NeuroTypical

Also anyone can write an article and post it online. A peer-reviewed journal article is exactly that. Peer-Reviewed. It goes through a lengthy editing process by individuals in the field to determine if the article has used appropriate research methods and has reliable information. 

No one knows exactly how the brain works. Psychology researchers and continuously looking to figure out the etiology of all diagnoses. But we have found treatment strategies that have good outcomes supported by reputable research. It is a continuously changing field as new technology allows us to fully understand the brain and the body.

The conflict is in the material you were citing. "Psychology Today" and other related websites are not reputable or reliable, and thus if used to back up your theory will be received badly by others. 
And this article semi-supports your argument. It agrees that the pharmaceutical companies have profited off of this false "chemical imbalance" theory, but that there is still a need for a biopsychosocial approach to treatment. Which still includes the inclusion of medication if necessary. 

Hi Petty3,
Just fair warning, JoCa is quite passionately negative about the topic.  He's in the minority, but sometimes he yells so loud it sounds like his voice is bigger than it is.
I suggest you take everything he is saying with a grain of salt.  Quite a lot of it is absolutely NOT in alignment with what the church has to say about the issue.
And as you move through this stage of your life, you'll find the occasional person who seems to be a set of speakers turned up to eleven on one particular aspect of you.  Some of them might take it quite personally and even get offensive if you decline to see things their way.  Not saying JoCa will do this, but he does have a quite long multi-year track record of making discussions like this real contentious, real fast.  Not quite what you came here for, I get that. 

Shout out to the Catholics here.  If the dictionary definition of compassion doesn't show a picture of Mother Theresa, there is probably a better dictionary out there. 

Open a couple of hospices for poor folk dying of leprosy, you'll have a few things to say about compassion. 

Shout out to the Catholics here.  If the dictionary definition of compassion doesn't show a picture of Mother Theresa, there is probably a better dictionary out there. 

Open a couple of hospices for poor folk dying of leprosy, you'll have a few things to say about compassion. 

Vort is advocating smoking again!

The LDS church church speaks a lot about “loving one another,” yet there is the unfortunate aspect of being human where our thoughts and actions toward ourselves and others does not equal love. 
In my own journey I’ve found we can’t have compassion for others until we can have compassion for ourself. I used to think that I had to have empathy to have compassion. But now I see that empathy is just one aspect of compassion, and compassion can be found without. 
 
Sometimes I perceive others trying so hard to help others around them while they completely ignore or avoid their innerself. When I finally took the time to find inner validation and divine love, I could quite the thoughts about myself and genuinely focus on the world around me. 
I believe compassion is seeing others and yourself and loving who they/you are in the present. Compassion is obtained by accepting who you are in the present, and not holding on to the past (loving past self) or fearing the future. It’s obtained by connecting with others in the present. 
What so do you think compassion is? How do you think people obtain compassion? 
 
 

Good reminder - thanks Pam.
In semi-related news:
The inventor of the word "grawlix" - the little linguistic shapes or symbols that indicate a cartoon character is swearing, died last month at the age of 94.  Mort Walker created Beetle Bailey and produced it for more than six decades, making his the longest tenure of any cartoonist on his original creation in the history of comics.
https://comicbookglossary.wordpress.com/grawlixes/
Grawlixes - Appropriate for Sunday comics, but not appropriate for mormonhub.com.  Because we have specific words in mind when we do it, and it is basically a way to communicate the word without having to say it.  Which is a cheat, which doesn't fly.

Good reminder - thanks Pam.
In semi-related news:
The inventor of the word "grawlix" - the little linguistic shapes or symbols that indicate a cartoon character is swearing, died last month at the age of 94.  Mort Walker created Beetle Bailey and produced it for more than six decades, making his the longest tenure of any cartoonist on his original creation in the history of comics.
https://comicbookglossary.wordpress.com/grawlixes/
Grawlixes - Appropriate for Sunday comics, but not appropriate for mormonhub.com.  Because we have specific words in mind when we do it, and it is basically a way to communicate the word without having to say it.  Which is a cheat, which doesn't fly.

I've been noticing a lot more lately people using acronyms for swear words in conversations.  This would be considered filter skipping which is against the rules of the site.  For example:  BS
5. No cursing or crude language. Any swearing, including filter skipping, will result in an automatic one week suspension.
This is not the type of language that we want here on the forums and it needs to stop.  I realize some subjects are hot topics to some.  But we can't allow this type of conversation to continue.
 
