I should be studying

   I should be panicking right now. My college experience is shit, and I'm giving up midway. Maybe I should have stayed away from academics and readied myself for what my life was truly meant for, hard labor and drug addiction, just like my elders. The damage they are doing, the damage they have done. The labor each individual took part in,the labor men easily died for, created a driving force of understanding with the masses riding the momentum.  the ones who carried the world forward are the ones who keep it behind.

    

New Blog Idea

I came up with a new blog idea.  linked below
vegasstudies

I am using my blog as a way to study, before I used to write notes in my notebooks and today while I was procrastinating, while avoiding doing any studies what so ever, I came up with the idea of making a blog that gave people of the internet some knowledge in different subjects, almost as if this blog is a way for viewers to observe what its like to be a college student, while simultaneously allowing me to test my knowledge of these subjects by writing about them. I hope you enjoy my knew idea and even if no one read anything I writ, at least i will be helping myself learn these difficult subject all the same.

Thanks yall. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Freemont Street Expirience

The Freemont Street Experience is always wonderful. The complete street is lined with a shader housing screens. The screens project a wonderful light show that is free to the public and is a place to always hear wonderful tunes. Men playing the bass with their teeth, smooth jazz saxophonists blaring wild music over an amplifier, Men playing tom drums with drumsticks, oh and they even have a stage with live music. Dang Las Vegas is sick. I always like to stop by at the Griffin, they have a really chill atmosphere and great music. I always end up getting kicked out though, I don't know why. Maybe because I get really drunk before I go inside, or maybe it is because I have never bought a drink from their bars, or maybe its because I dance a little crazy........... I don't know, but I am going to grow a beard before I ever go in there again. I like insert coins, its pretty chill, you can rent a game controller and play street fighter or nazi zombies right at the bar, they also have great music and a very spacious dance floor. Beauty bar is pretty nice as well, cute bartender, chill music, crazy people, and pajamas. I like how BB has live music acts as well, I want to go to a show there stat. The bar right across the street from BB is cool too but I guess not enough for me to remember its name. Its always crowded because it stays open up late. 

Note: Watch out for homeless people. They are everywhere trying to get your money. Use your best judgement. You can usually score drugs here pretty easily, be carful though, they are usually pretty sketchy. 

5 tips to getting over writers block

Writers block can be most devastating, especially when something is due the next day. Why keep suffering from this issue? Get yourself cured of your writers block by following my 5 easy to do exercises.


1. Change your perception.
         Do what you can to change how you perceive situations. Emulate something that is not oneself, create another state of mind.

2. Move
          Exercise improves blood flow, which insures that your mind stays alert. Don't get tired and lazy, get up and move.

3.Take mushrooms
          Taking mushrooms is something that everyone should do in their life. Mushrooms can unlock an incredible amount of creativity and will make your life better in the long run as well.

4.Create art
          Stimulate your creativity by being creative. Making music, drawing, painting, sculpting, etc. will get your creative juices flowing and make writing a breeze.

5.Be wierd
          Nothing says creative like some weird shit.




There you are fellow interwebbers and human beings. Let me know how the shrooms work out for yah. Feel free to donate, I really need a new car.

Artificial

The wind and birds move me,

Gracefully they sing their song,

The wavelength of touch, the movement I see,

Cool air chills but I am content,

Swim in my thoughts,

Take a seat, pitch your tent,

Fill me up,

Read my book,

Watch me breath,

Our frequency,

Soft light kisses the flesh,

The brittle leaves break their stems,

Green is so significant,

Why is it not to man,

Eternal perplexity,

Impartial memories,

Are we I or are we one,

Subconscious breaks in the imortal one,

Pale as night,

Soft as steel,

See my sight,

Hear the squeal,

Gasp for breath,

Breath for life,

Eternal darkness,

Eternal light.

