Biological psychiatry: savior of the human mind or absolute rubbish? Read and think for yourself #NAMI http://bit.ly/c7czYg

July 24^th wasn’t going to be fun this year, I knew, as my ears had rung something unusually heavy a few days ago. Actually, as I love to do, I would like to throw it all on the bath I took at home during my latest visit to my family in Hangu. The moment I came out of the bath, I felt something was not okay with my ears. You see people reprove my habit of avoiding the shower for weeks (in summers) and months (in winter). Why can’t they see that my Exceptionally Annoying Radar System (EARS) won’t stand this free physical contact with water? So it was that bath!

Remembering my last visit (first in life actually) to an ENT (Ears Nose Throat) specialist, the other evening, I tried to kill the goliath of ear clogging with a few drops of soda glycerine shot from the slingshot called….soda glycerine bottle, what else? I hope it would work. And it did…whatever path was open heretofore was closed and my ear felt like a jet airport where the fighters of my own voice landed every now and then. Ah! It was inevitable to see the doctor now, and I knew the pain it had caused me last time, followed by a lasting relief. So I had to see a doc on my birthday. Very well!

Taking my breakfast on this special day, I felt like mines were being blasted in my left ear. Every mouthful was a trial. “Left is always such a mess!” I said to myself. I am sure the left ear heard it but thankfully, it didn’t snap back. After all, it was my ear!

Paying the bill, I went ahead to ask about an ENT at the nearest medical clinic. They didn’t seem to know what that was. I pointed to my ear and said “I got trouble here.” The attendant shook his head and told me they hadn’t got any doc for this thing. “Good!” I felt some relief (prospective pain was hanging on my head) and reminded myself that my birthday wasn’t going to be with a jet fighter airport. So I hired a cab and went to the Rehman Medical Institute in Hayatabad.

As I went in to see the doctor, I was nervous. But he turned out a considerate person (sitting without a sword pointing at his patients). I knew what he was going to do, and he did. If you want to know how I held out while he removed the clogged wax in my ear, just go to YouTube and search for “Charlie Bit Me”. Watch the elder kid and that’s me!

Finally, when he showed me the wax ball pulled out of my ear, I almost shrieked. Man! How could this size of a blob grow in my ear (which now felt open and quite relaxed)? I wondered if he’d wrap it up for me as a birthday present, should I tell him that it was my birthday. My kids (if they ever happened to be) would like to play with it their first soccer match. Thanking the doctor, I exited the hospital, feeling light and free. And it goes without saying that I requested the doc to leave treating the other ear for the next week.

Driven to the chemist in a cab, I touched my left ear lightly and felt sorry for not taking care of it. Yet, I thought this visit was the birthday gift I could give myself- the gift of health.

–Ernest Dempsey, Editor-in-Chief

Recovering the Self: A Journal of Hope and Healing

It’s a moment in history that will be remembered, for better or worse, as President Obama has passed the much debated health care bill that means to extend insurance coverage to roughly 32 million additional Americans. Whether it is development or doom, the opinion is divided. Here are some of the points that news sources have highlighted:

• Most Americans will now be required to have health insurance or pay a fine.
• Larger employers will be required to provide coverage or risk financial penalties.
• Total individual out-of-pocket expenses will be capped, and insurers will be barred from denying coverage based on gender or pre-existing conditions.

We are inviting you to have your opinion voiced here at RTS. Use the comment box below to share your take on the health care bill. If you think it’s development, start with the word DEVELOPMENT in capitals followed by your comment. If you think it’s DOOM, write so while starting your comment.

Haiti earthquake: random act of nature or God?

Pulitzer-prize nominated journalist Larry Hayes repots on “Voodoo preachers and Pat Robertson”, see  http://www.larryhayes.com/?p=89