Olivia Hackshaw
70yr old retired RN born and raised on a Caribbean island ,St.Lucia. My mixed ethnicity makes my ancestors both slaves and slave- owners.Love my pets and sometimes do volunteer work at the local hos
Location St.Lucia West Indies
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Paul Watson
Paul I posted something on that Jan 25 th
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Olivia Hackshaw
No Nell nothing to do with religion at all !We know from anatomy lessons what nerve cells and muscles look like ,What do Humility and pride look like ? They are the “Un- seen s” that do come into play in driving human behaviour .We just need to be aware of that aspect of self and nourish it like any other part of us ..Just ask any recoveries g drug addict...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Susan M
Reflections Posted part 2 twice but it seems to have gotten lost !!To the educators / architects of this course a bigThumbs Up and Thank You !I always enjoy the learners and to you I say a big Thank You for sharing ! .
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
REFLECTIONS Part (1) aThe course addresses a painful,often un- recognized,common condition,DEPRESSION.The design was clever-basic concepts delivered in a clear,concise way,but allowing learners apply them to self .( I think the term is Experiential Learning??)That way ,the “ non- professionals”can be of help to others before crisis steps in . The down- loads...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Relapse Prevention As a former alcohol/drug rehab workerI fully appreciate Relapse Prevention plans .I also practice a 12- Step program for my nicotine addiction ,I have had ,over the past 31 years had to identify triggers .The basic concept here is the daily exercise that seeks to cultivate Self- Awareness.I have come to recognize Ambivalence as the...
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BA therapy vs Other::::::::: It is often difficult to convince people that good mental health is finding BALANCE in the many ,little ,every- day activities of daily living .The research into BA seems to confirm this .Psychiatry has for so long depended largely on pills,while psychology ,perhaps in it’s quest for recognition, carved it’s evolution in...
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Delivery of BA therapy by “ qualified” vs non- qualified I always welcome scientific research .Something comes to mind here .In my tiny ,developing island I have seen this in action- “ junior” staff vs very expensive tertiary degreed staff.Given adequate preparation/ training ( often as an in- service program) they can be very effective .My work in drud &...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
SUHANA The key elements of BA will obviously be used but (1)What’s in the way) Family,poor physical health .(2) What can motivate. Support worker needs to confront her with the fact that she can’t give what she does not have so if she’s going to be any use to anyone she ought to put herself first .So physical health ,ensure hydration,nutrition,short rests...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Behaviours Purpose- driven usually achieves something that in turn leads the person to feeling good . Mood- driven can be self- sabotaging leading to feeling bad about oneself thus perpetuating the depressive state ..
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
During adverse times ,the “functional analysis” takes place in my head ,ruminating!
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Olivia Hackshaw
Am abit puzzled Am not sure there were any labels put on Sarah Please point out it out if you can !@LillimarW.
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Marek Wojcik
Occupational therapy - but that includes “ recreational therapy “ as well !
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
A favourite memory A young adult (50+ years ago) a group of friends ,a Caribbean beach on a moon- lit night ,clothes optional Running up the beach in the moon light The closest I came to feeling “ Free” ! Can’t do these things these days for different reasons but Gratitude helps me smile at the memory that yi was able to do it all in the first place .
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
COVID and lockdowns affected every one of us with Loss of some kind .My early life was affected by loss of mother (5yrs)and subsequent situations in life ( relocation,interruption of education) Sad ,unfortunate ? Yes Lessons learned ? Yes Some happy memories among them ?Yes During lockdown I listed them all and came out smiling !
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Saw a Quote some years ago —- “ God created Memory so we could have roses in December” MAKING USE OF MEMORY CARDS
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Patricia Lungay
Very concise .
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
I try to maintain a daily structure of self-care which includes the physical .mental & spiritual .To get in all of this in a non- rushed and meaning ful way I have to get out of bed at an appropriate time so I do just that When all that needs doing has been done the payoff is “Free- Time “ to do whatever makes me feel good and as Ann Holloway said today I ate...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Some of the changes in behaviour can be so subtle that they go unrecognized by family ,friends co workers and only when the person attempts self - harm that everyone comes to this realization.Also I have noticed that even when someone commits suicide close associates are at a loss to understand it
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Withdrawing,self- pity-ing,ruminating can all lead to Social Isolation where one has more time to feel low .Often avoided and not often mentioned The Spiritual Angle of mental health deserves a mention here .When one is not kind or perhaps Humble enough to socialize,so Prideful and not feeling good enough so as to become Self- pity- ing ,and so Self-...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Sara Edwards
O yes indeed SaraWhen I was assigned to care for a very depressed pt it was an uphill slog especially getting them out of bed But u start with little things that might make them feel better- sitting up ,brushing g teeth ,a bit of breakfast,get the picture?That might have included getting the the pillow thrown at u too !A pt once threw a vinyl record at me I...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
The take- home message is note- worthy-ie ,doing something g to feel better rather the other way round - especially for care- givers ( wherever they may be) That way they could use some gentle persuasion to activate a behaviour that may well turn out to be enjoyable and therefore repeated !
