Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/19587
Saturday, November 13, 2010 – Daily News – 5A Do I divorce delinquent debtor? Long-term effects unknown Dear Annie: My husband is overextended on his credit cards and sometimes skips several months of pay- ments or juggles between one card and another. Creditors and collection agen- cies call our house all the time, and I’m losing sleep over it. These accounts are in his name only. Our only joint possession is the house, which is paid off because I took over the mortgage payments years ago. Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar in your state. Dear Annie: As people enjoy their neighbor- hoods before winter begins, I would like to pass on a few reminders to be good neighbors: 1. As you walk or exercise, please respect other people’s property. Don’t cut across their yards or gardens, don’t litter, and if your pet makes a mess, please keep a plastic bag handy to clean up after him. 2. Property owners: When I tell my hus- band that creditors are calling, he laughs and tells me not to answer the phone. How much financial risk am I assuming by continuing to be married to him even though these debts aren’t mine? I’d sign over the house to him and walk away in a minute, but I’m not sure it would alleviate my responsibility regarding his debts. — No Name, Please Dear No Name: Some states have statutes that hold a spouse responsible for debts incurred for the benefit of the family. In other words, if your hus- band’s credit cards are overdrawn because he purchased groceries, medicine, etc., you could be sued to collect the debt. Even if you signed over the house and divorced him, you would still be liable for those debts incurred during your marriage. Talk to an attorney, and find out what the law is Please keep your shrubs and trees trimmed away from the sidewalks. It is not safe to force a pedestrian to walk in the street because your veg- etation is overgrown. This includes tree branches that force peo- ple to duck down to pass by. 3. When driving through a residential neighborhood, please slow down. The few extra seconds you save by speeding are certain- ly not worth the lives you are risking. 4. As the days short- en, walkers, runners and cyclists need to be sure they are visible at dusk. Reflective mesh vests and small lightweight lights are available online and at most sporting goods stores. You might be alert, but the driver of the 4,000- pound car might be tired, distracted or even under the influence. You need to make sure they see you. — Good Neigh- bor in Bakersfield, Calif. Dear Neighbor: Thank you for the excel- lent suggestions. We hope everyone can be as conscientious as you. FEATURES DEAR DR. GOTT: My 23- Dear Annie: I’d like to voice my opinion to ‘‘Confused,’’ whose fiance objects to her using a hyphenated name when they marry. While I agree that he’s being immature and controlling to object so strongly that he’d call off the marriage, I’d just like to tell her that, over time, a hyphenated name becomes a pain in the butt. ‘‘Suzy Smith-Jones’’ is a mouthful, even when the names are one syllable. It takes longer to sign your name. Peo- ple get confused about how to address you. If you are listed on any- thing, often the order of the names gets reversed and results in difficulty locating your name. As many ways as your name can be interpreted is the number of differ- ent credit ratings you’ll have under each one, and is the number of credit cards offers you’ll receive in the mail from the same company. I was attached to my maiden name, as well, but after 10 years of marriage, I just think of myself as ‘‘Mrs. Smith.’’ — Don’t Do It Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast. net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Premier Edition YOU and your Family can be represented in the Of the “Tehama Country” Christmas Album Deadline for Public Submissions: Wednesday, December 1 To be published as a magazine supplement to the Daily News on Saturday, December 11 • Share an original story of “Christmas Past” • Write a Christmas Poem • Send a family Christmas Recipe • Submit original Christmas photos or artwork $100 Award first place per category (story, poem, recipe, photo or artwork) $50 runner up per category * Before submitting, read full submission and contest instructions published in Announcements in the Daily News Classifieds Be part of a new “Tehama Country” Christmas Tradition! D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY Send via email: clerk@redbluffdailynews.com Or mail or deliver to the Daily News 454 Diamond Ave., PO Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Remember – Deadline for our receipt of submissions is Wednesday, December 1 year-old son was diagnosed with bipolar illness about a year ago. He is taking Depakote and Abilify and seems to be doing rather well. Are there long-term side effects from these medications, and what caus- es this mental illness, anyway? DEAR READER: Side effects of Abilify include