Managing Anger
By
Dr. Rachell N. Anderson

    Have you ever noticed how some people get ticked off easily and lose their tempers in no time flat?  Anger is blamed for so many violent and painful interactions such as road rage, child and domestic abuse, fratricide, fist fits and all manner of yelling and screaming that hurt relationships in unamenable ways.
    And anger is not even a primary emotion like happiness or elation. It’s a secondary emotion, meaning it’s a reaction to others emotions that we resort to in order to protect ourselves or cover up other vulnerable feelings. We almost always feel something else first such as fear, frustration, guilt or shame before we get angry. And it only takes a split second. Many things can trigger anger, like someone cutting you off in traffic, someone criticizing you, someone being waited on in a restaurant when you got there first, children not following the rules or outright defying them. The list goes on. We all have one.
    Down to brass tacks. Try as you may to blame others for making you angry, you have to admit you are responsible for your behavior and you’ll suffer the consequences for acting inappropriately.
     The most important thing to figure out is what makes you angry. Is it the same kind of thing every time or do different things make you lose it? After years of practicing Psychotherapy, I’ve learned that some people use their anger to control others. They feel big and powerful when people are tiptoeing around them. That’s an interesting kind of manipulation, don’t you think?
    But if you want your life to be better, you have to manage your anger. Whether you act it out or suppress it, anger is bad for your health. A quick Google search will show how anger causes  the adrenal glands to flood the body with stress hormones including adrenaline and cortisol. Heart rate, blood pressure and respiration increase, the body temperature rises and the skin perspires. The brain shunts blood away from the gut and towards the muscles, in preparation for flight. Chronic anger can increase your heart-attack and stroke risk. It can also weaken your immune system. People have been known to die in an anger episode.  
   Suppression is not the answer. People who bottle up their feelings often end up exploding or become depressed later. People who vent and yell just tend to keep the anger cycle in motion.
    When you believe the other person is making you angry, Like, (He is always mean to me or She is always so stupid.) you have to admit you have put him or her in charge of your emotions. Is that what your want, a mean or stupid person in charge of you?
    There are so many things that happens between that first spark of anger and a major flare-up. And only you will determine who’s in control. If sparks do start to fly, you have the power to put out the fire. The next time you have an issue on your hands, don't explode or let someone walk all over you. Use these simple steps from Psychology, a few simple steps using Cognitive Behavioral therapy can help you to lose the grip.
What’s A Person To Do?
1. Figure out what makes you angry. Write them down. Avoid them if you can.
2. Think before you speak
    In the heat of the moment, it's easy to say something you'll later regret. Take a few moments to collect your thoughts before saying anything — and allow others involved in the situation to do the same.
3. Once you're calm and can think clearly, express your and frustration feelings using with 'I' statements rather than ‘You’ statements in a nonconfrontational way without blaming the other person. Request a solution that will work for you. For example, I worry when you’re not able to get to work on time. Will you let me know when you’ll be late?
4. When your temper flares, take a few deep breaths. Give yourself time to pause. Chill out. Take a few deep breaths and think of something more pleasant.
5. Put yourself in time out. Timeouts aren't just for kids. A few moments of quiet time might help you feel handle what's ahead without getting irritated or angry.
6. Lighten up can help diffuse tension. Find the humor in the situation to help you face what's making you angry. Maybe you have unrealistic expectations about how things should go.
Avoid sarcasm, though — it can hurt feelings and make things worse.
7. Remind yourself that anger won't fix anything and probably will make it worse.
8. Seek help when you need it. Learning to control anger is a challenge for everyone at times. Seek help for anger issues if your anger seems out of control, causes you to do things you regret or hurts those around you.


Dr. Rachell Anderson is a native of Tunica, a licensed Clinical Psychologist, a Professor Emeritus and author. She taught at the University of Illinois and ran a Private Clinical Practice in Springfield, Illinois for many years. She now lives and writes in Tunica, Mississippi. Check out her website at WWW.drrachellanderson.com for more articles and books she has written.    


   

Loving Guidance Makes Better Behaving Children
By
Dr. Rachell N. Anderson
    As we prepare for the end to the school year when children more under foot, I began thinking about the many parenting issues that arise during this time. Indeed, the nearly 4 million incidences of child abuse occurred in the United States in 1915. My suspicion is these incidences of abuse occurred not because these children are unloved but, most likely, because parents act out their frustration in the process of disciplining. Parenting is not for wimps. Truly, parenting is really hard. And while we are forced to take a test before getting a drivers license, there is no such requirement for the raising our most precious cargo, our children.
