The Stress of Your Expectations vs. Reality

The Stress of Your Expectations vs. Reality Happiness Print The Expectations vs. Reality Trap Are you being robbed of your happiness? By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on March 05, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on May 30, 2019 More in Self-Improvement Happiness Meditation Stress Management Spirituality Holistic Health Inspiration Brain Health Technology Relationships View All Despite what your common sense may tell you, research shows that people are surprisingly inept at predicting how we will feel in various situations. For example, one study found that newlywed couples tended to estimate that their happiness levels would rise (or at least stay the same) over the four-year-period after marriage. In reality, their levels of happiness tended to diminish over that time period. Other studies have found that lottery winners happiness levels tend to reduce to pre-winning days (or sometimes even below).  In fact, while we believe that the ideal job, perfect relationship, or stellar bank account will change our happiness levels permanently, they may only give us a temporary boost of joyâ€"it is surprisingly short-lived. It seems that our expectations can confuse us into thinking that our goals will bring us much more than they actually do, so we often pursue the wrong goals.? Verywell / Kelly Miller   Expectations vs. Reality A problem with expectations was made famous by the Charles Dickens novel,  Great Expectations. The main character, Pip, inherits money from a secret benefactor. He views this fortune as a stepping stone to marrying the girl of his dreams. When he ultimately learned that the money was not necessarily part of that larger plan, he realized that he had taken for granted so many important relationships and gifts in his life. His expectations had robbed him of fully appreciating his reality. Research Research backs up this idea that we may not fully appreciate what we have when we are expecting more or comparing what we have to what we  could  have. One study found that participants who were exposed to a subliminal reminder of wealth spent less time savoring a chocolate bar and exhibited less enjoyment of the experience that other subjects  who werent reminded of wealth.   This is an interesting study that can remind us all to try to savor our chocolate (and lives) more, and perhaps to try not to remind ourselves of what we dont have. This study can also remind us, however, of how easy it is to let our thoughts color our enjoyment of what we actually have. How many times have we focused so much on something we wanted that we didnt truly savor what we had? How often might our expectations for great things make us feel like what we have isnt really that great (when there are many people who have less)? Expectations vs. Reality Finally, our expectations can get the better of us when we expect more than what is realistic in a given situation. We might expect our partners to live up to what we see in romance films, our jobs to be idealized versions we had as children, or even our lives to match up to what we see on Instagram. Our expectations can create significant stress when they dont match up to reality. Also consider how social media can greatly contribute to this: we compare our own worst moments (those not deemed to be shareable online) to others best moments, which very often are filtered to seem perfect. We may not even realize this mismatched comparison. Our expectations for our lives may be unrealistic and skewed based on what we think others have. Our perspective of what others have is limited; they do not have the lives we perceive. This may be part of why those who spend more time on social media tend to be less happy. Building Awareness Its important to take a deeper look into how your expectations stack up to reality (and how your mood is affected because of this). Here are some healthy ways to start. When you go into a new situation, ask yourself what you expect to happen.  Ask yourself if your expectations should be this way. Where did these expectations come from and are they realistic?When you feel disappointed, try to think about whether it was realistic to expect what you were hoping for. (If so, make a plan for getting what you want next time. If not, think about managing your expectations and how to do this.) Managing Expectations If youd like to get out of the expectations vs. reality trap, it all comes down to awareness. Becoming aware of what you are expecting is a great start. Becoming aware of what you should be expecting is also a wise idea. When you find that what is happening is not what you expected, actively look for the positives in what you have. You may find that once you get over the disappointment, you have something you didnt initially realize you wanted. This helps you to be more appreciative of what you have. When you see others posts on social media and decide that you want what you see, remind yourself that this may not be reality. Its great to know what direction you want things to go in, but dont forget that what you see isnt necessarily what others are actually living. You may be overestimating how happy you would be once you have what you think you want. For instance, if you work a job you hate to save enough to buy an expensive car or nice clothes, you may find that your happiness is not very long-lasting. Truly savor what you have. Its okay to want more, but you can enjoy life so much more if you appreciate what you already have. Savoring what you have is a great way to expand the joy you experience in life. Dont beat yourself up for feeling disappointment; however, try comparing yourself to others who have less, not more. Or better yet, try not to compare yourself to others in general. The only person you should be competing with is you. A Word From Verywell Ultimately, striving for more can lead you to work your hardest and do your best. At the same time, it can also rob you of joy, especially when you expect things to come more easily than they do or in a different way. Becoming more aware of your expectations and how they change your feelings toward your own reality can free you from disappointment and stress that comes from unrealistic expectations. Why Arent You Happier?