Sublime

What a wonderful night. The chilled air is just lacking in energy yet I am not cold.I ask myself why I am not walking slower, why rush, why not bask in this feeling. The music of the night,whether it is the song of the birds, the percussion of the tree branches with their prolonged attack and rhythmic superstition, or the rushing of traffic so far yet so close to my person. Oh if sleep was optional and the sun rise was soft, I would trod for centuries until the holes in the soles of my shoes became blisters. Why must I call Vegas my home, this dirty city, filth with boundaries would be the correct description. Life as a tadpole for myself started in the sewers. But my sentiments saturate my mind. I see this fuckhole as my fuckhole, 21 years I have trodden in this dry excuse for a society, and I do not know any other way of living. The heat, the sex (or lack thereof), the bribery.... Fuck, Vegas must be the bribery capital of the world, well except for Washington DC, I am quite positive that they have that covered. God what a tangent to remind myself of the sublime mood I am greeted with when I rise from the tan park bench, with it's soft plastic coating comforting my tailbone, because hell.... The soft ass I was born with is to thin to comfort my body and mind. If only the world, every being in the world knows the feelings I have been touched with, and these purely psychological feelings are the most sublime one can possibly feel. These feelings are in past tense yet they linger in the present.

The Criminalization of Mind-Altering Substances is Unethical

 

Criminalization of Mind-Altering Substances is Unethical

Tyler Golightly

College of Southern Nevada

Abstract

Drug use may be as old as humanity itself, but only in recent times has such a large array of substances been made illegal. Criminalizing the sale, possession, and use of mind-altering substances causes more problems than it solves, the moral thing to do would be to end the criminalization of these substances. By gathering information from books, a journal, the Internet, and personal experience, I have determined the flaws in the attempt to eradicate drug use in much of the world. Humans have been consuming mind-altering substances since before spoken language was invented, only in recent times has drug use been synonymous with existentialism. The effects of these substances can even be attributed as the catalyst for the creation of religion and the beginning of early society. In more modern times, International agreements between multiple countries to control the distribution and production of multiple substances in their borders because they are unhealthy, addictive, cause crime, ruin lives, and along with numerous other reasons, and thus began the non-religious criminalization of drug use, trade, and possession that still goes on to this day. The criminalization of controlled substances in itself actually causes more problems than it prevents, problems such as organized crime, health risks, fear, inflated crime rate, unemployment, misinformation, impure substances, and the rise of more dangerous legal alternatives. Drug use and possession should be decriminalized, with quantities and substances being regulated.

            According to American scholar Terrence McKenna (1993), mind-altering substances were a catalyst for the evolution of mankind and religion. In the early years of human history when the nomadic lifestyle was staple, when the concept of a town or city could not be fathomed, when an individuals diet consisted of anything edible, humans consumed copious amounts of mind-altering plants in their effort to obtain sustenance. There is no doubt that some curious soul happened upon a field of grazing cattle and was greeted with the sight of Stropharia cubensis, the entheogenic mushroom that todays western culture demonizes so ignorantly, perched precariously on top of a mound of dung. The individual enjoys the easy meal that took no real effort in obtaining, but it is what comes approximately 20 to 60 minutes later that will truly make a significant impact on this individual’s life. Without a true understanding of the chemical nature of the fungi or the metabolic reaction that ones body has with the chemical components, this prehistoric individual must be in awe at the sheer power that he/she is overcome by. The individual may experience ego death, which is a very surreal, spiritual experience where a person feels the boundary of self and environment are dissolved and begins to realize that they are apart of the universe. An example of ego death is a scene in the movie I ♥ Huckabees when Albert realizes that he and Brad are both the same person (Russell, 2004). Drug induced experiences of ecstasy such as these are the beginning of religion and possibly even civilization as we know it today.

