Mental health professionals have been stuying disorders for decades. They write up their conclusions in a document called the DSM. Its 5th draft is due out any day now. Will Parental Alienation be included?

Some excerpts of their work were unveiled by the American Psychiatric Association last week, as a draft version of the new “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.”

Known as the DSM-5, because it represents the fifth edition of this exhaustive bible for psychiatrists, psychologists and others, it attempts to catalog everything from Complex Somatic Symptom Disorder (related to hypochondria) to Temper Dysregulation Disorder with Dysphoria (persistently very ill-behaving children).

The first update since 1994 also includes descriptions of depression, sleep disorders, alcohol abuse and other common maladies, but everything gets a fresh look because of the volume of new research and science affecting how they’re all regarded, said David Kupfer, the University of Pittsburgh psychiatry professor who chaired the DSM-5 task force.

The final product will go into the offices of all sorts of health professionals — from psychiatrists to family practitioners — while also influencing treatment payments by insurance companies, drug development by the pharmaceutical industry and future research by government and academia.

Dr. Kupfer, the longtime head of Pitt’s psychiatry department before stepping down in October, said the manual remains a work in progress, with revisions based on public and professional reaction before final publication in 2013.

“We weren’t out to make major changes, but so much has happened that we needed to address, that some may accuse us of being overambitious,” he said.

The Shadyside resident, 69, has been nationally noted for his work on depression at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. He headed a task force of some 160 international researchers and clinicians who worked on DSM-5, with 13 work groups covering various topic areas.

Among the pronouncements in the draft version:

• All forms of autism will fall under a single diagnostic category, called “autism spectrum disorders,” a concept that drew quick criticism from representatives of those with the Asperger’s form of autism, who are often high functioning.

• Gambling, identified as an “impulse control disorder” since 1980, will be moved into a “behavioral addiction” category that reflects its similarities to drug and alcohol addiction. Certain other addictions, such as excessive use of the Internet, were considered for the category but denied placement there because of insufficient research data.

• Binge eating is recognized as a disorder for the first time, similar to anorexia and bulimia.

• Mental retardation is to be relabeled as “intellectual disability.”

At www.dsm5.org, those interested can obtain detailed information about the draft manual recommendations and provide comments.

I just found this blog - and I have never blogged before - but this is a very important day for me.  It is my daughter’s 22 birthday.  We have been estranged for the last few months.  I have 4 children, ages 27, 25, 22 and 18.  I do not see or speak to any of them.  In 2004, after years of an emotionally abusive marriage, I asked for a divorce.  I was a stay at home mom for 22 years - since 1982 when my first daughter was born.  That was after 7 years of marriage and working so my x could get his masters degree.  I raised 4 children.  My x was never home and always pursuing another get rich quick scheme. 

One week after I asked for the divorce - he got an order of protection against me - through the Rockland County Court, New City, NY - locking me out of my bedroom - because…supposedly…I kept him awake at night by trying to talk about our problems.  He was never home to talk about anything - he would come home late at night and go right to bed.  ANYWAY - the court granted him an order of protection and I was forbidden from entering my own bedroom for fear of arrest.  I did have to enter it one day - when my son was trying to open a can of soup with a screwdriver and a hammer because there was no can opener.  His father had begun taking things and hiding them in the bedroom so I would not take them when I moved.  I broke into the bedroom and was arrested - yes, for trying to get a can opener and my x was at work in White Plains - about 40 miles away - BUT I was still arrested. 

My x knew that in order to keep the house, he would have to drive me away - and he did this by securing the orser of protection - He also had closed all the bank accounts and I did not have any money.  He had never been in a grocery store for family shopping - and immediately after he was served with divorce papers, he decided that he would not allow me to shop - and he told the kids I could not be trusted with money.  He did the shopping and my kids saw him take over a role they only knew me to do.  He told my kids I stole their college money.  I did take money from the only savings account I could - so I could pay my lawyer - but my x told my children over and over that I stole their college money.  When my daughter was to return to college in September - he refused to pay - even though he made $130,000 annualy, collected $3500/month in rents and had a home equity loan - only he had access to (after forging my signature) with avaibalble funds of $130,000.  He told her she could not go back to college - her SENIOR year - unless I paid for it.  I took out a $12,000 loan - I had no business taking when I was earning $12/hour as a receptionist.  6 years later I still owe $11,000 on that student loan.  He also told another daughter that she would have to go to the community college unless I paid for her tuition.  I could not and I had a fight with him and he had me arrested again - handcuffed and taken away in a police car.  I did spit at him  - and he punched me in the face - but the CLARKSTOWN POLICE arrested me as the aggressor - and no charges were filed against him - even though I had a bruise on my face - noted in the police report.  The officer told me I had no proof it was from a punch or from him - yet they believed my x that I spit at him - I guess the spit was still there and they did a DNA?

