Voicelessness: dangerous for married women?

[Dr. Richard Grossman]

Apparently so, according to an article in the July/August issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.  Here's the Yahoo/Reuter's writeup: 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070820/hl_nm/silent_marital_spats_dc

Best,

Richard

[Hopalong]

Thanks, Dr. G.
Sure makes sense...all that stuffing goes to the arteries...
feelings are fattening.

Hops

[Bella_French]

Thanks for the article.

I think voicelessness would dangerous for married men too.

[lighter]

Ummmm..... I knew something awful was going on inside of my body, along with the silence.....

besides vomiting in my mouth.

On some level.... I knew it could harm or kill me. 

Now I know what the mechanics are: /

Thanks, Dr. G.

[Iphi]

Interesting study, thank you for sharing the article.  I agree with Bella - the results should be the same for men one would think, but are they? The IBS connection interests me too.

[JanetLG]

It's an interesting article, but I'm concerned that this feature has been publicised as part of the study which was set up to look at links between behaviour and heart disease. Most of the research on heart disease is incredibly flawed, as it's skewed in favour of the 'fat is bad - lower your cholesterol' myth,and much research is in fact carried out by pharmaceutical and food industry companies who have huge investments in cholestereol-lowering drugs like Lipitor, and so-called 'low fat' products.

Have a look at www.thegreatcholesterolcon.com

So, if this reasearch was done by a more independent group, I'd take it more seriously.

Also, it seems to suggest that only women stay quiet in arguments with spouses. Where did they get that idea from?!


Janet

[Certain Hope]

Dr Grossman,

Thanks for the article. Stress can definitely be a killer, but not in terms of what's presented here, imo.

Janet,

I agree with the perspective at the link you posted... thank you for that!
If I printed it and sent it to my mother, maybe then she'd stop writing.
One of her primary missions in life now is to lower her cholesterol without taking any medications.
As a consequence, she fusses and frets and spiels to anyone who'll listen about all the things which she can't eat and constantly informs us of her great diligence with eliminating all fat from her diet.
Once when she was visiting here, I printed up something to the contrary of her view re: eating shrimp.
She was furious. Furious! She always loved peel-and-eat shrimp... I was trying to show her that it was okay to eat some that I'd prepared for her. Now she loves the notion that she can't have any... thereby solidifying her lifelong role as martyr.

Okay, that settles it. I'm printing the article.
 
 

[Hopalong]

Hi Janet,
My only hesitation about the article from your link is that The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons is the house organ of this organization (not a core clinical journal...), per Wikipedia:

A 1966 article in the New York Times described the organization as an "ultra-right-wing... political-economic rather than medical" group, and historically some of its leaders have been members of the John Birch Society.[6]

Currently, the organization opposes mandatory vaccination,[7] universal health care[8] and government intervention in healthcare.[9] The AAPS has characterized the effects of the Social Security Act of 1965, which established Medicare and Medicaid, as "evil" and "immoral",[10] and encouraged members to avoid participating in Medicare and Medicaid.[11][12] AAPS believes that there is no right to medical care, and opposes efforts to implement a national health plan.[13] The organization also opposes the use of evidence-based medicine and practice guidelines as a usurpation of physician autonomy.[14]

AAPS opposes abortion[15] and over-the-counter access to emergency contraception.[16]--etc.

Hops

[JanetLG]

Hops,

I realise any group has its backers, and extreme side, but any description going back as far as 1966 would need updating, I think.

 Most 'medical' groups are 'political-economic', if only the public knew about it. Other than the final two points in your post (about them opposing abortion and over-the-counter access to emergency contraception), I'd tend to agree with all of the other subjects that the organization opposes, which is why I believe they are talking sense about cholesterol.

Medicare and Medicaid have a bad reputation, outside of the US, for the people that they fail to include, and the cost to the state.  The 'right' to state-funded or supoorted medical care is a twentieth century invention, put forward by pharmaceutical groups with an agenda, unfortunately. Mandatory vaccination has been said to be against people's human rights, especially when it has been proven to be harmful (such as the polio vaccine, and possibly MMR). 'Evidence-based medicine' is a loaded term, and depends on who's doing the defining.

I suppose it boils down to whether or not you have faith in the medical profession and the pharmaceutical companies, and the FDA (which has a huge influence on which drugs the UK is allowed to use, too).

I'm afraid I don't have any faith in 'traditional/allopathic/chemical' medicine at all. I've read too much about the dark side of it, and experienced some of it first hand.

And Wikipedia is full of factual errors, generally, so I don't have much faith in that, either! Sorry.