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
I plan to participate in the same event next week and hope it brings more fun / pleasure !
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Last week - something I had looked forward to - did not turn out as I’d wished Reaction was to withdraw .Still processing it all and “ looking for the good”
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Ann Holloway
Have ‘ t read ‘‘em all obviously but the resource material looks interesting and helpful Agsin , the one I read talks about “ the little things “
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Ann Holloway
Keep going Ann!
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Up to the present ,I still maintain that mental health education programs are in short supply everywhere.The hardest thing to convey to people is that building good mental health(resilience) involves the mundane ,little things that people take for granted (diet ,exercise,mental and spiritual exercise,recreation social interaction)They somehow fail to make a...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Screening for Depression - PHA-9 Interesting to note the value of the translatable forms but the uncertainty of the final depression scores ,Not really “lost in translation” but could cultural values be at play here ? Just a thought .Must say yI always admire the patient folks who design the psychometrics They do help those who are not well- versed in...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Suhana & Deepak Somehow I see more similarities than differences Depressive symptoms of hopelessness, withdrawing,fatigue ,to name some .The location though isis more stressful and urgent and the poor girl is getting it from all directions -new baby,husband and in- laws .At least yDeepak might have gone to his room or the coffee shop but Suhana is at home...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Based on all that he said ,depressive symptoms are evident . ( 1) Affecting his body is admission of insomnia (2)Affecting brain function Here is a guy who has reached doctoral level but , most likely an impaired attention span ,has contributed to his feeling inadequate ,way behind in his work,,overwhelmed ,,.A failed relationship and now not knowing how to...
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First I like how the symptoms are listed( categorized ) Second ,at 75 years old I recognize them all but am happy to say that I’ve never been so far down the continuum so as to find it difficult to get up and go .I found patients with depression often difficult to care for and up to now am on the look out for explanations .
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Hello ! Am from St Lucia ,West Indies and live there.Iam a retired mental health nurse having trained in UK in 1969- 1971 at the Maudsley Hospital It was great for research and my whole professional life has been a continuing - learning process Have mot heard the term “ Behavioural Activation “ so am curious and looking forward to learning about it ,and also...
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Addicts and resilient immune systems —Thanks for sharing that aspect of your work ,Patricia .The stories of addicts often speak of turmoil from before birth and the individuals surviving it in all forms .Week 5 Ask Mark addresses this topic of ResilianceHe suggests many things from the genetic to the external world .My own guess is that the mechanism of...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Olivia Hackshaw
Came out tops!@RichardLaing
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Scott McGuire
Post#2Addicts chasing that first high They continue to look for it in every subsequent usage and never find it ! So they continue to use until the cycle is broken and a better alternative is found .Lord what fools we mortals are ,frontal lobe not withstanding
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Scott McGuire
…Thanks Malcolm for those “ inside” observations on gambling addiction .I shall look up some more info on that .Meanwhile I was trying to link them with some rituals/ behaviours of drud / alcohol users .(1) Predisposition A genetic link was suggested back in the 1960’s with a Swedish study .(2) Choice of certain games .Drug/ alcohol addicts have their DOC (...
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Of course!!
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Valedictory time I suppose -The course — That something ,presented in such a concise manner threw so much light on my life’s work, as well as on the how and why of human behaviour, did not fail to delight .I enjoyed the interdisciplinary approach and links to more in- depth neuroscience.Thank you Dr Solms and your team especially Angela .And then there was the...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Steve Rockcliffe
Tell us more about those dreams Steve .
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Heavens no Sandra ! But 50 + years ago middle - age meant you were past it - it was a case of 40 and over the hillBosh ,I don’t have the time to feel depressed !Maybe those women saw their role in life as having come to an end
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Peter Ma
Peter The ideal is really to design treatment around the behaviours specific to the individual There is a modern term for that approach but it eludes me now .All treatment plans should be client- specific and client- centered ie the client is involved in identifying the issues to be addressed. Sometimes symptoms of the “emotional and cognitive “ groups ,as...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Olivia Hackshaw
Thanks for the link Tav ,good stuff there !
