Should political debate be about jobs not debt? Zakaria: Cutting too fast slows growth Terror warning for utility companies An initiative that could save lives Are tabloid papers good for America? Do we coddle female athletes?

Social media background checks? If you can' t beat them, eat them! TV producer Al Taylor: I met with Casey Chihuahua chases off robbers British phone hacking inquiry widened Shuttle Atlantis makes final landing If you can' t beat them, eat them! NASA: What' s next? New breast cancer screening guidelines First Lady' s new food initiative Fallout after Murdoch testimony Geyser of water lifts car into air Bolden: NASA is very busy Are fast food calorie counts accurate?

Hacking groups' possible agendas Man served time for elaborate fraud Ridicu. List Classic: The best of Snooki Neutrality policy impacting bullying?

School district' s policy under scrutiny Teenager known as the ' Barefoot Bandit' Corzine, Fiorina on debt ceiling debate Dems, GOP spew rhetoric on tax issue Man faked his identity for decades Murdoch in the hot seat Ex- nuclear plant operator speaks out CNN' s new video experience on i. Pad The Shot: Caption casts spell on Cooper Should politicians do religious events? Young People Want Debt Deal Edwards ordered to repay $ 2. 3M Social media background checks? Finding ' voice' with cerebral palsy 11 million starving in Somalia Famine strikes Somalia 9/ 11 families to meet with Justice Dept.

PM Cameron addresses hacking allegations Bachmann questions farmers' claims Mrs.

Murdoch to the rescue Granderson: Debt talks need more women Dr. Drew Bristol Palin talks teen pregnancy TV producer Al Taylor: I met with Casey Bizarre deaths at millionaire' s mansion Behind- the- scenes with Bristol Palin Preview: Dr. Drew with Bristol Palin Murray to blame for Jackson' s death? Casey interview: Bonanza or backlash?

Summers on America' s growth prospects Fareed' s Take: Afghanistan' s future What in the World: Brazil overheating?

Most expensive city in the world Lawmakers fighting like cats and dogs Fareed Zakaria answers your questions Bernard- Henri Levy speaks out on DSK Peter Godwin on Sudan Getting a Picasso into a war zone Abrams: Murdochs ' got to be thrilled' Zakaria: Cutting too fast slows growth Ex- player: NFL abandoned me after injury Ex- insider: ' Murdoch is on the run now' Gergen: Prospects for default above 50% Debt crisis: Whatever happened to jobs?

House vote ' one way of herding the cats' Experts skeptical of Murdoch' s ignorance Campbell: Cameron should admit ' error' ' Revolving door' guarded Murdoch paper?

Who is winning debt ceiling debate? Hacking whistle- blower was ' a good guy' Paris Hilton walks off set of GMA Gay man turns himself ' straight' Can Casey Anthony ever be forgiven? Roseanne: I' m not good at marriage Chubby teen becomes beauty queen Shannon Tweed walks out on Gene Simmons Would Casey' s attorney let her babysit?

My father was ' The Grim Reaper' Fergie: I' m addicted to being liked Clinton nudges India, upsets China Docs: Mammograms each year starting at 40 Will migraines impact Bachmann campaign? Murdoch acting like himself? Gadhafi: Brega will be ' hell' Republican social issues in 2012 An initiative that could save lives Missouri mother of three is missing TV producer claims he met with Casey Murray' s defense wants jury sequestered Tot mom allegedly spotted at airport Cops: Son kills parents, throws party Where is Casey Anthony?

