Concentration

"How you concentrate will influence how you view & live life and behave in the choices you make in both your private and professional life"

Persistent interuptions affect intelligence:

Excessive technology use can decrease IQ by 10 points, which is twice than smoking marijuana.

Responding immediately to technology, such as emails and phone calls, text messaging, which is the equivalent of losing a nights sleep. The constant breaking away from tasks, reduces a workers 'acuity.

Research carried out in 2005 - Dr Glenn Wilson - London's Institute of Psychiatry

science behind better learning.

- A child's brain responds to environmental sensory data, determining what information gets their attention.

'Many educators lack the knowledge and expertise in neuroscience and cognitive science to support students with different learning strengths within the constraints of the typical increasingly rigid curriculum.

Keys to learning -"RAD learning"

R: Reticular activating system (RAS) - The Attention-Activation Switching System.

"Ras is key to to turn on the the brain levels response" - teachable moments.

+ That Selective information passes thru a lower brain filter (Reticular activating system/RAS)

+ RAS - particularly responsive to novelty/surprise/color/unexpected curious events.

A: Affective filter in the amygdala - Emotional Significance. Emotional Filter.

+ The 2nd filter, part of the brain -> Amygdala -> The Emotional Processing Limbic Network.

+ What is stored in the Amygdala at this point depends on the emotional state of the child.

+ When Stress is high (Bullying, attention difficulties, confusion, boredom, -> The information diverts to the reflex automatic system. ->Non-thinking system, such as fight/flight, dominate.

or in other words blocks the absorption of sensory input related to learning, due to the stimuli being perceived as negative and learning becomes difficult.

+ Stress takes up all the brains nutrients, high activity in the amygdala blocks entry of information, to the thinking brain and memory.

+ When your child is relaxed, comfortable and interested, the amygdala directs the information to the reflective thinking of the brain.

+The hippocampus is where the previous knowledge and memories of past experiences from memory storage.

-

+ Children always see a connection between the memories they have to new information.

+ When Emotions is positive -> It is passed onto the reflective memory-making & other thinking networks in the brain.

- When also using the 5 senses of touch, taste, smell, hearing, vision, the brain matches it with the previously stored data.

-

D: Dopamine.

- When learning is associated with pleasure, dopamine is released, which increases focus, helping the brain stay attentive. Hence increases a childs capacity to control attention and store long term memories.

Activities that include, physical movement, personal interest connections, social contacts, music, novelty, sense of achievement, intrinsic reward, choice, play and humor.

-

Rote Memory - is the schools method, simply memorizing, and soon forgetting, uninteresting facts, that are not paired with interesting connections. so no neural networks can be be permanently constructed.

- By Personalizing, connecting & motivational learning strategies, improves the memory.

- Also patterning & prediction can build knowledge,

=======================================

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES:

- Linguistic: sensitivity to sounds, rhythms & words, organizational abilities, logical deduction,

memory sensitivity to spoken and written language, mnemonics & structured, sequential notes or instructions.

Logical-Mathematical: logic, patterning, conceptualization and abstraction

Musical-Rhythmic: includes sensitivity to auditory tone, pitch, rhythm. Proficiencies in auditory memory and patterning.

Visual-spatial: sensitivity to the relationships of objects, concepts, images in different fields or dimensions. mentally creating & visualizing spatial relationships, as in mapping or diagramming, and starting with a big picture conceptual overview before filling in details.

bodily-kinesthetic: includes perceptiveness & sensitivity to others moods and feelings. ability to interact with and lead people with understanding by interpreting their intensions, needs, emotions, and desires.

interpersonal: confidence in ones beliefs and goals. ability to reflect upon ones own thoughs and feelings, introspection, analysis and reflection.

naturalist: includes perceptiveness of things existing in the natural world, such as plants and animals. includes organizing things into categories, detailed observation and pattern recognition.

======================================

LEARNING STYLES:

Auditory-Sequential/Analytical Learners:

- logical order and sequence. - evident in children who respond best to spoken information.

- they study methodically - making timelines, lists and other sequences using facts.

- they respong to talking or reading out loud to themselves and being quizzed verbally when studying.

- they benefit from expanding on a topic by reasoning and predicting logical implications.

- one task at a time.

- weakness can be understanding the big concept without thoroughly understanding the steps that build it.

Visual-Spatial Learners:

- process information best when a topic is introduced as an overview before the details are taught.

- they think primarily in images and prefer visual explanations, videos, diagrams, computer simulations/graphics and demos.

- they learn thru reasoning of their own problems

- they like to see the final product, and figure out by intuition the solution.

- they have problems organizing time & prioritizing activities

Kinesthetic Preference learners:

- touch what they are learning and respond well to learning activities with movement.

" Brain rest helps if the learning activity involves complex material, brain rest can be necessary after as little as 15minutes. during this rests, the newly learnt material has the opportunity to go from working memory to relational memory. (although doesnt become permanent until practice.

stretching, singing, playing an instrument, tossing a ball, rehydrating with water, doing this will associate a return to a pleasurable activity.

