Blog Archives

11/20/2019

Brain Development

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What Affects Cognitive Development?

Cognitive development refers to how a person perceives, thinks, and gains understanding of his or her world through the interaction of genetic and learned factors. Among the areas of cognitive development are information processing, intelligence , reasoning, language development , and memory.

http://www.healthofchildren.com/C/Cognitive-Development.html

Piaget’s theory

https://www.cleverism.com/piagets-theory/

Brain Development

Parts of the Brain

A Nerve Cell

https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/content/brain-development-teenagers

https://www.slideshare.net/lightjump/chapter-3-drugs-and-the-nervous-system

Types of Nerves

Sensory neurons carry signals from the outer parts of your body (periphery) into the central nervous system.

Motor neurons (motoneurons) carry signals from the central nervous system to the outer parts (muscles, skin, glands) of your body.

Interneurons connect various neurons within the brain and spinal cord.

Synaptic Pruning

Brain Development COntinues

Anxiety

Do Drugs Affect Brain Development?

Glutamate is the main excitatory and GABA the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian cortex.

Chemistry of Addiction

Neurotransmitters

https://www.compoundchem.com/2015/07/30/neurotransmitters/

Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic

Both part of the autonomic nervous system, autonomic means it works on it's own without conscious thought.

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems work involuntarily.

Sympathetic is responsible for the response commonly referred to as "fight or flight," while parasympathetic is referred to as "rest and digest."

The sympathetic nervous system is the part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body to react to stresses such as threat or injury.

It causes muscles to contract and heart rate to increase.

The parasympathetic nervous system is the part of the autonomic nervous system that controls functions of the body at rest. It helps maintain homeostasis in the body.

It causes muscles to relax and heart rate to decrease.

http://www.softschools.com/difference/sympathetic_vs_parasympathetic/143/

Autonomic Nervous System

https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders/autonomic-nervous-system-disorders/overview-of-the-autonomic-nervous-system

Functions of the autonomic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system controls internal body processes such as the following:

Blood pressure
Heart and breathing rates
Body temperature
Digestion
Metabolism (thus affecting body weight)
The balance of water and electrolytes (such as sodium and calcium)
The production of body fluids (saliva, sweat, and tears)
Urination
Defecation
Sexual response

https://www.slideshare.net/KamrulHasan29/drugs-that-affect-the-autonomic-nervous-system

https://www.slideshare.net/lightjump/chapter-3-drugs-and-the-nervous-system

Growth Mindset

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11/7/2019

Healthy Relationships

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What is a Healthy Relationship?

A healthy relationship means that there is an equal distribution of power and control over what the people in the relationship get to do.

Healthy partners give each other options and are flexible about activities and topics of conversation.

They decide on activities together and respect each others boundaries when it comes to moving forward.

The easiest way to have balance is to go half and half on everything, you can take turns buying food or buy each other an equally priced plate, you could each pay for your own meal.

Sometimes people use buying food as a way to have power and control over someone else, a date might pay for dinner and then pressure the other person into believing that they owe sex in return for the dinner. You don't owe anyone anything.

A healthy partner will respect your decision about paying for your own food or ticket, they will not pressure you to change your mind, they might ask if you are sure one time to be courteous, and then let it go.

In a healthy relationship all people involved are heard, and their questions are answered, open communication and straight answers are essential for a healthy relationship.

Talking about boundaries is important, if exclusivity is important to you then it is completely ok for you to ask your partner how they feel bout exclusivity and clarify what exclusivity means to you, otherwise they might tell you that they did not know that you had boundaries in mind because you never had a conversation about them.

Sharing your philosophy is key: being able to talk about values, opinions, and the things that you wonder about and feel heard and safe is a sign of a healthy relationship.

An unhealthy partner will constantly disagree or name call you any chance they get.

Emotional Intimacy

It is healthy to start a relationship by building emotional intimacy, building trust in each other and a sense of comfort in being yourself.

It is completely ok to not share everything with a new partner, you can share only what you feel comfortable sharing

People of all genders have feelings and emotional experiences, sometimes gender norms close us off and make it hard to communicate our experience, it is ok for a partner to need some time to open up, it is still important for that open line of communication to exist down the line. Sometimes abusive partners withhold their true feelings until you are more committed to them on purpose, it is ok to ask questions and accept that if someone is not being open with you then the emotional intimacy is not built yet and it might take some time, you might want to hold off on being increasingly committed to someone who is not showing up for you and connecting with you. They might just not be ready.

It is completely healthy to share emotional intimacy without physical intimacy

Physical Intimacy

Physical intimacy can be healthy, what matters is that you are making your own decisions and are being safe

Use protection, it does not cover everything so there is still risk

The risk of STD is very real: https://www.cdc.gov/std/

Testing resources: https://nmhealth.org/location/public/

Ask you partner to go get tested with you, this can be awkward but it is completely healthy and normal, if the person shames you for asking or feels offended then they might not know of the risks involved with sex, try talking to them about the things that need to be considered, if they still shame you then they might be hiding something or might not be ready

It is ok for either partner to stop the activity if they no longer want to continuenmhealth.org/location/public/

A risk of physical intimacy is pregnancy, unfortunately many times the guy will not want to take responsibility for the new baby, it is common for guys to push for abortion without caring about the emotional and physical impact of this possibility

What matters is that is is genuinely your decision, that you know your resources, and feel empowered to change your mind

ABSTINENCE AND CELIBACY

You can choose to wait

Celibacy has been know to help with the cultivation of creative energy

It may help with refocusing on what you really like in the person without the distraction of physical intimacy

Set clear limits, communicate your limits, avoid high pressure situations, and be assertive about honoring your boundaries

