Emmestyle: Phil's Blog http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts en-us 40 Phil testifies at a U.S. Congress Field Hearing on Parity for Mental and Addictive Disorders March 16, 2007 Columbia University Medical Center... <u>Opening Remarks:</u> Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) Rep. Charles Rangel (D_NY) Chair of the hearing <u>What Does Science Tell us About Mental and Addictive Disorders?</u> Jeff Lieberman, MD Chairman, Department of Ps... Columbia University Medical Center...

Opening Remarks:

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)

Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN)

Rep. Charles Rangel (D_NY) Chair of the hearing

What Does Science Tell us About Mental and Addictive Disorders?

Jeff Lieberman, MD Chairman, Department of Psychiatry Columbia University Medical Center, and Director, New York State Psychiatric Institute

Herbert Kleber, MD Director, Division of Substance Abuse, Columbia University Medical Center

Timothy's Law: Parity in New York State

Tom O'Clair, Chairman

Shelly Nortz, Deputy Director of Policy, Coalition for the Homeless

Kim Spicciate, Family

Impact on Families

Thom & Dierdre Forbes Family

Cynthia Kolbowski, MSW Washington Heights

Jonathan Pastor, PHD Washington Heights

Phillip Aronson, Consumer and Author

Access To Treatment

Doug Tieman, President and CEO, Caron Treatment Centers

Ralph Aquila MD, Medical Director, Fountain House

Bob Scholer, Member

Phil Saperia, Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies, NYC

Richard Juman, PHD, NY Psychological Association

]]> Thu, 22 Mar 2007 15:37:13 +0000 http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/dd809f43e96e http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/dd809f43e96e Fair and Equitable Coverage for Health Care I am about to connect with Congressmen Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island about his efforts to reintroduce federal legislation in March aimed at ensuring that health plans offer fair an equitable coverage. The bill entitled <b>The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act</b>, is na... I am about to connect with Congressmen Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island about his efforts to reintroduce federal legislation in March aimed at ensuring that health plans offer fair an equitable coverage. The bill entitled The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, is named after the late Senator Paul Wellstone who championed the cause. This bill would require health plans to offer benefits for mental health and addiction on the same terms as care for other diseases. When passed...notice I say when passed and not "if" passed, it will regulate health care and insurance plans so they will no longer be able to charge higher co-payments, deductibles, or out of pocket expenses etc. This bill will also change the coverage with regard to hospital and treatment center visits.

This is wonderful! I am so looking forward to meeting Congressmen Kennedy to see how I can help champion this cause. If we don't speak up, no one will hear us!

]]> Mon, 05 Mar 2007 15:01:53 +0000 http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/9e8f7bf16475 http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/9e8f7bf16475 Jumping Rope Again! Yesterday was the first day I jumped rope in over a year due to an ankle injury of July 10, 2006. I crashed a Vespa Motor Scooter and wound up breaking my ankle pretty badly. I wound up having a bone graph, plate, seven screws and two pins. Then I contracted an infection which got so bad I al... Yesterday was the first day I jumped rope in over a year due to an ankle injury of July 10, 2006. I crashed a Vespa Motor Scooter and wound up breaking my ankle pretty badly. I wound up having a bone graph, plate, seven screws and two pins. Then I contracted an infection which got so bad I almost lost my leg and was on crutches for over eight months. So, here I am, jumping rope and as the rope is swishing underneath my feet I thought how lucky I am to be able to use my ankle. But more so, I reflected on my almost 3 year depression and how I used to think about using my jump rope to hang myself! Now, I'm using my jump rope to increase my stamina, strength, balance and hand and eye coordination. Next Month I'll be teaching a jump rope class at two local gyms. I downloaded some great 80's Rocking'&Roll and I'm ready to jump again! It's interesting how we can take things for granted. We never really miss something until we don't have it. Well, I have my leg and I'm thankful that it's functioning to it's potential!