            Drug use and possession is criminalized for multiple, understandable reasons. According to Talleos (2009), a treaty was signed at the 1912 Hague International Opium Convention between France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Persia, Portugal, Russia, Siam, the UK and the British oversees territories (including British India), to which the countries agreed to control the production, trade, and use of certain mind altering substances. This treaty was the beginning of non-religious drug criminalization that is still in effect today. Addiction is the most reasonable reason for the criminalization of drug possession and use. An addicted person loses control of their life to the substance that they are addicted to. Health risks such as overdose, heart attack, liver damage, and diseases transmitted through the blood such as AIDS, paint drug use in an immoral light, and aid in swaying public support of drug criminalization. Addict parents are in no mental or physical health to care for children, the media as well as public officials love to use children as a way to sway the public to believe that the criminalization of drugs protects children.  Society is accustomed to hiding the truth from children to protect them, in the case of drug use, protect them from ruining their childhood and possibly their life. Children are taught to abstain from drug use, most of the time by over exaggerating the truth and even giving out false information. Hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, PCP, mushrooms, and marijuana, can put individuals in a state of mind that they could never reach without them, if they are in an environment that is deemed unsafe or are in the wrong state of mind they may develop anxieties or bring about an unknown mental illness. Society feels it is their job to save an individual from themselves, making drug use an immoral and criminal act is a way of trying to force individuals to conform to their standards.

            Criminalizing drug users does more damage than it prevents. By criminalizing drug use, production, and trade, it is forced in the shadows allowing true criminals to profit. Like prohibition in the early 20^th century, organized crime profits greatly from the barring of certain greatly demanded substances. Organizations soon claim turf and use violence to maintain their hold on it. Lowly peddlers, high level criminals and even innocent civilians end up getting killed in acts of violence, violence used to maintain the high profitability of illegal trade. Crime is not the only killer; misinformation is another dangerous outcome of drug criminalization. Individuals grow up only learning abstinence but never the proper way to go about doing the drug. People are still doing drugs and they do not have the necessary information within reach to take the drug safely. Misinformation is the main cause of accidental overdose in first time users because these first time users are unaware of the onset and/or dosage of the particular drug. By putting the drugs in the underground, society is putting the users in the underground as well. Individuals find legal alternatives most of the time are more dangerous than the drug they are mimicking. I know of a synthetic cannabinoid called AM-2201 that has a dosage of 2mg, this drug is very cheap, and just last year was very legal. This cannabinoid has no ceiling, unlike the natural cannabinoid THC, and thus is very dangerous. By making drug use so taboo if an individual becomes addicted to a drug they may be hesitant to seek help because by using the drug they automatically become seen criminals and bad people. These individuals can even be cast out from their homes, jobs, religious institution or even their schools.

             The best way to end the crime and woes associated with drug use is to end the war on drugs and the resulting war on the people who use them. By ending the demonization of these substances, it allows doctors, teachers, parents and community leaders to stop misinforming the public and start informing the public on using substances in a safe and acceptable manor. Moderation and safety in addition to abstinence should be the new form on drug education, like Nietzsche (2010) wrote in regards to morality; our culture of excess must become one of moderation. Even substances such as sugar or aspirin can cause great harm to individuals, especially in a culture of excess such as the United States. Bootleggers and the organized crime associated with it in the days of prohibition should be used as a model of what the barring of substances brings about, which is a state of corruption and fear. We can contrast this with the Mexican drug cartels in the early 21^st century that, thanks to the war on drugs, have viable unregulated markets with almost no competitors. The United States war on drugs actually lowers the quality of life of not just the American population but the quality of life of other countries, such as Mexico, by fueling their organized crime organizations. Portugal decriminalized drug use in 2001 and according to Hughes and Stevens (2010),“Portuguese decriminalization did not lead to major increases in drug use. Indeed, evidence indicates reductions in problematic use, drug-related harms and criminal justice overcrowding,”  and therefore was a resounding success. Drugs change ones perception, like the bag in I ♥ Huckabees (2004), can help an individual put their thought processes into perspective, and allows the individual to become in touch with their spiritual and naturalistic humanity, which Nietzsche (2010) explained is one of the great causes of woe in modern man.

