MindFlex

I ordered the boys a game called Mindflex, because one of them was having trouble focusing in school and at home.  To play this game, you wear a belt around your head with sensors on your forehead and ears.  It responds to brainwaves in the 'focused' zone, similar to an EEG.  When the player is focused or concentrating, the game's fan goes on, and the ball lifts into the air.

Once you learn how to control your attention, you can manipulate the ball up and down and around in a circle.  That's when the real fun starts.  You can add obstacles.

My hope is that once it's understood what attention and focus feels like, the boys can turn it on at will, just by changing their thinking patterns in the brain.  This is essentially biofeedback. 

The game is a little pricy, but I think it's a healthy way to help children learn to focus more effectively.  And I have to admit - the game is fun for adults too!  I suspect it will be popular with my psychology classes too, when we study EEGs and biofeedback.

Readers, do you feel like your concentration could use improvement?

Strange Guitar Happenings

I was sitting on the couch reading a book. 

It was quiet.

The boys were at school. 

It was a milder day than usual, so even the cats were outside. 

I'd done my chores for the morning and was deep in a novel when the guitar on the wall across from me plucked two notes. 

Two notes.

One right after the other.

I looked at it. 

No one was around.

No cats.

No boys.

No stinkbugs.

No earthquakes.

No explanations at all.

I googled for scientific explanations.  Was it the atmosphere?  We'd had a lot of rain.  I didn't find any logical answers.

I remembered my maternal grandfather always used to tell a story of attending the funeral of Uncle Bill and hearing a banjo play 2-3 notes at the wake.  I asked my mom if this was one of his tall tales.  She said no, that she was there too when that happened.

So I actually have a genetic heritage of hearing guitars play notes on their own.  It's in my genes.

How's that for scientific explanations?

Readers, you got any similar strange happenings to tell me?

Vomit and Ghosts in the Classroom

I've been teaching a lot lately, and the classes I teach are long - either 5 hours or 6.5 hours.  Day classes start at 8:00 and tend to end at 1:00.  Night classes run from 5:30 - 10:30.  A few weeks ago I was teaching a night class and my students had taken their finals and went home early.  The other classes had finals as well, so the building was quiet as I set up my classes online for the following term.  I started to hear someone wretching.  I could tell it was a male.

My classroom was a good amount of space down from the men's bathroom, so it seemed weird the sound would travel so far.  It went on and on.  After a while, I started getting concerned that the guy was very seriously ill and in trouble.  So I walked around the building trying to find him.  The two classrooms set behind mine were empty.  Beside my class was a hallway and then faculty offices, which were empty.  The classroom next to mine was a nursing lab, but as I walked by I could see there were just two students in there with an instructor, and it appeared they were studying vitals. 

I finally walked down to the library, and explained the situation to the night librarian.  I asked if he would mind going into the men's bathroom to make sure the person was okay and didn't need help.  When the librarian walked past my classroom, he, too, could hear the violent vomiting.  But when he went into the bathroom, it was empty.

We walked up and down the halls, searching for the source of the dreadful sound.  I certainly didn't feel like eating any dinner that night, after hearing twenty minutes of heaving.  Eventually the librarian and I roped another instructor into searching for the ill person.  Now there were three of us.  And she finally located the source.

Remember that nursing class right next to mine?  The one that seemed to be studying vitals?  It turns out they had a vomit app on an ipad and had spent the past thirty minutes playing with the app.  I guess if you're a nursing student, vomit apps just never lose their fun!

When I told my boys about how the nurses got me good, they thought this was just hilarious.  I'm pretty sure they wish they had a vomit app.  Yuck.

One more story from the classroom - I do teach some basic level statistics in my Introduction to Psychology class.  I saw this little math joke around Halloween, so as I was teaching what a normal distribution looks like, I drew it on the board.  All my students were drawing right along with me.  Then I drew the paranormal distribution, and they drew that too.  It took them a minute before they realized that was a joke, but when they did, they were all amused.