My x had me arrested 3 times - using my son to testify to the police and the CLARKSTOWN POLICE took my 14 year old sons statements to have me arrested.

there is much more to this story - it is a sad, disgusting story of power, intimidation, manipulation - and now I do not talk to any of my 4 children

Eddie Cibrian’s Ex: “He Broke My Heart, So I Broke His Harleys”

Eddie Cibrian is calling out the physical and verbal abuse he says occurred at the hands of his soon-to-be ex-wife, Brandi Glanville — and in front of their kids.

In new court papers, the CSI: Miami actor, 36, alleges his ex physically and verbally attacked him, slashing the tires of his Harley Davidson motorcycle tires in a fit of rage after a domestic dispute.

Cibrian, who is filing for joint legal and physical custody, says his ex’s actions have also affected their two children, sons Mason, 6, and Jake, 2.

Weeks after the couple had separated, but while Cibrian was still living in the family’s guesthouse, the actor says his ex got violent and told their son, Jake, “daddy doesn’t love you” during their screaming match.

“Glanville is allowing her emotional rage to overcome any attempt by me to do what is in the best interest of our children,” Cibrian says, detailing the Aug. 1 dispute that resulted in his tires being slashed.

But Glanville defends her actions, telling E! News she was retaliating after finding out about her ex’s alleged 2006 affair with cocktail waitress Sheena Marie.

“He broke my heart, so I broke his Harleys,” Glanville, who filed for divorce last summer after eight years of marriage, says. “It was right after I found out about girl No. 2, and I had that Carrie Underwood song in my head, and I just went for it!”

Cibrian is currently dating LeAnn Rimes, whom he met and began an affair with while filming the Lifetime TV movie Northern Lights.

Another case of hating the ex more than loving the kids.

Pink-Family Portrait Video

March 14, 2008 - Friday
My letter to Dr.Phil
Current mood: determined

I don’t expect to get a response from you because I have written a few times already. However I thought I would try again since lately you have been focusing so much on the effects of what these types of issues have on children. And honestly that is what I’m so concerned about. The effects this is having on my children. Which seems to be so non important to many. My children have been denied their mother for what will be (5) years on March 23 2008. It has been that long since they have seen me. Now my children have been completely brainwashed and their minds kidknapped, to the point that I don’t think they will ever be able to remember or return to me for a relationship they need and deserve. So what about them? Who will save them and heal their broken hearts? Who even cares? I do and if it means that I will spend the rest of my life trying for them, then I will.

My father died when I was (8) I know the pain a child feels not having the other half of who they are. your always missing and longing for the parent you use to know and the parent you loved, who is now gone. That you looked up to and admired. My father died so there isn’t anyway to get him back in my life. I understand that, but it’s different for a child that knows the other half of who they are is out there and thinks they don’t love them or eventually believes they are so aweful, that they fear who you are. What is the most painful part of this all for me is what agonizing pain and pure anguish they must have inside them, and as their mother I can’t can’t fix it for them or make it better, despite my many, many efforts. I know they have been told I haven’t tried to see them, that I have just abononded them because I didnt love them. Thats the furthest from the truth I have and have saved evrything including the enormous attempts in court down to the reciepts for the food I bought in their city when searching for them or trying to see them. I have only recently been able to get pictures and they were not from them. My son is now 18 and my daughters are now 15 and 13 I have not been able to speak to my children much if any at all. The last time I spoke with my son was in Dec of 2007 My youngest daughter on Oct, 3 2007 and my other daughter since Febuary of 2007 I call and call and call.

