“Confessions of an Overweight Adult”

by | Aug 16, 2015 | Uncategorized

I’ve pretty much been ‘heavy set’ my entire life although I prefer the term fat! I mean, really, let’s call it what it is. You can mask it all different ways but it’s all fat! Fat is the last bastion of legal prejudice. See, people can still use your size to ‘keep you out.’ For example: Potential employers can not hire you saying you are a health risk. Airlines can charge you for 2 seats. And lastly, people feel free to just say whatever they want under the guise of ‘it’s for your own good.’ So what kind of things are for your own good? Let me give you a list of things I’ve found offensive: You have such a pretty face….(it means: you COULD be really pretty if you matched an ideal!) Have you thought about going on a diet? (Every fat person is aware of their size. They don’t need to be reminded. And, guess what, sometimes their weight has nothing to do with diet. Many kinds of medications have weight gain side effects. Some have other medical conditions that prevent any kind of weight loss. In other words, what seems obvious may not really be. Shut up until you know for sure! You’re ‘help’ can set one back in terms of their self confidence) If you just exercised more, I’m sure you could be thinner! (Again, the obvious isn’t always a fact. You have no idea by looking. So, again, keep it to yourself!) Have you always been ‘heavy?’ (How is this relevant? I think the thought process behind this is that if you weren’t before...

Tips for Good Texting Etiquette

by | Aug 16, 2015 | Uncategorized

Texting is a very useful way of communicating. It is more accessible than email and is instantaneous. It allows you to send notes of limited size that the recipient can respond to immediately with minimal disruption. You can send just a little blurb, or instruction, or you can carry on an entire conversation. This allows people to relay information rapidly, and can save time when one needs a simple answer, and can avoid the time wasted engaging in the protocols involved with even a brief telephone conversation. However, texting does have its downfalls. It is often misused, or poorly timed, creating uncomfortable social situations, or minor distractions that can have fatal results. It is not only important to remember the social implications of a text conversation, but the issues of physical safety when operating equipment or a motor vehicle. The distraction of texting has produced countless auto accidents that have resulted in serious injuries and death. That momentary reaction to a text or a tweet can create fatally hazardous conditions. What and How to Text • Be mindful of who you are speaking to. Not everyone uses the modern text shorthand more commonly known as ‘Text-speak’. It can be annoying to spell everything out, but there is a great possibility that the other person cannot understand your abbreviations, and there is no point in sending a text that the recipient cannot understand. Younger people should especially keep this in mind when texting with people of older generations. As a general rule, one should use formal English when texting, unless it is with someone with whom you are very familiar,...

Effects on Brain Function by Addictive Substances

by | Aug 16, 2015 | Uncategorized

Brain activity is a result of nerves firing or not firing in binary fashion. It is similar to the functioning of computers, where complicated processes are described with a series of 0’s and 1’s. After the nerves fire, neurotransmitters must be removed from the area in order to turn the signal off. Two possible ways are available for the removal of the neurotransmitters; either an enzyme destroys the chemical or it is pumped back into a nerve by using another chemical called a transport pump. The process of pumping chemicals back is known as reuptake. Alcohol work similarly to all psychoactive compounds, like neurotransmitters, hormones, addictive drugs and medications. Alcohol and other chemicals work as a key that fit into a specific lock, and opens a door for further communication. Alcohol works on both the motor and sensory components of the brain, and has multiple neurotransmitter effects, although it does have a receptor that is specifically designed for it. This is not unique to alcohol, since opiates have opiate receptors, and marijuana has marijuana receptors, which means that the body produces chemicals with similar activity. Certain brain areas are particularly sensitive to the effects of alcohol. The neurotransmitters affected by alcohol include gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), glutamate, serotonin, dopamine and endogenous opiates. These neurotransmitters are involved in the alcohol’s short and long-term effects, including intoxication, withdrawal and possibly addiction. GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain, which is responsible for dampening and inhibiting brain activity. The increase of GABA leads to a decrease of motor tension and anxiety, and increases sedation and sleep. Alcohol strengthens the effect...

Why is it so Difficult for Some Gay Men to Find a Partner?

by | Aug 16, 2015 | Uncategorized

We all know men who seem like they would be such a good catch, and yet they seem to be always single. Why? 1. Some gay men have been sexually abused as children. They probably don’t share that information easily, and probably with few friends. These men don’t trust anybody. This is a common response for anyone who has been sexually abused, not just gay men. So these men don’t have a highly developed sense of who to pick, who might be a “safe” person. They unconsciously feel that everyone will hurt them. It is very difficult, if not impossible for a gay man who hasn’t had therapy on the abuse, to maintain a successful intimate relationship. These same gay men may also be the ones who have battled addiction, or are still battling addiction, to continue the abuse unconsciously. These gay men with a history of sexual abuse as children may be highly successful, and pillars of the community. They also may be in service to others, while never really addressing their own deep-seated wounds. They may also be especially charming and delightful to chat with about many topics. They seldom discuss topics that would border abuse issues, and if those issues are discussed in their presence, they often seem unusually uncomfortable. These men can be saddled with eating disorders to unconsciously mask their pain, or they may be unbelievably fit, seeking perfection physically. Perfection is often a theme for this man, and that is difficult for others to deal with. 2. Some gay men have diagnosed or undiagnosed Mood Disorders, like ADHD, or Depression. The fact that...

Visible Symptoms of Several Commonly Abused Drugs

by | Aug 16, 2015 | Uncategorized

You may have a friend, family member, or co-worker who has had an erratic change in behavior lately. This does not mean that he or she is abusing drugs, but could have a lack of sleep, be ill, or have experienced a traumatic event. This information below is for those of you who do suspect drug abuse. Use this information only as a guideline. Do not confront the potential drug abuser. You may want to engage the help of a professional to help you deal with this issue if it is a family member. A co-worker may need to be reported to the manager or director. There is help available, though. In general, symptoms of drug usage do not pop out alone, and usually there is more than one symptom that you will be able to notice. Depending on a person’s body structure, age, and gender, different symptoms will show up in a different order, strength and combination. Also, every drug has its own set of symptoms that reveals its influence on the human body. Here’s a brief coverage of specific symptoms that characterize certain kinds of drugs: Marijuana: Glassy, red eyes; loud talking and inappropriate laughter followed by sleepiness; a sweet burnt scent; loss of interest, motivation; weight gain or loss. Alcohol: Clumsiness; difficulty walking; slurred speech; sleepiness; poor judgment; dilated pupils; possession of a false ID card (of course this is common among teens.) Depressants: (including barbiturates and tranquilizers) Seems drunk as if from alcohol, but without the associated odor of alcohol; difficulty concentrating; clumsiness; poor judgment; slurred speech; sleepiness; and contracted pupils. Stimulants: Hyperactivity; euphoria; irritability;...