condition or interest assist themselves with the help of a trained professional. There are many support groups in the United States. Support groups assist individuals in dealing with their isolation, powerlessness and alienation. Benefits of General Support Groups:

• Peer Support. Support group members are empathetic and compassionate toward members given that they share a similar experience. Congregating together allows the group members to feel better because they realize that they are not alone, which provides them with a sense of universality.
• Coping Strategies. Support group members share valuable information and insights developed as a result of their own personal experiences to assist one another to deal with the challenges they face.
• Role Models. Support group members function as positive role models to one another; modeling a proactive approach that empowers members.
• Affordability. Support groups are inexpensive and very affordable, which positions it as an attractive alternative to a high-cost and frequently time-limited professional service.
• Education. Support groups serve as an enriching forum that allows members to exchange information about members' joint concerns and to learn about other valuable resources available in the community.
• Advocacy. Through the process of support groups, members can advocate for each other and access resources that were previously unavailable.
• Non-stigmatizing. Support groups avoid the stigma and negative connotations that are associated with seeking, traditional, professional support.
• Helper's Principle. Proponents of support groups perceive that being placed in a role of a helper increases the helper's self-worth and self-esteem. Being provided with the opportunity to assist another sentient being allows one to feel they are worthwhile and making a contribution which brings meaning to people's lives.

A.C.T. is currently providing a Women's Support Group to assist in addressing the unique issues that are relevant to women. For more information, please contact Dr. Drecun at Dr.Drecun@a4ct.com or (858) 792-3541. Please visit us on our website at Association for Compassionate Transformation.