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2B Daily News – Tuesday, December 17, 2013 FEATURES Anxiety interferes with daily living depression. DEAR DOCThat's because TOR K: I worry a anxiety and lot. Should I be depression often worried that I coexist. He or worry too much? she may order DEAR READtests to check ER: I'm a little whether your worried that symptoms have a you're worrying Dr. K medical cause. about worrying. Often a primaBut only a little. by Anthony L. A n x i e t y Komaroff, M.D. ry care physician will refer you to (worry) can be a healthy response to a psychiatrist or psyuncertainty and danger. chologist for a final But constant worry and diagnosis and treatment. If you have GAD, nervousness may be a sign of a condition therapy can help. Cognicalled generalized anxi- tive behavioral therapy (CBT) is particularly ety disorder (GAD). GAD is characterized helpful. CBT helps peoby debilitating worry ple recognize when they misinterpreting and agitation about are nothing in particular or events, exaggerating difanything at all. In con- ficulties and making trast, other types of anx- overly negative assumpiety disorders, such as tions. This form of therspecific phobias, arise apy can help you learn from particular situa- new ways to respond to tions. For example, anxiety-provoking situasome people become tions. Medications can also suddenly very worried if they see a spider — any be an important part of spider, not just a black treatment. There are several widely prewidow or a tarantula. People with GAD scribed anxiety meditend to worry about cines, too many to name everyday matters. They in a short column, but can't shake the feeling the most common types that something bad will of anxiety medicines are happen and they will not called benzodiazepines. Doctors commonly be prepared. They may worry to excess about prescribe antidepressant missing an appointment, drugs to treat anxiety. losing a job or having an There are even more accident. Like you, anti-depressant medisome people worry cines than anxiety mediabout worrying too cines. They can be particularly effective when much. Physical symptoms a person suffers both anxiety and are common in people from with GAD. They can depression. In my experience, include a racing heart, dry mouth, upset stom- many people suffer ach, muscle tension, from GAD. They worry sweating, trembling and all the time, and it interferes with their irritability. Does this sound like lives — but they don't you? If so, see your doc- seek help. I see them tor. He or she will prob- among my friends, famably ask you to describe ily and colleagues. exactly what you mean When it's appropriate, I when you say that you suggest they seek help. feel anxious. Are you They don't often take worried much of the my advice. That's a time? Do you become shame, because treatfrightened in particular ment really can be situations? Do you have effective. So I hope you physical sensations, will seek help to relieve such as sweating or pal- your anxiety. pitations, along with Dr. Komaroff is a emotional symptoms? The answers to these physician and professor questions will help your at Harvard Medical To send doctor determine School. go to whether you have an questions, or anxiety disorder, and if AskDoctorK.com, write: Ask Doctor K, 10 so, which one. As part of the check- Shattuck St., Second Boston, MA up, the doctor will eval- Floor, uate whether you have 02115. Hubby's porn habit destroying my trust ing? What about watching Dear Annie: My husporn behind your wife's band likes to watch porn. I back? Is this normal behavdon't care to watch it ior in a marriage? — Angel myself, but if my husband in Anaheim asks me to join him in his Dear Angel: A marriage viewing, I will. is not healthy when one Recently, I found out partner doesn't care about that my husband was the feelings of the other. watching porn on his phone old-fashioned at work. When I confronted Annie's Unlike pornography, the Internet him, he claimed it was just provides real women, in real an advertising pop-up. But I knew he was not being by Kathy Mitchell time, performing virtual sex truthful. I checked his and Marcy Sugar acts. This not only creates unrealistic expectations of phone and found that these were actual websites that you have one's actual partner, but it can to log on to in order to view the con- become addictive. Your husband may not be having an affair, but he tents. I don't like him to watch porn at is both sexually and emotionally all, but I'd rather we watch together connected to other women, which than know he's accessing live web- could be considered cheating. Since cam shows and chat rooms. I con- your husband refuses to go for sider this to be cheating. I have told counseling, please go on your own him how it makes me feel and have and sort it out. Dear Annie: My husband, asked him to stop. But he says he's going to continue because he enjoys ''Tom,'' passed away nearly three years ago. He had a lot of friends, it and sees nothing wrong with it. Now he erases the data from his most of whom I haven't seen since phone so I won't see it. After 28 Tom's funeral. Our daughter has since gotten years together, he