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Rajiv, stopped smoking uh? Good for you ! My understanding is that nicotine stimulates the same neural pathway as crack cocaine ,and I believe sex ,hits the amygdala and produces a nice feeling .Any behaviour that makes you feel good is likely to be repeated though not necessarily good for you .My smoking started after a significant loss.Perhaps thinking of...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Thanks Irene for that update on autism and anorexia.My knowledge oof those areas is miniscule to say the least .But when I did get to care for anorexia pts I always thought that there was far,far more than met the eye .Just as “cutting” among depressed adolescents is said to bring relief ( their explanation) so too may vomiting among those with anorexia.Any...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Irene Wyndham
@IreneWyndham my reply to your query is some where in a post Am not terribly IT - savvy !
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Irene Wyndham
Irene,At the giving up stage a person may well be at risk for self- harm and a hospital may well be the place for help .Not all countries can offer this but wherever help is offered the best approach is an Hollistic approach .Ensure safety ,see bodily needs are met( this can be difficult)Medically ,antidepressants can help lift mood and make the person more...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Rajiv,I like to think of Subjectivity as “ It’s all about Me”. Taking a selfie .The other properties turn the lens around and then you can see the world and yourself as the world sees you - as an object That’s my perception of how the 4 properties work .
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
POST # 2 Linking Depression And Addiction .I don’t think the systems ever shut down .( Joelle B ,my fellow - learner had me thinking about this!) SEEKING is constantly seeking and choices ,helpful or harmful, continue to be made by AGENCY .In the case of depression as well as in addiction ,it seeks a way out of this bad ,hurting feeling . Will it be a healthy...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
6-6Linking Depression& Addiction with the System of Emotions POST #1The system of emotions ,as I understand ,has evolved ,exists and functions for the well- being of the individual.It works in tandem with various neurochemicals.So why malfunction ?Could it be that the more evolved properties ofAgency ( where choices are made) and the sophisticated frontal...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Irene repressed feelings are certainly a factor as well as the fluctuations in opiates during the Panic/ Grief system’s response Re article Why Depression Hurts
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Janet Mordike
The brain ,as I se it it a visual print out of what the mind is doing . The Mind - Body relationship seems to be well accepted ie the workings of one influence the other And neuro- plasticity is visual evidence .I think the supply of blood to the heart is another example .After a period of cardiac rehab or certainly after an exercise regimen a better blood...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
ADDICTION- no cure?Addicts never seem to have “ Enough”- with addicts it’ s All Systems Go !Is there a cure ?They, collectively , in their own publications ,claim that “ there is no known cure”(unquote). but it can be arrested . No doubt the System of Emotions plays heavily into the reason why addicts use and continue to seek out their various...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
6-4 Why Depression feels bad .M.S and J.P.—“—-It is not amenable to direct,objective scrutiny”( Consciousness). Depression Then and Now When I began my psych .nurse training > 50 years ago, text books described 2 kinds of depression ,Exogenous& Endogenous .The first was easy to understand. It happened because of an external event ,not necessarily related...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Olivia Hackshaw
Subjectivity when I know who I am and find out what I am supposed to be doing at any given time it is the most wonderful feeling of freedom .Like every other individual I have my place on this planet I have a super- abundance of curiosity ( it has at times led me down adangerous path!)Jan ,find out if you have a super abundance of something find out how it...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Olivia Hackshaw
Jan ,why do some people have more testosterone,thyroid hormone ,cholesterol ,blue eyes .blue eyes thaturn green depending on the colour clothes they are wearing ,etc The world is not “ a black and white case “ right or wrong.we are not all the same When zi reached a place of self- acceptance in my life I finally acknowledged my unique- ness.It entailed some...
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De- confabulate- probably means confessing or owning up Not a bad idea . Can be done using a “tool” called honesty,.As you inferred earlier on confabulation while being useful( making it all sound good ) can turn out to be harmful in inter- personal relations Self - honesty is one of the best practices for attaining and maintain good mental health .Adaily...
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Hi Katherine Thanks for sharing on the Spirituality aspect of things I just posted something to Tavis ( co - learner) trying to tie in Honesty with one of the mental processes.The drug addicts in Narcotics Anonymous make no pretensions about their program .It incorporates spiritual principles that can be used in their daily lives They say thatt the “ The HOW “...
