Blog #14: Eve Ensler’s video regarding violence toward women
I am actually embarrassed to say that, until this week when I viewed the supplemental readings and videos, I had never even heard of Eve Ensler. Perhaps I’ve just been somewhat isolated because I rarely watch TV… but I do read. Even so, I had never heard of this pioneering woman, who chose to step outside the boundaries of what is considered “normal and acceptable”, and brought her campaign of violence against women to the forefront, and to the minds and televisions of Americans and other people throughout the world. Her work to promote anti-violence, and to educate women on ways to avoid domestic violence, is exemplary. As a playright, her “Vagina Monologues” (TEDtalks.com, 2009) have been hugely successful, not necessarily as an entertainment venue, but as a vehicle to educate women on ways to avoid physical aggression and violence, and as a tool to empower women to voice their opinions and support their beliefs on a number of critically important issues regarding women’s health. Her presentation regarding Female Genital Mutilation (FMG) was particularly poignant as she spoke of “Agnes”, another pioneering woman from Kenya. Agnes has spent many years traveling throughout Africa, largely on foot, as she has traveled from city to city, village to village, spreading the word and “transforming consciousness” (Tedtalks.com, 2009) regarding the horrors and brutality of Female Genital Mutilation.
Perhaps just the title of Ensler’s production, “The Vagina Monologues” (Tedtalks.com, 2009) is what originally captured the attention of viewers and listeners, or perhaps not. Either way, those who have viewed her work have walked away with a new knowledge regarding the extent of violence against women in our country, and throughout the world, and I applaud her efforts and ability to bring this information to us in a very unique, insightful way.
My plan is to follow her website for additional information regarding V-Day campus activities in 2010. http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=e_ensler
Works cited:
http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=e_ensler
Carol Martin
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Blog #13: Substance Abuse - Faces of Meth
Blog #13: Substance Abuse – Faces of Meth
I find it hard to accept that I knew so little about Methamphetamine (Meth), and how devastating this drug can be. I am a 52-year-old woman with friends and family members who have suffered through addictions in the past, but never anything as powerful and destructive as Meth. What surprised me the most was the fact that this isn’t a “big city” drug, but can be found in “Small Town, America”, just like the community where I live. Very recently there were a number of Meth-lab arrests in my community, and I recall being so surprised to learn that this is a very common occurrence. I live in a small, agricultural town with a population less than 10,000, where the sidewalks roll up at 9:00 pm, and the whole town goes to the Friday night football games. Sure, we have crime in the community, but I always thought it was fairly minimal compared to the crime rates in Houston, Galveston, and other surrounding communities. I don’t know the actual statistics, but I feel certain that the rising crime rates in the general area are a result of drug addicts, just stealing so they can have money to support their habit. What I’ve learned is that I’ve had a false sense of security about living in a small, quiet community. I believe most of the people in my community are hardworking, honest, genuine people, but even the best person can be ruined by drug addiction.
What surprised me even more is the population, or the profile of a person on Meth: Caucasian, educated, 20-30 years old, working part or full time, and nearly half of the users are women. (Drugfree.org). I must say that the chapter on Substance Abuse, and the supplemental readings and videos this week have certainly opened my eyes to the fact that there is a monster drug out there, and its name is Meth.
Carol Martin
Works cited:
National Institute on Drug Abuse (2007). InfoFacts: Methamphetamine. Retrieved April 24, 2007 from: www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/methamphetamine.html
http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugIssue/Meth/ads.html
I find it hard to accept that I knew so little about Methamphetamine (Meth), and how devastating this drug can be. I am a 52-year-old woman with friends and family members who have suffered through addictions in the past, but never anything as powerful and destructive as Meth. What surprised me the most was the fact that this isn’t a “big city” drug, but can be found in “Small Town, America”, just like the community where I live. Very recently there were a number of Meth-lab arrests in my community, and I recall being so surprised to learn that this is a very common occurrence. I live in a small, agricultural town with a population less than 10,000, where the sidewalks roll up at 9:00 pm, and the whole town goes to the Friday night football games. Sure, we have crime in the community, but I always thought it was fairly minimal compared to the crime rates in Houston, Galveston, and other surrounding communities. I don’t know the actual statistics, but I feel certain that the rising crime rates in the general area are a result of drug addicts, just stealing so they can have money to support their habit. What I’ve learned is that I’ve had a false sense of security about living in a small, quiet community. I believe most of the people in my community are hardworking, honest, genuine people, but even the best person can be ruined by drug addiction.
