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A street child in Bangladesh is a young person "for whom the street (in the widest sense of the word, including unoccupied dwellings, wasteland, etc.) has become his or her habitual abode and/or source of livelihood; and who is inadequately protected, supervised, or directed by responsible adults”.
Bangladeshi children are being pushed onto the streets due to extreme poverty, lack of access to contraception, and lack of education. From a governmental perspective, childhood poverty in Bangladesh may also be the result of corruption, dysfunction, and neglect.
Street children do not have definite living or sleeping places, and many die young due to neglect, malnutrition, and disease. They can sometimes be seen selling flowers, books, or knick-knacks on the street, especially to cars stuck in traffic. As elsewhere, street children often do not have access to healthy foods, which leads to the consumption of unhygienic food. Starvation is an ever-present problem in the region, and each year, approximately 110,000 children die of water-borne diseases in Bangladesh.
Biman Bandar train station
Dhaka
Photography’s new conscience
Ruby.
March 8, 2001- July 6, 2015
Rest peacefully my dear, sweet, Ruby Darlin’.
Ruby was diagnosed with Canine Cognitive Disorder earlier this year. Until recently we were managing it very well and she was active, alert and present.
Last Thursday (when I made this portrait) she took what seemed to be a sudden turn for the worse. She was up and down but mostly very disoriented over the weekend. With conflicted feelings and much heartache I helped end her misery on Monday and I buried her yesterday (Tuesday). I'm barely able to post this or any other image of her now.
I could choose to say nothing here, to post no image, but there are many who have followed our dogs over the years and shared in the joys, so I feel it is right to share this as well. So thank you all very much.
There are many more happier pictures of her in
Game Of Thrones Houses II - House Lannister of Casterly Rock: "Hear Me Roar" from Game of Thrones
Who's your favourite Lannister? I've just finished rewatching Season One AGAIN and good god, that season is so perfectly crafted and well-executed (and so was Ned, sorry I couldn't help myself). I swear fealty to House Stark, but House Lannister have so many more layers of dysfunction and deceit, and are each very interesting characters. So yeah if you want to, lmk your favourite Lannister in the comments
L-R:
- Kevan Lannister
- Tywin Lannister
- Tyrion Lannister
- Cersei Baratheon (née Lannister)
- Jaime Lannister
- Lancel Lannister
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I don't know why my hipbones are sticking out in this, they don't even exist.
Yesterday's hurt was from my dad. I just don't like mentioning him because he isn't my "dad." He isn't my "father" either. Really, he was just the sperm donor.
Today was lovely and wonderful. I read I Am an Emotional Creature by Eve Ensler in about two hours last night. I sent my uncle an email thanking him for it, and I loved his reply. Maybe I'll post it here. Maybe not.
I volunteer at church with a boy who has autism. It was difficult today. His mother loves me though, so that felt good. And someone gave me one of the greatest compliments I've ever received.
Then I went on a little over six mile bike ride on a greenway. Towards the end it started to rain, and life felt worthwhile.
It is my brother's birthday today, and despite the dysfunction of everyday experiences, I could tell he felt special and that's all that matters.
Rainy Sundays in soft, ugly sweatshirts fill me up.
Edit: Fuck being okay. Today's the day I wish I had never been born.
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Early self portraits with Decim8, Snapseed & Iris - original image taken with native cam
What started out as a lackluster Christmas for me became a very blessed one. We hear lots of Christmas stories over the years, some good, some bad, and I'd like to share mine.
Last year, I adopted two adorable kittens, Ragnar and Freja. At a year and a half, they are still pretty raucous, so I opted not to put up my big tree, with all the special ornaments that I've collected over the years. My fear was that they would climb it, and destroy hundreds of dollars worth of irreplaceable items and memories in the process, as kitties are prone to do in their youth. So, I sent my brother, Shawn, to pick up a little table top tree and a few ornaments instead, so we could have something Christmasy, and wouldn't care if the cats demolished it!
What I had in mind was a 3-4 foot tree, that sitting on a table might look almost as big at eye level as a regular tree, and give us more of a Christmas feel. Well, Shawn grabbed a little tree that said it was 36" high, and some ornaments that were more regular size, and a tree topper that was really designed for a 5 foot tree. I knew when I saw the boxes that this was going to be a challenge, but didn't realize how much of one until the day I went to set everything up!
Okay, I started to open the top of the box the tree was in, when the BOTTOM of the box came open, and this 2 1/2 foot long, black, slug-like thing came sliding out and plopped on the floor! I took one look at that thing and almost began cursing my brother! I picked up the stuck together wad of blackness, and nearly cried! Pulling it's stand out of the box, I read the box, too, and yes. It said "black christmas tree". I thought to myself, "WHY on earth would anyone want a BLACK Christmas tree!?" I almost cried at the prospect of this sorry Christmas, and thought maybe it wasn't too late to just put up the regular tree and take my chances! I knew, though, that this wasn't a good idea, at least not THIS year, and so I started assembling the mini tree.
Well, the tree ended up being about 35" tall in the stand, but was still pretty dinky looking. The ornaments were really too large for it, but I put them on there anyway. Okay, I looked at the tree top and thought, this just isn't going to work! I tried, anyway, but it was hopeless. The giant star was too heavy and big, and flopped right over. On top of that, the cord to plug it in was only about a foot and a half long, and there was no way for me to plug it in anywhere!
The next day, I stopped by a Dollar General and grabbed some tiny Christmas ornaments and a small star that would at least stay put on the top of the tree and sort of look like a topper! Once everything was on there and it was plugged in with the fiber optics glowing, it didn't look bad. The black still bugged me some, but it's okay at night. You can at least imagine it's a dark green! With packages around it, it didn't look completely stupid, and felt a little festive, although certainly one of the least attractive trees I'd ever had!
My family celebrates on Christmas Eve. We like to open presents by the light of the Christmas tree. Seemed like almost a joke this Christmas! Having been sick with a respiratory bug for a couple of weeks, I would get winded when I did much of anything, too, so I barely dusted and did a little vacuuming for the holidays. My brother was supposed to mop the floors, but he had work, and then he was the one who did the cooking- his "famous" open faced, Reuben sandwiches, which took hours of prep work, so when I got off work and came home and found the floors dirty, I was ticked about that, too.
Two of my nephews walked in the door with my brother, and suddenly none of it mattered. We spent the afternoon and early evening chatting, running to the grocery store for corned beef, and enjoying each other's company. When the third nephew got off work and came over, we ate, and what a meat feast it was! After that was opening the presents, which was a blast, and I found myself not wanting the night to end!
How different this was from a month ago. Thanksgiving was awful for me. I had an argument with my brother, and was in a crummy mood. I decided not to even spend the day with my family, and drove to Titusville to eat by myself at Village Inn! I didn't really know how Christmas was going to go, but there was no way I was going to play Scrooge again! I didn't know if my family would harbor grudges against me, or not. They didn't. I didn't. It was a day of realizing how much we loved each other, and how we enjoyed giving each other gifts that would make the others happy. It was a great day.
Most families have a certain amount of dysfunction to them anymore. The "perfect" family, if that ever really existed, seems to be impossible to find, but I think if we think about it, those we care the most about, who care the most about us, are worth the petty squabbles and the difficult moments. We don't always get along, or want to be with each other, but when they are no longer around at all, how lonely life really becomes! Kids move away, friends get promoted and move, and parents die. Then we realize how much we really loved. Too bad we can't always see that BEFORE the tough stuff comes!
This Christmas could have been the worst one ever. It turned out to be one of the best. My sorry, little black tree wasn't the focal point. WE were. Dirty floors and all, it was truly wonderful!
I hope you all had a marvelous holiday season with your loved ones. Now we look forward to the new year 2017. May God bless you all in it, and may it be full of the love, peace and happiness you've always wanted!
After the death of her twin sister Bonnie, Piepsi sufferd from loneliness. She lost some weight and was very choosy with her food. One morning we noticed, that she started runnig into the furniture. A physical examination and a blood test revealed that she had a serious dysfunction of her kidneys and that she suddenly went blind. She got some pills from the vet, but after 4 weeks there is still no improvement, but at least it is not becoming worse. The blindness is no problem, within a few days the orientation in the house was no problem anymore. Sometimes we believe she could see something, but this could also be an illusion. Our main concern is the dysfunction of her kidneys. We hope there will be some improvement within the next weeks.
Today's We're Here Challenge: Christmas Dysfunction
I ran some errands today & did some shopping, all while getting a lot of wonderful views of the snow in the mountains.
“...just going to lay here while my bed deflates.”
(I’m projecting my executive dysfunction on her, oops!)
Everybody brace for a long montage of Dania marching through her ship! I’m almost done sorting photos to continue the story.
In other news, I’m in love with Dania. She is so gorgeous, and a lot of fun! I should do a proper review eventually.
(( Catch up on the story from the beginning in the MothershipTrouble Album: flic.kr/s/aHsmTGKkdc ))
As I search for sanity in this world of dysfunction I stubble upon hope; an article exposing the Toxic work environment in Yosemite National Park. Others are speaking out about the harassment, bulling, retaliation, mobbing in our National Parks. Yosemite’s Superintendent abruptly resigned among the investigations of sexual harassment, retaliation and bullying in Yosemite.
There was an article in the Merced paper saying there would be investigators in the park last week to further their investigation. It stated the Department of Interior, Inspector General’s Office has asked for victims to come forward and contact them. I asked Yosemite’s Law Enforcement how to contact them and was rudely told they had nothing to do with it. When I asked a Law Enforcement Officer how to contact those investigating, explained how I was being harassed, bullied, mobbed, my vehicle vandalized and my residence illegally entered; I was rudely told that with all the investigations maybe it wasn’t true, maybe I should just leave. Over a week ago I went to the Yosemite's National Park Admin office and asked to speak or make an appointment to speak with the acting Superintendent to discuss the waste, dysfunction, incompetence, harassment, bullying, retaliation and misconduct of employees. I was given the runaround, couldn’t make an appointment, was told I’d be contacted; still waiting.
