Integrity vs Dispair (Erikson) and religion

Assignment 5           

     According to Erickson, despair in old age results from not being able to adapt to situations that arose in previous stages.  Subsequently, in old age these people would remain remorseful until they die.  Integrity is the opposite. Both gender and the ways of being religious are influential on Integrity because it is an important part of "integrating and accepting one's unique life lived, thereby contributing to their implicit religion and spirituality." The main achievement according to Erickson is "to accept one's life as something that had to be- even with its limitations and failure"

     Gender may influence "Integrity" by being able to look back at one's life and having a sense of accomplishment.  If a woman felt secure in her position of motherhood or having a career or having both, she may look at her children and grandchildren with satisfaction knowing that she did the best she could and be pleased.  A man may look back at his life and reflect similarly.  He may feel that he was a good provider, or he may feel that he lived well and did the best he could to become the person he has become.  To indicate how gender has an influence on "Integrity" is complex because there are many views regarding gender roles.  This view may be constricted.  It may be based on culture, education, and opportunity.  It may also be based on exposure to experience.  But what is important for "Integrity" is that whatever role each gender had, he or she was adaptive and ultimately satisfying.

     Ways of being religious may change throughout the stages of life.  One may always believe, or one may spiral throughout their lives when it comes to God.  One may be very active in the church and accepting in all that is said.  One may argue and spend very little time in church but be very devout.  Ultimately being able to reflect back on one's life and seeing a spiral and eventual growth in their religion in whatever form it takes, allows one to feel comfort in that relationship.  The beauty of being religious in old age is the closeness to God one feels.  It is an overwhelming sense of peace in knowing that you have had a good life regardless of the bumps and sadness one must experience in it.  It is knowing that God is with you and that you have been blessed with grace and faith and that this faith in God has brought one to a plateau of serenity and peace in old age.  In old age, after obtaining the wisdom in life to accept limitations and knowing that one has done the best for him and others, one may lay content with God.  Religion has a strong influence on "Integrity". It helps one not to fear death as an end but consider it more as a beginning.  Religion helps one rise to their closest stage with God – feeling the presence of God. Religion helps us welcome God and Death as another stage as is contentment with our gender. 

Anatomical Effects of prenatal and early postnatal malnutrition. The developing brain and the environment – psych notes continued.

Anatomical Effects of prenatal and early postnatal malnutrition

- fewer neurons in the cerebellum (granule cells, and fewer synapsis/neurons

- fewer neurons in hippocampus (dentate gyrus and CA1, CA3;

-neo cortex: normal number of neurons but less dentrubic branching, fewer synapsis, fewer glia cells.

Big focus on cognitive abilities-intellectual ability- cells are there early but connections are formed after birth when get experience.  If don’t have this – found fewer dentrite spines and ones there are often misformed.

They looked along dentrite that goes up – cell body was normal only has gone up.

Read methods carefully.  It is important to think that study was blind and therefore not biased when studies are done.  You don’t want bias coming into this.

Is it a good study?

How to ask? And timing

Long term Potentiation (LTP)

Conditioning Stimulus – train of pulse bursts

EPSP – excitatory post – synaptic potential

(not able to post diagrams here – sorry readers)

If stimulate (electrically) pathway measure pulse along path – already through one synapse (one little pathway) (similar to EEG)

-repeatedly firing this pathway – after this – if stimulate again instead of being the same, it is much bigger – they like to think it is learning.

LTP and Malnutrition

Measure increase after conditioning it – stays up for a very long time- causes a change in the efficiency of synapses.

They undernourished rats in early life and then tested- found got LTP (increase) but not as big and not as long.

LTP in old rats show the same pattern but does not last.

This is not clearly shown in behaviour.  

 good evidence of early life malnutrition impact in the brain.

  

Question: Highlight one or two things that you found to be significant in the handout or chapter and what did you find puzzling (one or two things).

     What I found significant in the handout (Understanding Soul Care) is pg 101 which indicates that Western psychology of the self has been greatly influenced by Descartes's "I think, therefore I am, contrary to "I am because we are; we are because I am." The latter being African spiritual philosophy has been identified as being closer to the Christian understanding of self.  I have observed that in our society, we have a focus of ourselves which is very much a me world.  We tend to lose meaning in basic humanity.  I found it puzzling that we should not give to the poor because they are less fortunate but because God is somehow present in those who suffer(106).  I find this notion that doing so is condescension or pity, misguided.  I think that everyone, Christian or not, whether they see God in another or not, should contribute something of themselves to others because they are indeed less fortunate.  If we are more united in compassion regardless of religion (if any), beliefs and culture than we may just be able to survive this world.  I am also puzzled that, "Christian spirituality is also manifest in care of God's creation" (106) as a response to global crises.  I think that taking care of this planet is basic biological survival mode at this point.  Of course I may be wrong, but I found myself stirred by these statements.

   I found the chapter from our text very significant regarding Ignatian spiritual direction and how the author combined spirituality with psychotherapy.  I think that the year waiting period is rather long, though I understand it may be necessary for the process of the intense knowledge about the person.  I am puzzled that we don't have therapists trained by our own church combined with spirituality as a separate degree program.  

