life

Sibling Worries About Sister's Pill Stash

Sense & Sensitivity by by Harriette Cole
by Harriette Cole
Sense & Sensitivity | June 3rd, 2020 | Letter 1 of 2

DEAR HARRIETTE: Since we have been living in quarantine, my older sister and brother have come back to live with us. I went into my sister's room the other day and noticed that she had a stash of weed and pills in her room. I don't want to be a tattletale, but it kind of freaked me out. She has been acting weird, but I just thought she was mad because she had to stay with us instead of at college. Weed is one thing, but she had Oxy too. I think I should tell my mother, but I don't want to cause a huge family fight. What should I do? -- Troubled Sister

DEAR TROUBLED SISTER: Trust your gut. Your sister may need an intervention in order to address what's happening in her life right now. Had it just been weed in her possession, I agree that you wouldn't need to sound an alarm. Not that your mother would be happy about her smoking that, but the chances of her harming herself are far different with weed than with opioids. We are currently suffering through an opioid crisis in our country that is affecting millions of people of all ages and too often taking their lives.

Your mother should know that her daughter is taking Oxycodone as well as anything else she may have. Show your mother where you found it. She may want to confiscate it so that she can talk to your sister with the drugs in hand. The showdown will likely be ugly, but know that you may be saving your sister's life. Your mother should do some research of her own on how to get help for your sister if she needs it. This will be a rocky period for your family, but don't give up on your sister.

To learn more about opioid addiction, go to www.addictioncenter.com. To get immediate help, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357).

life

Sense & Sensitivity for June 03, 2020

Sense & Sensitivity by by Harriette Cole
by Harriette Cole
Sense & Sensitivity | June 3rd, 2020 | Letter 2 of 2

DEAR HARRIETTE: I don't even remember how long we have been stuck in the house now, but my body is none the better for it. I was already supposed to be losing weight on my doctor's orders, but I know that I have gained. Plus, I have hardly done any exercise. I'm just not motivated. But I can hear my doctor screaming at me now. How can I get my head right so that I can do something at home for my health? -- Get Fit

DEAR GET FIT: You've probably heard the adage from Sir Isaac Newton that he called the First Law of Motion, the law of inertia: A body at rest tends to remain at rest, and a body in motion tends to stay in motion. Do you see yourself in that?

Most of us have barely been in motion for weeks now. That's why it's hard to begin moving. Start by acknowledging that your lack of energy or desire to move is normal -- and unhealthy. Start a schedule for yourself that will jumpstart you out of this behavior. At the same appointed hour every day, get up and start moving. Start small. Stretch for five minutes. Do five minutes of jumping jacks. Put on a mask and take a walk for 10 minutes. If you build slowly, you will awaken your body to movement. Add time in gradually so that you don't shock your system. You have to convince yourself that you can do it. You can!

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

life

Teen Needs New Friend To Hang Out With

Sense & Sensitivity by by Harriette Cole
by Harriette Cole
Sense & Sensitivity | June 2nd, 2020 | Letter 1 of 2

DEAR HARRIETTE: My best friend and I have been spending a lot of time together lately. Because we live near each other, our parents have allowed us to visit only each other during quarantine. But now my friend is going to her country house with her family, and I will be left here. I am so sad. I am an only child, and it meant so much to me to have one real contact outside of my family. I know this may sound melodramatic, but I'm a teenager and I need to see my friends. What can I do? Should I try to convince my mom to let someone else become my hangout friend? -- Lonely

DEAR LONELY: It can be hard to see a friend go away even if it's not the age of the coronavirus. Your situation is extra sad because you are so limited in your interactions with others. The best thing that could happen is for people to be able to be tested before they enter each other's company. Until there's a vaccine, that's the only way you can be sure that the person you introduce into your space will be safe.