    Many parents believe that strict parenting produces better behaving kids. However, research studies on discipline is consistent and shows that strict, or authoritarian, parenting actually makes unhappy kids who feel bad about themselves and makes them behave worse. This leads parents to believe more punishment is needed to make children comply.
    Permissive parenting doesn’t fare any better. When parents don’t set limits and cater to children’s every need, their children, don’t develop the ability to manage their emotions and behavior and are often seen as spoiled and lazy.
    All children need limits to feel safe. Discipline is an important and effective tool, but parents need to use it in a way that keeps the child’s dignity intact. Discipline is not the same as harsh punishment. Discipline is simply teaching children which behaviors are acceptable and which ones are not.
    Disciplining with love is a kind of Positive Parenting that allows parents to set limits effectively without yelling, name-calling and hitting. Parents do better when they teach instead of punish. This raises the question of how kids learn how to behave. Research shows that children learn best when they are given instructions, feel valued, and not put on the defensive.
what’s a Parent To Do or Not Do?
    Here are my ground rules for effective parenting.     
1. Never hit, spank, shake, or slap your child. Psychologists know that these behaviors teach that violence is a way to solve problems. Children also learn to lie and become sneaky, doing what they want under cover. Further, some children learn to fear and lose trust in parents and others in authorities. Even if it stops an unwanted behavior temporarily, studies show that children who are hurt by parents are more likely to hit and fight with other children, steal things, and engage in other anti-social behaviors. They are also more likely to act out in violent, aggressive ways when they become adults.
2. Avoid yelling, blaming, or calling children names for their bad behaviors. Instead, speak firmly, but kindly in a conversational tone. Be calm and describe the behavior you want to see.
3. Tell the child what to do instead of what not to do. You can’t do a don’t. Be descriptive. For example “Jump on the floor, not on the couch. The couch is for sitting.” Acknowledge when the child complies. Say, “That’s it. Or good job.”
4. Find alternatives to physical punishment. Consequences that are logically related to the transgression teach control and work better.
5. Also catch the child doing good and praise a job well done. Good teachers use this effectively.
6. Acknowledge your child’s feelings. You can say, “I see you are feeling upset. What’s going on?
7. Parenting is hard and we all get frustrated with our children’s behavior at times. Some of us get so angry we want to explode. When that happens, give yourself a time out. Go to the bathroom, take a few deep breaths and cool down.
8. Model the behavior you want to see. Children will likely follow your lead. If children repeatedly see parents acting out, they won’t know how to act differently.
9. Use loving words. Tell your children how much you love them, how much they mean to you, and how much you believe in them.
    Remember, our children are our future and are precious gifts that we’ve been given to love and respect. With love and kindness, discipline can be a positive experience.

© Dr. Rachell N. Anderson, April 3, 2017

Gifts For Mothers
By
Dr. Rachell N. Anderson
    As a Psychologist, I have experienced how the relationships between many mothers and their children resemble a long and winding road with plenty of twists and turns, dead ends and warm sunny days. Yet, I’ve found few mothers who would say it’s a road she wouldn’t take again. For the child, it may be different. For children, the relationship with their mothers are the foundation on which to build the sense of self. Attachment to our mothers help us learn who we are and who we will be in relationship to others. The process continues even after we become people with our own independent thoughts and feelings.
    Still there is no perfect mother. Most people have shortcomings and demands. Mothers are no exception. As we grow into maturity, her shortcomings or tendency to over-protect or control may make us feel unloved or infantile. I imagine every person can remember times when they were embarrassed by their mothers, especially as we entered our teen years. Still, whether the relationship was fraught with joy or woe, every person has (if he or she looks with care) things for which to thank their mother.     
    After giving your mother a hug, (if she’s still alive) telling her Happy Mother's Day, and presenting her with flowers, candy, or some other trinket: tell her or write down the things that would ignite your heartfelt gratitude. Take a moment to step back. What do you see? Craziness? Fogginess? Demands? Whatever? Don’t worry. You may discover that whatever you remember was somehow useful for your development in adult life.
    Instead of struggling through the hustle and bustle of brunches, purple flowers and such, consider other loving things you can do for her to thank your mother for what she’s done for you.  