Clinical Malnutrition (psych notes cont...)

Clinical Malnutrition

     Micro nutrient Deficiencies

- folic acid (important causes of tubal problems)

-iron  (anemia problem in many areas)

- Vitamin A  (too much is not good)

             - vision

             - immune function

-  Iodine (our salt comes with it)

   Critical substance

   Thyroid gland needs it to function or will get hypothyroid

Cretinism

Mental Retardation

Dwarfism

Cerebral Palsy

Deafness

(caused by iodine deficiency)

Birth weight and Gestational Age

3200 grams – less than

.- normal full term birthweight 3200 g

-low birth weight :< 2500 g

(being of low birth weight and being immature are not the same thing.  One can be born early but appropriate size for the time)

-appropriate for gestational age (AGA)

-small for gestational age (SGA)

            Stunting – height for age

            Wasting – weight per height – below 80% from the norm is wasting

                   Common Measures

- weight for age (Gomez Scale)

   How much does four year female weigh?

             Compares the weight of individual to height of individual and sex (Gomez Scale).  If

 lower it is considered malnutrition (very crude).

                      Waterlow Classes

-  height for age (if low – stunting)

-weight for height (if low – wasting)

                       Head Circumference

    Is effected by early non nutrition, as indicator of early nutrition

Does early malnutrition  effect the brain?

   Brain weight for age

Early malnutrition is cause as cause of death is associated with brain weight.

Reduction in nutrients must be very big to have an impact. 

Human Study

 Kwasniokor – not very much.

Maramus AGA about 20% (Maramus worse)

Study on rats

     Peak – 20 days pnatal

- rats were food deprived for first 14 days or x – permanent reduction in myelin.

Next 14 – no permanent effects.

Thymidine Study –  of how many new cells are being formed.  There are fewer neurons cells

 in malnourished in humans right through their gestation.  There might be motor problems as

 a result of nutrition.

continue  

  

  

Respecting creatures

     I tape everything I like to watch on television and then watch it at leisure.  One of the shows I was taping regularly on a temporary free channel was a man who travels around the world and checks out the local restaurants.  He meets up with a local chef or someone else and they check out the localities and sample the foods.  I enjoy travelling to these places with him in my imagination.  I have always enjoyed travelling.
I enjoy watching all travel shows including Scam and Distant Shores (when it is free).      
   In a recent episode, within the USA of all places, he was indulging in an ethnic restaurant.  What bothered me was that a baby octopus or at least it looked liked it was placed in his plate still alive among other food already dead and cooked.  It was wiggling around apparently dying.  Then the chef comes and cuts off his legs.  The host makes a comment that his slow death or something like that was worth it (the taste).  This was so upsetting to me that I deleted all programs I had yet to watch and deleted any future shows.  I don't normally like to write about what I consider cruel because I realise that there are so many copy cats out there.  I don't want to be the cause of any suffering for anyone.
     I started to turn into a vegetarian when I saw a neighour kill a rabbit.  Initially, I thought it was one of my pets.  However, it was not.  I saw the rabbit struggling to live and then saw him resign himself to death.  I felt nauseous and thought I was going to be sick.  I could not eat meat for three months.  Eventually, all I would eat was pepperoni on my pizza and chicken club sandwiches.  Both were my favourite dishes.  Then another neighbour had chickens in his backyard and I sort of adopted them too, encouraging him to let them enjoy my backyard as I have lots of trees for shade and places for them to dig and sit.  I would throw them scraps of food.  Needless to say I can no longer eat chicken.  The chickens are now gone and I do hope he does not bring more.  I was still left with pepperoni on my pizza.  I was stopped at a red light in the city and I saw two cows in one of those transporting vehicles for animals.  I looked into their sad eyes.  It was as if they knew they were going to become pepperoni for my pizza.  I promised them silently that I would never again eat them.
     I was raised in the city and not in the country.  My parents, immigrants from other countries never dreamt of trying to become farmers in the city.  I appreciate multiculturalism but country is one thing and city is another.  I did suggest that country was probably best suited to the bunny killer ( I even called bunny rescue).
      I realise that I decided to become a vegetarian because I no longer could visualize what I was eating as just meat.  I began to see creatures that live and die and have young ones and love just like us at a different scale.  Perhaps they are more humane.  I do not expect people to stop eating meat because I know that it will not happen.  But what we can do is respect what we eat and that includes every living creature.
     I know that the actor does not think he has done anything wrong.  But just stop and reflect for one moment.  Is it necessary to watch something die or cause suffering when it is not necessary and broadcast it on television?   That is one channel I will never think of paying to watch.  What do you think? 

Clinical Malnutrition (psych notes)

Clinical Malnutrition

Severe – life threatening

MARASMUS  -  skin and bones, inadequate intake of calories.

Inc: die of infections or diarrhea

KWASHIORKOR  -  Edema (swelling) retain water, looks chunky.

