Ilene W

I am in nursing school and I am having some severe problems coming up and I am becoming terribly depressed and anxious--desperate. I have talked to the school counselor a few times. There is so much more I need to talk about, but i don't know if it's appropriate since he isn't my "therapist". I really can't afford to go to regular therapy. I just don't know if it is okay to share some of my secrets with him, or if I am just supposed to keep it to academic related problems. He is a psychologist.

I just turned 40 years old, and I want to get a haircut and color that will compliment my age and hopefully help me look a little younger. Right now my hair is just below the shoulders and is a natural auburn brown, but I'm starting to gray in the front. I need a cut that I can wear as a nurse which means the hair has to be off of my collar. So I need to either have it cut that short, or I need it long enough that i can put it into a bun when I'm working. If anyone has good ideas I'd love your suggestions.

I have been experiencing this strange pain for several weeks now that feels like it is radiating from my joints and causing the muscles around the joints to hurt really bad. I'm in so much pain tonight I can't sleep and I have to get up VERY early. Any advice would be appreciated. From looking up my symptoms, it sounds a lot like fibromyalgia.

I want to decorate a game room for my kids for Christmas. They are ages 8,8, 9,9, 12,13,13,13,and 16. I have a Wii for them with Guitar Hero III and some other games. I want to make the room a place that is fun for them to hang out in and to bring friends to. I REALLY need help in deciding how to paint it (5 girls and 4 boys), and what kind of accessories I should have ie bean bag chairs, etc. I could use some teenage input on what you would like if it were a room for you. Thanks.

My oldest son is 15, my only teen. So I am new at dealing with teenagers. I know that he needs freedom, but I still want him to be safe. He doesn't usually exercise great judgment. What do your parents do that allows you to have the independence you need to be able to grow up, but protect you--without you feeling resentful or over-controlled? I know that he needs rules and boundaries, but I remember when I was younger that the more my parents told me I couldn't do something the more I wanted to do it. If you have great parents who have a good system, I would love to hear it. If you are a parent with good ideas, I'd love to hear them too. Thanks.

My 15 year old son used an emergency cell phone to call and text girls. He also let his friends use it. He did this after being told very clearly that this is not ok, and I asked him many times if he was doing it. He denied it. Then we got the bill and he is busted. He did 80 txt messages and used a lot of minutes. How would you discipline him? I'm so mad right now I could ring his neck! Anyone with teenagers, how would you handle it. (I can't totally take away the phone-he really does need an emergency phone to contact us when necessary.)

When your citizens boo Miss USA, and at Soccer matches you cheer Osama Bin Laden; then you complain about our immigration policies, why on Earth, do you think we would want you to live in our country.I have lost all respect for your nation. You may disagree with our policies but is that an excuse to support Bin Laden? No other group of people feels ENTITLED to ILLEGAL citizenship in another country. If your people dislike your own nation so much, it's time to change your government. Do you think our freedoms were free? Do you know how much American blood was spilt to keep America and many other countries free? Your people's behavior only proves the point that we MUST seal the borders to keep terrorists from coming into our nation from yours. When the terrorists come for you, who are you going to ask for help. You will beg America to help you just like the rest of the world does; then the first chance you get you will stab us in the back. Can you defend your people's actions?

I'm curious why the cow is sacred and other animals aren't. Doesn't this religion believe in re-incarnation? If so, is being a cow like the highest level or something? I'm not mocking, I'm just curious.