    Here are some ideas from others I got while doing a workshop.
What’s A Person To Do To Thank Mother?
1. I’d give the gift of touch.
    A. I’d give her a hand massage and a manicure. I’d treat those hands that have done so much for me with relaxing love and care.
    B. I’d give her a back rub. I’d let my fingers do the talking and give Mom a chance to relax and feel my love.
    C. I’d give her a foot massage. I think feet are a lot like moms. They work hard and seldom get the attention they deserve. Now is the time to change that.
    D. I’d give her a facial that is relaxing and would leave face glowing with the beauty that I know is in her heart.
2. I’d give her more of my time the way she gave her time to us.
3. Give her the gift of clarity.
    A. I’d tell my mother something that I learned from her. It’s just a reminder of how special she is to me and what impact she had on my world.
    B. I’d tell her what she did that made me happy.    
    C. I’d fill a notebook with my favorite memories. I’d dig out all the gems of our times together and the little things we shared. I’d include pictures, bits of fabric and poems that fit the occasions.
4. I’d give her the gift of peace. I’d make a no fighting pledge. That means I’d agree to stop bickering and fighting with my sibling and others in her life. Mom will be delighted. It’ll be hard but I think I can do it.
5. I’d give her the gift of thanks.
    A. For the example she set for love of family, her strength in the face of adversity and the sacrifices she made for her family.
    B. For listening to me. For being herself. I look like her and I act like her. I finally understand my self by understanding her. That has finally given me a sense of peace.
    C. I’d thank her for being an excellent grandmother.
D. I’d thank her for teaching me to be kind to animals and people and to look for the good in everyone.
    E. I’d thank her for believing in me. Through love, patience and determination, she nurtured the shy little person of my youth to become a strong confident leader.
    F. I’d thank her for not giving me more siblings. Nine was quite enough.
     G. I’d thank her for her sense of adventure. She opened the     world to me and saved me from a life of boredom as the wife     of a rural dirt farmer.     
    H. I’d thank her for teaching me to manage life in an unpredictable world and find happiness in the process. That’s a lesson we all can use.
    Well, that’s quite a list and I imagine you’ll add to it. Some people tell me that by doing this, they finally understand the struggles their mothers went through. And that now that they have children, they understand and appreciate their mothers more than ever.
    Then, here’s a gift you may not have considered. Is there anything your mother did that you vowed never to do to your children? When you are able not to do it, your children will be
straighter road to happiness.
(C) Dr. Rachell N. Anderson, April 30, 2018

Love and Music Are Transcendent
By
Dr. Rachell N. Anderson
    It has been said that music is the food of love and many couples have a special song called “our song” that is the theme of their relationship. The song can serve as a kind of mental glue that binds them together. Maybe it was the song that was played when they had their first dance, first kiss or the moment they knew they were in love. The song can serve as an antidote in difficult times and it rarely loses its magic with age or cognitive decline.
    Why is that? You ask. Both music and love go to our heads. They trigger specific chemicals in the brain that make us think  better and feel good. And as a result, we behave better. Dopamine, adrenaline and norepinephrine increase when people fall in love and, also, when we hear or sing our kind of music, blood flows to the pleasure center of the brain and we feel an overwhelming fixation with our partner or our music and we get loving feelings. Dopamine creates feelings of euphoria while adrenaline and norepinephrine are responsible for the pitter-patter of the heart, restlessness and overall preoccupation that go along with experiencing new love.
    We’ve all experienced a song that sticks in our heads and stays most of the day. Known as ear worms, we may find ourselves singing along and it is impossible to get the tune out of our head. Psychologists know that we humans spend a large percent of our days engaging in random, spontaneous thinking that are not related to our present task. They have learned that most of it is soul searching, wondering how we are doing and how we are in relation to others and our environment. So love and music invite us to evaluate ourselves and to use what we find to be more than we have been; to become better people and to give new meaning to our lives. So by listening to and singing music, we find solace and join ourselves to the wellspring of life.
    Music is so heavily connected with themes of love. Musicians sing about love, songs are used to express love in all forms. Romantic, or love of friends and family, love for God and country are all there. Music is a big part of many people's daily life, and with very good reason.
    It is inevitable that romantic love changes over time. The euphoric flame changes from passionate love to a slower burning flame to what is typically called compassionate love. Couples in long term relationships have to give credence to the new flame. That does not, however, mean that the spark of romance is quenched. Music can trigger loving memories like no stimulant can. It connects couples to their past and provides a means for connecting to a shared past and a planned future.