Is Congress less partisan than we think? Prince Alwaleed on Apple, News Corp. Panel judges Murdoch' s performance Cornel West and Tavis Smiley speak out Piers Morgan: Behind the scenes Piers Morgan blasts Mensch' s ' lie' Trump: Bachmann is ' highly underrated' Murdoch takes pie in the face Piers Morgan: CNN host, ' AGT' judge Tom Arnold discusses his dark past Nancy Grace opens up on fiance' s murder Tom Arnold talks Arnold Schwarzenegger Claustrophobic fighter pilot ' Mini Darth Vader' talks health care Impact of concussions to brain Ex- players sue NFL over concussion risks Brain injury patient back on the road Katy Perry' s 9 VMA noms; Gaga snubbed? Ryan Reynolds on the fame game Chris Brown to star in a romantic movie Will Nancy Grace interview ' tot mom' ? Bounty hunter wants to sue Casey Anthony Khloe Kardashian' s Twitter outrage Hollywood hacking outrage J.

Lo and Marc Anthony split shocker Justin and Selena: Wedding crashers? Casey Anthony in disguise?

Kim Kardashian' s mom gets facelift Al- Qaeda uses cartoons to get recruits al- Awlaki: Wanted Dead or Alive? Musharraf to U. S: Keep your guard up Drone of the future tested Terror warning for utility companies Musharraf: I think Perry will run Lobbyists battle amid deficit cuts Debt debate gets ugly New TSA body scan less invasive Hackers turn tables on Murdoch empire Migraines a deal breaker for Bachmann? ' Nobody proved Murdoch was involved' How Giuliani would negotiate debt talks Rudy Giuliani weighs in on debt talks Sound of Sunday with Candy Crowley Politicos agree: GOP field leaderless Candy' s post- show analysis Giuliani: ' Not sure' I could win in NH Graham has no confidence in compromise WH Budget chief: Time to act is now

( CNN) - - As a toddler, Ian Barrier got expelled from day care. & quot; They just said that he was all over the place, he couldn' t handle the structure, they didn' t have the staff or the skills to deal with it, & quot; said his mother, Amy Barr. & quot; They said, ' We think he has or ADHD' and I' m like, ' What is that? & quot; Ian, now 11, and his 9- year- old brother Aidan are just two examples of some 5 million children in the United States who have received the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD) , a condition marked by impulsive behavior and a lack of focus. But although this is a medical condition with medical treatments available, often doctors aren' t the ones suggesting a diagnosis. Many parents begin their struggles with treating their children' s ADHD the way that Barr did: with a suggested diagnosis from a school or day care setting. That' s a problem, doctors say, when there could be many other factors contributing to a child' s behavior. For a teacher to suggest that a child has ADHD is & quot; inappropriate and dangerous, & quot; says Dr.

Elizabeth Roberts, child psychiatrist in Murrieta, California. Depression, anxiety and abuse are all possibilities in a child' s life that could lead to attention problems, Roberts said. That means that many children are receiving medication for the wrong problem. Roberts wants to say to all educators: & quot; There are many, many diagnoses that cause these problems, including abuse and depression and anxiety. So please, withhold your judgment. & quot; But Barr is happy that her son' s day care center mentioned the condition to her.

It explained Ian' s behaviors that she had been excusing with the adage & quot; boys will be boys. & quot; The center also directed her to a facility where he could get tested. & quot; I' m just glad that they brought it up, because I was living in it and didn' t know any better, & quot; she said.

In Barr' s case, having gotten her kids tested for ADHD even before school, the educational system has been supportive. But the question of medication has plagued her, with years of trying different combinations of drugs - - sometimes four or five at a time. Despite medication, Ian pulled the fire alarm at his fourth day care center, dispatching the same fire department that would get him out of a tree at age 9, Barr said. And both brothers have spent time in a psychiatric ward at a children' s hospital;or the younger one, it may have been because of overmedication, Barr said. & quot; You go through all of that, and it' s just various different medications, and then you start to feel guilty: I' m drugging my kid, & quot; said Barr, of Fleming Island, Florida.

