rightthoughtsbadessays

[rightthoughtsbadessays]

[rightthoughtsbadessays]

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU!!!!

[rightthoughtsbadessays]

As vocabulary is reduced , so are the number of feelings you can express, the number of events you can describe, the number of the things you can identify! Not only understanding is limited, but also experience. Man grows by language. Whenever he limits language he retrogresses!

Sheri S. Tepper

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[rightthoughtsbadessays]

Ch #10: the Endocrine System

Endocrine glands - ductless glands that secrete hormones into the blood

Hormones - exert their effects on target organs or tissues

Chemistry of Hormones

Amines - structural variations of the amino acid tyrosine - thyroxine, epinephrine

Proteins - chains of amino acids - peptides are short chains - insulin, Gh, glucagons are proteins - ADH and oxytocin are peptides

Steroids - made from cholesterol - cortisol, aldosterone, estrogen, testosterone

 Regulation of Hormone Secretion

Hormones are secreted when there is a need for their effects - each hormone has a specific stimulus for secretion

The secretion of most hormones is regulated by negative feedback mechanisms - as the hormone exerts its effects, the stimulus for secretion is reversed, and secretion of the hormone decreases

[rightthoughtsbadessays]

small ways to improve your life

make your bed to immediately make your room look more put together

water first, then coffee or tea

pray or meditate, even just for ten minutes, to set the tone for your day

browse the news headlines ( & read the articles that interest you when you’ve got time) 

wear something you feel b o m b in

listen to music while doing your daily activities-commuting, cleaning, cooking, exercising

smile at at least two people 

smile at YOURSELF

call or message someone you love

eat food that makes you feel radiant 

make lists of things you need to accomplish for the day

stretch for 10 minutes 

record in your phone the positive thoughts you have so you can remember them

carry water with you (always always always) 

shut off your phone for an hour and have some ME time

take a hot shower or bath at the end of a stressful day 

try to make plans to spend time with someone at least once a week

think about 3 things you are grateful for at the end of each day

do something calming, relaxing, and non-electronic 30 minutes before you sleep

sleep pants-less 

[rightthoughtsbadessays]

Free, Accessible Drugs

We recognize that music can change our mood. When we hear the saddest song ever created, we get emotional. When we listen to a happy tune, it brightens our day. Now imagine a song that is designed to make someone lose control and get them dizzy. There are websites pursuing children with so-called digital drugs. Kids trying to get “high” with this kind of drugs has its risks. I-dosing provides children with drug-like effects and I believe it could lead to be a gateway drug convincing children to try real-world narcotics.

“I-Dosing" is a problem, and it is becoming a trend. Indeed, reports all over the internet show kids achieving catatonic or hallucinogenic states simply by downloading and listening to “digital drugs”. As if parents don’t have enough to worry about, now they have to add this to the list. Websites like I-Doser.com promise to give these kids a drug-like experience. Videos posted on YouTube show a young girl freaking out and leaping up in terror, a teenager trembling violently and a young boy in extreme anxiety. These kids wear a drape hood over their head, and travel from the real world to the “digital highs.” The National Public Radio informs that the promoters offer music tracks and applications, which deliver the same effects as taking marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy and even viagra. One example reported by NEWSOK, are the kids at Mustang High School in Oklahoma who in March were caught wasted on “repetitive, layered sounds in a dark room.” It might sound incredible, but I-Dosing caught on at Mustang High was convincing to make staff send letters home to parents, warning them of the potential dangers. Not only “digital drugs” reports has alarmed parents, but a number of studies begin to link possible risks to this new trend.

Dr. Helane Wahbeh, a researcher at Oregon Health and Science University, explained to the NPR, that this phenomenon consist of sounds called binaural beats. Furthermore, Atcherson, Kennett, and Nicholson, researchers of the Hearing Health Foundation, explain that binaural beat technology is usually two pure-tone sine waves that are being fed to the brain, one in each ear, through stereo headphones. In other words, kids are listening two different frequencies, which enter through their ears and confuse their brain. Many people claim to call binaural beats music, but these are just loud noises designed to affect the human brain waves, altering the listener’s mood, affecting his or hers emotions, and sometimes creating physical responses. Basically, giving the listener a “drug-high” experience. I believe any method that involves experiencing a simulated mood or that alters a person’s mental state should be taken seriously.

Companies that sell digital drugs claim that they’re safe, but if you think this for a moment, these tones have a potential for fatal accidents especially when driving. It can be dangerous if someone drives while on these drugs because they impair coordination and can cause hallucinations. Also, if a teenager drives with headphones, the loud noises in the back of their heads will prevent them from hearing sirens and horns, causing car crashes and even death. The experts of Hearing Health Foundation explained that other potential dangers exist, too, including early hearing loss. The websites targeting children with digital drugs recommend listening to these so-called auditory doses at very loud output levels in order to obtain the maximum effect. However, if the beats are played at too high a volume, and for a long duration, the user is at risk. The inner ear is responsible not only for hearing, but also for balance, the researchers explain, when low and deep tones are presented at high volumes, they stimulate the balance structures and produce a dizzy sensation. These are not the only risks that this new trend has, at the very least, digital drugs promote drug use.