This should be no problem in a healthy relationship

MORE THAN 50% OF RAPE VICTIMS KNOW THEIR RAPIST

Anytime someone ignores your boundaries

It can be physical force or via drugs that make you unconscious

Most of the time rape occurs with someone who agreed to be a friend and then took advantage of a situation

It is not your fault, but the rapist generally tries to blame the victim

Report if you feel safe doing so, many people do not report due to the threat of retaliation

Drugs are not an excuse for violent behavior

Rape is a violent act of power and control over the other person

In a school environment there is a law called Title Nine that requires that the school be helpful in supporting survivors

REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE VALUABLE, YOU DESERVE LOVE AND YOU DESERVE RESPECT. ABUSE IS NEVER YOUR FAULT AND YOU CAN ONLY TRY YOUR BEST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST

Dating Violence

The Cycle of Violence:

There is generally a three stage cycle:

Tension Building:

The person going through the abuse may try to prevent a violent outbreak by doing what the abuser wants or reason with the abuser

Violent Episode:

The tension is broken and the abuser behaves in a way that lead the survivor to feel unsafe.

Calm Stage:

Abuser usually apologizes and says that it won't happen again, presents excuses and expects the survivor to eat it all up.
The abuser may subtly blame the victim for the abuse.

Warning Signs of Abuse

Person is jealous when you talk to others
Makes fun of you in front of others
Makes all the decisions and tries to control what you do
Has a history of bad relationships
You feel isolated from your friends and family
You feel less confident, you worry about doing or saying the right thing, you try to avoid arguments
Any pushing or jokes about hurting you

Many movies show abusive behaviors as romantic.

Sometimes we are taught that aggression is a sign of masculinity or that men are entitled to control women
Sometimes we are taught that if we are not the abuser we will be abused

It is ok to break up with someone, you don't owe them an explanation, if you tell them how you feel and it is not helping because the person does not help, it's ok to just cut them off and surround yourself with good friends.

Red Flags

https://www.thehotline.org/2012/09/11/red-flags-of-abuse/

https://www.michigan.gov/datingviolence/0,4559,7-233-46553-169739--,00.html

https://www.iamcourageous.org/equality-wheel

Take a Health RELATIONSHIP Quiz

https://www.loveisrespect.org/for-someone-else/is-my-relationship-healthy-quiz/

http://www.kcc.edu/students/studentlife/Documents/HealthyVsUnhealthy.pdf

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11/5/2019

Interpersonal Boundaries

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We have Different Types of Relationships

Casual friends: acquaintances, people that you know from school or work that you don't have deep conversations with.

Close Friends: people you might be more inclined to share your childhood stories, dreams, concerns about life, goals, and beliefs with.

Friendship includes:

Loyalty
honesty
empathy
reliability

The best way to be compatible with great friends is to be a great friend.

Types of Boundaries

https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/boundaries-psychoeducation-printout.pdf

http://www.almadartebio.org/health-page/types-of-relationships

Positive Parenting is

It involves Guiding
It involves Leading
It involves Teaching
It is Caring
It is Empowering
It is Nurturing
It is Sensitive to the Child’s Needs
It is Consistent
It is Always Non-violent
It provides Regular Open Communication
It provides Affection
It provides Emotional Security
It provides Emotional Warmth
It provides Unconditional Love

It recognizes the Positive

It respects the Child’s Developmental Stage

It rewards Accomplishments

It sets Boundaries

It shows Empathy for the Child’s Feelings

It supports the Child’s Best Interests

https://positivepsychology.com/positive-parenting/

Ways to Reflect on boundaries

Reflect on your values

Ask yourself:

What you allow

What you don't allow

What you allow but don't like

How you can communicate your boundaries

What you will do if a boundary is not honored

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11/1/2019

WHat Builds Community

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Maslow's HIERARCHY of Needs

https://www.thoughtco.com/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4582571

https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

Dimensions of Wellness

People can work together to create an environment that supports a healthy community, also remember, taxes are meant to promote the common good.

Write three things or ideas that help with each of
these dimensions of wellness:

Emotional

Environmental

Financial

Occupational

Intellectual

Physical

Social

Spiritual

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Health Class

put googley eyes on random things for fun

Brain Development

What Affects Cognitive Development?

Piaget’s theory

Brain Development

Parts of the Brain

A Nerve Cell

Types of Nerves

Synaptic Pruning

Brain Development COntinues

Anxiety

Do Drugs Affect Brain Development?

Chemistry of Addiction

Neurotransmitters

Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic

Autonomic Nervous System

​​Functions of the autonomic nervous system

Growth Mindset

Healthy Relationships

What is a Healthy Relationship?

Emotional Intimacy

Physical Intimacy

​ABSTINENCE AND CELIBACY

​MORE THAN 50% OF RAPE VICTIMS KNOW THEIR RAPIST

REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE VALUABLE, YOU DESERVE LOVE AND YOU DESERVE RESPECT. ABUSE IS NEVER YOUR FAULT AND YOU CAN ONLY TRY YOUR BEST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST​

Dating Violence

Warning Signs of Abuse

Red Flags

Take a Health RELATIONSHIP Quiz

Interpersonal Boundaries

We have Different Types of Relationships

Types of Boundaries

Positive Parenting is

Ways to Reflect on boundaries

WHat Builds Community

Maslow's HIERARCHY of Needs

Dimensions of Wellness

Author

Archives

Categories

Functions of the autonomic nervous system

ABSTINENCE AND CELIBACY

MORE THAN 50% OF RAPE VICTIMS KNOW THEIR RAPIST

REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE VALUABLE, YOU DESERVE LOVE AND YOU DESERVE RESPECT. ABUSE IS NEVER YOUR FAULT AND YOU CAN ONLY TRY YOUR BEST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST