“The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly.” Eccl. 12:10, NLT
I came across these and wanted very much to share them with anyone interested in some extracurricular reading. I have hand-picked these out of hundreds of possible posts. I know these will be a blessing.
There is somewhat of a mixture here. Some will be links to articles on mental illness, and others on Christian discipleship. And maybe, this might become a regular feature here on BB. (Who knows what lurks in my brain? lol) But what you find below, may be an incredibly rich blessing for you.
I. Lithium, “The Metal Marvel”
Discover Magazine has always been a good source of fascinating insight. Lithium for 50 years has been the most effective treatment for bipolar disorder.
An exceptional site that I use daily. (It’s like a carpenter’s favorite hammer.) Almost 30 translations, search topics or themes. It is fresh and modern. I use it whenever I need to “cut & paste” a passage into a post. I’ve tried many and yet, this remains the best.
Research has indicated that bipolar disorder may be up to four times more common in young people who were straight-A students. A link between high IQ and bipolar disorder has been proposed for many years.
Got Questions? A solid and comprehensive place for anyone to sort things out. It’s easy to navigate. It is a “safe” place to think out loud about hard things. Do you have a question about God, Jesus, the Bible, or theology? Have you ever needed help understanding a Bible verse or passage? Are there any spiritual issues in your life for which you need advice or counsel?
Alltop is essentially a news aggregator— they supply a one page site of continuously updated links, on a topical base. They do a lot of broad subjects (I haven’t used it, except for BP news.) I don’t consult it often, but when I do it is almost always great. ( Alltop has started showing Broken Believer posts, yeah!!)
(TS) as it is frequently called, is a neurologic syndrome. The essential feature of Tourette’s are multiple tics that are sudden, rapid, recurrent, non-rhythmic, stereotypical, purposeless movements or vocalizations.
What are the symptoms of Tourette syndrome?
Both multiple motor and one or more vocal tics are present at some time during the illness, although not necessarily simultaneously
Occurrence many times a day nearly every day or intermittently throughout a span of more than one year
Significant impairment or marked distress in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Onset before the age of 18.
Symptoms can disappear for weeks or months at a time and severity waxes and wanes.
What are the first tics that may be characteristic of Tourette’s syndrome?
Usually, the facial tic, such as rapid blinking of the eyes or twitches of the mouth, may be the first indication a parent has that their child may have Tourette’s syndrome. Involuntary sounds, such as throat clearing and sniffing, or tics of the limbs may be an initial sign in other children.
Are any other symptoms associated with Tourette’s syndrome?
Approximately 50 percent of patients meet criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and this may be the more impairing problem. Approximately one-third of patients meet criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or have other forms of anxiety. Learning disabilities are common as well as developmental stuttering. Social discomfort, self-consciousness and depressed mood frequently occur, especially as children reach adolescence.
Yelling and irrational
What causes these symptoms?
Although the cause has not been definitely established, there is considerable evidence that Tourette’s syndrome arises from abnormal metabolism of dopamine, a neurotransmitter. Other neurotransmitters may be involved.
Can Tourette’s syndrome be inherited?
Genetic studies indicate that Tourette’s syndrome is inherited as an autosomal dominant gene but different family members may have dissimilar symptoms. A parent has a 50 percent chance of passing the gene to one of his or her children. The range of symptomatology varies from multiple severe tics to very minor tics with varying degrees of attention deficit-disorder and OCD.
Are boys or girls more likely to have Tourette’s syndrome?
The sex of the child can influence the expression of the Tourette’s syndrome gene. Girls with the gene have a 70 percent chance of displaying symptoms, boys with the gene have a 99 percent chance of displaying symptoms. Ratios of boys with Tourette’s syndrome to girls with Tourette’s syndrome are 3:1.
How is Tourette’s syndrome diagnosed?
No blood analysis, x-ray or other medical test exists to identify Tourette’s syndrome. Diagnosis is made by observing the signs or symptoms as described above. A doctor may wish to use a CAT scan, EEG, or other tests to rule out other ailments that could be confused with TS. Some medications cause tics, so it is important to inform the professional doing the assessment of any prescribed, over-the-counter, or street drugs to which the patient may have been exposed.
What are the benefits of seeking early treatment of Tourette syndrome symptoms?