Utero Influence - Stages of Pregnancy

utero influence
===============

- the emotional and physical influence between
- 20 to 40 days after fertilization is the critical window for development.
- not eating enough, can cause cardiovascular disease.
- overeating and having a high fat diet over the recommended weight range 25-35pounds, can reshape brain to crave fatty foods.
- avoid abnormalities, defects by avoiding bisphenol A - the plastic from bottles, can get into our bodies and they are potentially harmful.
- 4 month old infants - had high levels of stress hormone in their saliva when their mothers were anxious or depressed before birth and unresponsive afterwards.

pre-conception
==============

- get regular exercise - improves oxygen and nutrients for the baby.
- drop the glass of wine - can develop subtle learning and emotional problems.
- alcohol is most damaging during the first several weeks when you dont know you are pregnant.

first tri-mester
================

- limit stress = can heighten the chance baby can develop schizophrenia
- avoid smog = in the 2nd month of pregnancy is when the heart develops, so avoid air pollutants.causes heart defects.
- folic acid deficiency in first month of pregnancy leads to brain and spinal cord defects. so lentils, asparagus, fortified cereal

second tri-mester
================

- by the 20th week, your iron levels would be depleted.
- stay off caffeine, association with smaller babies.
- iron deficient infants shyer, fussier and less sociable.
- children born to women during a famine, susceptible to heart disease & depression.
- starved fetuses, build smaller organs, fewer blood vessels, which can lead to higher blood pressure.

third tri-mester
================

- brain cell volume decreases during this period, egg yolks, beef, soybeans can help boost memory and aid brain development for baby.
- pre-natal yoga.

first 40days
============
- if a woman gets the flu during first trimester - child is 7 times likely to develop schizophrenia as a teenager or adult and even autism. it is not due to the flu but a immunological reaction. cytokines - the proteins produce d in response to the flu gets transmitted to the fetus and harm its brain. Dominant genes by the father gives way to autism, where as the mothers genes are stronger, is schizophrenia.

self awareness

the authentic and free expression of ourselves, our parents ingrained in us when we were younger...remembering the gentler way of teaching children...

- ridiculed for laughing too loudly
- playing too much
- teased for being needy
- made fun when scared
- pointed when we did something stupid
- yelled when we touched something that was theirs
- angrily repimanded when we were slow
- sent to out rooms (in my case - whipped and kneeling) for being spoiled rotten
- got on our backs for being too happy or too sad.

all this through out growing up, makes us fear we are truly unlovable/bad, it becomes an unconscious decision, creating the negative belief that "Who I am is not ok, I am bad."


===================================
"you're unconsciously drawn to exactly those people, circumstances and behaviours that will reflect back to you your learned beliefs about yourself.

- when we are hurt, we often want to hurt others, in order to heal abit of the hurt inside us.

- hopelessness, no longer believe in creating a life of meaning and success, it strips us from self confidence, it leads us to self destruction and not to care of the consequences of our actions. it makes us not care about hurting others, it drives us to hurt others in attempt to help ourselves from drowning in our own sorrows, that momentary fix,

living together - couples guide - pyschology today

Living together and dealing with bad habits.

We treat every action, deliberate or accident, conscious or subconscious as a personal slight. - a sign the other person doesnt care about us.

- its not deliberate, the behaviours such as leaving dirty socks around or not washing the dishes, is most of the time mindless behaviour, automatic behaviour that are habitual and self focused without taking the other person into account.

- When we dont get what we want, we interpret it as "You dont love me enough"

"pattern interrupt"? breaking the negative state of mind with with an action that halts the hurtful behaviour instantly.

What kissing means for men and women. Jay dixit (edited by me) - psychology today

What kissing means for men and women.

Romantic love has 3 stages. Romance, attachment and sexual arousal. Kissing is to assess genetic compatibility. We determine compatibility largely via scent.

Book Read: Why Him? Why Her? Helen Fisher.

In the guys mind:

- Testosterone in Saliva - and stimulation of lips & tongues trigger sex drive.
- Men may unconsciously kiss to assess levels of estrogen in a woman's saliva to determine her stage in the ovulation cycle and her fertility.

- Men are more likely to initiate kissing, since their senses of taste and smell are less acute, to gather enough information to assess compatibility.

- Lips are natures mood ring, they are darker when a person is aroused, signalling receptivity.
- Men are more attracted to large lips, which signals arousal and openess. (I still dont like Angelina Jolie!)

In a girls mind:

- Kissing drives up oxytocin, which promotes attachment and bonding.
- The novelty of kissing someone new, may release dopamine which fosters romantic love.
- Women kiss to assess the health of the relationship.
- Women prefer demure, closed-mouth kisses, since their senses of taste and smell are more acute, they dont need alot to assess compatibility.
- Women prefer medium sized lips. As it conveys compassion and friendliness.
- Women believe kissing is not a good way to reconcile after a fight.

depression -

Everyone frequently asks basic questions about the meaning of life and the value of it.