Here's hoping that all of you are finding much amusement in life lately.  Have a great week! 

Learning is Fun

I've mentioned before that I listen to a lot of podcasts when I'm running.  Recently I made the accidental discovery that you can watch entire college courses on iTunes on various topics.  There were a number that interested me, but I decided to start with a history course at Yale called Epidemics in Western Society since 1600. 

I don't have the textbook for the class, but I have been making an effort to read the books that are mentioned as well as watch films that are discussed.  After watching the three lectures on the bubonic plague, I read Daniel Defoe's A Journal of the Plague Year.  Like other books from the early 18th century, it's a little dry, and it does bother me that there are no chapters.  However, if you want to experience what the day to day life was like during the terror of the plague in London in the late 1600s, it gives a realistic picture.  At moments in the book, I felt that some things hadn't changed all that much, when considerating things that happened with the Ebola virus in 2014. 

I love to learn and I've enjoyed immersing myself in this fascinating topic (some of which, like the lecture on Hippocrates and the four humors, has been relevant to the psychology classes I teach).  I do wish the course included the entire reading list - I have to listen for books mentioned in the lectures (next I'll be reading Pox Americana: The Great Smallpox Epidemic from 1775 - 82). Once I finish Dr. Snowden's course I have downloaded several other courses I want to take (there is an EMT course that I think will be very useful).  These courses are all free!  Just click on ITunes U to check them out.  You can watch them on any computer and do not need a special device.  It's an opportunity to 'sit in' on all the fun classes that you were never able to take when you were younger - only you don't have to take any final exams or write any papers.

Readers, is there a class you'd love to be able to take?

Seeking Tranquility

Back in December I resigned from the part time job where I was working with mental health patients in the community.  I liked the company I was working for, and I loved making a difference, but the job was extremely stressful, and the stress level was increasing.  It got to a point where I felt like I was sacrificing so much of myself that I didn't have much left to give to my family when I got home at the end of the day.

I asked my other part time job (teaching psychology at a local college) if they could toss me an extra class from time to time to make up the difference, and they were happy to do so.  I've been teaching some freshmen orientation classes from time to time.  Teaching involves very little stress, and is fun and energizing for me. 

I cannot begin to tell you how my quality of life has improved.  I'm happy to take this step back from working in the mental health community to regroup.  I'm sure I'll return at some point - I can never seem to stay away for too long because it's part of my nature that I always want to help.  But this time?  This time I chose to help myself instead. 

Readers, do you have a time lately when you put yourself first?

Aversions last....forever?

When I was pregnant with Pierce, I had a couple of aversions.  The worst was salmon.  It took me several years after having Pierce to like salmon again (something I had previously loved).  Aversions are kind of interesting.  They go back to our hunter and gatherer days, and are our brains' ways of putting us off food that has made us feel sick in the past, so we will learn not to eat poisonous things. 

When I was pregnant with the twins, I had an aversion to potato soup.  I haven't quite regained that love, but I think I could eat it.  Especially if it was made by my dad.  Still, I would just prefer to eat other things.

When I was pregnant with all three boys, there was one thing I developed an aversion to that I still cannot stand to smell. I think it started with Pierce, but carried over into the pregnancy with the twins too.

Every morning, I got to work, and the first thing I smelled was my boss's coffee.  Now I love the smell of coffee.  And I enjoy drinking coffee.  Especially flavored coffees, like salted caramel or this coffee a cocoa:

But my boss always made hazelnut coffee.  Even today I can't stand the smell of hazelnut coffee.  It's been ten years next month since my pregnancy with Pierce.  Somehow, I am thinking this is one aversion that isn't ever going away.  It's a shame really.  I bet hazelnut coffee is good.

Readers, do you have any aversions?

Nine Psychology Documentaries I Love

Since 2008, I've been teaching psychology classes as an adjunct off and on at a local university.  It's a job that I adore.  I love everything about psychology.  I enjoy reading psych, listening to psych podcasts, and of course, watching psych movies. 

