Yvonnie Bailey- Davidson

Dear Counsellor:

I have a son who stutters and this affects his ability to speak in public and participate in class. He cries sometimes and gets angry.

- Carol

Dear Carol:

Stuttering or stammering is a common condition in the population, especially among school-age children. Stuttering ranges from mild to severe.

There are speech therapists in Jamaica who can help your son. The speech therapists will teach breathing exercises and relaxation techniques, among other activities. Many children with stuttering tend to be uptight, tense and anxious, which inevitably worsen the situation. Therefore, your son will need to learn the breathing and relaxation exercises. Some children suffer from self-esteem issues and have depressive symptoms.

In therapy, your son will be allowed to ventilate his feelings about stuttering. Some of his peers can be cruel, calling him names and ridiculing him. He will have to learn to deal with this.

Some children grow out of the stuttering but it can persist into adulthood. Speech and voice training are helpful. I would encourage stutterers to form a support group.

Down and out

Dear Counsellor:

I am in my 60s and have had a depressive condition since adolescence. These days, I feel fed up and tired of living. I am tired of having these episodes.

- Mary

Dear Mary:

Chronic medical illnesses stress individuals. Depression is a medical condition with remissions and recurrences. You need to speak to your psychiatrist about how you are feeling. Your medications will need to be adjusted. The dosage may need to be increased or other medication added.

Introspection and regrets tend to occur more frequently as one grows older and this can worsen the depression. There is a saying: Dreams fade, then we grow old. What are your goals at this time of your life? We need to have dreams and wishes, regardless of our age. If you sit at home and mope, your depression will seem worse than it really is. You need to push yourself to join the groups in your church or community. Loneliness can be a problem for the elderly. These days when you are in the 60s, it is as if you are in your 40s or 50s. You can participate in what is going on. They are always looking for volunteers in organisations. At any age, you need to build friendships and meet people.

At this time, because you are feeling lethargic and demotivated, you might not have the energy to participate in activities. Sometimes, you have to literally push yourself to go on with life. You need to force yourself to do certain activities. After a while the motivation and drive will return. During your down moments, you can keep a journal to track your progress.

Speak with your psychiatrist about your moods and thoughts.

Phone Dr Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson at 978-8602 or email yvonniebd@hotmail.com.