Immigrants Coming to America - 867 Words

In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s many immigrants came to the United States for a better way of life. I chose this particular question because I am first generation American. My parents were born in Sicily; my great grandparents came to the United States in the early 1900’s. My grandmother was born in the United States 1904, although she was born in America her parents did not choose to remain in the United States. Longing for their home land my great grandparents moved the family back to Sicily when my grandmother was only several months old. In the early 1950’s my grandmother who was born in the United States left Sicily with her husband and three grown children. The migration of foreigners to the United States has been one of the most powerful forces shaping American history this was especially true between 1860 and 1920. (American A Narrative History, Pg. 827). When immigrants traveled to the new land it was an arduous journey. Arriving in large cities often without their families or understanding the language was difficult. Many came from eastern and southern Europe such as the Irish, Germans, Italians and Polish. Immigrants came to America with hopes and dreams of prosperity, freedom of religion, freedom from fascism and dictatorship with the possibility of wealth and security. Many if not all of the immigrants encountered the complete opposite. Hard labor, poor living condition, low wages and illnesses were the problems often faced by theShow MoreRelatedAn Influx Of New Immigrants914 Words   |  4 Pagesof new immigrants came to America. A majority of these new immigrants came from southern and eastern Europe, as opposed to the northwestern Europeans who came in abundance before them. Between 1820 and 1920, less immigrants with northwestern European origins were coming to America and an increase of immigrants from southeastern Europe, countries in North America, Asia, and Latin America. The new immigrants from Ireland and Scandinavia were different from the previous groups of immigrants. They wer eRead MoreThe Theory Of Assimilation And The American Dream940 Words   |  4 Pagesbasically talks about immigrants coming to America and that they need to be force to give up on their own culture and assimilate to the American culture. Throughout the reading, I have learned that the theory of Assimilation has been present in this country for many years and how impactful it can still be. Since America was built around immigrants, the first people who came in to this country has already establish a certain life style and whoever would come after them, those immigrants are force to beRead MoreImmigration Is Up Of The United States1274 Words   |  6 PagesQuestion 1 Immigration makes up of the United States. The life of an immigrant faces many struggles. Coming to the United States is a very difficult time for immigrant, especially when English is not their first language. In Oscar Handlin’s essay, Uprooted and Trapped: The One-Way Route to Modernity and Mark Wyman’s Coming and Going: Round Trip to America, both these essays describes the life of immigrants living in America and how they are able to make a decent amount of money to support theirRead MoreEssay on Americans are Immigrants!1016 Words   |  5 Pages Americans are Immigrants! nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;â€Å"Everywhere immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American life,† was the words of former American president, John F. Kennedy (American Immigration: Quotes about Immigration). Immigrants have been in America for many years now. Today many people have different opinions about whether immigrants should be allowed into America freely, or if there should be more harsh regulations to those coming into the country. AfterRead MoreFor the Years 1880-1925, Analyze Both the Tensions Surrounding the Issue of Immigration and the United States Governments Response to These Tensions651 Words   |  3 Pagesjobs for non-immigrants, settlement patterns, crime, and even voting behavior. Congress has passed many laws that have to do with immigrants especially in the 19th century such as the Naturalization Act of 1870, and the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, or even the Immigration Act of 1903 all to insure specific laws and boundaries set on immig rants. The life of immigrants has been drastically changed throughout the years of 1880-1925 through aspects such as immigrants taking non-immigrants wages and jobsRead MoreThe Center For Human Rights And Constitutional Law1564 Words   |  7 PagesHuman Rights and Constitutional Law Help Lead a Path for Immigrants to Become Active Citizens? Immigrants have faced many challenges when trying to become citizens of the United States. These challenges began when the Immigration Act of 1882 was passed, which gave authority to officials to deny access to the United States to anyone who was a criminal or who was uneducated (Immigration Act). This made it very hard for people coming to America to become citizens of the United States and even harderRead MoreUncle Sams Thanksgiving Dinner Analysis1155 Words   |  5 PagesDinner† and â€Å"America The Land of Opportunity†, both cartoons show different aspects of immigration. America was founded by immigrants. Our brave and heroic founding fathers set out to create a new nation. The founding fathers wanted to get away from the burdens in England and establish a new colony unlike any around. This nation would be free of unjust rule and any tyranny. They wanted citizens of the country to have rights that would never be taken away. We all came from Immigrants at some po intRead MoreIllegal Immigration And The United States1589 Words   |  7 Pagesthe years of 1950-1995, why were so many illegal immigrants crossing the American borders and how did they affect America? Part A: This investigation will be looking into the lifestyles that illegal immigrants had between the years of 1950 and 1995 once they had crossed the US border. I will also be investigating how they affected the US. It is important to know because it will make people become more aware of how serious immigration can be to America. I will be examining the number of terrorist actsRead More Ellis Island Essay833 Words   |  4 PagesEllis Island Ellis Island was the door to America which was opened on January 1st, 1892. Immigrants came here from their countries to stay in ours. It was a major immigration station for the United States from 1892 to 1943. It has been part of the Statue of Liberty since 1965. Between 1880 and 1900 9 million immigrants arrived in America, which was the largest number of arrivals in a 20 year period. The immigrants mostly stayed in the New England areas, such as New York and Massachusetts. ThisRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article Endless Waves Of Illegal Immigrants Floods Rio Grande Valley 849 Words   |  4 Pagesto the article ‘Endless waves of Illegal Immigrants floods Rio Grande Valley† by Jana Winter for FOX NEWS on July 14, 2015. In this article, it mainly focuses its attention on the negative aspects of illegal immigrants and makes the reader believe that immigrants are the problem. The article, makes illegal immigrates seem like they are all criminals and villains. On top of that , this articles doe’s little to no explaining on the reasons for why immigrants to come to the United States. Having grandparents