is now deceiving me, and I am terribly hurt. He does- engaged, and we are now in the n't seem to care how I feel or that he process of creating the guest list. Are is damaging the trust between us. we obligated to invite Tom's closest What did I do wrong for him to treat friends even though they have made me this way? I have asked him to no effort to stay in touch with our see a marriage counselor or a sex family? — Bitter in Vermont Dear Bitter: Unless your daughtherapist with me, but he's not interter would like these people to be ested. I love him, but I don't think I can invited, you are not obligated to live with this kind of life. Do you include those ''friends'' who have think watching and chatting with a made no effort to stay in your life real naked woman online is cheat- (or hers) for the past three years. Mailbox Our condolences. Dear Annie: I read the letter from ''No Early Bird in California'' about DPSD, a circadian rhythm disorder that prevents people from having a regular sleep schedule. It has a name! Thank heavens! No one can understand the frustration and struggle I have had with this all of my life. I have tried so hard to go to sleep at a normal hour and wake up early, but cannot. I miss out on a lot, but I can't help it. I feel fine when I am able to live according to my natural schedule, working night jobs and hanging out with other night people. — Night Owl Dear Night Owl: Many readers were surprised and delighted to discover that their late-night sleep schedule could be identified. Here's another viewpoint: Dear Annie: I am typically up until 2 a.m. and sleep until 10. I get my eight hours each night. I do whatever my day calls for during my waking hours with no problem. Why should this be called a disorder? My order is fine. Who determines what is ''normal''? Different is not synonymous with abnormal. — Massachusetts Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Last-minute holiday gifts Whether "last minute" for you means anytime after Thanksgiving or 11:30 on Christmas Eve, it's nice to have a repertoire of standby gifts that don't require expensive overnight shipping. My standbys are edible gifts -decadent treats that offer my love and best wishes for the season. By their very nature, edible gifts are often best when left to the last minute because you can always argue that fresh is best. These quick-fix favorites require little if any culinary skill. Holiday Hash Combine in a very big bowl: 3 cups Rice Chex 3 cups Corn Chex 3 cups Cheerios 2 cups small pretzels 2 cups salted peanuts 1 bag (12 oz) plain M&Ms 1 bag (12 oz) peanut M&Ms Melt 2 (12 oz) bags white chocolate chips according to the package instructions*. Be careful to not overcook, as these chips burn quickly. Pour the melted white chocolate over the mixture and with a strong long-handled wooden spoon toss well to coat. Spread the hash out on waxed paper and let rest until the chocolate hardens. Store in an airtight container or pile into gift bags. If you get the red and green M&Ms, you'll ounce of chips. Microwave have a very festive-lookon medium power at 30ing result. This second intervals. makes a lot. You Crunch 'n' Munch should be able to 1/3 cup granulated make 10 to 15 white sugar gifts, depending 1 1/4 teaspoon cinnaon the size of your mon containers. 1/4 cup butter or marAlmost Most Anygarine thing Pinch of salt Get big bags of nuts, 4 cups corn Chex, rice candies and other similar Chex or Crispix cereal OR treats. Dump them into a Mary 3 cups bran or wheat Chex. large bowl and mix well. Mix sugar and cinnaRepackage into smaller mon and set aside. Melt holiday containers, butter or margarine in large mugs, bags of your skillet. Add cereal and mix choice. Embellish and well. Heat over medium you're done. heat stirring until coated (5 Chocolate-Covered to 6 minutes). Sprinkle 1/2 Pretzels Melt your choice of wafers, of the sugar mixture over the cereal chocolate bars or chips (*see note) and continue stirring until well according to package instructions. coated. Sprinkle with remaining Dip pretzels of any size or shape. sugar mixture and heat several more Place on wax paper to harden. minutes. Spread on a layer of wax paper or foil to cool. Yield: 3 to 4 You're done. *Chocolate melting notes: Melt- cups. This recipe multiplies well if ing wafers are chocolate formulated you have a large skillet. for making candy. They are inexMary Hunt is the founder of pensive, easy to use and available at a grocery stores, cake and candy sup- www.DebtProofLiving.com, ply stores, and craft stores. Choco- personal finance member website. can email her at late bars and Baker's chocolate melt You well. Chocolate chips, however, are mary@everydaycheapskate.com, formulated to resist melting. You or write to Everyday Cheapskate, can melt them, but it's tricky. Stir in P.O. Box 2099, Cypress, CA 1 teaspoon vegetable oil per 1 90630. Hunt Everyday Cheapskate Holiday waste-reduction tips SACRAMENTO – It's the most wonderful time of the year, but the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day are notorious for high volumes of waste. More than 1 million tons of additional waste is generated each week nationwide during this period. "There are many festive ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle during the holiday season without cutting back on the good cheer," CalRecycle Director Caroll Mortensen said. "CalRecycle proposes some new traditions to reduce holiday waste that will help protect the planet and save money, while teaching our kids about environmental stewardship." If you dream of a green Christmas, celebrate using the following tips: Precycle and freecycle before you hit the mall. Take an inventory of things you no longer use, and donate those old toys and clothing to a thrift store. Even if the clothes can no longer be worn, thrift stores will generally sell them to textile recyclers. Only got $20 in your pocket? A thrift shop is also a great place to find fantastic and unique Christmas gifts on the cheap. Frugal shopper Max Wong provides some great gift ideas. Remember to bring reusable bags on your shopping trips. Consider gift bags or baskets, which can be used year after year, or a reusable bag instead of wrapping paper. Feeling crafty? Earth911 has 11 clever, creative, and cheap ideas to make your gifts shine. Rechargeable batteries are truly a gift that keeps on giving to run those holiday toys and gadgets. They greatly reduce the amount of hazardous waste that harms the environment when thrown away, which is not only naughty, but illegal. Visit CalRecycle for more information, including how to safely dispose of batteries. If Santa deemed you nice and RUNNINGS ROOFING Sheet Metal Roofing Residential Commercial • Composition • Shingle • Single Ply Membrane "No Job Too Steep" " No Job Too Flat" Serving Tehama County No Money 530-527-5789 530-209-5367 CA. LIC#829089 Down! FREE ESTIMATES Owner is on site on every job The you scored a new flat-screen, tablet, smart phone, or other electronic gadget, make sure to responsibly ecycle your old technology. Many nonprofits will accept working cell phones and computers. If they don't work, be sure to dispose of them safely, and remember it is illegal to throw them in the trash due to the toxic materials they contain. Check out eRecycle.org for reuse and recycling drop-off locations for cell phones, e-waste, and batteries. Rather than mailing paper holiday cards, consider sending ecards or an e-newsletter. CalRecycle really likes the social options that Mashable offers in its "four ways to replace Christmas cards with social media." Food for thought: Thirteen percent of landfill waste is food and an estimated 36 million tons of food waste went to U.S. landfills in 2011. Err on the side of Scrooge when crafting your menus – it's good for the waist, and preventing waste. Also, remember that food Over 25 years of experience STOVE JUNCTION The North State's premier supplier of stoves All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened Members Welcome 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES Smog Check $ starting at 95 $ 25 + 8 certificate 25 (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. Now Carrying! Green Mountain Grills & Accessories Serving Butte, Glenn & Tehama Counties Tues-Sat 9am-5pm • Closed Sun & Mon 22825 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff 530-528-2221 • Fax 530-528-2229 www.thestovejunction.com scraps can go into green waste bins and will be composted or transformed into energy sources instead of ending up in landfills, creating methane and carbon dioxide gases. Remember to treecycle. Christmas trees are commonly turned into mulch, or chipped and used for playground material, hiking trails, paths, and walkways. They can also be used for beachfront erosion prevention, lake and river shoreline stabilization, and fish and wildlife habitat. Ask your local Christmas tree grower about programs near you, check out CalRecycle's page, or visit Earth 911 for additional information on Christmas tree recycling programs. Make your New Year's resolution to practice the "three Rs" every day: Reduce, reuse, and recycle. For more ideas, please see CalRecycle's Holiday Waste Reduction Page. If you have ideas that are not listed, please share with us on our Facebook page. Need a Physician? Doctors who listen ... Doctors who care. A FREE SERVICE PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE Call toll free 888.628.1948 www.redbluff.mercy.org Gleaners Gleaners will distribute food as follows in November: • Corning, 8 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Dec. 18, Corning Senior Center, 1015 Fourth Ave. • Red Bluff, 8 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Dec. 18, Food Bank, 20699 Walnut St. • Rancho Tehama, noon to 2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 16, Recreation Center. • Los Molinos, 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, Dec. 17, Masonic Hall, 25020 Tehama Vina Road. All other sites in the county will be at the usual times and places. Applications for food bank cards may be on the day of giveaway. Bring large paper or plastic bags if possible. New applicants please bring Rent Receipt, PG&E bill or something with a physical address. All income must be reported. Income is gross monthly per household not net. Only one card will be issued per household.