Her boys are now both on just one medication - - Vyvanse ( lisdexamfetamine) - - for focusing in school. All too often, parents come to pediatrician Dr. Claudia Gold' s office asking for a prescription for ADHD, based on a recommendation from school. When she consults with parents alone, however, she' s likely to hear stories of trauma: a death in the family, an abusive relationship, and other life experiences that the teacher knew nothing about. & quot; I think that sometimes folks want an immediate answer and they want to help a child as quickly as possible, & quot; said Cheryl Rode, Director of Clinical Operations at the San Diego Center for Children in California. & quot; Medication is quick and easy but it' s not the answer alone for working with kids who have ADHD. & quot; Experts agree that ADHD does exist as a real disorder, and that some children really do benefit from medication. Studies have shown a biological basis to the disorder and a genetic component, suggesting it can be passed down in families.

But it' s not the teacher' s place to make diagnoses, or to recommend medication, Gold said. Teachers and related school personnel have an important role in identifying learning and social challenges faced by students, including those with ADHD, says Clarke Ross, CEO of CHADD ( Children and Adults with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder) . But teachers should never give a diagnosis for the purpose of medication use, or advise the use of medications, he said. Alana Morales, of Thornton, Colorado, is one of those teachers who has brought up the subject of ADHD testing with many parents.

She doesn' t tell parents to medicate their kids, but brings up the subject of getting children tested because she thinks it' s important for parents to know. & quot; You have to be so careful because, again, we are not doctors, & quot; she said. & quot; But does that mean we don' t recognize it? No. & quot; Not every child with ADHD needs medication, doctors say, and Morales said some students benefit more from counseling, special adjustments in school, a tutor, or a different environment for doing homework. It' s helpful for parents to get informed about the condition and become advocates for their children - - but some may make the situation worse by having a closed mind to interventions and denying that there' s anything wrong, she said. & quot; You' re really setting them up for failure, because it' s not a crime, it doesn' t mean you' re less of a parent if your child learns differently, & quot; she said.

Rode agrees with Roberts that teachers should not recommend medication, but thinks that teachers have an excellent frame of reference for what is typical or normal development. Also the parent of two children with ADHD, Morales has specific strategies she uses when there are kids with ADHD in her class: don' t seat them together, put them on the edges of the classroom so she can see them better, and sometimes modify assignments.

Providing an environment conducive to helping kids with conditions such as this is getting harder as budget- tightening schools cut back on teachers, Morales said. Last year, teaching at a public school in Arizona, Morales had one classroom with 37 students, which included at least four kids with ADHD and one with Asperger' s syndrome. And teachers whose job it is to provide extra help to those kids get responsibility for more students, leaving them with less time for each one. Roberts estimates that only about 10 to 20 percent of children who receive the diagnosis of ADHD actually need medication. While parents like Barr have tried to inform themselves as much as possible about ADHD and treatment options, some doctors say the condition gets misapplied because it is a quick and easy catch- all diagnosis for a variety of behavior problems, with drugs available to treat it.

Parents are also culprits, and bear some responsibility for their children' s behavior, Roberts said. She thinks a lot of kids just need better structure and discipline in the home. & quot; Parents want to leap- frog over the parenting job and get right to the grandparenting, & quot; she said. & quot; Everyone wants to have fun with their kids and everyone wants to be popular with their kids like Grandma is.

But the reality is: Someone has to be the bad guy or the kid never learns. & quot; Morales recommends that parents stay involved in their child' s school lives by helping them with homework, assisting with organizing their papers, and writing notes to teachers so that everyone is on the same page. On behalf of her own two children with ADHD, Morales is writing letters now to their teachers explaining how her kids learn differently and what accommodations have been made in the past ( they are both on medication) . She is also asking the teachers to let her know about any problems this school year.

Looking back, Barr wishes that when her children first got the ADHD diagnosis and then started school, she could have had a teleconference with the school and the psychiatrist at the me time.

Instead, she had to relay what the teachers said about her children' s behavior to the psychiatrist, and then the psychiatrist' s treatment decisions back to the school.

( CNN) - - After almost 3, 000 miles of rowing, bouts of seasickness, equipment failure and salt sores, Paul Ridley is back on land. On day 88, Ridley, 25, completed his solo rowing trip across the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the youngest American ever to do so. & quot; I' m exhausted.