I know I've had some readers over the years who also enjoy psychology, so I thought I'd share some documentaries that have relevance in the field of psychology, but also teach great information.

1.  Babies - this film follows four babies in four completely different cultures.  It's cute and charming and funny.  Bottom line:  regardless of what privileges a kid has their first year, they all develop in the same way.

2.  Crazy, Sexy Cancer - Kris Carr is one of the most inspiring health gurus I know.  She has such a dynamic personality that you will be completely wrapped up in watching this documentary about her fight with cancer.

3.  The Lobotomist - this is a little gory, so viewer be wary.  However, it shows how far we've come in mental health treatments.

4.  Secrets of the Wild Child - this is a great documentary for both human development and the development of language.  A tragic story of Jeanie, who was unsocialized for years due to child abuse.  Once discovered, she fell into the hands of science, and continued to deal with adversity.  This film will remind you of why ethics are so important in research.

5.  Thin.  This film goes into a therapeutic eating disorder community in Florida, and follows several women throughout their treatment.  You will see how difficult it is for those with eating disorders to embrace a healthier life.

6.  Brain Games - this is a fun one.  It will make you ponder the way your brain works with new appreciation.

7.  Coma - follow four individuals as they struggle to recover from comas.  This will show you more about how the brain works, how fragile it is, and also how it can regenerate and recover.

8.  Happy Valley - A look at addiction to over the counter drugs in the state of Utah, with human interest stories along the way.

9.  Sunset Story - this documentary falls under the category of the human lifespan.  Follow two spunky political activists in their 90s as they deal with the last stages of life. 

There you have it!  Have you seen any of these?  If so, what did you think?  Do you have any recommendations for documentaries not on my list?

Maybe in the future, I'll do another one of these with some of my favorite fictional films that deal with psychology.

Boom! A burst of memory from a smell.

Have you ever noticed how certain smells will take you back?  Being fascinated by the way the brain works, I know that the olfactory cortex shares a direct link to the hippocampus, which stores our long term memories.  All the other senses are processed in the thalamus.  Maybe this is why, out of the blue, we sometimes get a whiff of a scent and are transported back in time.

This happened to me recently - I switched soaps because I became allergic to the soap I was using.  I have a tendency to develop allergies to things.  Shampoo, lotions, soaps, and deodorant (a particularly nasty allergic reaction last time that happened!).  So anyhow, I was using this fragrant soap that I loved and starting getting the massive itchies, so I knew I had to switch to something very mild, and switch fast! 

As I was perusing the soaps in the store, I recalled that Ivory is supposed to be very gentle.  I had used it years ago - in high school I guess.  I picked some up and brought it home.

The moment I ripped open the three pack I inhaled the soapy scent and was transported back to early high school.  My eye doctor had told me to use Ivory to wash my hands prior to cleaning my contact lenses, as it was one of the mildest soaps around and wouldn't burn my eyes or leave residue on my lenses.  This was back in the day of scrubbing the lenses in your palms each evening before placing them in a heated unit to kill any lingering germs.  Then once a month you'd do this fizzy tablet deal where you put your contacts in a solution with fizzy tabs to remove any residue buildup. 

I'd forgotten all those evenings I spent cleaning my contact lenses.  Thank goodness two week disposables came around by the time I hit college, along with the multipurpose cleaning solution.  Whew, so much easier!

Have you had any surprise memories from scents lately, readers?

Is Creativity and Craftiness Genetic?

My recent descent into days of madness crafting left me thinking about the talented women from whom I descended.  On one side of the family, my grandmother and great grandmother had a sewing shop.  I have one of the old machines that they used in their shop.  On the other side of the family, I know my grandmother did some needlepoint, as I have this lovely piece on the vanity stool that accompanies her bedroom set.

And you know I'm a bit of a psychology nerd, so it's only natural as I toil over my sewing machine, grumbling that I should be destined to be able to make it cooperate with me, that I ponder....is creativity genetic or learned?  The answer, no doubt, is that it must be a little of both. 