 

Yeesh.  Flashback to when I taught Gospel Essentials.  In attendance:
- A guy in the middle of a nasty divorce, including abuse allegations and custody battles
- A very, very single guy in his late 30's
- A sarcastic 18 yr old girl with one foot out of the church, there because mom still was able to force her to go
- A recent convert with a loud mouth and a ton of misinformation about our faith.
The lesson, of course, was The Family can be Eternal.  I had to teach these folks that we're all supposed to get married in the temple and have a perfect family, without insulting the single, destroying the guy getting the divorce, being the last straw for the young woman, or letting the loud convert take us all into the weeds.  I would have gladly given my right arm to swap with the Gospel Principles teacher and hide in front of 30+ people.  
The Lord seemed to let me take this without much in the way of prompting or guidance.  I think I did ok.  We talked about the "stereotypical perfect mormon family", and griped for a while about how it doesn't look even remotely like any of our situations.  Then we talked about why we teach that picture, if it's not something that seems to be in the cards for many of us.  Then, with the understanding that "try your best" doesn't mean "succeed or go to hell", we went through the lesson as outlined.  More than one of us had the puffy eyes before it was over. 
That was sort of my mount everest of teaching.  I think we all survived.  My first-and-foremost, above-all-else consideration, was love for each of these people, and as much empathy as I could summon.  I don't remember, or care, where they sat.

Yeesh.  Flashback to when I taught Gospel Essentials.  In attendance:
- A guy in the middle of a nasty divorce, including abuse allegations and custody battles
- A very, very single guy in his late 30's
- A sarcastic 18 yr old girl with one foot out of the church, there because mom still was able to force her to go
- A recent convert with a loud mouth and a ton of misinformation about our faith.
The lesson, of course, was The Family can be Eternal.  I had to teach these folks that we're all supposed to get married in the temple and have a perfect family, without insulting the single, destroying the guy getting the divorce, being the last straw for the young woman, or letting the loud convert take us all into the weeds.  I would have gladly given my right arm to swap with the Gospel Principles teacher and hide in front of 30+ people.  
The Lord seemed to let me take this without much in the way of prompting or guidance.  I think I did ok.  We talked about the "stereotypical perfect mormon family", and griped for a while about how it doesn't look even remotely like any of our situations.  Then we talked about why we teach that picture, if it's not something that seems to be in the cards for many of us.  Then, with the understanding that "try your best" doesn't mean "succeed or go to hell", we went through the lesson as outlined.  More than one of us had the puffy eyes before it was over. 
That was sort of my mount everest of teaching.  I think we all survived.  My first-and-foremost, above-all-else consideration, was love for each of these people, and as much empathy as I could summon.  I don't remember, or care, where they sat.

Kudos.  This sounds like a good comprehensive plan.  At the end of the day, whatever your wife does, whatever effort you put into the marriage, the only thing you ultimately control is you.  
God bless.

Yeesh.  Flashback to when I taught Gospel Essentials.  In attendance:
- A guy in the middle of a nasty divorce, including abuse allegations and custody battles
- A very, very single guy in his late 30's
- A sarcastic 18 yr old girl with one foot out of the church, there because mom still was able to force her to go
- A recent convert with a loud mouth and a ton of misinformation about our faith.
The lesson, of course, was The Family can be Eternal.  I had to teach these folks that we're all supposed to get married in the temple and have a perfect family, without insulting the single, destroying the guy getting the divorce, being the last straw for the young woman, or letting the loud convert take us all into the weeds.  I would have gladly given my right arm to swap with the Gospel Principles teacher and hide in front of 30+ people.  
The Lord seemed to let me take this without much in the way of prompting or guidance.  I think I did ok.  We talked about the "stereotypical perfect mormon family", and griped for a while about how it doesn't look even remotely like any of our situations.  Then we talked about why we teach that picture, if it's not something that seems to be in the cards for many of us.  Then, with the understanding that "try your best" doesn't mean "succeed or go to hell", we went through the lesson as outlined.  More than one of us had the puffy eyes before it was over. 
That was sort of my mount everest of teaching.  I think we all survived.  My first-and-foremost, above-all-else consideration, was love for each of these people, and as much empathy as I could summon.  I don't remember, or care, where they sat.

