Resources NPR radio July 13th
Psychologist Saul Shiffman & Radio host Renee Montaine
Women have a harder time quitting smoking than men because of emotional distress. A woman named Tonya was interviewed on the radio explaining her attachments to smoking, she explains that she knows the health risks related to smoking, but it is still difficult to stop. Tonya is also a mother and doesn't want this habit to be inherited by her daughter. Tonya gets relief from smoking when she is stressed, she has tried many methods to stop smoking. She finds herself using smoking as a calming method while under distress. There are proven studies that confirm it is harder for women to quit smoking than men, says psychologist Saul Shiffman. He explains that women have acute emotions. Researchers are trying to find a treatment or method specifically for women. The only solution is replacement therapy, for example Exercise, social groups.
In chapter 10 we discussed stress, and how we deal with stress. In this story a woman named Tonya uses cigarette smoking as a method to control her stress. Her behavioral response leads her to smoke. The only way she can quit successfully is to use some type of coping resource or coping method. She can join a support group or exercise to replace her anxiety.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Phobia
NPR Radio
Mark Malcalf had a fear of flying like many people and he acknowledge his irrational fear, one day he decided to over come his fear. He made his mind up that he was going to face his fear and stay on a plane for 30 days. Mark talked to the people who were on the flights over the intercom explaining his journey of over coming his fear. He was quick to learn that many people were also afraid of flying. Mark was a comedian, so he always made each flight go by with lots of laughter and fun. Some times he would have the passengers play bingo and many other silly games. He only got off the plane when there was a lay over or he needed to switch flights. He received lots of support from passenger's and even the pilots. One of the pilots explained to him that turbulence was like driving on gravel or hitting a wave on a boat,the pilot also explained to him that flying is the safest way of transportation.
A phobia is an irrational fear of objects or situations. Some life experiences or situations can create a phobia. Mark is using systematic desensitization to over come his fear of flying. He had to first make his mind up to get on the plane, he remained calm until his fear gradually weakened and his fear disappeared.
Mark Malcalf had a fear of flying like many people and he acknowledge his irrational fear, one day he decided to over come his fear. He made his mind up that he was going to face his fear and stay on a plane for 30 days. Mark talked to the people who were on the flights over the intercom explaining his journey of over coming his fear. He was quick to learn that many people were also afraid of flying. Mark was a comedian, so he always made each flight go by with lots of laughter and fun. Some times he would have the passengers play bingo and many other silly games. He only got off the plane when there was a lay over or he needed to switch flights. He received lots of support from passenger's and even the pilots. One of the pilots explained to him that turbulence was like driving on gravel or hitting a wave on a boat,the pilot also explained to him that flying is the safest way of transportation.
A phobia is an irrational fear of objects or situations. Some life experiences or situations can create a phobia. Mark is using systematic desensitization to over come his fear of flying. He had to first make his mind up to get on the plane, he remained calm until his fear gradually weakened and his fear disappeared.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Cartoon Parade
By Charles Barsotti
Today I was reading the funnies when I saw a cartoon of two dogs. The dogs were looking at each other and one dog said to the other dog “that’s the deal-they give unconditional love, and you get an occasional tummy rub.”
The Humanistic approach is the instinct and learning that humans seem to share with other animals. Behavior is determined primarily by the way we choose to think and act. Our choices are guided by our instinct much like animals. If you perceive the world as a friendly place you are likely to have a more optimistic view of life.
Today I was reading the funnies when I saw a cartoon of two dogs. The dogs were looking at each other and one dog said to the other dog “that’s the deal-they give unconditional love, and you get an occasional tummy rub.”
The Humanistic approach is the instinct and learning that humans seem to share with other animals. Behavior is determined primarily by the way we choose to think and act. Our choices are guided by our instinct much like animals. If you perceive the world as a friendly place you are likely to have a more optimistic view of life.
Boy Trouble
Reviewed by W. Smith, MD (Web MD Magazine)
Johnny was a seventh grader who lived in a small town outside of Chicago, he was a very normal kid,and he was very popular in his school. His father was a doctor and his mother was a politician. His teachers nominated him to be interviewed by a research specialist with a PhD. After the researcher spoke with him she realized he was the classic portrait of a young bully. Mark was already smoking and drinking, he was very popular and very good at getting other kids to bully certain targets. He admitted that he ran the whole seventh grade. For years we all thought that bully has low-self esteem, poor social skills, and not very popular with their peers, but now experts now think different.
Some kids social skills and behaviors may seem normal, but good social skills don’t always translate into good relationship skills. These children can take another person’s perspective and use empathy to find vulnerable targets, then establish dominance and take control. This is not positive, these children are angry due to lack of parental attention. These children are looking for negative or positive attention no matter the cost. Researchers show that once these children reach adult hood they may end up in jail or abuse drugs and alcohol. They also may have trouble with keeping a job or maintaining good relationships.