a possibility of tardive dyskinesia (TD), involun- tary, repetitive movements of the limbs, trunk and facial muscles. Abilify has been around for fewer than 10 years, so long-term effects are essentially unknown. But the product has so far been shown to have a much lower risk of TD when compared with older antipsychotic drugs. Your son may also experience weight gain, which can likely be controlled through diet and exercise. Dr. Peter Gott also occur at the same time, and are known as mixed episodes. Symptoms for the bipolar patient might range from agitation, ADHD, irritability, risky behavior, rapid speech, poor judgment and performance at work or school, to periods of euphoria, an increase in physical activity, increased urges to perform specific tasks and an increase in sex drive. The depres- sive phase may include sadness, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, insom- nia, fatigue, loss of interest in one’s sur- roundings, an inability to concentrate and feelings of guilt. In order for a person to be diagnosed as Bipolar disorder generally requires life- long treatment, even during times when a patient is seemingly symptom-free. A per- son will likely be under the guidance of a psychiatrist and perhaps a therapist or psy- chiatric nurse. Medication helps by balanc- ing emotional ups and downs and may include antipsychotics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants and a number of others. Finding the right medication or combina- tion thereof may take some time; however, it will be worth the wait. Alternative thera- pies that can be used in conjunction with prescription medications include massage therapy, acupuncture, certain herbs, yoga and tai chi. The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but it appears to occur more often in relatives of people who also have the disorder, suggesting a possible genetic component. The condition, once known as manic depression, causes mood swings that can occur several times a day or once or twice a year. There are three subtypes known as type I, type II and cyclothymia. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person and is based upon which type of disorder he or she has. Cyclothymia is the mildest type that can include disruptive depression and hypomania, a condition of overexcite- ment. Subtype II may be associated with irritability and periods of depression. Bipo- lar I is associated with manic episodes that can be both dangerous and severe. A per- son may have difficulties at work, school or interacting with other people. Depres- sion, manic symptoms and hypomania can bipolar, he or she must meet the criteria established by the Diagnostic and Statisti- cal Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as published by the American Psychiatric Association. In simple terms and depend- ing on the subtype, a cyclothymic disorder must last two years or more with several hypomanic episodes and periods of depres- sion but without a full manic, major or mixed depressive event. Bipolar II is based on at least one major depressive and at least one hypomanic episode. Bipolar I is based on having at least one manic or one mixed episode. Manic episodes are defined as abnor- mally and persistently expansive, elevated or irritable moods that last a week unless hospitalization is necessary. Then there are symptoms a psychiatrist will look for to further substantiate the diagnosis. Hypo- manic episodes are defined as moods of worsened irritation that last at least four days and are distinctively different from the usual nondepressed mood. Again, spe- cific subrequirements must be met. With major depressive episodes, a person must undergo five or more specific symptoms over a 14-day period with specific features being met. Mixed-episode diagnosis is based on manic and depressive events nearly every day for at least seven days. Because your son’s care should be under the direction of a psychiatrist, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Medical Specialists.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self- addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order made payable to Newsletter and mailed to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDr- GottMD.com. A local event – part of a national campaign to promote physical activity for American Indians and Alaska Natives A series of non-competitive walks and runs open to families, individuals of all ages and people of all cultures. Friday, November 19 BODY Projex – 1450 Schwab St., RB • The first 200 registrants who participate receive a bracelet that can be stamped after the event • Get a free pass to try a Fitness class at Body Projex – Just for showing up! • Come meet the BeastUP Fight Team The goal is simple: Just get people moving – for health, emotional well-being … and FUN! For more information contact Avery Vilche at 200-2224 or Renee Timmons at 567-5528 Co-Sponsored by: D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY 11:30 AM-12:30 PM Registration and Start