When a child’s behavior is viewed as disruptive, frightening, or bizarre by peers, family, teachers, or friends, it provokes ridicule and rejection. Teachers and other children can feel threatened and exclude the child from activities or interpersonal relationships. A child’s socialization difficulties will increase as he reaches adolescence. Therefore, it is very important for the child’s self-esteem and emotional well-being that treatment be sought as early as possible.
What treatments are available for Tourette syndrome?
Not everyone is disabled by his or her symptoms, so medication may not be necessary. When symptoms interfere with functioning, medication can effectively improve attention span, decrease impulsivity, hyperactivity, tics, and obsessive-compulsive symptomatology. Relaxation techniques and behavior therapy may also be useful for tics, ADD symptoms, and OCD symptoms.
How does Tourette syndrome affect the education of a child or adolescent with Tourette syndrome?
Tourette syndrome alone does not affect the IQ of a child. Many children who have Tourette syndrome, however, also have learning disabilities or attention deficits. Frequently, therefore, special education may be needed for a child with Tourette syndrome. Teachers should be given factual information about the disorder and, if learning difficulties appear, the child should be referred to the school system for assessment of other learning problems.
What is the course of Tourettesyndrome?
Some people with Tourette syndrome show a marked improvement in their late teens or early twenties. However, tics as well as ADD and OCD behavior, may wax and wane over the course of the life span.
Lord, I know that a man doesn’t control his own life. He doesn’t direct his own steps.
Jeremiah 10:23
As we step into what matters, we find this simple verse. Simply put, we have no idea about control. We step out in ignorance, we don’t understand this concept of turning one’s life over to someone else. This grates against everything we profess to understand.
There is no control. He declares Himself to be completely and utterly in charge. At this point, we must back-off and just assume that He is in charge. There has been a determination at the highest of points. We always are available to connect with Him at these levels. We simply come and ask for all mercy that has been stated.
I don’t turn anything off. I most certainly open my heart to all that is available and retrievable. I can’t dwell on anything above and beyond this. When He comes, He generates a dynamic that works its way into our hearts.
The simple fact is that we have been brought to a definite assurance of a divine life. It is freely given. We do nothing to deserve it. We advance with this concept and idea cemented into our hearts. Nothing can be offered, it has already been done so. All we can do is to absorb the kindness that has been offered and then step tentatively forward.
My trust is in His character. He comes to me and it makes perfect sense. I start connecting the dots. And it makes me understand His goodness. His love has been extended to me, and all I can do is turn to Him, and let Him in. There is nothing but His love for me that can affect me in this way.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.
Exodus 16:4, NIV
Just imagine, for a moment, that it is raining bread outside right now! We got to see this! We run outside and and are pelted with rye, and caraway and pumpernickel. Bread! Its everywhere, all you want, just pick it up. It piles up like a yeasty hail, and it doesn’t seem to diminish, its everywhere! We call the kids, ‘Bring buckets, and clean garbage bags’!
God has directly intervened in the life of Israel. He becomes the exclusive producer of manna to the children of Israel. He decides to give, and then He pelts them with His goodness– bread, delicious bread, fresh and warm, and they say it comes from heaven! This is the ultimate! BREAD! This is far beyond anything I could imagine.
But if we clear away the piles, and draw near to those whom we assume know something, we will be struck by a sense of the reality of God. The others grab on the basic idea; but we are shaken, to the core. We come out, clinging to a God who loves us and intensely cares for us. ‘He is real, and He loves us!” And all others can see– are the piles and piles of bread.
God has done something drastic, something right ‘on the edge of reason’. We encounter Him, (or He encounters us) and we get involved, whether we like it or not. The decision will be a foundational and a concrete one. It really is much, much more than bread from heaven. But will we connect the dots?
Even though we see the supernatural bread piling up, we need to be aware we are being ‘tested’. So much of this test, really isn’t one at all. It’s the sixth day that catches us. Do we, who have become dependent on this supernatural supply, trust Him to provide on the Sabbath? Maybe He will he just ‘blink-out’ and leave us hanging? Maybe we should gather more, before He fails us?
We have to come to this clear and classic place. I believe it is the real starting point. Exactly how will you accept “free bread”? Will I honor Him through it all? (We are being ‘tested’ folks. We are on the ‘clock’.) The rub comes when we just don’t see it. We turn, not so much as to reject what is obvious, but to take on that which is authentic. If we will just do this, we will pass the test.
Broken Believers 