My environment growing up, had frequent exposure to craftiness.  My mother always had a sewing room wherever we lived (we moved a lot).  She sewed my prom dresses and even my simple wedding dress.  When Cabbage Patch dolls were all the rage in the early 80s and you had to be wicked lucky to get one, she started crafting dolls that were quite like the Cabbage Patches and selling them in the community.  Whenever I needed a costume for some project at school my Mom was right on top of it. 

Yet I was always a bit of a tomboy, and this craftiness didn't seem to reach my not-for-your-life-are-we-gonna-knit-fingers.  I did like working with clay some, dabbling a bit in creating small clay magnet animals for the fridge.  I tried cross stitching, which mostly made me mad, as I didn't have much patience for when I messed up, which was very, very frequently. 

I think that I got the creativity genes from my female ancestors intact, they just seem to have manifested themselves slightly differently.  Sure, I seem to have random bursts of craftiness, with small art projects with the boys or more recently with all these tiny (and odd, to me) sewing projects.  Mostly, though, I think my genes (which I imagine to be jumping up and down as I write this, and tweeting in excitement like little zebra finches) have decided that instead of doll crafting or painting or pottery, they would much rather......blog. 

What do you think, readers?  Where do you get your creativity? 

I'm Employed, Partly

Last week I went to fill out some more paperwork for the part time job (I am officially hired now) and my Dad came to watch the boys.  Pierce had a two hour school delay due to ice (but was glad he still got to go to school, since it was stripes day and he was sporting his Where's Waldo costume).

Pop Pop showed up at around 7 am and was immediately tackled by some enthusiastic kids.  They made him read this Thomas the train book about 40 times in a row before I even left. 

As for the job, they already have a case for me, which sounds like a good match if I can work out the hours with the client so that we're meeting when the twins are in preschool, or later in the evenings after Paul is home.  I'm excited to be making a difference in the community again, and will only be working around 9-12 hours a week for now, so it shouldn't detract much from family life.  In case you missed it before, I'll be providing emotional support and assisting those in the community that have difficulties due to mental health issues.  I will only be working with one or two people at a time and I may work with the same client for over a year.  I'm thankful to have found something that has flexible hours, is part time, and uses my background.  Because I've been playing the lottery for a few years now, and somehow, it just doesn't seem to be working out for me....

What about you, readers?  What kind of job fits your personality best?

Don't Hate Me Because I'm Introverted

I've known that I am an introvert for probably twenty years, having been interested in psychology as a teenager. I can sit by myself, nose in a good book, for hours and be perfectly happy.  I can go out for a solo run in the woods and feel completely at ease alone on the trails.  The world, however, is run by extroverts, who make up 75% of the population.  Indeed, being outgoing and gregarious is highly touted as a desirable characteristic, and may leave the other 25% of us feeling misunderstood.  Recently, when I was repeatedly called 'unfriendly' by someone, I started thinking about what it means to be an introvert. 

Introverts actually process information differently from extroverts.  With recent brain developments, we now know that the way information comes in and the way dopamine plays a role is very different.  Introverts tend to be highly sensitive to the neurotransmitter dopamine, and as a result can feel overstimulated in situations where we are surrounded by people.  I know that I can be very sensitive to not just people, but even the noise of people - I can't tolerate having multiple electronics on at once - say the radio plus the kids playing the Nintendo DS.  Multi-layers of noise leave me feeling unsettled and unable to focus. 

People sometimes think introverts are antisocial, but we're not.  We like being around people, in small and controlled doses.  But we find extended exposures draining, and need time to decompress.  I often have to bolster myself up to do something as simple as inviting another family over for dinner - it's very mentally draining.  It's not that I don't like other people or want to be around them - it's just that I find it exhausting on many different levels.  On the other side, extroverts are highly energized by other people and dislike being alone.  They can't understand why an introvert wouldn't want their company at all times, which they may assume is always desired. 