The Czech Republic As We Know It - 5172 Words

The current Czech Republic as we know it, was established in January of 1993 when Czechoslovakia split into two independent countries. The peaceful separation created the Czech Republic and an independent Slovakia. The history the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the once Czechoslovakia is rich and full of turmoil. History The indigenous population of Czechoslovakia were the Slavic tribes. These tribes were made up of West Slavs tribes who were the Poles, the Czechs and the Slovaks. The East Slavs tribes consisted of Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusian s. The South Slavs tribes consisted of Bulgarians, Croats, Macedonians Serbs and Slovenians. In 550 BC the Slavs began settling in the eastern Alps and by 800 BC Christianity was spreading across the Slovene lands. In 962 the Holy Roman Empire was established and in 1085 Vrastislav II became the first Czech king which started the Premyslid dynasty. The Premyslid dynasty ended with the death of King Wenceslas III in 1306. In 1414 Jan Hus, an outspoken Czech, started speaking out against the corruption in the Catholic Church. Jan would conduct sermons in Czech so the regular citizens could understand the message. Unfortunately Jan was to outspoken and was burnt at the stake one year later in the year 1415. The Hussite Wars commenced in 1420 and carri ed on for fourteen years and concluded in 1434. In 1458 the Hussites elected a Czech Protestant king named George of Podebrady. The Hapsburg Dynasty ruled the lands fromShow MoreRelatedCzech Cultural Analysis Essay1639 Words   |  7 PagesCultural Analysis – Czech Republic Missouri University of Science and Technology ` table of contents table of contents ii 1.0 Czech vs u.s. Culture – hofstede’s model 3 2.0 Czech business culture – trompenaaris classificaion 7 3.0 U.S. Business culture change needed 7 4.0 bibliography 9 1.0 Czech vs u.s. Culture – hofstede’s model The Czech Republic has its roots as a former communist state known as Czechoslovakia. 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In the interest of everyone is to include women in every part of society† is a quote by Catherine Ashton, who served as First Vice President of the European Union. Since the fall of communism and the entrance into the European Union over a decade ago, women in the Czech Republic and Hungary have faced a drastic change of lifestyle. Throughout communism, women had theRead MoreChipotle Marketing Plan5991 Words   |  24 Pagescompany focus is on using high-quality raw ingredients, (Chipotle Mexican Grill, 2015). Using fresh ingredients is the groundwork of the menu, but they also believe fresh is not enough any longer, (Chipotle Mexican Grill, 2015). Chipotle wants to know the sources for all of the ingredients in order to serve the freshest tasting food and to be mindful of the environmental and public impact of the business, (Chipotle Mexican Grill, 2015). 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Czech Republic 40 2.2. Hungary 40 2.3. Poland 41 3. FOODSERVICE MARKET SHARE 41 3.1. Czech Republic 41 3.2. Hungary 42 3.3. Poland 43 4. FORECASTED GROWTH 44 4.1. Czech Republic 44 4.2. Hungary 44 4.3. Poland 45 5. SUMMARY TABLE (PERIOD: BETWEEN 2002 AND 2004) 45 MARKETING STRATEGY 47 1Read MorePersonality Predictors Of Successful Development : Toddler Temperament And Adolescent Personality Traits914 Words   |  4 Pagesones’ personality affects his/her satisfaction with their quality of life in adulthood. They believe that personality traits play a major role in who/what you become in the future and they wanted to see if they could predict it. If yes, they wanted to know how early? – As early as childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. 2b) The authors provided the reader a lot of information on the topic. Each topic was very well explored. A lot of different information on different but similar studies. The authors

Sociological Approach to the Study of Religion Free Essays

Outline and assess one of the main approaches to the study of religions. Religion and ‘The Study of Religions’ has many approaches which try to investigate the core of what religion is and what it means to the people who practice it. Sociology is one such approach that this essay will be looking at through its founding fathers Emile Durkheim, Max Weber and Karl Marx. We will write a custom essay sample on Sociological Approach to the Study of Religion or any similar topic only for you Order Now Sociology in general looks at people’s dynamics and explains a group’s influence. It demonstrates how religious belief and practices have become so important over time and emphasises their role and significance throughout. Each of these three sociologists has a link to these ideas which will be the main thesis in this essay. Emile Durkheim looks at religion from a functionalist perspective in the sense that he assumes that religion has a positive role in society, as it acts as an important socialisation process for all members. The theory is largely based on the Arunta tribe in Australia, where he discovered objects worshipped which he calls ‘totems. ’ These totems according to him were an important factor in the society; seeing that the objects became a symbol of the group’s identity and unity. These objects he claims are â€Å"collective representation† (Fish, Jonathan S. 2005: 30) as they have reinforced the importance of integration into the community via the worshipped objects. The worshipped object have an emotional significance to them as the â€Å"totems serve as evocative device for reminding individuals of their initial feelings long after the assemblies† (Fish, Jonathan S. 2005:51) therefore evidently it becomes more about the idea and symbolism of the object rather than the object itself that unites all. Thus making the idea of rituals of greater significance as it generally binds people together which for Durkheim is always a positive thing. On the other hand, Durkheim does not offer a real explanation on why some deviate from such society’s e. g. Islamic fundamentalists such as the Taliban. Perhaps his theory generally works on a tribal base rather than bigger societies, where conflicts and divides are more common; in a smaller community less people are likely to go against the