I have ruffled a few feathers; every low-life, half-wit and simpleton in Yosemite has bumped up the stalking, harassment, bulling, misconduct and Law Enforcement intimidation. I’m not and will not be intimidated; I will continue to expose this culture of toxic behavior.
Here is a link to an article addressing this Toxic behavior I your National parks:
•The truth about Yosemite: www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Sexual-Harassment-Common-in...
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Orto Botanico di Padova, a 1997 inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site & Europe’s oldest botanical garden.
7 of 12.
We are in the garden biodiversity greenhouse so now too many plant shots including this brightly coloured blue Lotus Flower.
Despite the many claims of blue lotus flower’s health benefits, there’s only limited research on the plant.
Historically, it’s been used recreationally and medicinally, with most advocates claiming it can improve sleep, reduce anxiety, assist with erectile dysfunction, and act as a natural aphrodisiac.
Folkloric
- Red leaves are used to expel worms.
- Fruit is said to be purgative.
- Leaves mixed with oil are rubbed onto the breast to relieve mammary pain.
- Bark is used for gastric ailments, bilious diarrhea and dysentery.
- The sap of young leaves mixed with the kernel oil has been used for the treatment of leprosy.
- Bark decoction has been used for the treatment of gonorrhea and stomach cramps.
- Leaves are applied to rheumatic joints.
- Juice of young leaves used for scabies and other cutaneous diseases, headaches and colic.
- Leaves macerated in oil has been used for tonsillitis.
- In Sri Lankan folklore, juice of tender leaves used for pains, including headaches.
- In India, the bark is used as a diuretic and cardiotonic; leaves used for headache.
- In Nigeria, leaves macerated in palm oil used for tonsillitis; stems and bark used for sexual dysfunction.
- Seeds have been used for sexual dysfunction.
source: stuart xchange
Here we go again! Persistence and consistence!
Oh dysfunctional me ... but it's all good dysfunction! Really!
This is at Rideau Ferry Yacht Club Conservation Area.
It was a mild day yesterday with lots of sunshine.
This is at the beach on Lower Rideau Lake. There was a bit of activity on the ice with a number of people locating their ice fishing huts on the frozen lake.
I know they will have a fun season fishing throughout the winter.
I don't play on the ice. I do not have the knowledge or experience.
I do not trust the ice. I am alive because of that. Enough said.
I visit here often. Especially in the winter. During the frozen months the people are here for a walk, with or without a dog. It is a good place to chat with people and learn about their journey, their story, their life.
The gift that is given to us by this place is a serene moment in time.
There is an indescribable benefit or quality to the gift of nature.
It is all sensory though. You feel the wind against you. You hear everything. Sometimes there is no sound at all.
It is a feeling. An experience.
When I am here alone, it is mine. It belongs to me.
I pick up the garbage. How dare they? How could they? They don't get it! Maybe if they come here enough, they will start to understand.
You should come and experience it. It will touch you. It will comfort you. You will appreciate it.
Siesta Lake, taken with 3 exposures, bracketed in 2 stop increments, layered in Photomatix Pro5, final edit in Lightroom CC.
Siesta; meaning sleep, is something I get very little of. The more I speak out and post about Yosemite’s Toxic work and living environment, the more it’s mobbing community retaliates. I go to work early and many days come home exhausted. I lie down to take a nap and my neighbors rally to stomp through the hall, in front of my room and at my door, slamming pots and pans, drop heavy things on the floor; anything to keep me from sleeping or relaxing in any form. Many times, one of the housing staff will show up to rally them into a frenzy, you know like they used to with “lynch mobs”, trying to add validity to their unethical and illegal behavior. As I started writing this they started stomping on floors. Harassment and retaliation are allowed in Yosemite national Park. I’m told I can move; I’ve moved 3 times in almost 10 years, what don’t these people get? That’s just their scapegoat.
Sadly, for years here in Yosemite they’ve been hiring like minded people. These people are supposed to be stewards of this magnificent park; many are far from such. There is hardly a day that goes by that I don’t apologize to a guest; because of incompetence, waste, extremely poor management, filth, dysfunction, fraud and employee behavior. It’s embarrassing to watch grown men and women act as if teenagers or younger. Their actions directly impacting the guest experience and the preservation of the park. These same men and women spreading hate for someone they don’t even know.
We have come to a bad place in America. If you would like see just how bad; come work and live in Yosemite National Park for a season.