What surprised me even more is the population, or the profile of a person on Meth: Caucasian, educated, 20-30 years old, working part or full time, and nearly half of the users are women. (Drugfree.org). I must say that the chapter on Substance Abuse, and the supplemental readings and videos this week have certainly opened my eyes to the fact that there is a monster drug out there, and its name is Meth.
Carol Martin
Works cited:
National Institute on Drug Abuse (2007). InfoFacts: Methamphetamine. Retrieved April 24, 2007 from: www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/methamphetamine.html
http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugIssue/Meth/ads.html
Friday, November 20, 2009
Blog #12: A Friend with Mental Illness
Have you ever known someone with a mental illness? How did/does the illness impact his/her life? What have you learned about this mental illness just from knowing them?
I have a very good friend, a man I have known for over ten years, who suffers from Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). I worked with this friend for a number of years, and remember that he often seemed very moody and depressed at times, but then seemed to be “on top of the world” at other times. I never really gave this much thought, and simply attributed the variations in his behavior to job stress and responsibilities. At that time we were only coworkers, but later our friendship deepened and we saw each other away from work in social settings. I began to realize that his mood swings were more than just a normal variation due to the stresses of day-to-day life. Still, he never talked with me about this until just a few months ago, and I am saddened to think that he continues to struggle with his mental illness every day. Apparently, this has been an issue for him for most of his adult life, and he has a strong family history of mental illness. He is an extremely intelligent, professional man with a position of intense responsibility, and I suspect the stresses of his position only add to his underlying mental health issues.
When we last spoke, he was involved in a daily exercise program and was taking medication to treat his illness. As a medical professional, himself, my friend is acutely aware of the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and I am glad to know he recognized this and sought professional help. I believe his illness affects every aspect of his life, especially interpersonal relationships, and I know he suffers from the extremes of the manic and depressive phases of his illness.
Although I have had other friends with Bipolar Disorder in the past, I was never truly informed about the illness and how it manifests itself. Because I wanted to be able to understand more about what was happening with my friend, I did a lot of reading and research regarding Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, and now have a better understanding of how and why he acts as he does. I have learned that men can be affected by depression just as severely as women, and that his social situation and family history put him at high risk for continued issues with mental health.
My sincere hope is that the treatment will be successful for him, and he can continue to enjoy the things in life that bring him joy and happiness.
Carol Martin
I have a very good friend, a man I have known for over ten years, who suffers from Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). I worked with this friend for a number of years, and remember that he often seemed very moody and depressed at times, but then seemed to be “on top of the world” at other times. I never really gave this much thought, and simply attributed the variations in his behavior to job stress and responsibilities. At that time we were only coworkers, but later our friendship deepened and we saw each other away from work in social settings. I began to realize that his mood swings were more than just a normal variation due to the stresses of day-to-day life. Still, he never talked with me about this until just a few months ago, and I am saddened to think that he continues to struggle with his mental illness every day. Apparently, this has been an issue for him for most of his adult life, and he has a strong family history of mental illness. He is an extremely intelligent, professional man with a position of intense responsibility, and I suspect the stresses of his position only add to his underlying mental health issues.
When we last spoke, he was involved in a daily exercise program and was taking medication to treat his illness. As a medical professional, himself, my friend is acutely aware of the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and I am glad to know he recognized this and sought professional help. I believe his illness affects every aspect of his life, especially interpersonal relationships, and I know he suffers from the extremes of the manic and depressive phases of his illness.