            The criminalization of mind altering substances and those who posses and abuse them is doing more harm than good, and therefore the moral thing to do is to decriminalize them. Man has been using mind altering substances since the before written or even spoken language. Only in recent times has such a large scale effort to abolish all mind altering substance from free control for non religious reasons such as addiction, health, crime, and other reasons too numerous to mention. The downfalls of criminalization outweigh the good, downfalls such as organized crime, misinformation, unregulated substances, and the search to find legal alternatives. The use, possession, and trade of controlled substances should be decriminalized and regulated, with an emphasis on moderation and safety being added to the already dominant practice of teaching abstinence. The war on drugs, which was fueled by corruption, racism, misinformation, and greed, must be put to an end if our society ever wants to progress at the rate our prehistoric selves have.

References

HUGHES, C., & STEVENS, A. (2010). What Can We Learn From The Portuguese

Decriminalization of Illicit Drugs?. British Journal Of Criminology, 50(6), 999-1022. doi:10.1093/bjc/azq038

Jacobus, L. A. (2010). Friedrich Nietzsche: Morality as Anti-Nature. In A World of Ideas:

Essential Readings for College Writers - 8th Edition (8th ed., pp. 713-26). Boston, MA: Bedford/St.Martin's.

McKenna, T. K. (1993). Food of the gods: The search for the original tree of knowledge : a

            radical history of plants, drugs, and human evolution. New York: Bantam Books.

Russell, D. O., Baena, J., Goodman, G., Rudin, S., Hoffman, D., Tomlin, L., Schwartzman, J., ...

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Inc. (2004). I [heart] Huckabees. Los Angeles, CA: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Talleos, J. (2009, April 12). The great mistake. How illicit drugs became illegal in the first place

- Hartford Conservative | Examiner.com. Retrieved April 24, 2013, from <http://www.examiner.com/article/the-great-mistake-how-illicit-drugs-became-illegal-the-first-place>

Vegas Shenanigans

Las Vegas is a clusterfuck of drunks, hookers, Asians, and grandparents, with night life notorious for amnesia, violence, sex and bankruptcy. A place people are tricked to go to by movies, television shows, and their own imaginations.

As a Las Vegas local I will record my adventures as well as my down falls in the city that never sleeps.

Health

  We only have one body. We only have one life. Our time is precious.

Do not lose precious time by eating wrong and dying early.

Here is a list of websites with info on chemical additives in the the food we eat and the harmful effects. Food that we otherwise would think is healthy.

Check out the links below, For you health and wellness:

Msg Truth Webpage

Natural Resources Defense Council

Bisphenol A: Toxic Plastics Chemical in Canned Food

Food Safety 101

Chemical Cuisine

Top 15 Chemical Additives In YOUR food

Chemicals They Call Food

Chemical Risks In Food

Secret Chemicals Being Hidden In Food Under The Name 'Artificial Flavor'

Dangerous Chemicals in Food Wrappers Likely Migrating to Humans

U.S. Food Still Tainted with Old Chemicals

Food Additives to Avoid

Food and Chemical Toxicology

Chemicals in Food and Water

Drugs Found In Drinking Water

Bottled Water Quality Investigation: 10 Major Brands, 38 Pollutants

Pink Slime

Pink Slime In School Lunches

The Modification Of Social-Phobic Behaviors

TL;DR
Read Abstract

Abstract

The purpose of this behavior modification is to reduce symptoms of social anxiety. Methods used to modify the negative behavior associated with this disorder will be: positive thinking, progressive relaxation, and the use of a random webcam chat website on the Internet to develop interpersonal skills and an immunity to criticism. Social interactions will be compared on the basis of consistency of avoidance, the amount of overwhelming anxiousness, the amount of overwhelming awkwardness, and the rate of successful interaction.  Previously recorded social interactions after being thoroughly analyzed, showed that a wider the range of social experience, and the use of positive thinking in combination with a relaxation technique dramatically increase the rate for a successful interaction.