I love this country and this park. I could give up and quit; that’s not me. It was not my father or my mother. I’m going to stay, continue to expose the Toxic working and living conditions, try to make this a better park for all that work and live here. What are you going to do Mr. Superintendent?
What is happening in Yosemite is WRONG!
Yosemite’s current Superintendent is: Michael T Reynolds
Nominated Director National Parks Services is: David Vela
• The truth about Yosemite 2016 to current: www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Yosemite-Chief-Retiring-Ami...
Thank you for visiting my photostream
Perfect timing for today's theme of Christmas Dysfunction, in celebration of the accidents, trauma, mayhem and disappointments caused by Christmas. Percy, our rooftop Christmas penguin, succumbed to the winds last night, and greeted me from the driveway. Oh dear.
seaside Volos
rare & unique photo from my mobile phone
(no photo effect or edit)
my cell sometimes produces very special, unique and rare photographs ... it does it on its own ... maybe by some dysfunction of it. Decolorizes the reception in a unique way almost black and white and gives some different colors to the ones it removes. The final picture is unique and rare. With no editing and no effects you can see these photos ... there is a limited photo watermark on my photos and my name because I'm interested in exhibiting the templates.
All rights are reserved. No material appearing in these links may be reproduced without permission.
Όλες οι φωτογραφίες είναι πνευματική ιδιοκτησία μου και έχω τα αποκλειστικά δικαιώματα ( copyright ).
Απαγορεύεται η οποιαδήποτε χρήση των φωτογραφιών μου από τρίτους χωρίς την άδεια μου.
2015/2016/2017/2018
christina minopoulou: © melissalli
Les médecins du Service de Santé Publique étaient postés aux alentours des escaliers pour détecter ceux qui devaient être retenus pour un examen médical plus approfondi. Les plus expérimentés pouvaient détecter les signes d'une grande variété de maladies ou de dysfonctionnements. Quand un médecin soupçonnait une maladie ou désordre mental il écrivait à l'aide d'une craie une lettre sur le revers ou l'épaule de la personne concernée.
ENGLISH :
5000 than 10 000 people are inspected daily by officials of Ellis Island. Sort among immigrants was performed on arrival. Newcomers formed a long line that went up to the recording room. The doctors of the Public Health Service were stationed around the stairs to detect those to be retained for further medical examination. The more experienced could detect signs of a wide variety of diseases or dysfunctions. When a doctor suspected a disease or mental disorder he wrote with chalk a letter on the back or shoulder of the person concerned.
NB
Mes photos sont des photos de photos que j'ai faites dans le musée. My photos are pictures of pictures I made in the museum
Surrounded by the erupting chaos of an early spring, this mated pair of mallards early yesterday morning appeared to be having a quiet talk as they were about to begin their day.
When I was a wee tot decades ago, one of the more reassuring sounds coming from our downstairs at night as I was in bed awaiting for drowsiness to win, were the soft murmurs of mom and dad around the kitchen table.
I have no idea what they were talking about but there was something comforting about that sound.
When I read of millions of youngsters today growing up in broken homes, homes of dysfunction and homes without spiritual guidelines, I realize how fortunate I was.
That doesn't mean mom and dad were model parents in every way but imperfect parents with a respect for one another can go a long ways in the battle to raise young men and women with character.
(Photographed near Cambridge, MN)
Today was my daughter's 22nd birthday. I'm still amazed how well my kids grew up, especially when dealing with the dysfunction that was "just another day" in our household. I know it's cliche to say "I couldn't be prouder" of my kids, but it's true. Not only proud of what they've accomplished, but of how they've persevered. My daughter decided to buck tradition and not follow what was the assumed path in her life, and she is very proud that she did what her heart told her, no matter what her parents told her. She made some very adult decisions before she was even an adult, and she is reaping the benefits now.
Yes, I know the focus is off on this. The dangers of a fast lens. But I'll take the look of REAL happiness on her face, as opposed to a tack sharp posed picture any day.
Young Maasai boys days are filled with playtime when they are not taking care of the cattle, with the exception of ritual beatings to test courage and endurance. Girls are responsible for chores such as cooking and milking, skills which they learn from their mothers at an early age. Every 15 years or so, a new and individually named generation of Morans or Il-murran (warriors) will be initiated. This involves most boys between 12 and 25, who have reached puberty and are not part of the previous age-set. One rite of passage from boyhood to the status of junior warrior is a painful circumcision ceremony, which is performed without anaesthetic. This ritual is typically performed by the elders, who use a sharpened knife and makeshift cattle hide bandages for the procedure. The Maa word for circumcision is emorata. The boy must endure the operation in silence. Expressions of pain bring dishonor, albeit temporarily. Any exclamations can cause a mistake in the delicate and tedious process, which can result in lifelong scarring, dysfunction, and pain. The healing process will take 3–4 months, during which urination is painful and nearly impossible at times, and boys must remain in black clothes for a period of 4–8 months.
