I switched my radio station on the way home from work today and caught Dr. Laura's show. A young woman phoned in who, in essence, was concerned that her family didn't seem to have been dealing with her younger brother's suicide. I didn't catch when the suicide occurred.

The family has his ashed on their mantle of the fireplace. She said her family never talks about him and never has and she doesn't like that they keep his ashes. She wanted to know if it would be alright to talk to her family about letting his ashes go.

The young woman was very nice. I wish I could remember everything she said to her but I was upset for the young woman. In essence, Dr. Laura asked her if it were her fault that her brother committeed suicide. She said no, he shot himself, I didn't do anything. Dr. Laura then told her that apparently her family was okay and had moved on and that it shouldn't bother her that they don't discuss it.

She told her she needed to get over it and move on.

Good grief. I'm very tempted to write Dr. Laura. I hated it that the young woman's phone call was left at that.

Hi Sweet Doody!

I have been thinking of you and hoping all is well.

This is my own personal opinion of this radio host:

This particular radio host is often very controversial.
I, personally, find her style rather abrupt and, frankly, unprofessional.
She seems to really get a charge out of her own abrupt nature, at times.
I would never send anyone to her or suggest they ask for her advice on the air or otherwise.
In my opinion, doing so is nothing but a "crapshoot," fully dependent upon the radio host's personal mood at the moment.
(The host may also be looking for increased ratings through causing controversy.)

I hope the young lady feels free to talk with her family and am concerned that anyone would feel they must ask a radio show host if they can/may/should talk with their family. It doesn't scream any "open door policy," as far as talking with parents/family, does it? I hope this young lady finds a safe place to talk about this issue.

I am glad you, and people like you, are out there in the world, raising concsciousness about the importance of processing these life/death events.

Hugs to you, Doody!
~DejaVu

I've heard her talk about a lot of relationship issues, and in many of them, she is right. However, she can be very harsh. Also, she doesn't seem to be very patient when it comes to listening to the callers. She frequently interrupts while they are trying to get to the point.

Seriously, how can you know if a family is "over" someone's suicide in a 3 minute phonecall! Dr. Laura didn't speak to any of the other family members about it, how could she have come to that conclusion?

After listening to her for a few years off and on, her basic life philosophy is: Don't marry a jerk, don't have kids with a jerk, don't shack up with a jerk, and if you divorce a jerk, don't date again until your kids are grown, or you are a jerk!

How's that workin' for ya Dr. Phil?

Yes I know you guys are right! But Seams, I have to agree that she does have a lot of good answers and a lot of times answers that people don't want to hear but deep down inside know. Like you said...don't marry jerks, blah blah, LOL! I've heard her enough to know how she works.

But...this one realllyyyyyy bothered me! Suggesting her family had gotten over it and moved on and that she should?!? Well, obviously Dr. Laura doesn't read NeuroTalk.

I thought of so many people here when I heard it. I hope the young woman realizes that there are so many others like her out there and that she can find support. Poor thing.

Waves at Deja Vu. I'm okay, and so glad to see you on here!!!

Thanks both of you.

Hi Doody!

Yes, it can cause us to wonder if this young lady will take up this issue again anytime soon. The thought that this may thwart her in further discussing the issue is very disconcerting!
So, Doody, do you know Dr. Laura well enough to give her a call "on the air?"
I wonder if she has an email address, as well?
Would you like to talk to the Dr. about this, Doody?

Is there something constructive to do around this, Doody?
Do you have something on your mind?

((((((( Doody ))))))))

With Love,
~DejaVu

She has email and a website - probably a contact us thing on her site.

They changed her time slot here so i don't listen to her anymore.

But after you hear so many calls you can usually figure out what she is going to say to them.
But I often have other questions I would want to ask if it was me doing the show LOL.
I like to get as many facts as I can before I would dole out advice.

I would rather listen to my own ears ringing or my own heartbeat than listen to HER or Dr. Phil.

Doesn't she/didn't she, have unresolved "issues" with her own mother?
I haven't listened to her in years.

Yes, Alffe....it was quite the scandal when the terribly tragic news aired about Dr. Laura and her mother. It was in all the tabloids. It appears that Dr. Laura did not keep in good touch with her elderly ill mother, and the poor woman lay dead in her home for several weeks before being found!
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/lauramomaut1.html

Dr. Laura was on daytime TV here for a very brief time, years ago in Martha Stewart's morning time slot. Dr. Laura didn't last 2 months! She does not translate well on TV at all, and is even worse than her radio show!

I had never heard that.

here's dr L released comment -
["I am horrified by the tragic circumstances of my mother's death, and so sad to learn that she died as she chose to live--alone and isolated. My mother shut all her family out of her life over the years, though we made several futile attempts to stay connected. May God rest her soul."]

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/lauramom1.html

I've heard quite a few stories from co workers, and others about "mothers" and "fathers" that are beyond belief - there are sick & evil people out there.
Sometimes you have to cut the ties and stay away from toxic people.

wow found this - http://www.ralphmag.org/dr-lauraZA.html
and found the pics -it's just not safe to let anyone take nekked pics of ya anymore.