Although I have had other friends with Bipolar Disorder in the past, I was never truly informed about the illness and how it manifests itself. Because I wanted to be able to understand more about what was happening with my friend, I did a lot of reading and research regarding Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, and now have a better understanding of how and why he acts as he does. I have learned that men can be affected by depression just as severely as women, and that his social situation and family history put him at high risk for continued issues with mental health.
My sincere hope is that the treatment will be successful for him, and he can continue to enjoy the things in life that bring him joy and happiness.
Carol Martin
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Blog #11: Interview Regarding Chronic Illness: COPD
Interview someone who is living with a chronic illness. What are their lived experiences? What are they doing to try to maintain their health despite the disease?
I chose to interview my mother regarding her experiences with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and lung cancer.
As did many young people of her generation (WWII and late Depression Era) my mother began smoking in her early teens. She was fourteen, and started smoking because so many family members and peers also smoked, and it seemed the natural thing to do. Little did she know that what would become a lifetime habit would also impact her life so negatively during her senior years. She was a heavy smoker (more than two packs per day) for over 40 years, but had surprisingly few symptoms until she developed severe allergic asthmatic bronchitis approximately fifteen years ago. Even then she continued to smoke when she was not experiencing a “flare-up”, but ultimately had to make the choice: smoke or breathe. Her combination of emphysema and newly-diagnosed chronic asthmatic bronchitis made it necessary to choose a healthier lifestyle after she was diagnosed with severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). She was hospitalized for ten days in an intensive care unit, exhausted from struggling so hard to breathe, and near the point of requiring a ventilator to assist her with breathing. This experience changed her life, and she returned home with a supply of bronchodilators, inhaled steroid medications, and instructions from her physician to alter her diet and increase activity to strengthen her respiratory muscles. Although she has never smoked another cigarette since the day of her hospital discharge, she continues to require bronchodilators every day of her life, and her physical activity and stamina is severely limited due to her underlying lung disease.
To further complicate her health condition, she was diagnosed with Stage II lung cancer nearly six years ago (many years after she had stopped smoking). Because she was not physically strong enough to undergo surgery, she completed several courses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy to stop the progression of her disease. The after-effects of the radiation therapy caused additional lung scarring which further compromised her lung function. But she is a strong and determined woman, and the test results from her most recent visit to see her pulmonologist indicate she remains cancer-free.
Despite this, she lives day-to-day with approximately 30% of her optimal lung capacity, and is severely limited in all of her daily activities. She must use bronchodilators and inhaled steroids every day of her life, just to be able to breathe somewhat normally. She knows that she would probably benefit from a pulmonary rehabilitation program designed to increase her strength and stamina, but she simply does not have the energy to do this. Her lifestyle is very sedentary, which further contributes to the overall “deconditioning” experienced by so many people with COPD (American Lung Association, 2009).
Her disease is chronic and irreversible, and she admits wondering about how life might have been as a lifetime non-smoker.
Carol Martin
Cmartin18@twu.edu
References:
American Lung Association. Retrieved November 12, 2009 from http://www.lungusa.org/
I chose to interview my mother regarding her experiences with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and lung cancer.
As did many young people of her generation (WWII and late Depression Era) my mother began smoking in her early teens. She was fourteen, and started smoking because so many family members and peers also smoked, and it seemed the natural thing to do. Little did she know that what would become a lifetime habit would also impact her life so negatively during her senior years. She was a heavy smoker (more than two packs per day) for over 40 years, but had surprisingly few symptoms until she developed severe allergic asthmatic bronchitis approximately fifteen years ago. Even then she continued to smoke when she was not experiencing a “flare-up”, but ultimately had to make the choice: smoke or breathe. Her combination of emphysema and newly-diagnosed chronic asthmatic bronchitis made it necessary to choose a healthier lifestyle after she was diagnosed with severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). She was hospitalized for ten days in an intensive care unit, exhausted from struggling so hard to breathe, and near the point of requiring a ventilator to assist her with breathing. This experience changed her life, and she returned home with a supply of bronchodilators, inhaled steroid medications, and instructions from her physician to alter her diet and increase activity to strengthen her respiratory muscles. Although she has never smoked another cigarette since the day of her hospital discharge, she continues to require bronchodilators every day of her life, and her physical activity and stamina is severely limited due to her underlying lung disease.