During this period, the newly circumcised young men will live in a "manyatta", a "village" built by their mothers. The manyatta has no encircling barricade for protection, emphasizing the warrior role of protecting the community. No inner corral is built, since warriors neither own cattle nor undertake stock duties. Further rites of passage are required before achieving the status of senior warrior, culminating in the eunoto ceremony, the "coming of age".
When a new generation of warriors is initiated, the existing Il-murran will graduate to become junior elders, who are responsible for political decisions until they in turn become senior elders.[48][49] This graduation from warrior to junior elder takes place at large gathering known as Eunoto. The long hair of the former warriors is shaved off; elders must wear their hair short. Warriors are not allowed to have sexual relations with circumcised women, though they may have girlfriends who are uncircumcised girls. At Eunoto, the warriors who managed to abide by this rule are specially recognized.
The warriors spend most of their time now on walkabouts throughout Maasai lands, beyond the confines of their sectional boundaries. They are also much more involved in cattle trading than they used to be, developing and improving basic stock through trades and bartering rather than stealing as in the past.
Information taken from Wikipedia
Have a life-long feeling of apprehension involving carnivals and fairs. It's one of many phobias in my adult life that are rooted in childhood. Some have a very distinct point of origin. The causation of others is more vague. And I'm convinced some are simply genetically programmed. I think carnivals fall into this category. They just make me uneasy in a visceral sense and I stopped questioning it long ago. I avoided carnivals for years, but started venturing back some time ago. It wasn't a sudden change of heart. It had much more to do with channeling mental dysfunction for creative purposes. I tend to shoot around the periphery of these venues, going largely unnoticed by the crowds. But curiosity eventually led to portraits of the carnies themselves. I could do so much to soften up these poses, but choose instead a straight on deadpan expression, with carnie in the center of their booth. It preserves an often gritty reality that is generally lost in the moment as the human eye tends to be distracted by the proliferation of colors and shapes within the booth. These encounters are sometimes uncomfortable or even frightening. But holding a camera provides me with a sense of agency that, trust me, would not otherwise exist under these circumstances. I just make it a point to get in and get out quickly. Spontaneity is key.
Loneliness is a complex and usually unpleasant emotional response to isolation. Loneliness typically includes anxious feelings about a lack of connection or communication with other beings, both in the present and extending into the future. As such, loneliness can be felt even when surrounded by other people and one who feels lonely, is lonely. The causes of loneliness are varied and include social, mental, emotional, and physical factors.
Research has shown that loneliness is prevalent throughout society, including people in marriages, relationships, families, veterans, and those with successful careers.[1] It has been a long explored theme in the literature of human beings since Classical antiquity. Loneliness has also been described as social pain—a psychological mechanism meant to motivate an individual to seek social connections.[2] Loneliness is often defined in terms of one's connectedness to others, or more specifically as "the unpleasant experience that occurs when a person's network of social relations is deficient in some important way".[3]
Contents
1Common causes
2Typology
2.1Feeling lonely vs. being socially isolated
2.2Transient vs. chronic loneliness
2.3Loneliness as a human condition
3Frequency
4Effects
4.1Mental health
4.2Physical health
4.3Physiological mechanisms link to poor health
5Treatments and prevention
6See also
7References
8External links
Common causes[edit]
People can experience loneliness for many reasons, and many life events may cause it, such as a lack of friendship relations during childhood and adolescence, or the physical absence of meaningful people around a person. At the same time, loneliness may be a symptom of another social or psychological problem, such as chronic depression.
Many people experience loneliness for the first time when they are left alone as infants. It is also a very common, though normally temporary, consequence of a breakup, divorce, or loss of any important long-term relationship. In these cases, it may stem both from the loss of a specific person and from the withdrawal from social circles caused by the event or the associated sadness.