There are many misconceptions about introverts.  We may be considered shy, but in fact many of us are not afraid of people.  I'm certainly not.  Extroverts may mistake our lack of small talk for rudeness or snobbery.  For me, I just don't talk unless I have something to say.  It has nothing to do with what I think of you.  Extroverts may assume introverts don't like people.  That's also untrue.  In fact, we highly value the few friendships that we do have, often proving to be extremely loyal.  I've always thought of myself as having an inner circle, a la Meet the Parents.  It may take me a while to warm up to a person, but once someone reaches my inner circle, they are there for life, and can always know that I will be supportive and there for them.  Introverts do make most excellent listeners.

I suppose one of the most disturbing assumptions is that often extroverts think that introverts should just fix themselves and become "normal".  Ah yes, discrimination comes in many forms.  Introverts need to be appreciated for what is their natural personality type.  I could no more change myself to be extroverted than I could rob a bank - it's just not who I am.  I don't think it should be up to introverts to change.  It should be up to the extroverts to accept and respect us for who we are.

I suspect that there are many other happily blogging introverts out there.  It seems an easy way for us to connect with other people safely.  We can be social, but shut down whenever we feel like it to recharge.  If we don't feel like interacting at any given time, we don't have to.  Yet we can bond with others and have stimulating conversations and unite in friendship should we so choose.  And if we do meet face to face, it's a little easier, because we already know each other in some sense and have common ground.  Are we unfriendly?  Nope!  Just introverted. I'm so thankful for the friendships I have made with other bloggers who have not only been supportive, but also accept me - and my blog - as I am.  Thank you. 

I love the way this article sums up how to care for the introvert in your life.

I have a giveaway for 3 $10 Starbucks gift cards going on - you can enter here.  

This post will be linked to Pour Your Heart Out at Things I Can't Say.

Type A Personality Takes Over Type B

I teach psychology classes at a local college, and one topic that I cover in my classes is Type A and Type B personality.  Type A personality is more rigid, more controlling, and more anxious.  Their response to stress is impatience, and competitiveness.  Type A personalities are notorious workaholics.  It's not surprising that people who are Type A are at twice as much risk of a heart attack.  On a brighter note, these personality traits are highly valued in a professional society, and may help promote an individual's success.

Type B personalities, on the other hand, take a relaxed approach to life.  They are more laid back, and they handle the daily hassles of stress much easier. 

Most of us are somewhere in between Type A and Type B.  I see Type A tendencies in myself (for example, my refusal to miss a single day of blogging in an entire year!  I mean come on, let it go already!) but I can also be very laid back about some things (like if the kids stay in pjs all day...or wait....is that just lazy?).  Realizing where you fall on the spectrum may give you a self-awareness to help you handle various situations you encounter in a normal day.

Do you know which one you are?  Want to take a test to see?  I often refer my students to THIS site to find out.  If you take the test (it's fairly short), come back and let me know how you scored!

The Leaning Tower of Yellow Book

This weekend I decided to undertake some decluttering and reorganizing.  Pierce's art supplies in the pantry had gotten out of control.  So I started by working on the cabinets to try to make more room.  And what did I find?  SEVENTEEN phone books.  Why yes, you did read that correctly.  Who has seventeen phone books???  Us, apparently.  I broke out in a sweat, thinking, this is it.  We've officially become hoarders.

But then as I was going through them, I realized something.  Sure, a few of them were out of date.  But the majority were current.  Therefore, I can default blame to the people at Yellow Book.  They are the ones with obsessive compulsive phone book making disorder.  Total OCD people, go take some Paxil!  So hooray, I'm off the hook!  I'm not really a hoarder after all. 

Well, then I found these:

SIXTEEN waterbottles (and six never-used koozies)

Well, at least I'm willing to get rid of my stuff.  Ever read Ghosty Men?  Now those brothers...they were some professional hoarders!