status quo. Moreover, to say that religion only plays a positive role is absurd. How can one explain the atrocities that occur on the name of religion for instance? For this reason I find Durkheim’s theory limiting as it does not look at all aspects of religion or religious life but merely draws a quick conclusion to it. Also according to this perspective religion instils the same norms and values for everyone, making it a regulatory function in society. Religion for Marx then becomes a form of social control which provides guidelines through religious texts e. g. 10 commandments. These norms which are shared gives people the opportunity to unite to what may be seen as morally incorrect or sinful. This can be vital in a society as it can allow social stability. Durkheim argument is plausible as there has been a significant rise in New Religious Movements. This evidently shows that people still require religion in their life. Moreover, the recent increase on religious fundamentalists can be a point that strengthens Durkheim argument as it can be evidence for people being threatened by a weakening society. Karl Marx similar to Durkheim starts with the assumption that religion is in fact a product of society. Importantly, however, he disagrees with Durkheim as he does not see religion as beneficial for the whole of society but argues it benefits only the ruling class or what he calls the ‘bourgeoisie’. Religion, according to Marx only transmits bourgeoisie ideologies to convince the working class or ‘proletariats’ that inequality is natural and fair phenomena in the world. Making religion as a whole a â€Å"collective smoke-screen† (Connolly, P. 1999:100) as it distorts reality which gives explanation for inequality as being of religious significance i. e. sin. For Marx this is the core idea behind religion making it a tool for oppression and a form of social control. Religion is claimed to be the â€Å"opium of the people† (Hamilton, Malcolm B 2001:81), making it a drug which is used by people as an illusion to hide or cover up the real causes of suffering, which for Marx is primarily capitalism. Capitalism covers up religion and manages to help the bourgeoisie greatly, as it becomes a â€Å"comforting illusion† (Hamilton, Malcolm B 2001:80) as the proletariats do not question the status quo due to their belief in getting a greater reward in the afterlife. Religion itself is used to justify hierarchy in the world, a verse in a hymn such as the following are used, â€Å"the rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate, god made them. Highly or lowly, and ordered their state†. This stresses Marx’s point that as it’s believed to be sanctioned by God it is unlikely to be challenged by anyone. The Marxists perspective generally makes many valid arguments which society can relate to even today. The idea of caste system is still relevant in many Hindu traditions (although generally frowned upon). Buddhism has the idea of karma meaning if you are a poor person in this life then it’s to do with your own bad karma in the previous life. Therefore Marxism is correct in this aspect, that religion is used in order to justify inequality. Another key piece of evidence for the Marxists perspective is the fact that the Catholic Church is arguably allowing the spread of aids due to its stance against contraception. As a result of this, there is a continuation of social deprivation especially in Africa which further illustrates that religion is generally used to keep social inequality. Marxism disagrees that religion can bring about social change, this, however can be disputed. This is mainly due to the fact religious leaders have challenged the status quo in order to bring about change in their societies. Two main examples being Father Camillo Torres Restrepo and Martin Luther King whose works brought about a vast amount of change to Colombia and America respectively. Evidently this contrasts to the Marxists view as it shows that religion can in fact bring about social change and consequently allow for equality. Personally, I feel that the Marxists view limits human nature as it assumes they will simply follow rather than stand up to injustice. More importantly sociology in general claims to work in an objective and scientific way but I cannot see how it is possible with Marxists ideas such as on the religion being a drug and comforting as these ideas are impossible to measure. Max Weber is regarded as a social action theorist due to his claim that religion can shape and define society. He argues that religion can indeed bring about social change; he bases his argument on a Christian group named the Calvinists whom according to him brought about a form of western capitalism. This form of â€Å"ascetic Protestantism† (Johnstone, Ronald L. 2004:196) allows for the growth of capitalism because of their belief on disciplined hard work which to them emphasised the Glory of God. This â€Å"spirit of capitalism† (Furseth, Inger and Pal Repstad 2006:36) did not allow for the accumulation of wealth but actually encouraged reinvestment back into the society according to Weber. The so called Protestant ethics approach leads him to believe that this led to social change as society turned to mass producing mechanised industries. Another way the Calvinist were able to bring about social change, was thorough the apprehension people had. Calvinists believed in predestination which led to the belief that having a good business or being successful could have indicated that you were one of God’s chosen people. This gives the perception that people were competing over heaven and failure was not an option for people. However, Weber does not limit the growth of capitalism to the Calvinist alone as he is aware of other factors. Weber’s argument must be treated with a degree of caution. Evidence suggests that Protestant nations were not always capitalistic and vice versa. Also many believe that Catholic countries were already flourishing before the breakaway from Catholicism occurred. The study of Religions deal with many wide and opposing issues some of which have been covered in this essay through the works of Durkheim, Marx and Weber. Although, each sociologist does give a good account of explaining the dynamics within a religious group but with each case a very simplistic and generalised view was given by the sociologist about religion. It is plausible to argue that religion brings people together through rituals but is it not a natural thing for people to unite whilst doing something together? In this view then perhaps anything can be said to have religious significance as long as it brings people together. Additionally, the idea of a greater reward in the afterlife is not the only justification given about inequality. In the greater sense inequality within religion can be about anything from the roles of men and women to dress code. Therefore once again this idea has been limited to it being about capitalism. Religion is said to be able to bring about social change which arguably is a factor but for it to be the only thing is for me far fetched. It is an inherent thing for people to fight when they are being wronged. It is about something within rather than it being about religion. How to cite Sociological Approach to the Study of Religion, Essay examples