The loss of a significant person in one's life will typically initiate a grief response; in this situation, one might feel lonely, even while in the company of others. Loneliness may also occur after the birth of a child (often expressed in postpartum depression), after marriage, or following any other socially disruptive event, such as moving from one's home town into an unfamiliar community, leading to homesickness. Loneliness can occur within unstable marriages or other close relationships of a similar nature, in which feelings present may include anger or resentment, or in which the feeling of love cannot be given or received. Loneliness may represent a dysfunction of communication, and can also result from places with low population densities in which there are comparatively few people to interact with. Loneliness can also be seen as a social phenomenon, capable of spreading like a disease. When one person in a group begins to feel lonely, this feeling can spread to others, increasing everybody's risk for feelings of loneliness.[4] People can feel lonely even when they are surrounded by other people.[5]
A twin study found evidence that genetics account for approximately half of the measurable differences in loneliness among adults, which was similar to the heritability estimates found previously in children. These genes operate in a similar manner in males and females. The study found no common environmental contributions to adult loneliness.[6]
Typology[edit]
Feeling lonely vs. being socially isolated[edit]
There is a clear distinction between feeling lonely and being socially isolated (for example, a loner). In particular, one way of thinking about loneliness is as a discrepancy between one's necessary and achieved levels of social interaction,[1] while solitude is simply the lack of contact with people. Loneliness is therefore a subjective experience; if a person thinks they are lonely, then they are lonely. People can be lonely while in solitude, or in the middle of a crowd. What makes a person lonely is the fact that they need more social interaction or a certain type of social interaction that is not currently available. A person can be in the middle of a party and feel lonely due to not talking to enough people. Conversely, one can be alone and not feel lonely; even though there is no one around that person is not lonely because there is no desire for social interaction. There have also been suggestions that each person has their own optimal level of social interaction. If a person gets too little or too much social interaction, this could lead to feelings of loneliness or over-stimulation.[7]
Solitude can have positive effects on individuals. One study found that, although time spent alone tended to depress a person's mood and increase feelings of loneliness, it also helped to improve their cognitive state, such as improving concentration. Furthermore, once the alone time was over, people's moods tended to increase significantly.[8] Solitude is also associated with other positive growth experiences, religious experiences, and identity building such as solitary quests used in rites of passages for adolescents.[9]
Loneliness can also play an important role in the creative process. In some people, temporary or prolonged loneliness can lead to notable artistic and creative expression, for example, as was the case with poets Emily Dickinson and Isabella di Morra, and numerous musicians[who?]. This is not to imply that loneliness itself ensures this creativity, rather, it may have an influence on the subject matter of the artist and more likely be present in individuals engaged in creative activities.[citation needed]
Transient vs. chronic loneliness[edit]
The other important typology of loneliness focuses on the time perspective.[10] In this respect, loneliness can be viewed as either transient or chronic. It has also been referred to as state and trait loneliness.
Transient (state) loneliness is temporary in nature, caused by something in the environment, and is easily relieved. Chronic (trait) loneliness is more permanent, caused by the person, and is not easily relieved.[11] For example, when a person is sick and cannot socialize with friends would be a case of transient loneliness. Once the person got better it would be easy for them to alleviate their loneliness. A person who feels lonely regardless of if they are at a family gathering, with friends, or alone is experiencing chronic loneliness. It does not matter what goes on in the surrounding environment, the experience of loneliness is always there.
Loneliness as a human condition[edit]
The existentialist school of thought views loneliness as the essence of being human. Each human being comes into the world alone, travels through life as a separate person, and ultimately dies alone. Coping with this, accepting it, and learning how to direct our own lives with some degree of grace and satisfaction is the human condition.[12]
Some philosophers, such as Sartre, believe in an epistemic loneliness in which loneliness is a fundamental part of the human condition because of the paradox between people's consciousness desiring meaning in life and the isolation and nothingness of the universe.[13] Conversely, other existentialist thinkers argue that human beings might be said to actively engage each other and the universe as they communicate and create, and loneliness is merely the feeling of being cut off from this process.
In his recent text, Evidence of Being: The Black Gay Cultural Renaissance and the Politics of Violence, Darius Bost draws from Heather Love's theorization of loneliness[14] to delineate the ways in which loneliness structures black gay feeling and literary, cultural productions. Bost limns, “As a form of negative affect, loneliness shores up the alienation, isolation, and pathologization of black gay men during the 1980s and early 1990s. But loneliness is also a form of bodily desire, a yearning for an attachment to the social and for a future beyond the forces that create someone’s alienation and isolation."[15]
Frequency[edit]
There are several estimates and indicators of loneliness. It has been estimated that approximately 60 million people in the United States, or 20% of the total population, feel lonely.[2] Another study found that 12% of Americans have no one with whom to spend free time or to discuss important matters.[16] Other research suggests that this rate has been increasing over time. The General Social Survey found that between 1985 and 2004, the number of people the average American discusses important matters with decreased from three to two. Additionally, the number of Americans with no one to discuss important matters with tripled[17] (though this particular study may be flawed[18]). In the UK research by Age UK shows half a million people more than 60 years old spend each day alone without social interaction and almost half a million more see and speak to no one for 5 or 6 days a week.[19] On the other hand, the Community Life Survey, 2016 to 2017, by the UK's Office for National Statistics, found that young adults in England aged 16 to 24 reported feeling lonely more often than those in older age groups.[20]
Loneliness appears to have intensified in every society in the world as modernization occurs. A certain amount of this loneliness appears to be related to greater migration, smaller household sizes, a larger degree of media consumption (all of which have positive sides as well in the form of more opportunities, more choice in family size, and better access to information), all of which relates to social capital.