Johnny was a seventh grader who lived in a small town outside of Chicago, he was a very normal kid,and he was very popular in his school. His father was a doctor and his mother was a politician. His teachers nominated him to be interviewed by a research specialist with a PhD. After the researcher spoke with him she realized he was the classic portrait of a young bully. Mark was already smoking and drinking, he was very popular and very good at getting other kids to bully certain targets. He admitted that he ran the whole seventh grade. For years we all thought that bully has low-self esteem, poor social skills, and not very popular with their peers, but now experts now think different.
Some kids social skills and behaviors may seem normal, but good social skills don’t always translate into good relationship skills. These children can take another person’s perspective and use empathy to find vulnerable targets, then establish dominance and take control. This is not positive, these children are angry due to lack of parental attention. These children are looking for negative or positive attention no matter the cost. Researchers show that once these children reach adult hood they may end up in jail or abuse drugs and alcohol. They also may have trouble with keeping a job or maintaining good relationships.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Memory
Improve Your memory
Herald-Journal Parade
Article by Emily Listfield
Research show that exercising can enhance your memory, mood, and problem solving abilities. Our thoughts and emotions are affected by how we move. Specific gestures can actually change how our brain works or processes thoughts. When you are feeling down you tend to think the same things over and over again. If you change your environment by going for a walk you are changing your thought process. Mind and movement can also improve memory. For example, if you use certain hand movements to go with each step in trying to solve a math problem, if you repeat those same movements later it will help you remember the thought sequence.
When you exercise your body releases endorphins, and endorphins are neurotransmitters produced in the brain. This chemical helps release stress and change your mood and emotional state.
Herald-Journal Parade
Article by Emily Listfield
Research show that exercising can enhance your memory, mood, and problem solving abilities. Our thoughts and emotions are affected by how we move. Specific gestures can actually change how our brain works or processes thoughts. When you are feeling down you tend to think the same things over and over again. If you change your environment by going for a walk you are changing your thought process. Mind and movement can also improve memory. For example, if you use certain hand movements to go with each step in trying to solve a math problem, if you repeat those same movements later it will help you remember the thought sequence.
When you exercise your body releases endorphins, and endorphins are neurotransmitters produced in the brain. This chemical helps release stress and change your mood and emotional state.
Coping Resources
Health Monitor Magazine
For the first time in years Carrie Walker has to remind herself to eat and drink. She was diagnosed with breast cancer four months ago and is now receiving chemotherapy. Carrie has dealt with many different emotions and feeling's, she has found many ways of coping with her new diagnosis. She talks to family members and her close friends. Carrie also talks to fellow patients who have dealt with the battle of cancer in their lives. She is trying to surround herself with positive people so she can fight for her life. Carrie has now joined a support group for newly diagnosed women, it has made her realize there are plenty of other people who are dealing with the same situation as her. Some people in her support group have fought cancer and won. This provides her not only with a space to share her feeling, but to also learn how other people have learned to cope.
The patient in this story is using coping resources to deal with her stress. This patient has created a social support network, she joined this support group to better manage her stress. Social support can also build your immunity to better fight off your disease. The people she has created in her network she can depend on for reassurance. Some of her network can also relate to her situation because they have dealt with the same issues in their lives.
For the first time in years Carrie Walker has to remind herself to eat and drink. She was diagnosed with breast cancer four months ago and is now receiving chemotherapy. Carrie has dealt with many different emotions and feeling's, she has found many ways of coping with her new diagnosis. She talks to family members and her close friends. Carrie also talks to fellow patients who have dealt with the battle of cancer in their lives. She is trying to surround herself with positive people so she can fight for her life. Carrie has now joined a support group for newly diagnosed women, it has made her realize there are plenty of other people who are dealing with the same situation as her. Some people in her support group have fought cancer and won. This provides her not only with a space to share her feeling, but to also learn how other people have learned to cope.
The patient in this story is using coping resources to deal with her stress. This patient has created a social support network, she joined this support group to better manage her stress. Social support can also build your immunity to better fight off your disease. The people she has created in her network she can depend on for reassurance. Some of her network can also relate to her situation because they have dealt with the same issues in their lives.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Retail Therapy
Web MD Magazine reviewed by
Patricia A. Farrell, PhD
Retail Therapy
Is your shopping a problem??
How to bag the pricey habit
Lynn Braz had just a shopping hobby, until a few family tragedies pushed her over the edge. When her sister died, her shopping hobby spiraled out of control, she used shopping to feel better. She thought she could eventually buy the perfect thing that would fix her. Although she felt up lifted while shopping her feeling of anxiety and depression were still a reality. Her shopping only temporarily helped her feel better about her life situations. Lynns sadness lead to lower self worth and everything in her life began to look worse, even her possessions, this led her into more shopping sprees.
Shopping is just like any other addiction, the anticipation of reward releases dopamine in the brain, which is vital in shaping and motivating behavior. Dopamine systems are involved in the experience of a reward or pleasure, and when you buy something the reward process ends. Once you have bought it nothing new is going to happen, that’s how shopping can become an addiction, we crave the dopamine. Dopamine is also released with drugs such as cocaine,etc., certain dopamines are responsible for some severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia.
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