Overwhelmed with all the excitement from my arrival, & quot; Ridley told CNN. & quot; Physically feeling good but will be feeling a lot better when the soreness starts to heal and once that happens I will be back to fundraising because cancer research is still in need of funding, so we still have a lot of work to do. & quot; For nearly three months, Ridley has been rowing up to twelve hours a day on the 2, 950- mile journey to raise awareness and hopefully raise money for cancer research. His organization & quot; Row for Hope& quot; was inspired by the death of his mother from skin cancer in 2001.

He set out from the Canary Islands off the north African coast in his 19- foot boat on January 1; he landed on the Caribbean island of Antigua at 2: 30 p. m. on March 29. & quot; It was incredible, & quot; he said. & quot; The whole Island of Antigua came out to greet me. The harbor was swarming with boats. A big crowd on dry land. It' s really been an amazing reception. & quot; Only 85 people have attempted the nearly 3, 000 miles east- to- west crossing, according to the Ocean Rowing Society International, but most failed. & quot; I' m definitely suffering from exposure to the elements and I' ve lost 20 pounds. This is definitely different from my life at home. & quot; Ridley told CNN this week before hitting land.

Ridley is the youngest - - and only third American - - to complete the voyage by rowing. Dedicating the trip to the memory of his mother, Ridley' s goal was to cross the Atlantic Ocean with only oars and raise $ 500, 000 for research at the Yale Cancer Center.

While he arrived at his destination, he still has to raise $ 400, 000 to meet his goal. After their mother died, Ridley and his sister Joy Ridley created Row for Hope, a fundraising effort in memory of their mother. & quot; I was a rower at Colgate University. I love the sport.

I' m not a scientist, but I can row, & quot; he said. The project has been three years in the making. For two of those, Ridley worked with a rowing coach and nutritionist. Beginning in March 2008, he trained by rowing up to 10 hours a day, every day. He put on an extra 15 pounds, knowing he would lose weight during the crossing.

He and his sister spent $ 60, 000 of their own savings to have his boat custom built, and he took a leave of absence from his financial services job.

There was no support vessel following in his wake, and his food was largely the same freeze- dried variety as astronauts eat in space. Ridley' s sister and fellow fundraisers tracked his progress via GPS navigation devices and kept in touch via a satellite phone. & quot; I have electricity from a solar- powered electrical system which is how I power the computer and also the satellite phone, & quot; he explained. & quot; That keeps me connected back home and is one of the real mental pick- me- ups I have out here. & quot; Out in the , even when he rested his arms, his fingers were busy documenting his adventure on his blog, transmitted over satellite phone. & quot; My hands may be blistered, my seat is sore but I love the journey, & quot; he wrote. The courage to confront and even embrace his discomfort and the danger from winter ocean weather comes from his mother Katherine. & quot; Her fight was courageous but short, & quot; Paul said. & quot; After she was gone I remember wondering how anyone ever moves on from that kind of loss. & quot; But even once on land, this journey is not over. In fact, it' s just the beginning of a bigger expedition. & quot; We' d like to keep Row for Hope alive to support other athletes who want to take on similar adventures for cancer research, & quot; he said. & quot; We' ve learned a lot in the last several years, and we' ve set up the framework for other people to use. Basically, we want to help people use their big dreams to create big change in the fight against cancer. & quot; All About & bull;

( CNN) - - When Dr. Danielle Ofri first read the headlines, she was horrified: Doctors were prescribing placebos to their patients instead of real medicine.

How awful, she thought. How deceptive. But then, as Ofri read on, she thought, & quot; Wait a second. By the definitions of this study, I' ve prescribed placebos. & quot; Ofri, an assistant professor of medicine at New York University Medical School, says when patients complain about being tired, for example, she' ll sometimes suggest they take a multivitamin, even though there' s no proof they work against fatigue. & quot; First, I' ll do the million- dollar workup on the patient, & quot; Ofri says. & quot; I check them out for anemia, diabetes, cancer, asthma, depression, and other sorts of other things.

