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Alcoholics Can Never be Social Drinkers
DR. WALLACE: My father is definitely an alcoholic. He continues to work only because his boss is his best friend. I even heard the boss tell my dad that if he didn't cut down on his alcohol consumption, he might be forced to fire him.
The problem is …Read more.
Wearing a Seat Belt can Save a Life
DR. WALLACE: This letter is directed to teens who travel in a motor vehicle. Please buckle up, regardless of where you sit or how short the trip might be. Several weeks ago, I stopped at the scene of a violent automobile crash. Having medical …Read more.
Vibrating Belts do not Melt Body Fat
DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and have excess fat on my upper legs, commonly known among females as "saddle bags." I've tried every kind of exercise possible to eliminate this fat, but nothing has worked.
A friend told me that her mother got rid of …Read more.
Marijuana Use is Unhealthy and Unwise
DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 and have been smoking marijuana for over five years. A close friend introduced me to "pot" and I am thankful that he did. I truly enjoy getting high on "weed." I only use marijuana when I am positive that …Read more.
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Many 15-Year-Olds Can't DateDR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and my girlfriend is 15, and we have been going steady for about three months. We used to date every Friday and Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Now her mom thinks we're seeing too much of each other and is insisting that we date only one weekend night and see each other for no more than three hours on Sunday. My girlfriend and I feel like little kids under these new restrictions and we're not happy. We are both mature teens and we're not sexually active, nor do we do drugs, smoke or drink. All we do is go to movies, listen to music, talk, laugh and have a lot of fun. Her mother can't give us any reason for her new rules except that, "You're spending too much time together." It's like we're being punished for things we didn't do. I'd like your comments, please. — Jason, Cumberland, Md. JASON: These new rules seem completely reasonable. Many 15-year-olds are not allowed to date at all. You should consider yourself lucky you can still see your girlfriend twice every weekend. HOW DO I OVERCOME SHYNESS? DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and rather shy. Lately, I have gone out twice with Kurt. I really like him and I think he likes me, too. In fact, he has invited me to be his date for his brother's wedding next month. We also will date several times before then. I have difficulty starting a conversation because I'm so shy. I'm so worried that I'll say something stupid, so I just keep my mouth shut. Since Kurt doesn't talk much either, we spend a lot of time together both feeling awkward. What should I do to get the ball rolling? — Sylvia, Clinton, Iowa. SYLVIA: First of all, relax — and remember that conversing with another person is fun. You might even want to seek out a friend of Kurt's beforehand and find out the sorts of things he's interested in, such as sports, music, science fiction, politics, etc. For instance, if he's an Iowa Hawkeyes football fan, he'll be impressed if you can tell him that the Hawkeyes have a good chance to win the Big Ten championship this season. Ask him questions that require more than yes or no answers. The point is to draw him out and get him to relax. Once you get the ball rolling, the conversation will begin to flow and you'll both forget about feeling shy. With any luck, Kurt will do more than just talk about himself. He'll begin asking questions that allow him to get to know you, too. I'VE GOT A HIGH-PITCHED VOICE DR. WALLACE: I'm embarrassed because I've got a high-pitched voice. Almost all the guys in my class have much deeper voices. I'm really concerned because mine hasn't even started to have a lower pitch. Should I see a doctor about this? I'm 13 years old. — Nameless, Porterville, Calif. NAMELESS: You don't need a doctor, just a little patience. Many physical changes are soon to come, including a deepening of your voice. When it happens, it will be all at once. One morning you'll wake up and discover that your high-pitched voice is history. Relax. There's no way to avoid it. Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS.COM
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