Janet

[finding peace]

Hi Dr. G,

Thanks for posting the article - very interesting.  I am wondering if a study conducted in adult children who were rendered voiceless in childhood would show similar results.  I would not be surprised if it did.

Also wanted to thank you, very much, for this site.  It has had a profoundly positive impact on my life.

Thanks
Peace   

[Bella_French]

It's an interesting article, but I'm concerned that this feature has been publicised as part of the study which was set up to look at links between behaviour and heart disease. Most of the research on heart disease is incredibly flawed, as it's skewed in favour of the 'fat is bad - lower your cholesterol' myth,and much research is in fact carried out by pharmaceutical and food industry companies who have huge investments in cholestereol-lowering drugs like Lipitor, and so-called 'low fat' products.


Also, it seems to suggest that only women stay quiet in arguments with spouses. Where did they get that idea from?!


Janet

I'm glad you mentioned this Janet, thank you!

Interestingly, I had my blood work fully tested this year for haemochomotosis (a blood disorder)  that one of my siblings has (I was clear). All my organs were tested for functionality, so it was probably the most thorough health check I've ever had.

I was really surprised by my cholesterol levels and by the results generally.  According to the article, I probably should be dead, but I'm in incredibly good shape, especially my heart and cardiovascular system.

I have been quite chubby for the past four years, ever since going through major abdominal surgery which kept me fairly immobile for about a year. I've never managed to lose the extra weight completely, but I don''t particularly care right now either.

Emotionally, I've copped such a beating this past 7 years, having split up with my long term partner under horrible circumstances, then landing in two successive relationships with narcissists, one who beat me. Then I had a Narcissistic boss who caused me incredible stress at work, leading to me quitting my job.

On top of all the emotional stuff I've been through, I drank and sometimes smoked through a lot of this; not huge quantities but almost every day during the most stressful times.

The test showed that my cholesterol levels are a whole percentage  below the `minimum' value for the healthy range (which is incredibly good). My blood pressure is lower than average. My heart, kidneys, liver, and blood are in extremely good order. Appearance -wise, my hair and skin and the best they have ever been, and I'm relatively fit from walking around the forest 2 times day, and from sporadic periods at the gym.

The only part of the article I can personally relate to is the fact that I will die one day, lol. Everyone dies.

X Bella

[JanetLG]

Bella,

I'm sorry you've had such a bastard few years.

I'm really glad you're past all that, now.

Funny how some people can still be healthy, despite what all the 'expert' advice says we should be like, apparently. When I had anorexia for 12 years, I had two doctors and a psychiatrist tell me at different times that I'd be dead in six months, like they were willing me to die. What a way to 'support' a patient! The fact that I'm still alive makes me want to go <raspberry> (sorry, can't spell it). 25 years ago, the first one told me. I haven't had a cold in 9 years, or flu for about 10. The main thing I get is insomnia, now (peri-menopausal, I think).

I do think, though, that when you've been through the kind of experiences that you have (and me, too) that you appreciate your life more than people who've had it easier. And you ARE more aware that we all die one day, too.


Janet

[Bella_French]

Hi Janet,
Doctors are such idiots aren't they, when treating eating disorders. I can't believe they would tell you that you're going to die!! That makes me so mad. I can relate a little, because I was being `treated' for anorexia and then bulimia in my early twenties, and the doctors were idiots. The psychiatrist I was seeing kept telling me I was `so pretty', and I would think (but not say)`` I *know* I look pretty; thats why I have an eating disorder. Its how I stay pretty '. The cure for me was to find the strength and empowerment to be `not pretty' (in the conventional sense) , and be ok with that.

It was incredibly strong of you to beat anorexia after 12 years, especially since medical advice was so lacking. I read the strangest ideas about anorexia in books when i was trying to cure myself. I didn't read anything about the link l between society expecting women to be thin and anorexia (until i read `the beauty myth') ; all the theories suggested that anorexics are control freak weirdos. I can laugh at that now, but back then it was extremely unhelpful.

I am so glad that your health has survived your journey too. You sound so mentally healthy too; whatever you've been doing, its been good for you.

X bella

[Ami]

Just an aside about allopathic medicine( regular medicine). It ( allopathic medicine) is the 4th( I think) highest killer of people after cancer ,heat disease etc. So,  trusting allopathic medicine should be considered -- long and hard(IMO)
 It is  called  iatrogenic  ( doctor or medicine) induced causes of death          Ami

[Bella_French]

Ami, Does that include things like flu tablets, pain killers etc? Thanks for the info!

X bella