To further complicate her health condition, she was diagnosed with Stage II lung cancer nearly six years ago (many years after she had stopped smoking). Because she was not physically strong enough to undergo surgery, she completed several courses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy to stop the progression of her disease. The after-effects of the radiation therapy caused additional lung scarring which further compromised her lung function. But she is a strong and determined woman, and the test results from her most recent visit to see her pulmonologist indicate she remains cancer-free.
Despite this, she lives day-to-day with approximately 30% of her optimal lung capacity, and is severely limited in all of her daily activities. She must use bronchodilators and inhaled steroids every day of her life, just to be able to breathe somewhat normally. She knows that she would probably benefit from a pulmonary rehabilitation program designed to increase her strength and stamina, but she simply does not have the energy to do this. Her lifestyle is very sedentary, which further contributes to the overall “deconditioning” experienced by so many people with COPD (American Lung Association, 2009).
Her disease is chronic and irreversible, and she admits wondering about how life might have been as a lifetime non-smoker.
Carol Martin
Cmartin18@twu.edu
References:
American Lung Association. Retrieved November 12, 2009 from http://www.lungusa.org/
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Blog #10: What factors can influence women to adopt healthier lifestyles?
What factors can influence women to adopt healthier lifestyles and engage in preventative behaviors so as to reduce their risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer?
I believe some of the most important "health maintenance and prevention" things women can do are to 1) be aware of what is normal for their own bodies, 2) and be aware of their family history and risk factors for developing certain diseases.
By being aware of what is normal for their own bodies, this means they must have routine physical checkups, lab tests, mammograms, blood pressure checks, vision screening, dental checkups, etc. It is also very important to have a good relationship with one's own personal physician, who can offer advice and provide treatment when/if unusual physical symptoms occur.
Family history can play such a large role in our health conditions, particularly in women with inherited genes for breast or ovarian cancer, and we must be very proactive in becoming educated regarding our own risks for such diseases. The same holds true for cardiovascular disease and associated risks if there is a family history.
One factor that might influence women to adopt healthier lifestyles is to take a hard look at their own family histories, going back several generations to grandparents or great-grandparents. Granted, our ancestors lived in different times and had different stresses, different diets, and different lifestyles. But reviewing what illnesses or diseases they had will likely give us an idea of what kind of genetic predisposition might exist for certain illnesses. If we are aware of what is already "in the genes", then we can be much more proactive in adopting a healthy, active lifestyle so we can prevent these illnesses in our generations.
Carol Martin
I believe some of the most important "health maintenance and prevention" things women can do are to 1) be aware of what is normal for their own bodies, 2) and be aware of their family history and risk factors for developing certain diseases.
By being aware of what is normal for their own bodies, this means they must have routine physical checkups, lab tests, mammograms, blood pressure checks, vision screening, dental checkups, etc. It is also very important to have a good relationship with one's own personal physician, who can offer advice and provide treatment when/if unusual physical symptoms occur.
Family history can play such a large role in our health conditions, particularly in women with inherited genes for breast or ovarian cancer, and we must be very proactive in becoming educated regarding our own risks for such diseases. The same holds true for cardiovascular disease and associated risks if there is a family history.
One factor that might influence women to adopt healthier lifestyles is to take a hard look at their own family histories, going back several generations to grandparents or great-grandparents. Granted, our ancestors lived in different times and had different stresses, different diets, and different lifestyles. But reviewing what illnesses or diseases they had will likely give us an idea of what kind of genetic predisposition might exist for certain illnesses. If we are aware of what is already "in the genes", then we can be much more proactive in adopting a healthy, active lifestyle so we can prevent these illnesses in our generations.