Moon face

Hair pigmentation

     Breast milk contains nutrients it needs.   When another child comes along before the first is not quite finished – Pecking orders goes to adult men, boys and then very young.  They get fed then with no protein.

They (poor countries – Africa) mix formula with polluted water and water it down.  This

causes two problems.  Not getting food to grow at that age.  Part of the problem is education.  Bananas are growing on trees but they don’t eat it.

Protein  - caloric Malnutrition

- combination of the other two.

-the children are terribly thin and the stomach is bloated.

Cont….

  

Grief

     Grief is something that eventually catches up with us all.  It may be a result of someone dying who is important to us, it may be because we develop a horrible disease and it may be because of a relationship which is terminated.  Eventually, some one or something important to us is no longer there and we grieve. 

    We grieve differently.  Some of us feel a deep profound sadness, others feel like they are on a roller coaster ride that won't stop and others cry or have other responses.  Where do you see yourself in here?
    I have suffered two losses in one week.  I have had time to process one and I was waiting for the other to pass away for quite some time.  One I knew for my entire life and the other was a long time friend who I served with.  He was a priest.  He had served during the war in the Persion Gulf and I was there when he received his medal.  He developed Lou Gehrig's disease after retirement.   When he could no longer live in his residence, he wanted to go to Sunnybrook Veterans hospital.  He was rejected because he was not a WW1 or WW2 vet.  It did not matter that he had served in the Navy in the Persian Gulf war.  It did not matter that he had served his country for over 20 years.  I called Veteran Affairs for him and they said that they could not help.  I explained how important it was for veterans to be with veterans.  The person I spoke with could not agree more, but there was nothing that could be done.  It was the government I was told, the government I had voted for.
     I would visit my friend where he eventually went to.  He was on a different floor from other priests.  He looked at me in earnest and stated "We learn in the military how to be among the people.  I want to be living among the people."  I also knew that he wanted to be living among other veterans, while living among the people.
     My friend died and I did not know until one week later but I know where he is buried and will eventually visit him his burial site.  I saw this strong tall man slowly crumble.
      I have grieved for a few weeks and that is why you did not see any new blogs.  Now I am getting back on the horse so to speak.
      Since I have read so many books on grief and taken many lectures regarding death and loss, I found myself focusing on my feelings and behavior.  I wanted to capture the moment and hold on to it.  I wanted to be a better counsellor for others.  I wanted to be able to retrieve that moment when I empathised.
      Grieving is a time when you re-examine your relationships.  Who is supportive?  Who is not?  Who gave flowers? Who gave cards?  Who telephoned?  Who came to visit?  For some reason, this time around I was more aware of the responses from others and my reactions to it.  Perhaps it is because of my training.
      One precious moment to me was when a few neighbours came with a card each and sat with me.  They shared stories of their own losses while I prepared coffee and cookies to serve.  I connected this to other sharing at other times and have come to realize how healthy group therapy is for those who grieve and do not necessarily have the supports they need.  There were many other moments.   I have found that when people have shared their own losses and I can see their own pain that there is an immediate connection.  What is best to be avoided is to speak up and say how one should grieve.  That is a complaint that is not soon forgotten by many and so that is my advice.  Allow people to grieve and to grieve in their own way.  We cannot base our own grief as the expectations as a stemline for others.  Of course there are also those who say the most stupid things and though I have never suffered fools well, I understand that some times people simply do not know what they are saying.
      I want to give you the opportunity to comment today.  Perhaps you want to share your own loss.  Perhaps you want to share a disappointment, a suffering, a moment of loss?  What do you think?        

 
      
   
         

Eulogy for mom

     Our mother was a strong force in life.  She was not a formally educated woman, but she was more intelligent and learned by most by her excessive reading.  She read each book that I ever brought home from school.  She saturated her hunger for knowledge with books. 

     She left her beloved country and family to marry into the Italian culture which she had no understanding of but she embraced.  It was into that culture at Villa which she continued to love as they her.

    She used to talk about her beloved Switzerland.  She missed her mountains and at Villa we used to go to the library and she would see her beloved country in real time, which today’s technology made possible.  My brother in law too would show her Switzerland and have her listen to the church bells she loved on his cell phone.  She marveled as she grew into today’s technology.

     Our mother was a force with strong ethical beliefs.  She taught us how to love.  She taught us how to appreciate the wild life.  She adopted a squirrel who would come to her each day.  We have carried on in this tradition.  She taught us that prejudice is wrong.  She taught us the importance of freedom.  She taught us the importance of justice.  She taught us that we can be and do anything we want in this life and that opportunities exist.

    But most of all she taught about romantic love and love of family.  She adored her grandchildren and always talked about them.

    She asked me once, “Do you think anyone will come to my funeral?”  I made a joke and laughed.    She cherished every visit she received, every gift she received and every phone call she received.

    She has suffered these past years with the loss of our father who loved her passionately and was always at her side.  She suffered at the loss of her two brothers who always talked to her on the phone and sent her chocolate and pictures of Switzerland.  They remained true to her to the very end of their own lives through cancer.

     Our mother was a strong force for us in life but she will continue to remain strong to us in death.