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Hi Tavis —-“ ignoring things that do not fit .Exactly .Too unpleasant to deal with- shove it into the Unconscious When the Unconsciousness regurgitates it Confabulation has to fix it . Enter a thing called HonestyNow where does that come from ? What ‘s it for ? “To thine own self be true”
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Neuropsychoanylytic Notes on Addiction .Interesting article .It had me reflecting on my many years working with addicts .(1) The “attachment” component generated by the basic instinctual systems made me think of cross- addictions, substituting one addiction for another TheG P’s do it all the time - Valium for alcohol.In my case chocolates for nicotine !But...
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Methinks Confaulation has been lending a helping hand to all for a long time If you present yourself to the world in just the right way @TavisReddick no telling where it might get you The best job reference you’ll ever see is the one you write for yourself !All these mental mechanisms were for gettin by and survival in the first place and will be with us...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Scott McGuire
My personal anecdote .My govt job said I had to retire so I did just what I had planned for that .My local hospital knows me well so zI volunteered.They offered full- time e mployment I said “ no thanks “ As a volunteer I could say “Good morning at 8am and Good bye any time I liked .Some staffers saw me as a very wealthy woman because zi looked so happy. Was I...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Peter Ma
Yes Peter all of us have a mental health issue at sometime or another .The Mental HealthContinuum is a recognized way of looking at mental health issues ( sorry zi have no link but maybe you can just ggoogle it) .It is a dynamic way of dividing three degrees of health — Mental health- Mental I’ll- health— Mental illness. Any one of us at any time can be in...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Joëlle Boehm
Joelle as my training and work has for a large part been ,in psychiatric nursing I would like to suggest that in severely depressed people the Seeking system takes some time out and the Grief system takes over At that point the patient does not want to do anything at all ( boy, those are hard to work with) and in the grieving state natural opioid levels are...
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No,I don’t think the processes are different .@JanDeurwaarder
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Some parting thoughts on Confabulation In my own words it could read something like this —“ a re- writing of the story- the plot is not changed fundamentally but the attendant details are altered “ Why ? Because it sounds good .
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Jan ,the way I see it the Seeking System does not cause the addiction It makes the organism engage with the world and when it finds something that Feels good it repeats the experience .Now not everything that feels good is necessarily good .Some drugs “hijack” neurochemical production and transmission eg crack cocaineseems to cause dopamine production to...
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Some good points there Donna !
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Lol!
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
What zi think is that there is a set of behaviours that are common to all of us most likely generated and influenced by the four properties As you go down the Continuum of mental health the degree of intensity increases or decreases eg fear thieves might break in to outright paranoia that thugs are coming up the driveway after you .This then interrupts the...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
When applying the four properties of the Mind I was drawn to the much- discussed topic/ diagnosis of Personality Disorder .An over - abundance of Subjectivity can give rise to selfishnessConsciousness and feelings again put the focus on Self and then what is not palatable is repressed and not dealt with .So we then see lack of responsibility.no insight .no...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Donna Markham
Seem to have lost my lengthy reply in cyber space Donna but the good news is that Addiction is treatable
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Jan Deurwaarder
Won’t give one specific answer here Jan but can share some of my extensive experience of work in this field I believe there are “ over 30 “ theories of Addiction but the treatment and rehab models that tend to use the Bio- Psycho -Social- Spiritual approach seem to get the best outcomes vs the others that use just one approach eg medication ,or psychotherapy...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Scott McGuire
The last 10 years of my official working life was spent working in Drug & Alcohol rehab so there is a certain familiarity here .The addicts of Narcotics Anonymous tell you that in the beginning using was fun but later on it was not yet they continued They explained that they fell into “ a pattern of selective thinking” telling themselves that the drugging...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
What The Mind is For I plan on reading Jan’s link when I have some more more time .A long time ago BC( before this course)I came to appreciate the Unique- ness of the individual .I never fully accepted the thinking /explanation of the 1970’s-1980’that neuro- biology alone explained or was responsible for human behaviour. eg guys...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
Many thanks and appreciation to my reviewer,Peter Ma.Some apparently view Confabulation in slightly ways and as Prof had earlier said it is a challenging thing to write about .My nursing text books of 50 years ago ( and more modern ones ) confined Confab ulation to the realm of a “ Pathology”Re : M.S’s article Agency: The Development of the human...
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Yes Joelle a possible link between Thinking and Reflectivity ? Am trying to figure that out myself !
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Katherine Harvey
Withdrawal symptoms !
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And now computers and AI may make prefrontal lobes obsolete Here comes another chapter in human evolution !