Within developed nations, loneliness has shown the largest increases among two groups: seniors[21][22] and people living in low-density suburbs.[23][24] Seniors living in suburban areas are particularly vulnerable, for as they lose the ability to drive, they often become "stranded" and find it difficult to maintain interpersonal relationships.[25]
Loneliness is prevalent in vulnerable groups in society. In New Zealand the fourteen surveyed groups with the highest prevalence of loneliness most/all of the time in descending order are: disabled, recent migrants, low income households, unemployed, single parents, rural (rest of South Island), seniors aged 75+, not in the labour force, youth aged 15–24, no qualifications, not housing owner-occupier, not in a family nucleus, Māori, and low personal income.[26]
Americans seem to report more loneliness than any other country, though this finding may simply be an effect of greater research volume. A 2006 study in the American Sociological Review found that Americans on average had only two close friends in which to confide, which was down from an average of three in 1985. The percentage of people who noted having no such confidant rose from 10% to almost 25%, and an additional 19% said they had only a single confidant, often their spouse, thus raising the risk of serious loneliness if the relationship ended.[27] The modern office environment has been demonstrated to give rise to loneliness. This can be especially prevalent in individuals prone to social isolation who can interpret the business focus of co-workers for a deliberate ignoring of needs.[28]
Whether a correlation exists between Internet usage and loneliness is a subject of controversy, with some findings showing that Internet users are lonelier[29] and others showing that lonely people who use the Internet to keep in touch with loved ones (especially seniors) report less loneliness, but that those trying to make friends online became lonelier.[30] On the other hand, studies in 2002 and 2010 found that "Internet use was found to decrease loneliness and depression significantly, while perceived social support and self-esteem increased significantly"[31] and that the Internet "has an enabling and empowering role in people's lives, by increasing their sense of freedom and control, which has a positive impact on well-being or happiness."[32] The one apparently unequivocal finding of correlation is that long driving commutes correlate with dramatically higher reported feelings of loneliness (as well as other negative health impacts).[33][34]
Effects[edit]
Mental health[edit]
Loneliness by Hans Thoma (National Museum in Warsaw)
Loneliness has been linked with depression, and is thus a risk factor for suicide.[35] Émile Durkheim has described loneliness, specifically the inability or unwillingness to live for others, i.e. for friendships or altruistic ideas, as the main reason for what he called egoistic suicide.[36][unreliable source?] In adults, loneliness is a major precipitant of depression and alcoholism.[37] People who are socially isolated may report poor sleep quality, and thus have diminished restorative processes.[38] Loneliness has also been linked with a schizoid character type in which one may see the world differently and experience social alienation, described as the self in exile.[39]
While the long term effects of extended periods of loneliness are little understood, it has been noted that people who are isolated or experience loneliness for a long period of time fall into a “ontological crisis” or “ontological insecurity,” where they are not sure if they or their surroundings exist, and if they do, exactly who or what they are, creating torment, suffering, and despair to the point of palpability within the thoughts of the person.[40][41]
In children, a lack of social connections is directly linked to several forms of antisocial and self-destructive behavior, most notably hostile and delinquent behavior. In both children and adults, loneliness often has a negative impact on learning and memory. Its disruption of sleep patterns can have a significant impact on the ability to function in everyday life.[35]
Research from a large-scale study published in the journal Psychological Medicine, showed that "lonely millennials are more likely to have mental health problems, be out of work and feel pessimistic about their ability to succeed in life than their peers who feel connected to others, regardless of gender or wealth.”[42][43]
In 2004, the United States Department of Justice published a study indicating that loneliness increases suicide rates profoundly among juveniles, with 62% of all suicides that occurred within juvenile facilities being among those who either were, at the time of the suicide, in solitary confinement or among those with a history of being housed thereof.[40]
Pain, depression, and fatigue function as a symptom cluster and thus may share common risk factors. Two longitudinal studies with different populations demonstrated that loneliness was a risk factor for the development of the pain, depression, and fatigue symptom cluster over time. These data also highlight the health risks of loneliness; pain, depression, and fatigue often accompany serious illness and place people at risk for poor health and mortality.[44]
Physical health[edit]
Chronic loneliness can be a serious, life-threatening health condition. It has been found to be associated with an increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.[45] Loneliness shows an increased incidence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity.[46]
Loneliness is shown to increase the concentration of cortisol levels in the body.[46] Prolonged, high cortisol levels can cause anxiety, depression, digestive problems, heart disease, sleep problems, and weight gain.[47]
″Loneliness has been associated with impaired cellular immunity as reflected in lower natural killer (NK) cell activity and higher antibody titers to the Epstein Barr Virus and human herpes viruses".[46] Because of impaired cellular immunity, loneliness among young adults shows vaccines, like the flu vaccine, to be less effective.[46] Data from studies on loneliness and HIV positive men suggests loneliness increases disease progression.[46]
Physiological mechanisms link to poor health[edit]