My children are not allowed to have a picture of me in the house because of their step-mom. I have sent pictures of me and My children together and My children told me long ago that she tore me out of the picture. And said that she did not want a trace of me in her home. My children have been told I am a prostitute, drug addict and that I never loved them and that I was a horrible mother. My children were never allowed to talk to me on the phone in the beginning of this horrible battle without their step-mom on the other end or with them on speaker phone so she could hear. She also would force them to tell me the phone call is being recorded. In the middle of our conversations long ago, as she was on the other end or in the room listening in, she would get in our conversations and force them by yelling at them to tell me that they don’t love me and don’t want me for a mom anymore. My children would just be in a silenence, just frozen and sometimes would break down and cry or say I don’t wanna talk anymore .

If I am able to talk to them which at this point I am not she would be whispering to them on what to say. Our conversations were monitored and interupted by her everytime. They were trained to not tell me anything anymore about anything or they would get in trouble. They have been told to run if they see me because I will steel them. They were also told if they lived with me CPS would take them and place them into foster care making them believe her every word. In the beginning my children would tell me of these things I would attempt to confront her, my ex and the court on these issues and never got anywhere. The gifts I have sent have been sold on ebay or thrown away. She has said to me, all of my family members and even to a child support attorney she wanted no trace of me in their lives and she wished I was dead. My children use to tell me she would say that to them. The step-mom would have their little sister from their dad and step-mom copy the step-mom and skip through the house singing your mom is the wicked witch of the east. My youngest daughter would get mad at her and try to make her stop singing that about her mom and my daughter would get spanked by the step-mom.

The step-mom would tell my children that they were ugly like their mom. That their dad never loved me and he only married me because I forced him too. She would tell my kids to stop crying when they would cry for me. She would say why would cry over such a nasty whore. My children would ball and break down when we had a visit prior to this five year span and beg me to fix it. (Please mommy make the judge change it.) She has told my children in detail of how my father was murdered (he was stabbed to death when I was eight) I only told my children that their grandpa was in heaven. They were too you young to know the truth about anything awful like that. When I was 10 I was molested by a step-father for years and my ex-husband was at the trial when we were 16 and knew the truth and this step-father went to prison for 7 years, however the step mom told my children that I wanted to have sex with him and I should have kept my legs closed. This was five years ago so my children were, son (13) daughter (10) daughter (8) My children asked me why I had sex when I was 10 years old with my step-dad and that is how I know what they were told by her. So what else has happened to my children that I don’t know about now. I could go on and on in details about the things she has told my children and about so many incidents. These only touch the surface of what has happened to them. My children are the main issue of my concern and always have been.

I am none of these things they have told my children and know for a fact no child at 10 years ever willingly has sex with a grown man. I was a loving mother that never abused my children nor did I ever deny them of the other half of who they are, their father. There was an order made against their step-mom from being left alone with my children prior to the custody change, yet the other side gained custody by stating that it was against my current husband and the judge refused to look through the file to see it was against her (the step-mom) and not my current husband. But it was already decided before we had our hearing as you may or may not know attorneys and judges are friends, golf buddies and tend to lean to the other side who is represented by an attorney. The step-mother along with my childrens father have spent thousands to fight me from having any contact as I have spent thousands trying to get contact. It needs to end it is so severe now that there may never be anyway to repair the damage done.

I believe anyone who hears of stories like ours would be shocked and outraged that people would go through leaps and bounds trying to destroy anything you once had with your children or better yet destroy the other half of who they are. That they wouldn’t understand how anyone is capable of allowing their children to suffer so much not giving it a second thought. I spoke with the step-moms, mother and she said she understood I kept arguing with her that she in no way could possibily understand unless she had it happen to her and her children. She stated she did that her daughters father did it to her and one day my children will come to me like she came to her. She said let it go and when they are grown you can see them. I cannot and will not give up that easy for their sake. I need help for my children. How will they be as adults? The pain you suffer as a child goes with you all through your life. I need an intervention for them. I wouldn’t want for them to be like statistics say they will because this has happened to them. (Suicide, drug addicts, mental issues they cannot overcome, criminals acts, ect)
I love my children and wish for anything that I could take their pain away and make it mine.
Please help us…..
My myspace page I made for my children in case they ever searched for me is
http://www.myspace.com/oliivejuice

Parental Alienation Awareness Day April 25th

Help raise awareness of this terrible Child Abuse

Parental alienation consists of one or more of a group of behaviors that are damaging to children’s mental and emotional well-being, and often involves interference with the relationship between children and either or both of their parents. These behaviors can most often accompany separations and divorces, and divorce-like situations, such as children born out of wedlock, but also can be evidenced within high conflict marriages.