The Modification of the Mental and Physical Symptoms of Social Anxiety

Introduction

            This study on the modification of several behaviors related to social anxiety disorder, sheds light on working methods to curb the physical and psychological symptoms associated with the disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2010), 15 million American adults age 18 and over, or about 6.8 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have social phobia.  Social anxiety is not a cure overnight disorder; it takes much time, patience, and will power to successfully reduce the physical and psychological symptoms. There are multiple drugs for anxiety but they are only temporary fixes, ”In fact, large-scale, long-range (i.e., longitudinal) studies over the past decade have consistently shown cognitive – behavioral therapy to be the only therapy that can be dependably relied upon to help people overcome clinical anxiety disorders,” explains Thomas A. Richards, Ph.D. (2010). This is why it is very important to relearn ones thought process, and not force it upon ones self. According to Hobart and William Smith Colleges (2010), “Relaxation exercises are easy to learn and implement and can be remarkably effective in addressing stress, test anxiety, all kinds of phobias and other similar concerns,” by using relaxation techniques in the face of physical turmoil, it is possible to once again regain control over one’s mind and body.

What is Social anxiety?

            Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, involves intense fear of certain social situations. Stress caused by social anxiety can be great and effects a person both mentally and physically. The following situations are often stressful for people with social anxiety disorder: interacting socially; in situations involving a large body of people; being teased or criticized; talking with important people or authority figures; attending parties or other social gatherings; interacting with the opposite sex; making phone calls; going on dates; performing on stage; being watched while doing something; making small talk; public speaking; interacting with peers in school and in class; being the center of attention; meeting new people; speaking up in class or in a meeting; and being in a group of people (Smith & Jaffe-Gill, 2010).  Physical symptoms of social anxiety include: an elevated heart rate, muscle tension, muscle spasms, euphoria, sweating, dizziness, clammy hands, rapid breathing, dry mouth, nausea, trembling, blushing, and a lower speaking volume (Smith & Jaffe-Gill, 2010). Social anxiety causes multiple maladaptive emotional behaviors that when left unchecked can make everyday responsibilities difficult. Psychological symptoms may include: depression; low self-esteem; excessive self-consciousness; intense worry for days, weeks, or even months before an upcoming social situation; extreme fear of being watched or judged by others, especially people that you do not know; fear that others will notice that you are nervous; avoidance of social situations; and fear of acting in a way that will embarrass or humiliate yourself (Smith & Jaffe-Gill, 2010).

The avoidance associated with social anxiety can make it difficult for an individual to better ones self, and will in turn lead to a more severe case of anxiety. The constant fear of being exiled and humiliated can make it extremely difficult to interact with other people in a positive manner. The way society views fear as a weakness can add to the anxiety, even if one tries to immerse themselves in social situations, the realization that the person is in a great deal of fear and stress can cause a group to single out the person, causing an even greater deal of worry and apprehension. This effect can cause a vicious cycle that if left unchecked can diminish a person’s psyche.

Method

Practicing Social Interactions from a Comfortable Environment

Simple methods can be used to repress the physical and psychological symptoms of social anxiety. The practice of training the mind to interact socially and to deal with criticism can be done effectively without any real social consequences by using a webcam chat roulette website such as (http://shufflepeople.woome.com/). This website takes time to find people worth talking to because some men find it amusing to masturbate on camera, but with a little determination one can easily experiment with conversational skills. The beauty of this method is that one is never in harms way, no matter what you say, no matter what the other persons reaction is, there are no consequences. If one feels uncomfortable they can press the next button and start fresh with another person. The website can be described almost like a social videogame, where the goal is to hold a conversation as long as possible, and once the game is lost it can simply be restarted. These interactions will never get physical and there is no community backlash because one will never talk to the person ever again, unless contact information is exchanged. This method would be used for people who are uncomfortable with their conversational skills, and who are looking to test new conversation topics without fear of social rejection.