The Debate On Birth Control Essay Example For Students

The Debate On Birth Control Essay What is the best method of birth control (or contraception)? All women and men should have control over if and when they become parents. Making decisions about birth control, or contraception, is not easy there are many things to think about. Learning about birth control methods you or your partner can use to prevent pregnancy and talking with your health care provider are two good ways to get started. There is no best method of birth control. Each method has its own pros and cons. Some methods work better than others do at preventing pregnancy. Researchers are always working to develop or improve birth control methods. The birth control method you choose should take into account: your overall health; how often you have sex; the number of sexual partners you have; if you want to have children; how well each method works (or is effective) in preventing pregnancy; any potential side effects; and your comfort level with using the method. Bear in mind that NO method of birth control prevents pregnancy all of the time. Birth control methods can fail. But you can greatly increase a methods success rate by using it correctly all of the time. We will write a custom essay on The Debate On Birth Control specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The only way to be sure you never get pregnant is to not have sex (abstinence). What are the different birth control methods that I can use? There are many methods of birth control that a woman can use. Talk with your health care provider to help you figure out what method is best for you. You can always try one method and if you do not like it, you can try another one. Keep in mind that most birth control does NOT protect you from HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like gonorrhea, herpes, and chlamydia. Other than not having sex, the best protection against STDs and HIV is the male latex condom. The female condom may give some STD protection. Other birth control methods that involve using a spermicide (a cream or jelly that kills sperm) also may give some protection against chlamydia and gonorrhea. Dont forget that all of the methods we talk about below work best if used correctly. Be sure you know the correct way to use them. Talk with your health care provider and dont feel embarrassed about talking with her or him again if you forget or dont understand. Know that learning how to use some birth control methods can take time and practice. Sometimes health care providers do not explain how to use a method because they may think you already know how. For example, some people do not know that you can put on a male condom inside out. Also, not everyone knows that you need to leave a reservoir or space at the tip of the condom for the sperm and fluid when a man ejaculates, or has an orgasm. The more you know about the correct way to use birth control, the more control you will have over deciding if and when you want to become pregnant. Here is a list of birth control methods with estimates of effectiveness, or how well they work in preventing pregnancy when used correctly, for each method: Continuous Abstinence -This means not having sexual intercourse at any time. It is the only sure way to prevent pregnancy. This method is 100% effective at preventing pregnancy. Periodic Abstinence or Fertility Awareness Methods A woman who has a regular menstrual cycle has about nine or more fertile days, or days when she is able to get pregnant, each month. Periodic abstinence means you do not have sex on the days that you may be fertile. Fertility awareness means that you can be abstinent or have sex but you use a barrier method of birth control to keep sperm from getting to the egg. Barrier methods include condoms, diaphragms, or cervical caps, used together with spermicides, which kill sperm. These methods are 75 to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. Keep in mind that to practice these methods, you need to learn about your menstrual cycle (or how often you get your period). You keep a written record of when you get your period, what it is like (heavy or light blood flow), and how you feel (sore breasts, cramps). You also check your cervical mucus and take your basal body temperature daily, and record these in a chart. This is how you learn to predict, or tell, which days you are fertile or unsafe. You can ask your health care provider for more information on how to record and understand this information. The Male Condom Condoms are called barrier methods of birth control because they put up a block, or barrier, which keeps the sperm from reaching the egg. Only latex or polyurethane (because some people are allergic to latex) condoms are proven to help protect against STDs, including HIV. Natural or lambskin condoms made from animal products also are available. But lambskin condoms are not recommended for STD prevention because they have tiny pores that may allow for the passage of viruses like HIV, hepatitis B and herpes. Male condoms are 86 to 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. Condoms can only be used once. You can buy them at a drug store. Condoms come lubricated (which can make sexual intercourse more comfortable and pleasurable) and non-lubricated (which can also be used for oral sex). It is best to use lubrication with non-lubricated condoms if you use them for vaginal or anal sex. You can use KY jelly or water-based lubricants, which you can buy at a drug store. Oil-based lubricants like massage oils, baby oil, lotions, or petroleum jelly will weaken the condom, causing it to tear or break. Always keep condoms in a cool, dry place. If you keep them in a hot place (like a billfold, wallet, or glove compartment), the latex breaks down, causing the condom to tear or break. Oral Contraceptives Also called the pill, it contains the hormones estrogen and progestin. A pill is taken daily to block the release of eggs from the ovaries. It also lightens the flow of your period and protects against pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. The pill may add to your risk of heart disease, including high blood pressure, blood clots, and blockage of the arteries. If you are over age 35 and smoke, or have a history of blood clots or breast or endometrial cancer, your health care provider may advise you not to take the pill. .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c , .