When I can' t find anything wrong, I' ll explain vitamins have worked for some of my patients, and there' s no downside. I don' t think that' s being deceptive. & quot; Last week' s study on placebos published in the British Medical Journal has sparked debate: What precisely is a placebo, and might you, the patient, actually in some cases benefit from one? Placebos, it turns out, are in the eye of the beholder. Dr. Ezekiel Emmanuel, one of the study authors and director of the department of bioethics at the National Institutes of Health, says it' s unethical for a doctor to suggest a that hasn' t been proven to work.

Other doctors say it' s OK - - and sometimes beneficial - - to prescribe something that hasn' t been shown to work in studies, as long as it' s not harmful. Perhaps, they reason, the treatment - - say a vitamin, or an aspirin - - could have a physiological effect not yet found in studies. Or maybe a treatment will have & quot; a placebo effect, & quot; meaning it will make you feel better just because you have confidence it will make you feel better.

So how would you even know if your doctor' s prescribing you a placebo? And should you take it? & quot; Not all placebos are created equal, & quot; says Dr.

Christiane Northrup.

Below are four placebos that the study found are commonly prescribed, with advice on questions to ask about each of them.

Vitamins Vitamins have several proven purposes. & quot; If you' re a young woman about to become pregnant, it' s important you take folate.

And Vitamin B12 is necessary to prevent certain medical conditions like anemia, & quot; Emanuel says. Beyond a few solid examples like these, some doctors think vitamins might help for certain conditions, such as fatigue, while others think they don' t.

The solution: Ask your doctor if the vitamin has been proven to help your problem.

If it hasn' t, ask her if she has any reason to think it will work ( perhaps, as with Ofri, she' s had anecdotal success among her patients) . Finally, ask if there' s any downside to taking the vitamin, then make your decision. Over- the- counter painkillers You' ve heard of the saying & quot; take two aspirin and call me in the morning& quot; ?

The most commonly prescribed placebo in Emanuel' s study was over- the- counter analgesics, such as aspirin. In Emanuel' s view, these doctors were prescribing aspirin without any reason other than that that it might elicit the & quot; placebo effect. & quot; But Northrup disagrees. & quot; Why would an over- the- counter analgesic be a placebo? Aspirin' s a powerful anti- inflammatory, and inflammation is an important part of many diseases. & quot; The advice here is similar to the advice with vitamins. If your doctor suggests you take aspirin for what ails you, ask if there' s any proof the aspirin will work. Even if there is proof, ask if the pain reliever could harm you in any way.

Antibiotics Everyone agrees there are cases where doctors prescribe antibiotics when they shouldn' t, often because the patient insists on them. In the NIH study, 13 percent of doctors reported using antibiotics as placebos. & quot; Antibiotics for a viral illness may be dangerous, and it' s not a good idea, & quot; Emanuel says. & quot; If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, ask if you actually have a bacterial infection. & quot; Ofri adds there' s not always a clear answer to that question. & quot; If I had a patient who' s had bronchitis for two weeks, it' s probably because of a virus. But it' s not out of the realm of reasonableness that it could be bacterial, & quot; She says it can tough to detect bacterial infections when someone has bronchitis, so sometimes she' ll prescribe an antibiotic.

