DECEMBER 10, 1993

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

11

PSYCHED OUT

Holiday season brings mixed emotions

by Keith A. Oliver, Ph.D.

'Tis the season to be jolly—or is it? As the holidays approach many of us struggle with a variety of emotions and thoughts, questioning what to do.

The holiday season can be quite demanding. Some of us are out and are able to share the holidays openly. Some of us are not out and struggle to balance both lives. The holidays can become even more complicated when a partner is involved. Further, add the stress of finances, shopping, and expectations and the season becomes quite the challenge.

As a result, holiday blues and depression are common. It is important to realize that these feelings are normal and, given your individual holiday circumstances, are likely very appropriate. It is important to nonjudgmentally accept these feeling and try to learn what thoughts lie at their root. "I spend too much money," "I have no money," "I'd rather be someplace else,” “I'm always disappointed."

Allowing these feelings to exist, and exploring your feelings in a non-judgmental way may offer clues to improving your holiday experience. For example, if disappointment is a theme, then explore what these disappointments are and how you may be able to counteract them. You might be able to communicate your expectations more clearly. Maybe it would be helpful if you and your partner or family group developed new holiday rituals, or dropped some. Maybe you always over-spend, or there is just not enough money. As a result of money concerns and expectations you begin to feel resentful, or ashamed, or filled with anxiety. There are ways you can begin to take control of these emotions and improve the quality of your holiday.

There are two important strategies for improving the holidays: nurturing yourself and understanding that you have choices. Nurturing yourself begins with not judging your emotions or yourself and allowing yourself to feel what you feel. Other ways to nurture yourself are to pay attention to nutrition, rest, exercise, and support. More complex methods are via setting limits with yourself and with others.

The second important strategy is the concept of choice. Put very simply, this strategy means to stop fighting with yourself and acknowledge that you are making choices. Even if the choice sometimes does not feel like a choice, it is a choice. Rather than say to yourself, "I don't want to go home but I have to," change the message to acknowledge your choice. "I don't want to go home but I'm choosing to go anyway." You really may not want to go home, or spend or not spend x amount of money, but you are also making the choice to do so. The reason for the choice is probably based on a number of valid reasons. Reasons that you may want to address in the future, but for now they are valid. By not fighting with yourself and accepting that you are making these choices, you free yourself to explore and understand the underlying reasons for your choices. As a result of this understanding, you can learn either to become more appreciative of the choices, or to make different choices in the future. Hopefully these hints can help you take charge and more fully enjoy your holiday season. May your holidays be filled with love, warmth, and happiness, and know that you are the most treasured gift of all.

Dr. Oliver is a psychology post-doctoral trainee with Mark Harris and Associates of Columbus.

HEALTH WATCH

Cerebral toxoplasmosis

by Dr. Elliot Neufeld

and Gary Avis

Toxoplasmosis is a chronic widespread disease of humans and animals caused by the protozoal parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This organism is so common that most adults in the general population test positive for the antibodies. The most common source of infection in humans is the ingestion of raw or undercooked beef, lamb, or pork. Because the antibody is present in most people, toxoplasmosis is believed to be the reactivation of a previous infection. It rarely manifests itself in a severe manner unless the immune system is severely compromised (CD4+ under 50/mm3). Severe cases of toxoplasmosis occur in approximately five percent of people infected with HIV.

The protozoans primarily attack the brain causing lesions (or sores) and as a result, most of the manifestations (or symptoms) of the disease are those which affect the brain. Toxoplasmosis is often first identified after a person suffers a seizure or has persistent headaches and fever. Other symptoms which develop in the later stages of toxoplasmosis infection include, but are not limited to visual field deficit, aphasia (speech difficulty), lethargy, and confusion.

One of the unusual things about toxoplasmosis is that it occurs more frequently in some groups and areas than others. People from France, Germany, Haiti, and other countries in the Caribbean show a higher incidence than people from other regions.

While a definitive diagnosis on toxoplasmosis can only be determined by a biopsy or

autopsy, imaging studies of the brain such as computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are usually suggestive enough to allow a diagnosis to be made.

The treatment of choice for toxoplasmosis is a combination of sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine administered orally (note: high doses of vitamin C can increase the side effects of this treatment). Combination therapy with clindamycin and pyrimethamine or monotherapy with azithromycin or the new drug Atovaquone are also being researched. These other options are important because they will give sulfa-allergic people alternative treatments.

For maintenance therapy, sulfadiazine with pyrimethamine is the treatment of choice. Several other drugs and combinations of drugs are being studied for maintenance therapy and prophylaxis.

While there has been much talk about the risk of HIV-positive people catching toxoplasmosis from their pet cats, the risk is quite low if simple precautions are followed.

1. The cat should be kept indoors at all times.

2. It should be fed only commercial cat food.

3. It should not be allowed to eat birds, rodents, or any raw meat.

4. Litter boxes should be changed daily (preferably by a non-HIV infected person). This is necessary because after 24 hours the ocysts in the cat feces become infectious.

5. If an HIV-infected person must change the litter box, they should wear a mask and gloves when doing so. ♡

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Welcome to the Holidays

a concert by the North Coast Men's Chorus

Timothy Robson, Music Director

COME OUT FOR THE HOLIDAYS! ...as the bright and gay sounds of the chorus revisit the splendor of the holiday season

Saturday, December 11th, 8:00 p.m.

Euclid Avenue Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ 9606 Euclid Avenue, corner of E. 96th and Euclid (near the Cleveland Clinic)

Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door Available from any chorus member or through Advantix (241-6000)

ADVANTIX