There are a number of potential physiological mechanisms linking loneliness to poor health outcomes. In 2005, results from the American Framingham Heart Study demonstrated that lonely men had raised levels of Interleukin 6 (IL-6), a blood chemical linked to heart disease. A 2006 study conducted by the Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience at the University of Chicago found loneliness can add thirty points to a blood pressure reading for adults over the age of fifty. Another finding, from a survey conducted by John Cacioppo from the University of Chicago, is that doctors report providing better medical care to patients who have a strong network of family and friends than they do to patients who are alone. Cacioppo states that loneliness impairs cognition and willpower, alters DNA transcription in immune cells, and leads over time to high blood pressure.[2] Lonelier people are more likely to show evidence of viral reactivation than less lonely people.[48] Lonelier people also have stronger inflammatory responses to acute stress compared with less lonely people; inflammation is a well known risk factor for age-related diseases.[49]
When someone feels left out of a situation, they feel excluded and one possible side effect is for their body temperature to decrease. When people feel excluded blood vessels at the periphery of the body may narrow, preserving core body heat. This class protective mechanism is known as vasoconstriction.[50]
Treatments and prevention[edit]
There are many different ways used to treat loneliness, social isolation, and clinical depression. The first step that most doctors recommend to patients is therapy. Therapy is a common and effective way of treating loneliness and is often successful. Short-term therapy, the most common form for lonely or depressed patients, typically occurs over a period of ten to twenty weeks. During therapy, emphasis is put on understanding the cause of the problem, reversing the negative thoughts, feelings, and attitudes resulting from the problem, and exploring ways to help the patient feel connected. Some doctors also recommend group therapy as a means to connect with other sufferers and establish a support system.[51] Doctors also frequently prescribe anti-depressants to patients as a stand-alone treatment, or in conjunction with therapy. It may take several attempts before a suitable anti-depressant medication is found.[52]
Alternative approaches to treating depression are suggested by many doctors. These treatments include exercise, dieting, hypnosis, electro-shock therapy, acupuncture, and herbs, amongst others. Many patients find that participating in these activities fully or partially alleviates symptoms related to depression.[53]
Paro, a robot pet seal classified as a medical device by U.S. regulators
Another treatment for both loneliness and depression is pet therapy, or animal-assisted therapy, as it is more formally known. Studies and surveys, as well as anecdotal evidence provided by volunteer and community organizations, indicate that the presence of animal companions such as dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs can ease feelings of depression and loneliness among some sufferers. Beyond the companionship the animal itself provides there may also be increased opportunities for socializing with other pet owners. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention there are a number of other health benefits associated with pet ownership, including lowered blood pressure and decreased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.[54]
Nostalgia has also been found to have a restorative effect, counteracting loneliness by increasing perceived social support.[55]
A 1989 study found that the social aspect of religion had a significant negative association with loneliness among elderly people. The effect was more consistent than the effect of social relationships with family and friends, and the subjective concept of religiosity had no significant effect on loneliness.[56]
One study compared the effectiveness of four interventions: improving social skills, enhancing social support, increasing opportunities for social interaction, addressing abnormal social cognition (faulty thoughts and patterns of thoughts). The results of the study indicated that all interventions were effective in reducing loneliness, possibly with the exception of social skill training. Results of the meta-analysis suggest that correcting maladaptive social cognition offers the best chance of reducing loneliness.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loneliness
Adam's Song" is a song recorded by the American rock band Blink-182 for its third studio album, Enema of the State (1999). It was released as the third and final single from Enema of the State on September 5, 2000 through MCA Records. "Adam's Song" shares writing credits between the band's guitarist Tom DeLonge and bassist Mark Hoppus, but Hoppus was the primary composer of the song. The track concerns suicide, depression and loneliness. It incorporates a piano in its bridge section, and was regarded as one of the most serious songs the band had written to that point.
Hoppus was inspired by the loneliness he experienced while on tour; while his bandmates had significant others to return home to, he was single. He was also influenced by a teen suicide letter he read in a magazine. The song takes the form of a suicide note, and contains lyrical allusions to the Nirvana song "Come as You Are". "Adam's Song" was one of the last songs to be written and recorded for Enema of the State, and it was nearly left off the album. Though Hoppus worried the subject matter was too depressing, his bandmates were receptive to its message. The song was produced by Jerry Finn.
"Adam's Song" peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart; it was also a top 25 hit in Canada and Italy, but did not replicate its success on other charts. It received praise from music critics, who considered it a change of pace from the trio's more lighthearted singles. The single's music video, a hit on MTV, was directed by Liz Friedlander. Though the song was intended to inspire hope to those struggling with depression, it encountered controversy when a student of Columbine High School committed suicide with the track on repeat in 2000.
In this episode the Talkitects sit with one of the best tastemakers in the game. Mainly because he transformed himself into a chef. Hawaii Mike Salman is about as Hip-Hop as you can get. He has transformed himself from a journalist to a mass marketer to a cannabis advocate.
One of the Talkitects comes to the studio extra saucy but the crew manages to power thru the dysfunction. Can we get much higher? You tell us. Comment, rate and most importantly subscribe to the Talkitecture podcast
...........with the help of a gin Advent calendar.
Today the We're Here group members are visiting the
Christmas Dysfunction group.