Narcotics authorities in the US admit they are concerned that once a kid begins to search online for stronger I-Doses, they may end up smoking marijuana or looking for bigger and more unsafe drugs. This is when “I-Dosing” can be perceived as a dangerous gateway drug. The website encourages to spread the word, there is even an option to “become a dealer and get 20 percent of sales.” The kids who are discovering these areas of digital drugs may start exploring other types of drugs, such as marijuana, meth or cocaine. Kids and young adults become familiar with the names as the ones who come up with the ‘doses’ call their products with tempting names, such as; “acid,” heroin,” “cannabis,” “opium,” etc. Parents need to be aware of this new temptation to their kids. I think this phenomenon is can become very dangerous if its consumption is not moderated. As a fact, the website shows that digital drugs have been downloaded more than 1 million times, and I believe some of these kids have tried real narcotics because of the digital influences.

Although some experts don’t have believe that these tracks really alter the kids’ brains, they might feel is not a real danger. Today there still not proven research that these tracks truly make you “high,” but kids in the internet disagree with that. This is why people are not taking “digital drugs” seriously. It may seems hard to believe that kids are now getting high online, but it seems that is something that is truly happening today. And like I-Doser.com there’s plenty of other websites promoting mood stimulation through these very accessible tracks. We need to be very open minded and recognize that things like “digital drugs” exist. Parents should be informed about this and learn how they can spot any problems with their children. They might need to keep an eye open for some of the warning signs and should always keep a communication open with their children. This way kids would not be afraid to come to parents for any questions and parents can talk to them about things that can be dangerous like this phenomenon digital drugs.

- Lillian S.

Atcherson, Samuel, Sarah E. Warren Kennett, and Nannette Nicholson. “A Digital Drug?” Hearing Health 27.4 (2011): 16-19.  Pdf. EbscoHost. Web. 2 March 2015.

“Digital Drugs – Is I Dosing For Real?” More4Kids Health and Wellness Resources. More4Kids Inc. 2005. Web. 5 March 2015.

“Download Drug A Hit Sound.” Mx. (2010): 11. Newspaper Source. EbscoHost. Web. 2 March 2015.

Komando, Kim. “Web Delivers New Worry for Parents: Digital Drugs.” USATODAY. 7 July 2008. Web. 2 March 2015.

Monica, Hesse. “Are Kids Getting High Just by Listening To Music? I-Doser Says Fer Sure, Man.” The Washington Post. Newspaper Source. EbscoHost. Web. 2 March 2015.

Robert, Siegel. “Researcher Dispels Notion Music Can Get Kids High.” All Things Considered (NPR) (n.d.): Newspaper Source. EbscoHost. Web. 2 March 2015.

Sonya Colberg. “'Digital Drugs’ at Mustang High School Have Experts Warning of Slippery Slope.” 12 July 2012. NEWSOK. 2 March 2015.

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Sexuality  is a choice for most.

Influence of Sexuality

When we think about homosexuality, we think gay people were born that way. These beliefs ignore the fact of heterosexuals turning into homosexuals and vice versa. When we are born, we come to the world with a sense of innocence. We don’t know what is traditionally acceptable or what is not so common. Also, as a kid, we don’t know what sexual attraction is and our psychology tends to be easily altered by our cultural environment. This is because when we grow up and develop our sexuality, everything around us influence our sexual desire in the brain. Unfortunately, when it comes to sexuality, homosexuality can be considered a choice. Parents, culture and the media can influence a person’s sexuality, and the choices they make is what defines their orientation.

A number of scientific research has been placed over homosexuality, but science hasn’t established an exact reason of why a person develops a homosexual orientation. Researchers have admitted they have been unable to find the “gay gene,” although they have been searching it for a while now (“The latest in scientific research…”). Being Homosexual doesn’t necessarily mean that genes play a role, because people are not born with their sexual preference genetically determined in the brain. Psychiatrist Norman Doidge explains that “the human libido is not hardwired in the brain… [but can be] easily altered by our psychology and the history of our sexual encounters.” Doctor Doidge reveals that “sexual preference has a tendency to change occasionally.” The author finds “sexual plasticity” as very complex and effortlessly reformed by our environment (“The brain That Changes Itself”). Similarly, no one “chooses” to like a particular kind of food, but we can conclude that the media surrounding the individual and the culture where the person grows up in, is the one that shapes and conditions one’s taste of food. There is no way homosexuality is passed to a child, but is more possible that the atmosphere where the child was fostered affects their beliefs and expands their sexual exploration.