    Our songs are not just for lovers. Friends, families and groups of people, indeed a nation who share songs, delight in them. Consider the songs God Bless America and America The Beautiful.
    Music reconnects people to others and makes it possible to form relationships and the emotions that go along with them.   Music can provide a crucially important link to the past but can also help us to build a better, interconnected future.
    You don’t have to be good at it to do it. Like the slogan says, just do it. With help from Phillip’s latest book The Music Instinct, here are a few suggestions.
What’s A Person To Do?
1. Sing your heart out. Singing is cheaper than therapy. It can lift your spirit and solve today’s pressing problems.
2. Listen to your music. It makes you more creative, boosts your memory, is good for your health and well being and can help prolong life.
3. Join a singing or music playing group or get a few people together and form one. Good friendships come from shared fun activities.
4. Wait to be surprised by your personal changes.
Love and music can humanize us all.

Giving and Receiving
By
Dr. Rachell N. Anderson
    As important days draw nigh, many of us feel entitled to get cards, gifts and yes, checks from friends and family. It makes us feel loved and even when we have limited funds, we endeavor to reciprocate. We have learned from a culture that promotes such ideas. We have learned that giving gifts is the best way to show how much we love; and that the bigger and better the gift, the more love there is. We believe for real, true love, the gift has to be both expensive and the very thing one really wants
s. That suggests the person has to, for quite a while, pay careful attention, listen and take note of what is important. Many important days could be ruined for the lack of the right present.
    Many people experience some combination of joy, rage, and frustration in seeking and receiving perfect gifts to and from others. Where did the practice of giving come from and what are the issues for continuing the practice?
     From the Three Wise Men to Jolly Old Santa Claus, gifting traditions contain many conflicting and sometimes negative views of giving. There are no easy answer. Some people withhold presents demanding good behavior (Naughty or Nice) Others demand a relationship or the right frame of mind. The Dalai Lama notes that one's own happiness is dependent on the happiness of others and “that happiness does not come from material things but rather from a deep, genuine concern for others happiness.” Romans believed that their giving would bring them good fortune in the coming year. Continuing in the Christian tradition, Dr. Martin Luther King noted how giving service benefits us all; that personal greatness and service to others are intertwined. "Everybody can be great, because everyone can serve."
    Motivations for giving are complex. Some of us give because it makes us feel good about ourselves to see others happy. Some give because we care about the welfare of others and the community. Still others give as a religious mandate; or because of social pressure or because we think of ourselves as generous and want others to think of us that way. While giving can feel good, it can also create discomfort if we’re always on the giving end or if the gifts we’re given are the kinds that we can’t match.
    Long standing research supports the benefits for giving to the giver. As a social act, giving ties us together for our mutual benefit. The willingness to give, or serve, or help, brings with it a certain compensation and psychological harmony. But are there effects of receiving? What about the sentiment expressed in a famous Bible verse: “It is more blessed to give than to receive”?.
    A study profiled in The Economist found that people don’t really like people who are too generous. In fact, they dislike it much as they dislike selfishness. It suggests too much giving makes the receiver look or feel bad. Some receivers see themselves as indebted as if there may somehow be implicit or explicit strings attached and no matter how much it’s disclaimed, the person who receives may feel indebted or inferior. Also, the giver may feel superior and the receiver’s dignity is assaulted. Worse, is when the giving produces a sense of superiority or pity, thereby reinforcing social inequalities. It must be concluded that gifts that lead people to feel poorer for having received the gift is no real gift.
    Giving—and receiving—needs to be done properly if it is to uphold human dignity. Moses Maimonides, the medieval Jewish philosopher, proclaimed “the highest form of charitable giving is performed anonymously.” Many believe giving anonymously is a great way to give if you don’t want to create any sense of obligation for the recipient. Others have suggested that the relationship must be the holder of the giving.
    Just as there are ethical ways to give gifts, there are proper way to receive them. The most important part of receiving a gift is reciprocating. This doesn’t mean you need to return gift-for-gift nor does it need to be given to the gift giver. It is giving to those you care about and to those who need your care. Also, give what you are able, when you are able and to the extent that you are able to give.        
    It’s a generous thing when people face crowds to buy presents to show family and friends their love. However, this giving in our culture has become so commercial it may be hard to remember the reason the season.
  What’s a Person To Do?
With some ideas from Sue Diamond Potts, M.A., I present this list to serve as food for thought.
1. Remember that little things mean a lot. Give your time as well as tangible gifts.
2. Get family members to exchange names and agree to homemade gifts with a spending limit.
3. Give books and read to kids or give co-operative games for children and spend time playing with each other.
4. Volunteer at a school. If you can sew, paint, carve, build or bake, you can teach it to the kids. Teachers will love you for it.
5. Visit a nursing home or a homebound elder or invite someone you know who has no family to your home for a festive meal.
6. Give coupons for your time. Offer your babysitting services for a couple who have small children so they can go out and enjoy time together.
  (C) Dr. Rachell N. Anderson, November 27, 2017    

Take Care of Your Mental and Physical Health
By
Dr. Rachell N. Anderson
    January is a good time to pay special attention to our mental health and plan for a healthy new year. Many people notice a reduction in their apositive feelings during January. Part of that is because we are further away from the sun and our activities around holiday happenings are finished.
    Few people stop to access their mental health and well being. Our ability to manage our feelings and deal with everyday difficulties are issues involved in our overall psychological well-being. How we feel about and treat ourselves and others are the important parts of the mix. Good mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood and yet, many of us ignore it or treat it as though it doesn’t exist. Our physical health and our mental health are closely linked. Lack of care for one can lead to problems in both. How they feel about and treat ourselves and others are important component of our mental and social well being.  
    Research shows that how we think about and treat ourselves has a powerful effect on how we feel. So, how do people know when they are thinking and acting right? How do we know if what we’re experiencing puts us in the realm of being mentally healthy or having a mental disorder? Once we wear out our family members and friends, we can defy the stigma and seek professional support and treatment. Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Then again, there are many changes each of us can do that will improve every aspect of our lives.
    Psychologist encourage people to start with simple self assessments like how they view themselves and their lives. How often do they engage in negative self talk like "I'm such a loser. I’m too fat, I’ll never be able to do that.” When we perceive our self and our life negatively, we begin to confirm that notion. Catch yourself doing that and stop it. Instead, practice using words that promote feelings of self-worth and personal power. Words like “It may be hard but I can do it” will boost your spirits and pump endorphins (the happiness chemical) into your brain. In addition, here are other things we can do to promote our mental and physical health.
What’s A Person To Do?    
 1. Speak to yourself in kind and gentle ways. Treat yourself with respect, and avoid self-criticism. Find the positive in what was once negative. Be grateful for it.
2. Pardon yourself when things go wrong. And they will. Life happens. In those moments when it all seems like too much, step away, and do something else until you feel a little better.
3.  Set realistic goals for yourself. Decide what you want to achieve and write down the steps you need to take to get them done. Aim high, and take foward moving baby steps toward your goal. Reach the goal and move on to the next one. Keep moving forward, even when things get hard. You'll enjoy a tremendous sense of accomplishment and self-worth as you progress toward one goal after another.
4. Take care of your body. Taking care of yourself physically can improve your mental health. Get enough sleep. Researchers believe that lack of sleep contributes to high rates of depression in all populations. Exercise. Your body releases stress-relieving and mood-boosting endorphins in the brain. Eat good meals. What you eat nourishes your whole body, including your brain. Carbohydrates (in moderate amounts) increase serotonin, the that makes you calm. Protein-rich foods increase norepinephrine, dopamine, and tyrosine, which help keep you alert. And vegetables and fruits are loaded with nutrients that feed every cell of your body, including those that affect mood-regulating brain chemicals. Include foods with Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (found in fish, nuts, and flaxseed.) Research shows that these nutrients can improve mood and restore structural integrity to improve your memory and thinking.
5. Surround yourself with good people. People who bitch, moan, complain and gossip soak up your good energy and give nothing back in return. Make plans with a support network and do fun things with them. Learn something new every day.
6. Do something for someone else. Research shows that being helpful to others has a beneficial effect on how you feel about yourself. Being helpful and kind builds your self-esteem.
7.  Seek help when you need it. Seeking help is a sign of strength — not a weakness. Therapy works because therapist listen with an unbiased ear and help people to overcome problems with solutions that are desirable. People who get appropriate care can recover from mental illness and live rich rewarding lives.
8. Start today. We all have the power to improve our mental and emotional health. It’s better not to wait for a crisis to seek help. Prevention is better than cure. Besides, it is easier to form new habits when you are feeling strong. Slowly putting in place routines, habits, and regular patterns will help you feel better and make this the best year for your mental and physical health.

   What Psychologists Tell Us About Racism
   By
Dr. Rachell N. Anderson
    Many wise people strongly believe that respect for the inherent worth and dignity of each member of the human family is the psychological foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. They believe we were all created by the same God and know that variations in the genome is very small at just 0.1% among all humans. Race is a construction, designed for a purpose. Just as race is a construction, so is racism. It’s learned behavior. Racism has is about thinking of oneself as different from other people. People who hold racists beliefs and behaviors see others as less than, and themselves as superior. Just as you have beliefs about everything- about poor people or immigrants, for example, you have to wonder where those beliefs began and how they are reinforced.
    Racism is constructed and reinforced by the social environment in which we live; teaching from our families, the schools and churches we attend, and our neighbors.
    Racism is a problem in the human family. Both active racism and passive acceptance of race-based thinking disrupt the mental health and psychological functioning of both victims and its perpetrators. And, racism is expensive both fiscally and psychologically. We put up fences, live in gated communities, lock our cars and hold our purses close when we see people who are different from ourselves. And while we’re doing that, our anxiety grows. The psychological toll racism takes on all people is measurable. People get depressed, fearful and anxious. It comes up physically with high blood pressure and heart disease. Those who are victims of racism are constantly on the look-out fearing someone or something will hurt them and their family members and/or put them at a disadvantage. Their fear may make them want to fight or flee.
    Dr. Patricia Dass-Brailsford of Georgetown University believes that psychological and behavioral problems are expressions of pain and efforts to cope with unacceptable environmental demands.
    According to Dr. Morgan T. Sammons, Ph.D, ABPP of the National Register of Health Services Providers, “We define “race” largely as a way of classifying people according to skin tone...” Since the early 19th century, in America, our obsession with race has been with proving the genetic, intellectual and social inferiority of African and native peoples. Before that, during the great waves of migration to America other groups from Italy, Eastern Europe, and Asia
    So, in our society, most people have racial biases of which they may or may not be aware. With so much material to absorb, humans need to catagorize things in order to make sense of them. However, whether these unconscious biases develop into hateful beliefs and actions are also learned. People who are racist become more racist, when something they believe in is threatened.
    Research from Social psychologists working in the field of attribution theory consistently showed the effects of perceptions based on skin pigmentation or other external characteristics. They remind us that even if “race” doesn’t exist as a genetic phenomenon, racism certainly is clearly linked to how we behave toward people. For instance, in the criminal justice system juries tend to assign blame and hand down the death penalty according to their perception of a particular group.
    Dr. Gordon Allport, Ph.D. conducted a longstanding line of research that aimed to combat bias among conflicting groups. He called it contact hypothesis. He found that contact between members of different groups could assist in reducing prejudice and promote greater understanding between groups. Additional research suggest cooperation towards shared goals, equal status between groups, and the support of local authorities and cultural norms enhance the process. In other words, different groups can come together as part of one overarching community.
    To help reduce the problem of racism in the human family,
Psychologists encourage each of us to do our part.
What’s A Person To Do?
1. The more you connect with people unlike yourself the more you’ll learn and the wiser you’ll be. Connection promotes identification with other people and the groups to which they belong. In other words, your relationships with other people become part of who you are. This is referred to as including the other in the self, a notion introduced by Stephen Wright, Arthur Aron and colleagues.
2. Refuse to utter or listen to the negative, simplistic and painful stereotypes we all know well. We’re less likely hold on to what is not constantly repeated. It’s nearly impossible to hold onto a simplistic, negative stereotype of someone you know well.
3. Examine your own thoughts and behaviors and determine if they are consistent with how you want to be thought of and treated as a member of the human family. Do your best to make the necessary changes in dealing with others.
(C))Dr. Rachell N. Anderson
  Dr. Rachell Anderson is a native of Tunica, a licensed Clinical Psychologist, a Professor Emeritus and author. She taught at the University of Illinois and ran a Private Clinical Practice in Springfield, Illinois for many years. She now lives in Tunica and writes with the Tunica Chapter of the Mississippi Writers Guild in Tunica, Mississippi. Check out her website at WWW.drrachellanderson.com for more articles and books she has written.