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Older adult alcohol abuse, a growing problem

Dr. Paul | November 01, 2017 |
 
Pouring a glass of wine.

I sat in on an office visit with an internist several years ago. I wanted to explore opportunities for helping primary care providers better identify patients with mental health and substance abuse concerns. His patient, in his mid 70’s, indicated that he had two Martinis every night. I asked him if he ever had more than two—he paused, laughed and said, “Sure, who doesn’t?”

Alcohol abuse is a growing problem for older adults. According to public health surveys, older adult alcohol use disorders (the new name for alcohol abuse) are on the rise. There may be a variety of causes for... Read More

Is this who we are?

Dr. Paul | August 23, 2017 |
 
Robert E Lee statue in Charlottesville, VA.

The recent events in Charlottesville were troubling and frightening. The images of adults carrying Nazi and KKK symbols, with weapons, openly in our country, brought back many terrifying memories to those of us that grew up in the fifties and sixties. Segregation in the south was a reality during those years.  Civil rights activists were beaten, arrested, and killed. To take a stand against segregation and for equal rights took enormous courage. A friend of my family was one of the civil rights activists who was killed during that era.

During these demonstrations, I heard one radio... Read More

The 25 Hour Day

Dr. Paul | April 26, 2017 |
 
Elderly man playing chess with caregiver.

Marie’s 75-year-old husband was losing his memory. At first, he forgot small things. But over time, it progressed to larger, more significant memory problems. He became disoriented and would get lost. A trip to the neurologist brought a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Marie and her family were devastated. But Marie had the hardest job. Day in and day out she took care of her husband who became increasingly disabled. Marie was exhausted and depressed. Not only was she losing the husband she loved and knew, her daily responsibilities of coping with his disability were overwhelming. She felt alone... Read More

Coping with the painful news of the world

Dr. Paul | April 19, 2017 | 1 comment
 
Man reading the paper at breakfast.

As a 65-year-old, I’m no stranger to the distressing world and national news. Goodness knows I’ve lived through a great deal of volcanic change in my lifetime, sad as well as terrifying moments, and several periods of uncertainty. Many of these stick in my head—the day Kennedy was assassinated, Martin Luther King’s murder, the Cuban missile crisis, the years of the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and numerous new presidents coming into office. I have also witnessed amazing upheaval too—the end of apartheid in South Africa, the fall of the Soviet Union, the tumbling down of the... Read More

Finding joy

Dr. Paul | March 22, 2017 | 3 comments
 
Woman laying in grass daydreaming.

I recently read an inspirational book about joy by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It was based on a week-long visit between these two religious figures. Their dialogue stimulated my own thinking about this topic. Here are some of the highlights of the book—well worth considering in our everyday lives.

1. “You are a masterpiece in the making"

According to the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu developing the capacity for compassion, generosity, and loving kindness are the basic ingredients for a joyful life. It’s not the pursuit of happiness that brings wellbeing and joy! But... Read More

Welcome 2017

Dr. Paul | December 28, 2016 | 1 comment
 
New Year goals 2017.

The turning of the calendar invites reflection about the previous year and contemplation about the year to come.  If taken seriously, this is a healthy tradition. It’s useful to look back and reflect on experiences, challenges, successes, and disappointments. What happened in 2016 that was important? What did I do last year that made me feel good about myself? Where did I miss the mark? Was I the person I wanted to be? What were my aspirations for last year? How did I do?

This reflective process, spanning the earth’s circumnavigation of the sun, helps us consider where we are on... Read More

A New President

Dr. Paul | November 14, 2016 | 7 comments
 
The White House lawn.

The pollsters mined reams of data before last week’s election—they hoped to predict who would be the next President. In this 21st century, we rely on science and technology to provide us with answers. We carry computers (aka smartphones) in our pants pockets that provide us with instant information about every aspect of our lives and the world around us. Yet, last week’s election results just go to show you—we don’t always know what people will do.

Free will reigns.

I happened to be in London, eating breakfast in a pub, on the day when Great Britain’s Brexit vote was tallied... Read More

Sexual abuse

Dr. Paul | October 19, 2016 | 7 comments
 
Woman thinking about issue.

In the last several weeks, we have all seen and heard the Donald Trump video. During the second debate, Mr. Trump looked down and said that he hadn’t done any of the things he bragged about in the video.  A few days later, women came forward with their stories of sexual assault. It was painful to hear these women describe their experiences.

Some adults wonder—why didn’t these women come forward before the debate? Why were they silent until now?

Many of us remember the Anita Hill testimony on Capitol Hill in 1991 during the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court hearings. Ms. Hill... Read More

What will your legacy be?

Dr. Paul | June 22, 2016 | 2 comments
 
Fresco from the ancient ruins on Santorini, Greece.

Today, I visited a 3500-year-old ruin on the Island of Santorini in Greece. Around 1500 B.C., a large settlement of ancient people was destroyed in a single moment by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. Volcanic ash and mud covered the town until 1967 when Greek archaeologists discovered the site. It was preserved by volcanic ash and mud, much like the Roman city, Pompeii, was preserved by a similar volcanic eruption in 40 A.D.

Archeologists believe that this part of the island was actually first visited over 5000 years ago by an ancient civilization of which... Read More

Shared Medical Appointments

Dr. Paul | March 16, 2016 | 5 comments
 
Group of patients at a shared medical appointment

In the early 1990’s, a middle-aged health psychologist, Ed Noffsinger, Ph.D., developed a serious illness—pulmonary hypertension. For a period of several years he found himself exhausted, lying in bed for days, barely able to breathe. As time wore on, he felt angry, alone, and frightened. His wife was sympathetic, but she was taking care of their three young children and her ill father. She didn’t have much time or attention to listen to Ed’s fears and concerns. Also, he was very frustrated with the health care system. It was hard to get into to see his doctor and when he did, his visits... Read More

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