]]> Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:14:20 +0000 http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/f3c977958855 http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/f3c977958855 The Arcadia Book Store The Arcadia Coffee Shop in Old Greenwich is so quaint and is where Emme and I had a book signing on The 23rd of January. It's adjacent to the book store "Just Books Too". We had a much smaller crowd than I had hoped as we were in competition with The President's State of the Union. Anyway, t... The Arcadia Coffee Shop in Old Greenwich is so quaint and is where Emme and I had a book signing on The 23rd of January. It's adjacent to the book store "Just Books Too". We had a much smaller crowd than I had hoped as we were in competition with The President's State of the Union. Anyway, there were 25 or so people and I'm willing to talk to anyone that is willing to listen about depression/suicide prevention and awareness. I am committed to helping as many people I can to understand that depression is not a sign of weakness and that it's nothing to be ashamed of. Depression is a disease and if not treated properly, can lead to suicide.
Unfortunately, I know first hand but, luckily I made it to the other side.

]]> Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:12:02 +0000 http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/9cb3f926ed3c http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/9cb3f926ed3c Lessons come in small packages Tonight I attended my daughter's talent show. Our daughter is 5 1/2, is full of energy and is pushing hard to reach her teens! Anyway, she wanted to write a song. I helped her with the music and she came up with all the lyrics. I felt she did a wonderful job. The song was a beautiful song. ... Tonight I attended my daughter's talent show. Our daughter is 5 1/2, is full of energy and is pushing hard to reach her teens! Anyway, she wanted to write a song. I helped her with the music and she came up with all the lyrics. I felt she did a wonderful job. The song was a beautiful song. But, more important than the song and it's content was that she decided what to do and how to do it. I must admit, many times I try to control a situation but, for who's sake? Mine of course. So many of us worry about what other people are going to think that we don't enjoy the moment. It doesn't matter what anyone one thinks. What really matters is that your child is having a good time and is growing from the experience. I'm so lucky to have a daughter that teaches me everyday.

]]> Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:08:48 +0000 http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/5a75a6ef16ed http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/5a75a6ef16ed My music I'm really into my music again. I find it to be such therapy. I've always been drawn to music even as a young child. Seth, my twin brother, and I would take our dad's cigar boxes, make a hole in the center and string rubber bands over them and strum them like little guitars. It's so interes... I'm really into my music again. I find it to be such therapy. I've always been drawn to music even as a young child. Seth, my twin brother, and I would take our dad's cigar boxes, make a hole in the center and string rubber bands over them and strum them like little guitars. It's so interesting how certain aspects of our young lives carry over into our adult lives. Now, I string silk and steel guitar strings over the hole in my Ovation Guitar. Right after college in the mid eighties, Seth and I used to perform frequently. We'd play down in New York City's West Village at places like Folk City, Speak Easy, The Bitter End, The Bottom Line, etc. Then we traveled for six months and performed at Club Med in the British and French West Indies. At the time we called our group Mirror Images. It's been 17 years since those musical moments and now we are back! Under the name Aronson Twins, we are starting to write and perform again. What I like most about music is that it's a universal language. You can take a group of musicians from anywhere in the world, put some sheet music in front of them, and together they can play in unison and harmony-even never having met one another!
This is what we need to do in life. We need to reach out and live in harmony. We need to be daring and bold enough to put our prejudices aside and get to know and understand each other.

]]> Tue, 30 Jan 2007 19:53:26 +0000 http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/6498d0fcfc00 http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/6498d0fcfc00 The Aronson Twins perform Mirror Images is the album we produced a while back...lots of Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, James Taylor... you can learn more about me and my music career on: www.philliparonson.com or email me at: philmail@philliparonson.com Mirror Images is the album we produced a while back...lots of Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, James Taylor... you can learn more about me and my music career on: www.philliparonson.com or email me at: philmail@philliparonson.com

]]> Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:50:37 +0000 http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/c479388aa326 http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/c479388aa326 Book Signing at Barnes and Noble in Paramus What a wonderful time we had in Paramus...to a packed crowd of friends and family...Seth (my identical twin) came out and sang "Show Me The Way" with me. What a wonderful time we had in Paramus...to a packed crowd of friends and family...Seth (my identical twin) came out and sang "Show Me The Way" with me.

]]> Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:47:08 +0000 http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/5834f1ade7cf http://www.emmestyle.com/blogs/phil/posts/5834f1ade7cf