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Friday, July 1, 2011 – Daily News 5A FEATURES Reading readers’ responses Dear Readers: We recently printed a letter from ‘‘Prob- lem Still Here,’’ who asked our readers if counsel- ing was worth it. We were inundated with replies from readers sharing their stories, and the vast majority found counseling tremen- dously helpful. We cannot possibly print all the letters we received, but the response was so overwhelming that we have decided to devote two days to the subject. Read on: Dear Annie: I started counseling a Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar few weeks after my father died. It was recommended by my faculty’s office. I went in for grief counseling, but walked out with papers telling me how to properly take multiple-choice tests. A year later, I had a major breakdown and sought counseling at my new school. After our first meeting, I knew we’d have a productive relationship, and I kept seeing this counselor even after I graduated. Talking to a coun- selor is a lot like talking confidentially with a really intelligent, impartial friend. Your secrets are safe, your fears are heard, and eventually — with your help and dedication — solutions can be discovered. — No Name Dear Annie: I am a 22-year-old woman who has been in counseling since I was 7. I dealt with divorced parents, abuse and being socially rejected, and counseling helped me MIAMI (MCT) — "Larry Crowne" stars two of the biggest names in Hollywood, and the movie offers a refreshingly adult and thoughtful antidote to such summer blockbusters as "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," which is no doubt breaking box-office records as you read this. And yet Tom Hanks, who co-wrote, directed and stars, has guest-hosted a segment on CNN Sports, done the weather forecast on Spanish-language TV and met with press at vari- ous cities around the world, including Miami, where he held court at the Loews Hotel on South Beach, in the hopes that you'll notice his movie. "Larry Crowne" is in plain old 2-D, has nary a special effect and happens to be about a subject — a middle-aged man loses his job and restarts his life by enrolling in community college — that is insanely timely. But the adult audi- ence that would most appreciate the film has to be lured into theaters these days, so even a huge star like Hanks has to get out there and sell. He spoke to The Miami Herald about the inspira- tion for the film. Q. "Larry Crowne" is the first movie you've directed since "That Thing You Do!," which was a whopping 15 years ago. Why did you wait so long? A. It's a big job, and it takes you out of the mar- ketplace in a big way, and if you're a busy actor, it's hard to concentrate. But the things that I've directed are really very personal and small stories that overcome these things. I found my current counselor through a Google search. What is so important is to know that you don’t need to stick with the first counselor you find. I sched- uled several consultations in one day so I could compare them until I found someone I liked. — N.N. Dear Annie: I was at a crossroads and needed help. I went to the Human Resources person at work and request- ed help from their Employee Assis- tance Program. I was referred to a counselor who helped me wade through all the muck so I was able to make clear, well thought-out deci- sions. And my employer paid for these sessions. — M. Dear Annie: I was no longer happy in my marriage of 34 years and told my wife I wanted out. She sug- gested marriage counseling. We went to several sessions together and sepa- rately. Halfway through my first pri- vate session, the counselor asked, ‘‘What would you miss most if you no longer had your wife?’’ I instantly said, ‘‘Her cooking.’’ He considered that and said, ‘‘I think you should get a divorce.’’ That was 12 years ago, and I only regret not doing it sooner. — Happy Guy Dear Annie: I had been diagnosed with a progressive medical condition that triggered an anxiety disorder. My primary-care doctor recommended counseling. The first one blamed everything on my family. Four years later, I saw a psychologist who started sharing some sordid details of her past. I tried to be supportive and kind, but I wasn’t paying to hear her life story. affected me like an illness or a fever. "That Thing You Do!" was in my head for a very long time, and then I wrote it over the better part of three years, and then it came to a point where I loved it so much I couldn't get it out of my head, so the only way to deal with it was to go ahead and direct the film. The same thing happened with "Larry Crowne." These movies get under your skin, and you develop too much affection for them. You don't want to give them to another director. I finished the first draft of "Larry Crowne" in 2009, so that's two years ago I started working on this. I did do another acting job earlier this year with (director) Stephen Daldry on "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." But that's still a long time to be out of the marketplace. Q. What was the origi- nal nugget of the idea for "Larry Crowne"? How did the story occur to you? A. The original idea was this image: A guy walking through a store like Target or Walmart — we call ours U-Mart — king of absolutely all he surveys, feeling wonderful about things, enjoying his work and the energy and the community. And then he hears over the P.A. sys- tem: "Larry Crowne to the common break area." And then for no reason whatso- ever he can discern, he loses his job. That was the original thing: A guy, by She also answered her cellphone all the time during our sessions. She needed a therapist more than I did. I am sure many counselors out there are great, but I haven’t found one. — Tired of the Games Dear Annie: Things to look for in a counselor: 1. Choose one who shares your core beliefs. A marriage coun- selor who stresses the personal rights of each spouse rather than the mar- riage as a whole is off track. If an addiction is involved, that must be treated first. 2. Your counselor should not take sides. 3. Expect change. It’s hard. It hurts. But you wouldn’t be sit- ting in that office if your present sys- tem were working. — Mom of Rebel- lious Teen and Wife of Retired Hus- band Dear Annie: Through therapy, I gained confidence, learned to take responsibility for my own actions and became empowered not to engage in anything verbally, physically or men- tally with which I feel uncomfortable. I learned that we cannot change any- one by being critical. Today, I am a very happy person because I know I am in control of my own life. — Most Fortunate To all our Canadian readers: Happy Canada Day! 