Yeesh.  Flashback to when I taught Gospel Essentials.  In attendance:
- A guy in the middle of a nasty divorce, including abuse allegations and custody battles
- A very, very single guy in his late 30's
- A sarcastic 18 yr old girl with one foot out of the church, there because mom still was able to force her to go
- A recent convert with a loud mouth and a ton of misinformation about our faith.
The lesson, of course, was The Family can be Eternal.  I had to teach these folks that we're all supposed to get married in the temple and have a perfect family, without insulting the single, destroying the guy getting the divorce, being the last straw for the young woman, or letting the loud convert take us all into the weeds.  I would have gladly given my right arm to swap with the Gospel Principles teacher and hide in front of 30+ people.  
The Lord seemed to let me take this without much in the way of prompting or guidance.  I think I did ok.  We talked about the "stereotypical perfect mormon family", and griped for a while about how it doesn't look even remotely like any of our situations.  Then we talked about why we teach that picture, if it's not something that seems to be in the cards for many of us.  Then, with the understanding that "try your best" doesn't mean "succeed or go to hell", we went through the lesson as outlined.  More than one of us had the puffy eyes before it was over. 
That was sort of my mount everest of teaching.  I think we all survived.  My first-and-foremost, above-all-else consideration, was love for each of these people, and as much empathy as I could summon.  I don't remember, or care, where they sat.

This is true.  I am an engineer by trade and am so use to relying on my intellect to solve whatever problem comes my way.  This is so far from that and I am so out of my depth here.  I figured all I can control is me.  And at the end of the day if that is not enough for her, it will break my heart more, but I know things will somehow work out.  I keep getting the same answer in my heart.  "Do what is right and know I the Lord am with thee"  I don't know what it means, but it does give me hope and has brought some peace to my heart.

thank you @Jane_Doe.  I had no idea that there were such strong feelings about psychology and medication.
I just know that for now I believe the medication is helping and I need to be on it but hopefully not forever.
My questioning and what I'm more concerned about is how to keep keeping on and trusting when I feel so void of the spirit.

The whole Twin Flame thing was done behind my back for several months.  This has just torn my heart in two.   But I knew the day I first found out from her that I was half of the problem of the coldness of the relationship.  I spent the entire day formulating a plan to recreate myself.  It is a three point strategy.  1) physical.  I have gotten fat over the years and I am fully committed to getting back into shape.  That has gone well, but will be a long term commitment.   2) emotional.  I have committed to rekindling the romance.  And unfortunately a lot of what I do at this stage does feel a bit inorganic, but I figure I have to start somewhere.  3)  Spiritual.  I've been as flabby spiritually as I am physically.  I am recommitted to bringing myself closer to the Savoir and am taking the steps to make it happen.  
By the end of the Journey, I expect to be a much better person than I am today.  A much better husband and lover than I am today.
I am seeing positive results, but I anticipate some rough, rough waters along the way and just pray that at the end of the journey she and I will be madly in love and the Twin Flame will be kicked to the curb.   As of right now she has had very little correspondence with this person since our first discussion and I have been having positive results on all fronts, but I still have a very heavy heart and no longer sleep peacefully through the night.  

Whenever I teach a combined Priesthood class with Elders and High Priests (30-50 present in the Chapel), I like to encourage those to sit closer. I'm not going to ask more than once, of course. No need to be petty. I just think it's easier to have a discussion this way. It's easier for those present to hear me if there's close proximity; it's also easier for those who make comments to be heard clearly. I know that when I'm not teaching, I feel more comfortable participating if the space between me and the teacher is reasonably close. I think it helps facilitate an active, vibrant discussion. Certainly there are more important issues going on in Church, but if I can create a better learning atmosphere for a class, then I will gladly do so. 

I've been happy dancing like you won't believe.  It came out to be that my husband's bonus was increased to $2,500.  And then we find out that the home insurance assessment for our hurricane damage paid out enough that the contractor took the check the insurance paid out without needing us to pay him our $2,000 deductible (we were gonna put the bonus towards the deductible).  I was so tempted to trade my car in (it's 8 years old, paid off long time ago) but my husband put some sense into me... we don't want this tax cut to create new debt!  So we put all the money into the kids' college fund... or so I thought.  Come to find out, my husband used half of it on a super extravagant Valentine's Day gift for me.  So here I am... sporting a brand spanking new iPhone X to replace my iPhone 6.  The rest he put on my kids' investment accounts (not college fund) so they can use it for their mission.  My husband didn't get anything.  Well, he got a $20 UnderTech belly-band holster for his firearm.  If I'd have known we're going all out on Valentine's, I would have asked @mirkwood for advice on better holsters!  

Ok - finally got my paycheck where the tax changes have rolled in.   I'm paying about $100 LESS per month in taxes now.  This is the best news in the whole world for my family!  Some home repairs have been overdue a while.  
Time for happy dance.  Thanks, Trump!

** Hey everyone, let's get back to actually helping the OP **

*sigh*....like talking to a wall. 
I wish you luck @JoCa in your endeavors. 

I think you just stated your opinion regarding the field of psychology.