Depressed people often look to people they admire for answers - role models.

significant signs of depression:

- anxiety & helplessness
- a change in appetite
- sudden drop in grades
- angry and irritable
- change in temperant

signs of suicides:

- statements about feeling hopeless
- statements about being a burden to others.
- a loss of interest in activities
- talking about death
- writing, listening to songs or drawings about death
- giving away valued possessions
-

risk factors of depression:

- weight problems
- disabilities (learning & physical)
- not fitting in
- obssessive compulsive disorders / panic disorders
- conduct problems - tantrums, skipping school, etc. & getting punished for your behaviour.
- being gifted or talented.

Suicide is not a selfish act, it is a cry for help.

"Feeling like you've falling into a big hole and can't get out, is called Mental State Depression."

- Exercise will help defeat depression, it releases endorhpins in the brain.
- Several times a week of 30 minute to 40 minute sessions.
- The Brain produces and uses special chemicals called neurotransmitters to move messages to
nerve cells.
- 3 main neurotransmitter chemicals linked to depression - norepinephrine - dopamine
serotonin.
- Your brain and body need to work together to function, when you feel depresses, you
shut down the communications between the two, leading to not eating, drinking, sleeping,
moving and feeling right.

- Girls, when their hormone levels are high, the week before their periods, can make them, anxious, emotional, out of control & irritable. Girls with eating disorders are prone to depression.

The Brains Limbic System:

The thalamus
Screens and sorts messages from your senses. (Sight, Smell, Touch, Hearing & taste.)

The hypothalamus
Is the source of feelings, it controls your blood pressure, tells you when you're hungry & thirsty. When it is impaired, your eating, drinking, sexual interest, increases or decreases.

The amygdala
can activate anger & aggression, or make you feel calm, overstimulation & understimulation of the amygdala may cause problems with anger and self control.

The hippocampus
forms and stores new memories, when it isnt working properly, you may have problems learning new things.

The recticular Activating systems
alerts your brain that messages are coming from 5 senses, then helps you concentrate by filtering input. When this function fails it causes sleep disturbances & your focus is impaired.

The cerebellum
is responsible for posture, balance & muscle co-ordination, when its impaired, difficulties in normal & sports activities.

The cerebrum
does the thinking, solves problems, makes decisions, receive, store & retrieve memories.
Intellect, language & ability to understand alphabets & numbers are based on the cerebrum. Impaired, effects judgement, cloudy thought and unable to communicate properly.

Understanding your depression:

- admit you need help, find help.
- reach out and trust someone.
- give yourself permission to cry, get angry be afraid. - helps you release your feelings and puts
you in a better position to deal with them.
- Dont burden yourself and shut others out, it worsens depression. It throws you into confusion.
your thoughts will go in circles and nothing will make sense, it will help to write your feelings
on paper.
- Isolating yourself will make you more sad and lonely, take it slow to be social again.
- Nobody goes thru life without hurting, we're human, no ones perfect.
- Drugs & alcohol is hiding from your problems, it cant help you get control of your life.

abusing drugs - start, worsen, mimic, cause symptoms and mask depression.

Drugs will make you feel tired, lose focus, fatigued - all symptoms of depression.
Alcohol is a depressant - slows down your central nervous system and intensifies sadness.


--

- You have more control over your life than you think.
- You have the power to make decisions for yourself.
- You make decisions everyday that directly affect how you feel about your life.
- maybe you've made mistakes, you can change what you've done in the past
- you can make a good future of yourself
- your brain & body needs nutrients, so eat balanced as well.

How to deal with someone wanting to suicide.

- be calm, just show concern and listen, talking about suicide to a suicidal person can help them
just by talking. reassure them that it can be worked out. they just to know they arent dealing with it alone.

- dont assume they just want attention, dont provoke them, promise you keep it confidential,
dont argue them out of suicide, nor say its dumb or make harmful judgements.

"You need to face your problems, you need to talk about them, it is bad to bottle them"

"not everything that is faced can be changed. but nothing can be changed until it is faced" - James Baldwin.

"when you have a great and difficult task, if you only work a little at a time, everyday a little, suddenly the work will finish itself. - isak dinesen.

If you are ready for professional help:

Psychiatrists
Medical doctors who specialise in mental health. they assess people, administer tests, diagnose mental illness and provide therapy.

Clinical pyschologists
Experts in human behaviour who assess people, administer tests, diagnose mental illness and provide therapy.

Clincial social workers
have advanced training in social work, with an emphasis on mental health. they can provide you and your family with help and information.

General physicians
may be the first to identify mental health problems after a physical examination and may refer you to a specialist.

Pyschotherapist and counselors are trained to listen to you and help you make changes in yourself and life.

other ways of help:

- crisis centres
- crisis hotlines
- self help groups
- twelve step groups
- residental care
- adolescent treatment units.


How to help someone in general; Dont judge , objective and listen without getting emotional, help them identify and clarify their thoughts, help them with there problems. Listening and understanding.

"When you feel sad, look for reasons and try to put it into perspective."

" Strength is the matter of the made up mind" - John Beecher."

Be patient with yourself, treat yourself with care and respect, put off any big decisions until you feel better.

you are in charge of how you think, how you feel and how you react to it.