With awareness of the problem comes education, and with education, comes the power to stop most of the abuse of young, impressionable, easily manipulated children, and to help repair many of the damaged family relationships. Our primary role is to spread that needed awareness, and we would like your help to get it done.

To learn more about Parental Alienation www.SpLiTnTwO.com

We are looking for volunteers to ask their own Governor to either proclaim or officially recognize each April 25th as “Parental Alienation Awareness Day”
To learn how please visit
www.PAAO-US.com

Falling into the severe category of Parental Alienation Syndrome
By Jayne A. Major, Ph.D

Falling into the severe category of parental alienation are those parents who become obsessed with destroying the child’s relationship with the other parent and that parent’s family and friends. Dr. Frank Williams describes this goal of cutting a parent out of a child’s life as a “parentectomy.” In these cases, a child will succumb to the alienator’s programming or brainwashing and experience fear, anger, and hatred toward the target parent. When parental alienation is severe enough, children have no choice but to align with the disturbed parent against the target parent, thus destroying their relationship with the target parent. These children no longer have free will or the ability to continue loving the target parent. PAS describes the child’s behavior in response to the brainwashing that has occurred; it does not describe actions on the part of a parent. The focus of this article in on children who are being severely alienated or who are already experiencing PAS…

It is unfortunate that too many people will believe a dramatic story more than they will listen to evidence. Drama is the hallmark of people who are psychologically disturbed. Individuals with these severe mental health issues are under-diagnosed. We need more research and clarity on the effects of PA/PAS. The costs are staggering to children, the target parent, and that person’s family. The damage is severe and has long-reaching effects.

The whole fabric of our society is undermined by the behaviors of these severely disturbed individuals. Both men and women with obsessed thinking create PA/PAS situations with children and their target parent. Their irresponsible behaviors siphon off a staggering amount of social resources to stabilize the chaos they create. Any protocol that we use for the regular population is woefully inadequate in making them normal. Every year, hundreds of thousands of children and parents are experiencing the phenomenon of PA/PAS and the resulting devastation it causes. Millions of people are ending up damaged because, up to now, we have not even recognized the phenomenon or truly considered its impact. We all need to take action to educate and help people who have this terrible problem that does such severe damage to children.

By Jayne A. Major, Ph.D

Parental Alienation: A Law Guardian’s Perspective

By - Tracey A. Bloodsaw Esq. P.C.

The aim of today’s discussion is not necessarily to focus on the meaning of parental alienation, since there is a plethora of resources available for that purpose. Instead, I want to explore the significant roles, within the court process, that each of the players play in child custody cases where parental alienation is a factor. It is safe to assume that there is at least a minimum understanding of what parental alienation is-the brainwashing, manipulation, control of the child by one parent to stir up feelings of hate, anger, disdain, disrespect, disregard of the other parent, to name a few. According to the DOJ, it is domestic violence, while to many others it is a form of child abuse/neglect. Whichever way one chooses to characterize it, define it, diagnose it or treat it, it is indisputably one of the most egregious and catastrophic issues currently plaguing our society as a whole, worthy of open and daily discussion amongst us all.

Family Court cases are an enigma in that it is involves the only field of law where personal prejudices, cultural influences, religious mores and economic resources all converge, having a direct and profound impact on the outcomes of each case. Even as an attorney, I am continuously reminded of the fact that there is no hard and steadfast rule in how one should rear or nurture their family. However, there is a resounding principle in Family Court, as in any other arena, that children are our most precious jewel and should not be sacrificed for any reason. Nevertheless, it is the individual interpretation of this principle that leads them to make judgments or implement plans that are not aligned with this most important viewpoint. The governing standard, ‘the best interest of the child” sometimes loses its acuity as a result, and thus the only person that typically suffers is the child.