Progressive Relaxation

Social anxiety can cause a great deal of muscle tension, which in turn may cause an excess of worry. The mind cannot relax unless the body is relaxed as well, “learning to relax lessens the power of negative emotions,“ (Harling & Nyrup, 2005). The practice of progressive relaxation can help an individual understand their otherwise unknown tensions, and help them to obtain a relaxed state. Progressive relaxation is the process of completely tightening individual muscle groups and then completely relaxing them. The process goes through each group of muscles until eventually the entire body is in a completely relaxed state ( Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 2010). Anxiety can cause the body to go Fight or flight mode, mistaking social interaction with a threat. The body does not turn off this reaction until one either conquers the fear or flees. The individual may assume that everybody around them knows they are in this state, and they may multiply the otherwise small threat. If one can learn to relax fully they will be able to stop the fight or flight response that causes great stress in their bodies. Even if a person is psychologically comfortable their psyche can be diminished if their physical being is in turmoil. This illustrates the relations ship between physical and psychological well being. This method will be used to stop some of the physical symptom associated with social anxiety by performing the progressive relaxation technique when one becomes stressed in social situations.

The Use of Positive Thinking

            Negative thinking can be one of the main triggers of a social anxiety attack. Dr. Thomas A. Richards (2010) writes about changing bad habits by "restructuring" the mind by means of disputing irrational thoughts and beliefs and substituting rational thoughts and beliefs in their place. By thinking positive in the face of negativity the negative thoughts will eventually be replaced with positive thoughts. Negative thoughts will decrease ones self-esteem, reduce creativity, create a negative outlook on life, and make an individual magnify stressful situations to the point where it is almost impossible to function. If one thinks negatively they may have an apprehension to state what they truly feel.  This apprehension makes it very difficult to reach goals set by ones self. The goal of this modification will be to restructure ones habits of thinking with the ultimate goal of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. Dr. Thomas A. Richards (2010) explains how it is important, in the cognitive process, to turn the tables on automatic negative thinking slowly. “One should start by replacing automatic negative thoughts and make them rationally neutral,” explains Richards (2010),” this neutral thinking is gradually moved up, always in a step-by-step manner, to a more realistic level,” these slight changes make it less difficult to think positive, because the thoughts are not forced upon ones self. By slowly changing ones thought process the modifications become ingrained. Eventually the automatic negative thoughts will be replaced.

Thinking positive will change ones perception. Instead of expecting yourself to impress other people, it is the other people who should impress you. This change of role will make a person feel more significant. For example, if one is in a large group of attractive people, one should not assume that they are more attractive. By convincing oneself that it is them who is the most attractive person, the feeling of being unwanted and insignificant based on appearance is avoided. This can make it easier to break out of one’s shell and communicate with others more freely without feeling unworthy. This method will be used before and in the process of social interaction. It will be used before to prime ones mind for the challenge ahead, and it will be used during the interaction to keep one from giving up.

Results

            Results are based on the likelihood of the physical and psychological symptoms of social anxiety dominating a social interaction.  A base line consisting of one week of normal social interaction will be compared with forty-nine days of modification. Several different methods will be tested in the certain social situations that bring about this anxiety. The effectiveness of each method will be measured by comparing similar conditions, one without using any new method and another similar situation using these new methods individually and in combination. The results will be used to find the most effective method of curbing the symptoms of social anxiety. The amount and the degree of symptoms will be compared to determine the success of each method.  My journal was thoroughly analyzed for the following elements: excessive anxiousness or nervousness, excessive awkwardness, and the avoidance of social situations. Successful interactions were based on comfort, lack of worry, and conversation.

By using these methods the likelihood for a successful interaction more than tripled; the likelihood for anxiousness dominating ones thought process after the modification decreased by 12.5%; the likelihood of having an awkward interaction after the modification was only one third of the baseline rate; and the likelihood of avoidance was completely eliminated. Percentages are based on the modification analysis document.