Sedatives In the study, 13 percent of doctors also said they' d prescribed a sedative as a placebo. This is the only & quot; placebo& quot; our doctors agreed on: Sedatives can be addictive, and you want to take them only if you have a condition, such as an anxiety disorder, where they' re clearly indicated. & quot; If your doctor prescribes you a sedative, ask them why, and ask if there' s some other treatment, something that' s not addictive, that you could do instead, & quot; Northrup says. All About & bull;

It' s no secret that cold and flu season peaks in winter. And if you' re looking for ways to stay well, one priority, say experts, is simple: Follow a wholesome diet, just as you should any time of year. But that can be a tall order during the busy holiday season, when hectic social schedules and family commitments often interfere with regular meals. Food alone can' t protect against the common cold or influenza, and the science isn' t yet clear on which or how much of some nutrients may help bolster immunity to reduce your risk of getting sick. But experts agree that a rich in a variety of produce, whole grains, lean proteins, and low- fat dairy products - - along with adequate sleep, moderate exercise, and minimal - - contributes to a well- functioning immune system and may promote a faster recovery if you do come down with a cold or flu.

Stay hydrated Water is the largest single constituent of the human body - - contributing to at least half your body weight - - but it' s & quot; also a forgotten nutrient, & quot; says Jennifer K.

Nelson, M. S. , R.

D. , director of clinical dietetics at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

This essential nutrient ( meaning it' s one the body can' t produce on its own) promotes healthy muscle, bone, and blood. Adequate hydration is even more important once you' re sick because fluids lost through sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose need replacing. & quot; When you have a mild fever, your body becomes more dehydrated as a result. So drinking plenty of fluids is probably the first line of defense, & quot; Nelson says. The Institute of Medicine ( IOM) recommends an average 11 cups of fluids daily ( from beverages and foods) for healthy women, while men need about 15.

5 cups per day. Water, coffee, tea, and juice, as well as water- filled foods such as fruit, vegetables, and stews all count toward daily hydration needs.

Choose food While it' s known that certain nutrients like vitamins C, E, and A, as well as the mineral zinc, are associated with immune functions, it' s hard to attribute specific immunity- boosting benefits to any one nutrient because of inconclusive research. & quot; Many studies have been done in nutrition and immune function, involving numerous nutrients - - and [ they] come out with different, often contradicting results, & quot; says Dayong Wu, Ph. D. , a scientist in the Nutritional Immunology Laboratory, the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, and assistant professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition and Science Policy at Tufts University. Because a nutritional intervention may have different effects on people of different ages or nutrition status as noted in scientific studies, Wu says, it' s difficult to make broad recommendations based on study findings. & quot; In general, it' s easier to see positive, immune- strengthening results by supplementing someone with a vitamin or mineral that he is deficient in, & quot; he says.

The same benefits may not confer to & quot; people with adequate intake. & quot; That' s why Julia Zumpano, R. D. , of the Cleveland Clinic Department of Preventive Cardiology, recommends foods - - not supplements - - to help you stay strong through the winter. & quot; An overall healthful diet rich in vitamins and minerals is your best bet for the cold weather months, & quot; says Zumpano. & quot; You' ll also benefit from other nutrients not typically found in supplements when you eat a whole food. & quot; She encourages plenty of ( for vitamins C and E) ; whole grains, lean meats, and poultry ( for zinc) ; and low- fat dairy products ( for vitamin A) . For example, in addition to vitamin E, a whole grain like quinoa or rye bread offers fiber, B vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, which support overall good health. Fruits, vegetables, and seafood may also help you enjoy a healthier winter.

Pumpkin, and other deep- hued orange produce provide beta- carotene, which is converted in the body to vitamin A.

Choose , like grapefruit, oranges, kumquats, tangerines, and clementines as well as canned tomatoes, chiles, or pineapple for vitamin C. Oysters offer zinc. Check out our gallery for that deliver these healthful nutrients, plus information on how green tea and yogurt may help your immune system this winter. For more tips on making healthy taste great, try Cooking Light - Copyright 2009 magazine.

All rights reserved. All About & bull; & bull;

( CNN) - - After actress Mackenzie Phillips spoke about her sexual relationship with her musician father, online and telephone calls to an anti- sexual assault hot line surged. Her interviews in the past few weeks brought a spotlight to an uncomfortable topic.

