Author: Kathy Marshack

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is the term applied to psychological and
emotional problems that develop as the result of experiencing any serious,
traumatic event. Recent studies are focusing attention on the long-term effects
of PTSD and have found a link between PTSD and dementia.

The
study focused on war veterans. Out of 180,000 veterans, 53,155 had been
diagnosed with PTSD. Over a 7 year period, 17.2 percent developed dementia. The
reason for the greater risk of dementia may be due to the chronic stress of
PTSD. That type of stress could cause damage to an area of the brain which is
critical for memory and/or affect the neurotransmitters. For more on this
study, read the article
PTSD Nearly Doubles Risk of Dementia.

You don’t have to be a veteran to be affected by PTSD. If you feel like you do
have PTSD, I highly recommend speaking to a mental health care professional.
Without treatment, the problem intensifies over the years – causing greater and
greater distress. Fortunately, PTSD is very responsive to a variety of
psychotherapies. In individual therapy, the survivor can learn a new
perspective on the past. With the gentle support of an experienced
psychotherapist, you will find new and healthier ways to put old memories to
rest. Please visit the Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder page on my website for symptoms of PTSD and therapy
recommendations. 

Spring fever – it’s not just a myth. Scientists have found that many biological
and behavioral processes follow seasonal cycles. During spring, people generally
feel more energetic, enthusiastic and amorous, while at the same time listless
and restless. However, there can be a dark side to spring fever. This season
brings with it an increase in insomnia, vehicle accidents, criminal activity
and suicide. For those who suffer from wintertime depression, they can become
more energetic and impulsive in the spring, which can lead to poor judgment.

So why do we feel different in the spring? Scientists say it has more to do
with increased daylight than warmer weather. Our bodies are producing less
melatonin, which means an increase in sex drive, enthusiasm and confidence. In
addition to light, our senses are bombarded with fragrant aromas, soft winds
and beautiful flowers.

Become aware of how the changing seasons affect you personally. Take your time
easing into spring. Try to keep a regular routine of exercise and drink lots of
water. It will help you make a smoother transition so you can enjoy “spring
fever.”

In a relationship, forgiveness is one of the keys to success. When you are in a
relationship with someone with Asperger Syndrome, whether they are a partner or family member, forgiveness is a
struggle. Even though you may have a forgiving nature, somehow forgiving our AS
adults may not feel healing. There is still something missing.

In May, I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Janis Abrahms Spring speak at the
Oregon Psychological Association meeting. She brought up an interesting point
about the issue of forgiveness stating that there cannot be genuine forgiveness
in a relationship unless there is full cooperation of the “offending”
party. You can come to some acceptance and that is healing for you but there is
still that hole that can only be filled when both parties process the hurt.

Dr. Abrahms Spring wrote a fantastic book entitled, How Can I Forgive You? The Courage to Forgive and the Freedom to Not. I
highly recommend reading it especially if forgiveness is an issue in your life.

On June 19th, our Asperger
Syndrome: Partners and Family of Adults with ASD, held in Portland, Oregon,
will be discussing this very troubling concept of reclaiming our lives when
there is no apology, no empathic request for forgiveness, no acceptance of our
offers of apology and no connecting over the shared hurt. There are answers and
in our group sharing we will discover them. Visit our Meetup
page for more information.

Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) recently announced the closure of the historic train crossing in East Vancouver near 144th Ct and SE Evergreen Highway. This stretch of track was installed in 1908 by the first train company in Washington, eventually named Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway or S P & S. It represented a joint venture by the Great Northern Railway and the Northern Pacific Railway to build a railroad along the north bank of the Columbia River.

The history of this location actually goes in several interesting directions. Psychologist and local historian, Kathy J. Marshack, Ph.D., says, “This crossing was granted to my predecessors for selling a strip of land for the train for $800.” After some extensive research, Dr. Marshack actually found the deed recording this transaction.

At the time, the crossing was necessary because the “new” train cut off the old road, the Columbia City to Cascade City Road (CCCC). The CCCC was opened in 1852 and was the first road commissioned by the brand new Clarke County Commissioners. In fact the road is probably the oldest in the Oregon Territory, since it was originally built by the Hudson’s Bay Co. to get to their saw mill and grist mill. It was built in 1826 and was called the Mill Road. Silas Maxon and his brother extended the road in the 1850s from Columbia City (Vancouver) to Camas.

The train crossing was also necessary in 1908 because the CCCC led to a steamboat landing on the Columbia River which is even older than the road and train. Farmers used that steamboat landing well into the 20th century because it was essential to get their crops to market. Dr. Marshack found an article in the Columbian, from 1980, that interviewed an elderly woman talking of the days when she took the steamboat from the landing behind Dr. Marshack’s home.

Dr. Marshack has done extensive research on this area of East Vancouver along the Columbia River. She is available for interview by contacting her office at 360-256-0448 or via email at info@kmarshack.com.

Maintaining a delicate balance between business and family is absolutely necessary
when running a family business. This is not an easy thing to do. There are
differences in work ethics and personalities, along with different strengths
and weaknesses. When problems arise at work, it is not only going to affect the
business, but also the family arrangement. If you are part of a family
business, you may want to consider working with a psychologist who specializes
in family businesses.

A family business psychologist works to understand the “soft side” of families
who work together. They help the family members to recognize interpersonal
problems that will affect the business and the family. I’ve been working as a
family business psychologist for a number of years and have seen firsthand the
benefits of this approach.

I had the pleasure of working with Camille
Eber who is a second generation owner of Roth & Miller Autobody Inc. in
Portland. Camille recently wrote an article entitled, “Working
with family member is a blessing, challenge” about her personal
struggles working with family. She had difficulty getting along with her
nephew, William, who is currently the operations manager. They decided to make
an appointment with me to help improve their relationship.

Here is what she said about their therapy sessions, “Dr. Marshack,
author of “Entrepreneurial
Couples: Making it Work at Work and at Home,” helped us set individual
and business goals and define our responsibilities within the business more
carefully, which is a key to success in a family business. The personality
testing we worked through was particularly eye-opening. Once my nephew and I
acknowledged we’re nearly polar opposites, it helped us realize better how we
could use that to benefit the business. We were able to return to work on the
business as a team rather than working against each other.” Click
here to read the rest of the article.

If you are experiencing challenges within your family business, I highly
recommend making an appointment with a family business psychologist. Like
Camille’s experience, you will be able to better understand yourself and one
another which will help make your business and your family a success.

Researchers at the University of Montreal recently found a link between ADD/ADHD and organophosphate pesticides. Organophosphate pesticides can be found on food with high levels of pesticides. Organophosphate poisoning can be detected by analyzing urine samples.

1139 children were tested for organophosphate and 94% came back with levels found in their urine. Out of the 1,139 children, 119 had previously been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. Having higher levels of organophosphate may increase chances of ADD.

Dr. Maryse F. Bouchard from Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Montreal commented on the study by stating, “It is very well established that organophosphates disrupt brain neurochemical activity. In particular, organophosphates disrupt the activity of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter also implicated in ADHD. In addition, certain organophosphates affect growth factors, several neurotransmitter systems, and second messenger systems. These changes in brain activity could well result in ADHD-like symptoms.”

She also concluded, “This is the first study to link exposure to pesticides at levels common in the general population with adverse health effects. These findings should be replicated before strong conclusion can be made.” To read more about this study, I recommend reading the article, Organophosphate Pesticides Linked to ADHD.

Learn more about ADD/ADHD, including practical tips on my website.