Parents and childhood environment influence their child’s sexual orientation. Early environments and the way a person is raised is “clearly capable of exerting neurobiological changes that persist into adulthood.” In other words, our early surroundings “programs” the long-term decisions we take in life (“How Social Experiences Influence the Brain”). The parent-child relationship is very important during early days. The authors Champagne and Curley point out that “by creating a climate of acceptance or rejection of homosexuality,” parents may influence on the sexual orientation of their children. Sometimes when the mother-parent role is missing the psychological rearing of the kid might lead to a different behavior, this happens when the father-parent role is absent as well during their early days. Unluckily, sometimes the media take the parents role for the kids and this may also influence in their sexual discovery.

The mass media has become increasingly accessible in the past years, influencing young people more than ever. This generations of teenagers are more reliant on the internet and the media to keep themselves occupied. According to researcher Jane D. Brown, the word “sex” is one of the most popular search term used on the internet today. Unfortunately, media plays an important role in the adolescent’s life when developing their own sexual beliefs and behaviors. This is because “parents and schools remain reluctant to discuss those topics” (“Mass Media Influences Sexuality”). For example, what we see in television may get into our brain and change what we are constantly thinking about, as well as our behavior and the decisions we take during the day. In addition. Amy Cuddy has a quote that fits this explanation, “our minds can change our behavior, and our behavior can change our outcomes.” What we think about or fantasize will consequently change the way we act, or in this case, who we choose to love. With the recent passed law of gay marriage legalization, we live in an n era where we are more accepting and people should have the right to love whoever they choose to love.

- Lillian S.

Brown, Jane D. “Mass Media Influences Sexuality.” Journal of Sex Research. 39 (2002). 42-5. Web. 3 August 2015.

Champagne, Fraces A. and James P. Curley. “How Social Experiences Influence the brain.” Current Opinion in Neurobiology. 2005. 704-709. Web. 3 August 2015

Cuddy, Amy. “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are." Online Video Clip. YouTube, 1 October. 2012. Web. 3 August 2015.

Doidge, Norman. “The Brain That Changes Itself.” Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science. Web. 23 July 2015.

Fischer, Bryan. “The Latest in Scientific Research: There is No Gay Gene.” OneNewsNow. 17 June 2015. Web. 3 August 2015.

Golombok, Susan and Fiona Task. “Do Parents Influence the Sexual Orientation of Their Children? Findings From a Longitudinal Study of Lesbian Families.” Developmental Psychology. 32 (1996). 3-11. Web. 3 August 2015.

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Binge Eating Disorder

Many people have felt like eating without the physical condition of being hungry, just out of boredom, sadness or anxiety. Some of these people might suffer from Binge Eating Disorder without even knowing. We can find extensive research about eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, but not a lot of attention is being directed towards Binge Eating Disorder. Jessica Hudgens, the author of the article "The Eating Disorder No One Wants to Talk About," mentions that "with the publication of the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Binge Eating Disorder is officially recognized by the APA (American Psychiatric Association) as an [actual] eating disorder." Those who suffer from this disorder may feel a relief to know that there is actually something “wrong” in them, and their weight gain is not just caused by lack of exercise or not having the best food choices.

People who suffer from this eating disorder recurrently eat large amounts of food and lose control in what they’re eating, feeling depressed and guilty afterwards. It’s not just overeating of food that we all tend to do from time to time. It’s an actual eating disorder, where the binge eater consumes more food that a normal person would chomp in a certain period of time. BED (Binge Eating Disorder) is a little similar to bulimia, but without the self-purging part after the consumption of food. According to Jessica Hudgens,” the bingeing usually happens for a feeling of lack of control. Hudgens also shares her experience with this eating disorder and writes that “most binge eaters keep their disorder private… Nobody wants to admit that they feel out-of-control around food.” With this being said, the cause of this excessive consumption of food is still being investigated by experts.

The WebMD points out that “[Binge Eating Disorder] often goes hand-in-hand with depression.” The authors of the medical website, published that researchers are studying whether brain chemicals or metabolism (the way your body uses food) play roles.” Experts also believe that the eating disorder might be caused by genetics, saying that the disorder also runs in some families (Binge Eating Disorder Health Center). The medical website explains some of the details of Binge Eating Disorder as it also shares some of the treatments to overcome the out-of-control feeling of overeating. WebMD recomends talking with a specialist (such as a psychiatrist or psychologist) who treats people with eating disorders, this might help with the struggle. For some people, taking medication would also help, as the authors of WebMD website recommend. So now that the APA recognizes Binge Eating disorder as an actual eating disorder, a person can visit a health care expert and get themselves checked out if they believe they might have some of the symptoms for this type of eating disorder. You are not alone in this. Get help.