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. On Tom Hanks, the 'Crowne' rests easy way of corporate indiffer- ence, is fired. And then he goes to college, and Julia Roberts is his teacher. Q. It's interesting that idea would occur to you and become so personal, because you are a big star in an industry in which people make millions of dollars. Larry's life and his dilemma is far removed from your own life. A.Well, let me tell you: Going back even further, there were two things per- colating. Long ago — maybe 15 years ago — I read this story about one of the major discount stores that was caught doing this very diabolical thing of fir- ing people before they reached their calendar date of retirement when they could get their pension package. They were find- ing disciplinary reasons to fire people who were in their late 40s and 50s, so they wouldn't have to pay their retirement. They were caught by their own employees; there were lawsuits, and the govern- ment fined them. This was back in the 1980s, when the economy was very dif- ferent. They were just doing the corporate thing of saving money and screwing people over to do it. That stuck in my head. And then I had my own memory of what junior college was like for me. I didn't have the money, the grades or the wherewithal to do anything when I got out of high school except go to community college. Fruit & Herb Drying Class Saturday, July 2 @ 10am COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES Smog Check starting at $ (most cars and pick-ups) 2595 + cert. Pass or FREE retest 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. Nicole Richardson Salon Bella Dona Full Service Salon June Special 30% OFF Located next to any service. Bud’s Jolly Cone Call for appt. 527-4843 (exp. June 30, 2011) * Seed Saving Class Saturday, July 9 @ 10am Please call to reserve a seat Thank you Garden Center Red Bluff 766 Antelope Blvd. (Next to the Fairground) 527-0886 While everybody else went off to their four-year uni- versities, I went off to a place that I could drive to and that cost only $15 to register for. I went to col- lege with people who were twice as old as I was, guys who were back from Viet- nam, women whose kids had grown up and moved out of the house, guys who were retired or divorced. So I personally knew what that experience is like. Q. Did the recession help you put the two things together in your head? A. I had that going on in the back of my head. As the social historians that actors can be, you try to tell stories that somehow hold up a mirror to what's really going on. This movie is really a diversion about reinvention _ the reinvention that Larry has to go through, because he's lost his job. Real events ended up catching up with our story, so by the time we started making it, the entire Western economy was devalued by at least a third, and Larry, like many other people, was now living in a home that wasn't worth as much as he owed on it. Reality brought a different and deeper theme to what we wanted to examine, which is what do you do when you start over. Hashimoto’s disease puzzles this reader DEAR DR. GOTT: I have just been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease. I’ve been treated for hypothyroidism for three years and also have a calcification in my thyroid gland. What is Hashimoto’s, and how is it treated? Please advise. Dr. Peter Gott DEAR READER: Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system incorrectly attacks the thyroid gland at the base of the neck. It is the most common cause of hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hor- mone) known in the United States and affects middle-aged women more than men and chil- dren. Age, heredity and sex may play a role in determining why some people acquire the disor- der and others do not. Symptoms of the dis- order vary from person to person, but can include dry skin, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, constipation, changes in menstrual cycle, weight gain, an increased sensi- tivity to cold, and depression. A diagnosis can be made through blood work and/or anti- body testing. Treatment is often successfully accom- plished with synthetic thyroid hormone- replacement therapy. Your physician will like- ly order repeat blood testing to determine if the level of medication you are taking is appro- priate, since excessive drug amounts can cause accelerated bone loss, leading to osteoporosis. When left untreated, an underactive thyroid gland caused by Hashimoto’s can lead to an increased risk for heart disease, goiter and exacerbation of depres- sion. Several over-the- counter remedies — including aluminum hydroxide in antacids, calcium and multivita- mins with iron — may affect your ability to absorb some prescribed thyroid medications, so be sure to advise your primary care physician of any supplements you might be taking. The calcification in your thyroid is a forma- tion of a solid or semi- solid lump within the thyroid gland. The con- dition is benign in most cases but should be fol- lowed closely, since it can occur in malignant forms of thy- roid disease. Readers who would like related information can order my Health Report “Thy- roid Disor- ders” by sending a self- addressed, stamped, No. 10 envelope and a $2 U.S. check or money order payable to Dr. Peter Gott at P.O. Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039-0433. Be sure to mention the title when writing, or print out an order form from my website’s direct link: www.AskDrGottMD.co m/order_form.pdf. DEAR DR. GOTT: I was just scanning my local newspaper when I saw your reply to the septuagenarian with vaginal prolapse. She should be advised to consider a LeFort colpocleisis, i.e, obliter- ation of the vaginal tube. As a surgeon, I have done these often in women with medical problems that may make general anesthesia risky. It can be done under local anesthesia with some sedation and has a very easy recovery. It’s an underutilized “old school” solution today. DEAR DOCTOR: LeFort colpocleisis is commonly used for women who do not wish to be sexually active in the future and for those who want the least inva- sive surgical procedure known to combat the symptoms of uterine prolapse. It is also rec- ommended for elderly women when general anesthesia is contraindi- cated. As you point out, it can be performed quickly under regional anesthesia, with minimal post-operative complica- tions. Thank you for bring- ing this to my attention. It was something I failed to mention in my origi- nal answer. Keep up the good scrutiny; it keeps me on my toes. Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including “Live Longer, Live Better,” “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook,” which are available at most bookstores or online. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com “Dr.