There are key players in child custody cases, which include the attorneys for the parents, the law guardian (the attorney for the children), the court, the forensics (experts), the parents and, most importantly, the children. I want to explore the role of the law guardian first, since their role is the most pivotal. This is the person whose job it is to represent the child’s interests, convey the child’s wishes and to protect the child, all concomitantly. And although this may sound pretty basic, it is in theory but certainly not in practice. I have extensive experience in representing children in child custody and child visitation cases in Family Court and in contested divorces, and in many of my cases I am confronted with or surmise that parental alienation exists. In many cases, either the custodial parent badmouths the non-custodial parent, will not communicate with the non-custodial parent about significant events, occurrences, etc. in the child’s life, will intentionally disregard scheduled child visitation, blames the non-custodial for the dissolution of the family, makes the child unavailable to the non-custodial by engaging the child in other activities, gains empathy and/or sympathy from the child about his/her emotional state, minimizes the non-cutodial parent’s role while imposing a new partner on the child in his/her place, amongst many others.

The law guardian’s role is challenging because despite the circumstances that exist, the child’s wishes must be regarded and communicated to the court by the law guardian and many times this means that his/her client’s wishes not to have any contact with the non-custodial parent must not be dismissed. Conversely, protecting the child often means that, even where the law guardian must inform the court of his/her client’s wish not to have contact with the non-custodial parent, the law guardian’s going along with this may not be in that child’s best interest. And although our ethical rules dictate how we are to resolve such conflicts, in practice this can be much more difficult, especially when our own values or sociologic viewpoints come into play.

What is much more explicit in our obligations and duties as law guardian is that we are not limited to the issues in the child custody litigation, but have the obligation to address all of the child’s material needs. In essence, we are held with the responsibility to investigate further if we suspect that there is any form of child abuse/neglect present, and must report this to the proper authority. In the most extreme case, where parental alienation poses a risk or harm or potential harm to the child’s emotional, psychological or physical well-being, we have a duty to report to the court and Child Protective Services, which may result in a child abuse/neglect case being brought against the alienating parent. Consequently, again, we are placed in a position of conflict, since reporting any suspicion of child abuse/neglect can sometimes only exacerbate any emotional turmoil the client already experiences.

The skillful and experienced law guardian will effectively investigate, explore and engage all relevant sources in an effort to establish their client’s rationale for their desire not to visit with the non-custodial parent. The law guardian should establish a rapport with his/her client, gain the client’s trust and ensure the child that he can confide in him/her, interact with the child in a manner that is suitable for the child’s age, maturity and developmental stage while keeping in mind that there is a complete story. The law guardian should interview the parties, other relevant persons who may give valuable insight, as well as potential expert witnesses. The importance of visiting the home environment should not be overlooked, nor should reviewing pertinent records, i.e. school, medical, etc. to be better able to make a complete and comprehensive assessment of what is in the child’s best interest. Understanding the impact of parental alienation will only serve to equip the law guardian with the tools needed to prevent, terminate or minimize its deleterious effects on children. At first glance, one can very easily communicate to the court that his/her client has expressed a strong desire not to see the non-custodial parent, particularly when they of “unimpaired” age (12 years old and above). However, it is only when the law guardian truly accepts the importance of the child having a relationship with both parents, by any means, that they can effectively act in the child’s best interest and protect the child. There are various resources and methods available to law guardians to get the court, as well as the other key players in the child custody litigation, involved in addressing parental alienation. Under rare circumstances should the path taken by the law guardian be supporting the termination or suspension of child visitation with the non-custodial parent, this only serves to compound the problem and perpetuate hate, anger, guilt, fear, etc. well into adulthood.

This is David William Hedrick, a member of the silent majority from Washington. He decided that he was not going to be silent anymore. So, he let U.S. Congressman Brian Baird have it. He was one questioner out of 38, that was called at random from an audience of 3,000.

I’m having trouble with the video, till I get it worked out you can view it HERE.

He wasn’t expecting to be called on, so he quickly scratched what he wanted to say on a piece of paper and with a pen that he borrowed from someone else in the audience minutes before he spoke.

Thank you David.

Official Statement on Parental Alienation Syndrome From The American Psychological Association

——————————————————————————–
The American Psychological Association (APA) believes that all mental health practitioners as well as law enforcement officials and the courts must take any reports of domestic violence in divorce and child custody cases seriously. An APA 1996 Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family noted the lack of data to support so-called “parental alienation syndrome”, and raised concern about the term’s use. However, we have no official position on the purported syndrome.

The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists. APA’s membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students.

I firmly believe that as soon as they come up with a pill for PAS they will immediately add it to the DSM and immediately begin drugging everyone involved.

Ken Maddox