Discussion

            By improving ones conversational skills in an environment devoid of threats, the feeling of awkwardness decreases dramatically. By learning acceptable conversations before hand and testing them in the field, one learns ways to distract other people from the awkwardness of the situation, which in turn makes things less awkward for ones own self. By combining the newly gained experience with positive thinking anxiousness and awkwardness are decreased dramatically. One must ignore the fight or flight response to successfully use these techniques. The fight or flight response can be diminished with a successful relaxation technique. By using the chosen relaxation method, also know as progressive relaxation, one can remain anonymous in their attempt of reaching a relaxed state. This method is great for relieving muscle tension and spasms, and is even more successful when used with positive thinking. This technique helped improve the rate of anxiousness by diminishing it before it got out of hand. By remaining relaxed feelings of awkwardness were dramatically reduced. By using other relaxation techniques such as controlled breathing in combination with progressive relaxation, it is possible to reach an even more relaxed state. By training the mind to stay positive and the body to remain calm it is possible to significantly improve ones life, and with enough experience it will become easy to interact in a normal fashion, making it possible to become successful in the modern world.

References

Hobart and William Smith Colleges. (2010, December 10). HWS: Relaxation Techniques.

Retrieved October 13, 2010, from Hobart and William Smith Colleges Web site: http://www.hws.edu/studentlife/counseling_relax.aspx

Harling, I., & Nyrup, M. (2005). Relaxation. In I. Harling, & M. Nyrup, Slieght of Mind (2nd

Edition ed., pp. 60-65). Denmark: Spellbound.

National Institiute of Mental Health. (2010, December 10). The Numbers Count: Mental

Disorders in America. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) Retrieved November 5, 2010, from National Institiute of Mental Health Web site: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml#Social

Smith, M. ,., & Jaffe-Gill, E. M. (2010, December 10). Social Anxiety Disorder and Social

Phobia: SYMPTOMS, SELF-HELP, AND TREATMENT. Retrieved October 9, 2010, from Help Guide Web site: http://helpguide.org/mental/social_anxiety_support_symptom_causes_treatment.htm#authors

Richards, T. A. (2010, November 19). What is Compreensive Cognitive - Behavioral Therapy.

(The Social Anxiety Institute, Inc.) Retrieved October 9, 2010, from Social Anxiety Institute Web site: http://www.socialanxietyinstitute.org/ccbtherapy.html

DEATH AND LOSS

Death and loss

·      Fears of death and dying

o   Some of the aspects of death we may fear are –

§  Ceasing to be

§  Leaving behind those we love

§  Losing ourselves

§  Encountering the unknown

§  Coping with the indignity of a painful and long dying process

§  Growing distant in the memories of others

Death and the meaning of life

·      Life and death are the same facets of the same reality

·      Realization of death can revitalize our goals

·      Acceptance of death can lead to discovery of meaning and purpose of life

·      Because time on earth is limited, there is an urgency about living

·      Ancient Greek dictum --- “contemplate death if you would learn how to live.”

Anger in Relationships

Anger in Relationships

A few tips in dealing with anger:

-       Value the recognition and expression of anger

-       Express anger in a way that does not assassinate another’s character

-       Don’t hold on to anger or nurse grudges

-       Recognize danger signs when anger gets in the way of relationships

-       Talk more about yourself than about what is wrong wit the other person

-       Decide when it is better not to express anger

**

Dealing effectively with conflict and confrontation

Conflict can be a healthy sign of individual differences. If conflict emerges, keep the following points in mind:

-       If you confront a person, know why

-       View confrontation as a caring act

-       Accept responsibility for your own feelings

-       Tell others how you are struggling with them

-       Don’t walk away from conflict be open to forgiving others who have hurt you

-       Be willing to forgive yourself

Barriers to effective communication

-       recognizing communication blocks is the first step forward opening the channels to dialogue

-       some barriers are:

o   hearing only what you want to hear

o   being overly concerned about getting your point across

o   silently rehearsing what you will say as you are “listening”

o   Becoming overly defensive making assumptions about the other person without checking them out

Coping worth the termination of a meaningful relationship

-       allow yourself the time to grieve

-       express your anger without violence

-       take responsibility for your own part in the relationship

-       find a support network

-       take care of other aspects of you life

-       make use of writing in your journal

-       be willing to forgive—both yourself and the other person

-       seek closure and learn from the experience

Notes by professor

solitude

first off here, is a referral link. This is just like ad sense.
http://chitika.com/publishers.php?refid=tyler101891