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c .postImageUrl , .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c , .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c:hover , .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c:visited , .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c:active { border:0!important; } .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c:active , .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u420bce2fd0b37e52abe4f43bcda4863c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Suicide of Vietnam Veterans Essay The pill is 95 to 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy if used correctly. You will need a prescription and visits with your health care provider to make sure you are not having problems. The Mini-Pill Unlike the pill, the mini-pill only has one hormone, progestin, instead of both estrogen and progestin. Taken daily, the mini-pill reduces and thickens cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching the egg. It also prevents a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus (womb). The mini-pill also can decrease the flow of your period and protect against PID and ovarian and endometrial cancer. Mothers who breastfeed can use it because it will not affect their milk supply. The mini-pill is a good option for women who cant take estrogen or for women who have a risk of blood clots. The mini-pill does not protect against STDs or HIV. Mini-pills are 95 to 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy if used correctly. You will need a prescription and visits with your health care provider to make sure you are not having problems. Copper T IUD (Intrauterine Device) An IUD is a small device that is shaped in the form of a T. Your health care provider places it inside the uterus. The arms of the Copper T IUD contain some copper, which stops fertilization by preventing sperm from making their way up through the uterus into the fallopian tubes. If fertilization does occur, the IUD would prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in the lining of the uterus. The Copper T IUD can stay in your uterus for up to 10 years. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. This IUD is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. Requires visits with your health care provider to have it inserted and to make sure you are not having any problems. Not all health care providers insert IUDs. Progestasert IUD (Intrauterine Device) -This IUD is a small plastic T- shaped device that is placed inside the uterus by a health care provider. It contains the hormone progesterone, the same hormone produced by a womans ovaries during the monthly menstrual cycle. The progesterone causes the cervical mucus to thicken so sperm cannot reach the egg, and so that a fertilized egg cannot successfully implant into the lining of the uterus. The Progestasert IUD can stay in your uterus for one year. This IUD is 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. Requires visits with your health care provider to have it inserted and to make sure you are not having any problems. Not all health care providers insert IUDs. Intrauterine System or IUS (Mirena) The IUS is a small T-shaped device like the IUD and is placed inside the uterus by a health care provider. It releases a small amount of a hormone each day to keep you from getting pregnant. The IUS stays in your uterus for up to five years. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. The IUS is 99% effective. The Food and Drug Administration approved this method in December 2000. Requires visits with your health care provider to make sure you are not having any problems. Not all health care providers insert the IUS. The Female Condom Worn by the woman, this barrier method keeps sperm from getting into her body. It is made of polyurethane, is packaged with a lubricant, and may protect against STDs, including HIV. It can be inserted up to 8 hours prior to sexual intercourse. Female condoms are 79 to 95% effective at preventing pregnancy. There is only one kind of female condom and its brand name is Reality. Purchase at a drug store. Implant (Norplant and Norplant 2) This product was taken off the market in July 2002. If you are using the Norplant system, you should contact your health care provider about what your contraceptive options will be after the five year expiration date of your Norplant system. Norplant consists of small stick-like devices, or rods, that are placed under the skin. The rods release a very low, steady level of a steroid that prevents pregnancy for up to five years. However, the rods can be taken out at any time and you then can become pregnant. This method is 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. Requires visits with your health care provider to make sure you are not having any problems. Depo-Provera With this method women get injections, or shots, of the hormone progestin in the buttocks or arm every three months. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. It is 99.7% effective at preventing pregnancy. Requires visits with your health care provider to make sure you are not having any problems. Prolonged use of the drug may result in significant loss of bone density. This bone loss is greater the longer the drug is used. Women should only use Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection as a long-term birth control method (longer than two years) if other birth control methods are inadequate. Diaphragm or Cervical Cap These are barrier methods of birth control, where the sperm are blocked from reaching the egg. The diaphragm is shaped like a shallow latex cup. The cervical cap is a thimble-shaped latex cup. Both come in different sizes and you need a health care provider to fit you for one. Before sexual intercourse, you use them with spermicide (to block or kill sperm) and place them up inside your vagina to cover your cervix (the opening to your womb). You can buy spermicide gel or foam at a drug store. Spermicide will also help protect you from the STDs gonorrhea and chlamydia if they have nonoxynol-9 in them. Some women can be sensitive to nonoxynol-9 and need to use spermicides that do not contain it. The diaphragm is 80 to 94% effective at preventing pregnancy. The cervical cap is 80 to 90% effective at preventing pregnancy for women who have not had a child, and 60 to 80% for women who have had a child. Requires a visit with your health care provider for proper fitting. The Patch (Ortho Evra) -This is a skin patch worn on the lower abdomen, buttocks, or upper body. It releases the hormones progestin and estrogen into the bloodstream. You put on a new patch once a week for three weeks, then do not wear a patch during the fourth week in order to have a menstrual period. The patch is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, but appears to be less effective in women who weigh more than 198 pounds. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21 , .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21 .postImageUrl , .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21 , .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21:hover , .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21:visited , .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21:active { border:0!important; } .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21:active , .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21 .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4706524de1a527e4be323bc7a2b8bb21:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Pearl harbor Essay The Food and Drug Administration approved this method in 2001. You will need to visit your health care provider for a prescription and to make sure you are not having problems. The Hormonal Vaginal Contraceptive Ring (NuvaRing) The NuvaRing is a ring that releases the hormones progestin and estrogen. You squeeze the ring between your thumb and index finger and insert it into your vagina. You wear the ring for three weeks, take it out for the week that you have your period, and then put in a new ring. The ring is 98 to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. The Food and Drug Administration approved this method in 2001. You will need to visit your health care provider for a prescription and to make sure you are not having problems. Surgical Sterilization (Tubal Ligation or Vasectomy) These surgical methods are meant for people who want a permanent method of birth control. In other words, they never want to have a child or they do not want more children. Tubal ligation or tying tubes is done on the woman to stop eggs from going down to her uterus where they can be fertilized. The man has a vasectomy to keep sperm from going to his penis, so his ejaculate never has any sperm in it. They are 99 to 99.5% effective at preventing pregnancy. Nonsurgical Sterilization (Essure Permanent Birth Control System) This is the first non-surgical method of sterilizing women and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in November 2002. A thin tube is used to thread a tiny spring-like device through the vagina and uterus into each fallopian tube. Flexible coils temporarily anchor it inside the fallopian tube. A Dacron-like mesh material embedded in the coils irritates the fallopian tubes lining to cause scar tissue to grow and eventually permanently plug the tubes. It can take about three months for the scar tissue to grow, so it is important to use another form of birth control during this time. Then you will have to return to your health care provider for a test to see if scar tissue has fully blocked your tubes. In studies of more than 600 women, followed for a year, there so far have been no pregnancies in those whose Essure devices were implanted successfully. Emergency Contraception This is NOT a regular method of birth control and should never be used as one. Emergency contraception, or emergency birth control, is used to keep a woman from getting pregnant when she has had unprotected vaginal intercourse. Unprotected can mean that no method of birth control was used. It can also mean that a birth control method was used but did not work like a condom breaking. Or, a woman may have forgotten to take her birth control pills, or may have been abused or forced to have sex when she did not want to. Emergency contraception consists of taking two doses of hormonal pills taken 12 hours apart and started within three days after having unprotected sex. These are sometimes wrongly called the morning after pill. The pills are 75 to 89% effective at preventing pregnancy. Another type of emergency contraception is having the Copper T IUD put into your uterus within seven days of unprotected sex. This method is 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy. Neither method of emergency contraception protects against STDs or HIV. You will need to visit your health care provider for either a prescription for the pills or for the insertion of the IUD, and to make sure you are not having problems. Are there any foams or gels that I can use to keep from getting pregnant? You can purchase what are called spermicides in drug stores. They work by killing sperm and come in several forms foam, gel, cream, film, suppository, or tablet. They are inserted or placed in the vagina no more than one hour before intercourse and left in place at least six to eight hours after. You may protect yourself more against getting pregnant if you use a spermicide with a male condom, diaphragm, or cervical cap. There are spermicidal products made specifically for use with the diaphragm and cervical cap. Check the package to make sure you are buying what you want. All spermicides have sperm-killing chemicals in them. Some spermicides also have an ingredient called nonoxynol-9, which can protect you from the STDs gonorrhea and chlamydia. Nonoxynol-9 will not protect you from HIV. Some women are sensitive to nonoxynol-9 and need to use spermicides without it. Spermicides alone are about 74% effective at preventing pregnancy. How effective is withdrawal as a birth control method? Withdrawal is not the most effective birth control method. It works much better when a male condom is used. Withdrawal refers to when a man takes his penis out of a womans vagina (or pulls out) before he ejaculates, or has an orgasm. This stops the sperm from going to the egg. Pulling out can be hard for a man to do and it takes a lot of self-control. When you use withdrawal, you can also be at risk for getting pregnant BEFORE the man pulls out. When a mans penis first becomes erect, there can be fluid (called pre-ejaculate fluid) on the tip of the penis that has sperm in it. This sperm can get a woman pregnant. Withdrawal also does not protect you from STDs or HIV. Everyone I know is on the pill. Is it safe? Todays pills have lower doses of hormones than earlier birth control pills. This has greatly lowered the risk of side effects. However, there are both benefits and risks with taking birth control pills. Benefits include having more regular and lighter periods, fewer menstrual cramps; and a lower risk for ovarian and endometrial cancer, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Serious side effects include an increased chance, for some women, of developing heart disease and high blood pressure. Minor side effects include nausea, headaches, sore breasts, weight gain, irregular bleeding and depression. Many of these side effects go away after taking the pill for a few months. Women who smoke, are over age 35, or have a history of blood clots or breast or endometrial cancer are more at risk for dangerous side effects and may not be able to take the pill. Talk with your health care provider about whether the pill is right for you.

