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LET'S TALK

Fear of hurricanes cause S-year-old's nightmares

Q: After watching a I program on h'Jrricanes, my 5-year-old started having nightmares. He is now worried a bad storm could destroy our house, and he continually asks us questions. Despite giving him ample information, his fears remain.

A: Children's fears can arise when infor­ mation is so overwhelming and confusing that it disrupts their feelings of safety and security. Young children are eagerto learn about their world, but at this age, t!leir capacity to comprehend information is limited. They have difficulty integrating complex ideas, and events are personal­ ized and understood in ail or nothing terms. It appears that after seeing docu­ mented footage about a Category 3, 4, or 5 Hurricane, your son understood that a hurricane cannot be stopped. He also started imaging things that could happen to his home and family.

Your son is experiencing anticipatory anxiety, which means he is worrying about all the "what if's." Parents can also feel stressed knowing they cannot control or prevent bad things from happening. If your son senses your uneasiness about this sub­ ject, this may also add to his concerns. He needs to know that you are not afraid and that you will do everything necessary to maintain the family's safety during a hurri­ cane. At the same time, try to create as much consistency, reliability, and predict­ ability in his daily routine. This will help minimize his worries and gradually increase his ability to feel safe. Continue to pay careful attention to his feeling~ and acknowledge his discomfort.

Remember, it is not unusual to see a child's fears come out at night, as this is

the time when a child can feel alone, small and insecure. Your physical presence and emotional reassurances are naturally calm­ ing. Quite often young children engage ih fantasy, which stimulates their vivid imagi­ nations. Youngsters also partake in magi­ cal thinking and can easily convince them­ selves that their thoughts are powerful enough to bring about an event. even if tis a frightening one. You need to hear what's in his mind as his ideas are probably co ­ tributing to his fears. Providing him wit~ soothing words and hugs will increase hIs emotional security. And, as he learns it is safe to share his inner thoughts and wor­ ries, his nightmares should subside.

• For more information, visit the Fe a website: www.fema.gov/kids.

Dr. Andrea Corn is a licensed psycholo­ gist in Lighthouse Point. Write to her at

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DR. ANDREA CORN

TRY 15 REPS: Nancy demonstrates the donkey deluxe, a great exercise to strengthen your glutes.

PERSONAL TRAINER

Breaking back in after the long break

BY NANCY COLE nancyfltness@aol.com

The fIrst day back to school can be fIlled. with anticipation and apprehension. The fIrst day back to the gym after a summer's break can cause anxiety as well. You know you've gotten 50ft, out of shape and worse yet - you're going to get sore!

If it's your fIrst time to the gym ever, the thought of gripping weights can grip you with fear. Will you really be able to get your act in gear? Even if you've never trained before, you can start with some simple body weight exercises and

work up to weights. And while training without weights may seem like cheating, you won't get expelled from the gym. Athletes at all levels incorporate body weight exercises into their routines.

A great one to strengthen your glutes is the donkey deluxe. Kneel with your palms on the ground, arms straight and wrists in line with your shoulders. Extend one leg behind you so that it is parallel to the floor with your foot flexed. Contract your abs 50 that your body forms a straight line from head to heel. While maintaining this posi­ tion, lower your leg and cross it

over the other leg, tapping the toes of the working leg onto the floor. Then, raise your leg straight back up behind you again.

Try 15 repetitions to start and then switch legs and repeat.

Easing back into your routine can be as easy as ABC. It's the homework of daily cardia and proper nutrition that's going to pull it all together. If you show up, work hard and refrain from too much goofmg off, by the end of the semes­ ter, you'll wear your report card proudly.

Nancy Cole's column runs every other week.

DOCTORG

Trauma can lead to pain, penile curvature

Q: For the past few months I have noticed my penis becoming more bent when I have an erection. Could I actually have bro­ ken it?

nothing wrong

with fun, energetic and "athletle" sex, as long as it is pleasurable for both your partner and yourself. But be careful of injur­ ing your penis during sexual activ­ ity by accidentally bending it in

drmarcglttelman ;§::yahoo,com

penis could be "fractured."

The penis is not a bone or a mus­ cle (as most people believe), but rather a chamber that holds blood. If the chamber gets traumatized you may actually hear a snap and experience severe pain and even get black and blue. As it heals, scar tissue builds up in the penis causing an imbalance in the blood flow dur­ ing sexual excitement, This can cre­ ate a decrease in erection strength, pain during erection and curvature that can be either mild or some­ times 50 severe that it can cause dif­ fIculties for you and your partner to r. •..• .-::I ~ nndtinn where nenetration is

Peyronies even without remember­ ing any traumatic sexual event.

The good news is that 50 percent will improve on their own. This problem is not life threatening but it can make sexual relations diffi­ cult. For these men, it's worth a visit to a urologist. By all means, sexual activity should be enjoyed to your heart's content, but we don't want too many cowboys hurt at the rodeo.

Dr. Marc Gittelman is a board certified urologist. The advice in this column is not a substitute for con­ sulting a physician. Write to him at DrMarcGittelman~y~.hoo.c?~ .~_~