Solitude

·      Solitude is typically something we choose for ourselves

·      In solitude, we make time to be with ourselves and to discover who we are

·      Solitude provides an opportunity for renewal

·      Through solitude we are able to examine our lives and gain a sense of perspective

Loneliness

·      Often results from certain events in life such as:

o   Death of someone we love

o   The decision to leave a secure job for an unknown one

o   Moving to a new city

o   A long stay in a hospital

·      An experience of feelings set apart from others

·      Can indicate that we have failed to listen to our inner voice

Types of loneliness

·      Transient loneliness

o   Brief feelings of loneliness when there is a disruption in one’s social network

·      Chronic loneliness

o   When people are unable to establish meaningful interpersonal relationships over a long period of time

Types of loneliness

·      Everyday loneliness

o   The pain of being isolated from other people, which may be related to fears of intimacy, rejection, or shame

·      Existential loneliness

o   A profound sense of an unbridgeable gap that separates us from others, which is related to our awareness that each of us inhabits a world of fully known only to ourselves

Ways people attempt to escape from facing loneliness

·      Living an overscheduled life

·      Striving for perfect control of the environment

·      Surrounding ourselves with people

·      Becoming a slave to routine

·      Numbing ourselves with alcohol or drugs

·      Eating for emotional reasons

·      Spending many hours on the computer, watching T.V., playing videogames

Some consequences of shyness

·      Can make it difficult to communicate effectively and express oneself

·      Often holds people back from meeting new people

·      May result in feelings of depression, anxiety, and loneliness

·      Can hold people back in progression in education or their careers

·      Leads some individual to develop a dependency on alcohol as a way t feel more relaxed and sociable

Loneliness and the life stages

·      Childhood

o   Loneliness is an inevitable part of life beginning in childhood

o   Reliving childhood experiences of loneliness can help adults come to grips with their present fears about being alone or lonely

·      Adolescence

o   Bodily changes one’s search for identity, and the need to be accepted and liked may compound an adolescent’s feelings of loneliness

o   The price of nonconformity may be steep; Adolescents may feel all alone in the world

·      Young adult

o   How young adults come to terms with their own aloneness effects the choices they make—Choices that, in turn, may determine the course of their lives

o   Life circumstances and cultural factors also pave the way to a lonely existence

·      Middle age

o   Changes at midlife such as children leaving the nest can lead to feelings of emptiness and loss

o   Feelings dissatisfied with one’s career or life choices can exacerbate loneliness

·      The later years

o   In a society that prizes productivity, youth, beauty, power, and vitality, older adults may feel they are not needed or valued anymore

o   Loneliness of the later years can be accentuated by the losses that come with age:

§  Loss of bodily functions

§  Loss of career or jobs

§  Loss of certain hobbies

§  Loss of friends and loved ones

notes from professor.

Work and Recreation

Work and Recreation

Types of personalities

·      Realistic

·      Investigative

·      Artistic

·      Social

·      Enterprising

·      Conventional

Factors in vocational decision making

·      Motivation and achievement

·      Attitudes about occupation

·      Abilities

·      Interests

·      Values

·      Self-concept

Steps to take

·      Begin by focusing on yourself

·      Generate alternative solutions

·      Gather and asses information

·      Weigh and prioritize your alternatives

·      Make the decision and formulate a plan

·      Carry out the decision

·      Get the feedback

Jobs Advice

·      If you experience discontent in your work, focus on those factors within your job that you can change

·      Identify ways you can create meanings in your work

·      If you must remain at an unsatisfying job, find something outside your job that fulfills your need for recognition, significance, productivity, and excitement

·      Asses whether your attitudes about work help or hinder you in achieving career success

Changing careers in midlife

·      Being aware of career options is a great asset at midlife

·      Attitudes and fears about changing careers that are legt unquestioned and unexamined make change much harder

·      Both men and women may experience the desire to change career paths in midlife

·      People who feel stuck in their jobs should ask themselves whether their personal dissatisfaction outweighs the financial rewards

notes by my professor