Carol Martin
Friday, October 30, 2009
Blog #9: Discussing Food and Weight in the Home Environment
Question: How was the issue of food and weight discussed in your home? Was it ever a control issue or a point of conflict for you? How much influence do you believe your family has onbn the way you feel abut food and your body today?
Growing up in the Deep South (Alabama) in a single parent family with five children, we rarely talked about nutrition. We relied on fruits and vegetables from my grandparent's farm (which we helped to plant and harvest), and rarely did my mother or grandparents talk about health and nutrition. The basic, accepted way of cooking any kind of meat was "fried." The typical Sunday breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, homemade bisquits with butter, homemade preserves with tons of sugar, etc. As a result, I was somewhat of a "chubby" child, but never gave much thought to this until I reached adolescence, when most young women begin to think about their body image and begin to compare themselves to their peers.
My near-anorexia experience began at the beginning of my sophomore year in high school. I decided to lose some weight because I saw how popular and happy the cheerleaders and majorettes seemed to be, and I chose the then-popular "grapefruit diet." I was quite successful in losing weight (approximately 25 pounds), but by the time Thanksgiving arrived, I was having fainting episodes and had become severely malnourished, dangerously anemic, and near kidney failure. My mother still tells the story of how I sat down at the table to share Thanksgiving Dinner with the family, and then simply fainted at the table. Back then, in the 1970s, anorexia was a word rarely heard or understood, but, still, eating disorders existed at that time. I do recall my mother encouraging me to eat more, but I was so busy with school and work, and we rarely had family sit-down dinners at that time. She had no idea how to deal with an eating disorder, and I certainly had no idea that my attempts to lose weight would cause physical damage. I recovered well after several months of iron supplements, rest, and good nutrition.
When raising my own children, I always tried to stress the importance of a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Even though they resisted and still wanted to indulge in the popular fast foods, I still insisted they at least try the healthy choices first.
For any parent who notices a change in eating behavior: do not ignore the signs and symptoms of potential eating disorders. Even though anorexia, bulemia and other eating disorders are discussed much more frequently and openly now, versus 30 years ago, many families are unaware that a problem exists until the disorder is very far advanced. This is one reason I believe sharing "family dinner time" is so important.
Carol Martin
cmartin18@twu.edu
Growing up in the Deep South (Alabama) in a single parent family with five children, we rarely talked about nutrition. We relied on fruits and vegetables from my grandparent's farm (which we helped to plant and harvest), and rarely did my mother or grandparents talk about health and nutrition. The basic, accepted way of cooking any kind of meat was "fried." The typical Sunday breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, homemade bisquits with butter, homemade preserves with tons of sugar, etc. As a result, I was somewhat of a "chubby" child, but never gave much thought to this until I reached adolescence, when most young women begin to think about their body image and begin to compare themselves to their peers.
My near-anorexia experience began at the beginning of my sophomore year in high school. I decided to lose some weight because I saw how popular and happy the cheerleaders and majorettes seemed to be, and I chose the then-popular "grapefruit diet." I was quite successful in losing weight (approximately 25 pounds), but by the time Thanksgiving arrived, I was having fainting episodes and had become severely malnourished, dangerously anemic, and near kidney failure. My mother still tells the story of how I sat down at the table to share Thanksgiving Dinner with the family, and then simply fainted at the table. Back then, in the 1970s, anorexia was a word rarely heard or understood, but, still, eating disorders existed at that time. I do recall my mother encouraging me to eat more, but I was so busy with school and work, and we rarely had family sit-down dinners at that time. She had no idea how to deal with an eating disorder, and I certainly had no idea that my attempts to lose weight would cause physical damage. I recovered well after several months of iron supplements, rest, and good nutrition.
When raising my own children, I always tried to stress the importance of a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Even though they resisted and still wanted to indulge in the popular fast foods, I still insisted they at least try the healthy choices first.