That said, states are beginning to open up, and people are venturing out a little bit. Your mom and the parents of whomever you want to be your new hangout friend should talk. Learn what the revised safety guidelines on social engagement will be. For now, if you can adhere strictly to the rules that you ALWAYS stay at least 6 feet apart, that you ALWAYS wear a mask except when you are eating, that you resist touching your face and that you wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, your mother might lighten up and let you see someone else. It will be on you to be vigilant. No matter how much you want to hug someone, don't do it. If you make smart choices, you will be able to keep yourself as safe as possible as we begin to venture out.

life

Sense & Sensitivity for June 02, 2020

Sense & Sensitivity by by Harriette Cole
by Harriette Cole
Sense & Sensitivity | June 2nd, 2020 | Letter 2 of 2

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have terrible acne, and my mom promised to take me to the dermatologist, but since it is considered a nonessential medical service, we can't go right now. I have tried all kinds of over-the-counter treatments that really don't work. I'm trying to convince my mom to let me do the virtual doctor's appointment so that at least I could get a consultation. She thinks that's a waste of money. I need to do something. What do you recommend? -- Dermatologist

DEAR DERMATOLOGIST: Do some more research. Find out if your insurance company covers telehealth visits for dermatologists. If so, find one in your plan. Call to find out if the doctor is having office hours, and present the details to your mother. Check too to see if that doctor is allowing in-person visits. Now that things are opening up a bit, there's a chance that you may be able to get an appointment.

Shy of that, become more vigilant with your self-care. Eliminate sugary drinks from your diet. Drink plenty of water. The one natural remedy that many espouse for acne treatment is apple cider vinegar -- applied topically and ingested, it seems to cut down on acne as well as other ailments. For ways to use it, go to www.healthline.com/nutrition/13-acne-remedies.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

life

Symptoms Suggest It's Time To Get Tested

Sense & Sensitivity by by Harriette Cole
by Harriette Cole
Sense & Sensitivity | June 1st, 2020 | Letter 1 of 2

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have not been feeling well for the past few days, and it has got me scared. What with the COVID-19 virus being everywhere, I wonder if I have it. My stomach has been sick. I can't seem to hold food down, but I am still doing my job and taking care of my family. On the news, they say just to stay home if you don't feel well unless you have a high fever. I don't have a fever at all, but I feel like hell. I am worried that if I am sick I will infect my family. Staying home does not seem like the best idea, to be honest. But I don't know where I can get a test or anything. What should I do? -- Need Testing

DEAR NEED TESTING: The Centers for Disease Control has said that diarrhea can be an early sign of this disease. For this reason, you should be able to get tested. Call your doctor and describe your symptoms and your concerns. Describe your household as well and the proximity of family members to you. Ask your doctor to provide you with the paperwork you may need to get tested along with a recommended location to have it done. At this point, testing is supposed to be available for anyone who may be symptomatic.

If you do not get support from your doctor, consider a walk-in medical facility. Your last resort should be the emergency room if you can avoid it, simply because they still are fairly stretched -- and hospitals do have the virus within their walls.

life

Sense & Sensitivity for June 01, 2020

Sense & Sensitivity by by Harriette Cole
by Harriette Cole
Sense & Sensitivity | June 1st, 2020 | Letter 2 of 2

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am feeling unmotivated. I lost my job two months ago. I am getting unemployment, thank God. But no matter how hard I look or how many resumes I send out, I have not gotten a single response back. It feels like the whole world is frozen. I do know that millions of people have lost their jobs, including me, but I don't think I should wait around until things get better to look. I'm worried that if I wait too long, there will be nothing, even though it seems like there's nothing now. How can I get my spirits back up so that I can put better effort into my search? -- Job Hunt

DEAR JOB HUNT: Stay focused on your pursuit of work. I think it's important to continue to look as vigorously as you can in a virtual and safe manner. Think about the broadest range of jobs that you can do efficiently. You may want to develop more than one resume so that you can focus each one on particular skills for specific jobs.

Most important, think about who can stand as a reference for you. This should be someone who can speak to your character, your personality, your workstyle -- you. It's best to think of a few different people who represent different parts of your life and who can honestly say positive things about you. Be sure to ask them if they would be willing to speak up on your behalf. Their declarations about you may help to seal the deal.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

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