Body Art Essay Example

Body Art Essay Example Body Art Paper Body Art Paper Body art is a practice whereby people use forms of artistic expression to decorate their bodies in order to indicate their status, religious devotion, desired protection against the evil and diseases. People express themselves for many different reasons for getting various forms of body art. Some could mean personal expression, cultural expression while other continues to decorate their bodies as means of remembering some important time or event in their lives. In different cultures, various parts of the body are painted and the pattern of painting may reflect age, gender or social status. In the United States women decorate their faces with cosmetics after they reach puberty while in some societies; men mark their adult status by painting designs on their babies. Babies and children may also be adorned by painting designs on their bodies or faces. There are different styles of body art and these include; a) Scarification- is the process of decorating the body by inflicting wounds and allowing wounds to heal. It is performed by people trained in the art. The marks can be of different shapes and form a decorative pattern. This is common among the Samoans b) Tattooing- is widely practiced worldwide and is a procedure of permanently marking the skin with ink or dye. The process is painful and extensive tattoos are a mark of stoicism. Various parts of the body may also be pierced or otherwise surgically altered. c) Piercing- is a procedure in which a sharp instrument is passed through a fold skin or part of the body. The process is very painful and it takes time for a person to decide to go for it. d) Body paint- is a temporary form of body art which includes Mehndi. Mehndi is the Indian tradition of decorating a womans hands and feet with henna dye, originally done to celebrate her wedding. The patterns are very intricate and usually take several hours to complete. e) Permanent Makeup- is a form of tattooing. This makeup is most commonly applied to eyebrows, upper and lower eyelids and lips. It can last anywhere from four to six years. f) Body Play or Shaping- is the most severe form of body art. It includes body suspension, waist/corset training, implanting foreign objects under the skin, e. g. , inserting metal spikes into the skull or inserting marbles under the skin Body art practice in some societies is highly regarded. In most societies body art is/ was done with a reason and it depended with the occasion, the status of a person in the society. In some communities body art showed some form of bravely because the experience is very painful. When members of one culture consumes the visual arts of another, the social and the cultural context shifts and in the process the tastes and expectations of the outside consumers may reshape and redefine the artistic or culture that produced the art objects. Body art has created jobs for those who are practicing it. Many people are being trained to do body art. At the same time some forms of body art are being related to crime as some body marks depict crime or any other social vice. However body art if not done properly on the body can be a health risk as it involves body piercing which can lead to bacterial or viral infection and other complications which may be harmful to the body. References Mari Womack (2000) Being Human, 2nd Edition Lahn D. (1999); Body Piercing; St. Martins Griffin

How to Start a Persuasive Essay

How to Start a Persuasive Essay An introduction paragraph content may vary according to the assignment, but the student writing the persuasive essay – which argues a point that is defended with evidence – usually follows a basic set of guidelines. A persuasive essay  is a type of writing that attempts to convince the reader or opponent that your argument or claim is correct. The main objective of the persuasive speech is to make the students master the art of persuasion.  This type of essay is a common assignment during high-school and early college years, so senior high school students and junior college students should benefit from it most of all. A persuasive essay outline is as follows: an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Arguably the most important part of a persuasive essay, the basic introduction paragraph should attempt to accomplish three specific objectives: 1. Introduce the topic the student is covering, exploring or analyzing – indicating that topic’s relevance, or the writer’s interest in its application, and the kind of frame and context in which it will be discussed. 2. Indicate how the persuasive essay will be structured, clearly stating the major transitions and sections, themes and points that will comprise it. 3. State the thesis of the persuasive essay – the statement or theory that will be put forward as a premise for the rest of the paper; the issue being argued. HOW TO WRITE A PERSUASIVE ESSAY An introduction paragraph content may vary according to the assignment (the assignment could be a persuasive essay, general research paper, a thesis or dissertation paper), but the student writing the persuasive essay – which argues a point that is defended with evidence – usually follows a basic set of guidelines. Steps to Writing an Introduction to a Persuasive Essay STEP 1. Craft a solid thesis statement. This is done when the student-writer narrows the focus of their argument after finding substantial evidence that supports that argument; once a thesis statement has been chosen, sculpted and strengthened, the student can plan and outline the rest of the essay. This enables the student to craft an interesting topic sentence, which will be addressed in step 3. STEP 2. Outline the rest of the essay, paragraph by paragraph. In many cases, the introduction paragraph will read almost like an outline for the rest of the paper – it should have an introduction, a declared Thesis Statement, and its supporting evidence, and a conclusion tying it all together. STEP 3. Write one or two topic sentence. Generally, the first sentence a persuasive essay, the topic sentence generally helps the reader ease into reading the essay. The topic sentence also helps the writer organize the introductory paragraph, building up to the thesis; ultimately the topic sentence serves as a signpost for the argument. It also defines the scope of the paragraph. Topic sentences announce the boundaries and context of the subject, the issue or overall topic being examined, analyzed or evaluated, explaining why it is important, relevant and pertinent in an academic setting and worth discussing at length. A topic sentence may be a simple anecdote, could be a question or even a famous quote, but not without explaining why it is important and worth discussing. STEP 4. Follow with the Thesis Statement. By this time the student should have a solid, concise argument, which can be written in one to two sentences at the very most. STEP 5. Include the points that support the argument but keep them brief. This part of the introduction paragraph aims to indicate the points in the body paragraphs that will defend the paper’s thesis, the essay’s fundamental argument. They should not be too specific, nor be very long in length. Of course, not every introductory paragraph of a persuasive essay will follow this order precisely; however, this is a basic outline for a student writing the persuasive essay for the first time. TOP 101 PERSUASIVE ESSAY TOPICS Essay writing in general and persuasive writing specifically are our staple services. We guarantee that you will receive a paper that is properly written, correctly formatted, contains proper language and is based on results of recent research. Place an order on our Order Page.