For any parent who notices a change in eating behavior: do not ignore the signs and symptoms of potential eating disorders. Even though anorexia, bulemia and other eating disorders are discussed much more frequently and openly now, versus 30 years ago, many families are unaware that a problem exists until the disorder is very far advanced. This is one reason I believe sharing "family dinner time" is so important.
Carol Martin
cmartin18@twu.edu
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Blog #8: Hormone Replacement Therapy, Or Not?
*Interview a woman who has or is going through menopause and has decided to take hormones. Allow her to share with you the reasons she has chosen to take them and how she feels it is beneficial for her health.
Hormone Replacement Therapy, Or Not?
I chose to interview my younger sister, CJ, regarding her decision to begin hormone replacement therapy (HRT). We are close in age, just 11 months apart, but CJ experienced menopause a little sooner than I have, partly due to the fact that she had an ectopic pregnancy approximately 20 years ago and had removal of one tube and ovary. She has been confirmed as menopausal by her physician, and recently began hormone replacement therapy. They discussed the benefits and possible side effects of therapy, and she decided that HRT seemed to be a good choice for her situation.
Her main reason for beginning HRT is because of our very strong family history of osteoporosis. Our grandmother was a strong, vibrant woman until her 70s, but by the time she reached her early 80s she was severely debilitated by osteoporosis and compression fractures in her spine, hips and ankles. Our mother, now in her mid-70s, is very limited in her physical ability due to back pain and osteoarthritis, and CJ, herself, has had considerable bone and joint problems over the past ten years. Her recent bone density studies have shown moderate bone loss. She has no other risk factors that might affect her overall health by taking HRT, i.e. she has no history of smoking, heart disease, blood clots, or breast cancer, and decided to begin HRT because she felt the potential benefits far outweighed the potential risks. She has been on HRT for several months now, and seems happy with the effect so far.
I, too, discussed the options of HRT with my physician, but have opted not to begin therapy at this time. What concerned me the most was the “disclaimer” presented to me with the prescription for medication. The “disclaimer” very clearly stated the potential increased risks for blood clots, stroke, uterine cancer or breast cancer, and I simply felt that the potential risks outweighed potential benefits.
The choice of whether or not to begin HRT is a very personal decision, but it is one that we must all eventually consider.
Carol Martin
Cmartin18@twu.edu
Hormone Replacement Therapy, Or Not?
I chose to interview my younger sister, CJ, regarding her decision to begin hormone replacement therapy (HRT). We are close in age, just 11 months apart, but CJ experienced menopause a little sooner than I have, partly due to the fact that she had an ectopic pregnancy approximately 20 years ago and had removal of one tube and ovary. She has been confirmed as menopausal by her physician, and recently began hormone replacement therapy. They discussed the benefits and possible side effects of therapy, and she decided that HRT seemed to be a good choice for her situation.
Her main reason for beginning HRT is because of our very strong family history of osteoporosis. Our grandmother was a strong, vibrant woman until her 70s, but by the time she reached her early 80s she was severely debilitated by osteoporosis and compression fractures in her spine, hips and ankles. Our mother, now in her mid-70s, is very limited in her physical ability due to back pain and osteoarthritis, and CJ, herself, has had considerable bone and joint problems over the past ten years. Her recent bone density studies have shown moderate bone loss. She has no other risk factors that might affect her overall health by taking HRT, i.e. she has no history of smoking, heart disease, blood clots, or breast cancer, and decided to begin HRT because she felt the potential benefits far outweighed the potential risks. She has been on HRT for several months now, and seems happy with the effect so far.
I, too, discussed the options of HRT with my physician, but have opted not to begin therapy at this time. What concerned me the most was the “disclaimer” presented to me with the prescription for medication. The “disclaimer” very clearly stated the potential increased risks for blood clots, stroke, uterine cancer or breast cancer, and I simply felt that the potential risks outweighed potential benefits.
The choice of whether or not to begin HRT is a very personal decision, but it is one that we must all eventually consider.
Carol Martin
Cmartin18@twu.edu
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