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Part 2 of post. The Golden Rule .@JanetMordike so if for some reason this is trangressed( Subjectivity minus Empathy ) the notionof sin is not so archaic.And if Guilt kicks in it may actually be a protective mechanism-(“don’t repeat”)Then there are so many other emotions that yes,they could help to “soften” the intensity of others ( Caring)People need each...
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Just some of my thoughts Janet .When instincts became modified and emotions more complex,I gather it was still for the common good - humans were no longer roaming as individuals but were beginning to form communities( “It’s not only me (Subjectivity) but us”). Enter EMPATHY.(“ If I do this or that I feel good or bad”)So the concept of The Golden Rule is born (...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Donna Markham
Now don’t get addicted !@DonnaMarkham
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Donna Markham
Ha Donna ,sounds like your Seeking and Liking Systems are working overtime !
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
The PLAY SYSTEM most likely accounts for what I recount here .There were’nt many kids in our neighborhood but my sister and I had more boys than girls to play with .” Cowboys and Crooks “ may or may not) have been the case here but it called for a “ fight” with one of the boys .It was an equal affair at first but at one point I had the advantage to get the...
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Or even Near Death Experiences .Janet
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
I had a weather alert activated ( rain)One stormy night it kept going off every 10- 15 mins .It was exciting at first to hear the app in action but eventually I shut it off - the idea of a good night’s sleep was more pleasurable
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
One of my “Seeking needs” is to go to new frontiers- of geography ,ideas .A need to gain knowledge and then power perhaps?As a child I r ead books ,and played games with other kids .As an adult I explored where and whenever possible - foreign lands ,cultural mores .Someone told me once time that I could turn a simple trip to the store into an adventure .A few...
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Hi Jan ,Am equating “ immaterial” with “ un- seen” .All this neuronal activity is said to be generated by energy( un- seen “).That , I believe is held by all neuroscientists .The role of energy is an area requiring exploration .This is obviously not within the scope of this 6-week, on line course This course was intended to explore “pertinent ,philosophical...
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The Good ,the Bad ,the Brain .For me ,the article highlighted the imbalance between evolution and external events / forces .Early teens want to engage in sexual activity yet developmental experts tell us they are not mentally prepared for parenting until the 30’s. A human dilemma .So important then to inculcate from early good practices that help attain and...
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Jan The way I got it -RAS generates Consciousness,a state of awareness triggered by Internal and External events .The in- built Emotion system responds .Feelings are then sent to the fore brain where the Seeking system decides how to respond ..- most likely what’s best for the organism .The Seeking system is apparently a built - in feature and over time the...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Olivia Hackshaw
Thanks for pointing that out Jan and the links — will follow it up @JanDeurwaarder
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to K F
Another thought- provoking week .
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Tavis Reddick
Sweet are the uses of Denial!
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Emilio Tavares
Compelling analogy!
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
On Jan 1st 1970,as a final year student nurse ( psych) I was doing a “ mock” oral exam. The examiner was a psychiatrist associated with the highly esteemed Inst .Of Psychiatry next door to us (Maudsley ) I was asked to “explain” Freud’s Theory to the Unconscious .I must have been way down the scale of consciousness from the festivities of the night before and...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Ronald Kinsey
Was asking the same thing Ask Angela .@RonaldKinsey
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Loek Tonnaer
Locking the door to my house when going out Sometimes it scares me ! Can’t remember if I locked it or not .,!
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Emilio Tavares
I have no suggestions That one has me thinking!
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
The Hard Problem Part 2 The hardest part of the argument so far seems to surround how it ( Consciousness) was created rather than how it works .That will go on for a long time .I think and perhaps a computer will answer before a human does .Am not sure who made my current refrigerator or even how it works but it serves me well every day .( rum on the rocks )I...
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Olivia Hackshaw made a comment
The Hard Problem( article)For a couple of years now I’ve been exploring the” kookier corners of New Age “Something compelling here about the idea of Panpsychism”Deborah Harrison(Aug 18)post)says explaining the problem could have an impact on our relationship with the natural world and our devices .Clarisse Banus(AAug4)suggests devices could become so developed...
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Carol Barratt
Yes CarolI too am one of those who believes “ thinking “ goes on at various levels
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Olivia Hackshaw replied to Tavis Reddick
Don’ t we all ! But as my grand mother said “ Experience bought is better than experience taught “It’s all part of our evolutionary journey Perhaps the Seeking system ,another of those genetically endowed tools is used more in some people and others just stay in their comfort zones and don’t ever make much change