Incest, a common but highly stigmatized form of , often leaves the victim ashamed, isolated and unable to tell others what' s happening, because the perpetrator is someone related to him or her, mental health experts said. & quot; For any survivor of sexual trauma, it' s challenging, and it takes a lot of courage to come forward, & quot; said Jennifer Wilson, director of the National Sexual Assault hot line. & quot; With incest survivors, it' s particularly difficult, because not only is there social stigma pressuring them to stay quiet, but also there' s pressure that' s within the family to stay quiet. & quot; The Rape, Abuse & amp; Incest National Network, which calls itself the nation' s largest anti- sexual assault organization, said it had seen an 83 percent increase in activity on its online hot line and a 26 percent increase on its telephone hot line after Phillips' interview with Oprah Winfrey aired last week. & quot; Unfortunately, it' s something we hear everyday in our hot line, so to have somebody speak aloud about it was empowering to a lot of victims and survivors who went through similar situations, & quot; Wilson said. spoke about the taboo nature of incest in her interview with CNN' s Larry King. & quot; There' s very little in this world that is taboo today, but this subject is still, like, shove it under the carpet, sweep it away, protect the abuser, deny the reality. . . . You' re just on your own, & quot; the former child star said. This makes it one of the most under- reported and least discussed crimes, experts said. A U.

Bureau of Justice Statistics report found that of the 60, 000 sexual assault cases reported in 12 states in 2000, about a quarter were perpetrated by family members. About half of the sexual assault cases with victims younger than 11 involved family members.

At times, a victim may feel unable to tell other family members what' s happening. And if he or she tells a relative, that family member may have & quot; a knee- jerk reaction, & quot; refusing to believe it. Relatives may try to protect the offender in order to keep the family together or to avoid the shame and stigma, Wilson said. This takes a devastating toll on a victim. & quot; Their sexual selves are damaged.

Their emotional selves are damaged, because ' who do I trust? ' & quot; said Debra Laino, a sex therapist and counselor. & quot; ' My father did this. My mother did this. Who can I trust if I can' t trust my family? ' & quot; Sometimes the reluctance to report the crime comes from the victim, because he or she doesn' t want to see the family member in jail. Although Phillips called the sexual relationship with her famed father, John Phillips, & quot; wrong, & quot; she said, & quot; I don' t want bad things to happen to him, but I also don' t want bad things to happen to me as a result of this. And I was convinced to let it lie. & quot; Her , a co- founder of the Mamas & amp; the Papas, died in 2001.

Father- or stepfather- daughter incest is the most common form, although it also occurs between mother and child, according to the National Center for Victims of Crime. A sexual assault victim could suffer physical effects of the crime such as sexually transmitted infections, genital trauma and urinary tract infections. They could also experience many mental health effects: social withdrawal, isolation, post- traumatic stress disorder and regressive behavior such as bedwetting and thumb sucking. Some become hypersexual and engage in destructive behaviors, experts said.

Humans & quot; have an instinct for avoiding incest or inbreeding, & quot; said Debra Lieberman, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Miami ( Florida) who researches incest. But alcohol, drugs and mental illness may disrupt that instinct. & quot; Under the heavy influence of cocaine or heroin or whatever else you' re taking, your mental boundaries are skewed, essentially, & quot; Laino said. The offender' s sexual frustrations could also contribute to inappropriate actions. & quot; It also depends on his other mating opportunities, & quot; Lieberman said. & quot; What is the quality of his current relationship with the female' s mother? Is she around?

What is the ability for the guy to attract other mates? & quot; The perpetrator, frustrated by the absence of suitable sexual partners, may turn to whomever is around - - even if it' s kin. Recovery from incest can occur, but it often takes years. A victim of incest has to understand that it' s not his or her fault and get professional help, Wilson said. & quot; It doesn' t make you broken, & quot; Phillips said. & quot; It doesn' t make it so that you can' t go on and be - - once you deal with honestly and realistically what you' ve been through, it doesn' t mean that you can' t be counted on or you can' t be well enough to be a part of the world. & quot; All About & bull; & bull;