Pain: A Part Of Life :: essays research papers

"There is much pain that is quite noiseless; and that make human agonies are often a mere whisper in the of hurrying existence. There are glances of hatred that stab and raise no cry of murder; robberies that leave man of woman for ever beggared of peace and joy, yet kept secret by the sufferer-committed to no sound except that of low moans in the night, seen in no writing except that made on the face by the slow months of suppressed anguish and early morning tears. Many an inherited sorrow that has marred a life has been breathed into no human ear." George Eliot (1819-80), English novelist,editor. Felis Holt, the Radical, Introduction (1866).What is pain? In the American Heritage Dictionary, pain is referred to as "an unpleasant sensation occurring in varying degrees of severity as a consequence of injury, disease, or emotional disorder." The word is rooted in Middle English, from an Old French piene, from Latin poena, meaning "penalty or pain", and fr om Greek pointe, meaning "penalty." Pain is a very realistic problem that many individuals face daily. People can wear pain on the outside like a mask, hiding them from the world, but it also can hide deep within them waiting to be freed by some emotional circumstance. Oddly enough, pain is one on the most feared apprehensions in the mind of humans, yet in some situations, is the most rejoiced. In this paper I will take a close look at pain, from it's true meaning to real life occurrences in which pain is a reality.We all know what pain feels like, for everyone has experienced it at one time in their lives. There are two dimensions of pain; the physical and the emotional pain. Physical pain is a sensation of pure discomfort. For example, when you are walking through your house and stump your toe on a table leg, you don't just stand there and say, "That hurt." You yell loudly to the world (either nice or naughty) that you stumped your toe. The physical aspects of pain can vary greatly from a sharp prick with a shot to the excruciating pain of childbirth.Emotional pain has to be the most horrid, in my opinion, of all types of pain. It feels as if your insides are being wrenched out. When my girlfriend and I broke up, I felt as if she had ripped my heart out and I was standing there watching while she stomped on it.

Adult Day Care Centers

Adult Day Care Centers Naomi Noel University of the Rockies Abstract Adult day cares have not received the acclaim due. They are an invaluable part of the communities that they serve. They incorporate succinct mission statements to effectively get their point across while also employing a wide range of professionals to better serve their clientele. The utilize needs based assessment tools for enrollment as well as needs assessment surveys to gather information from the surrounding community. The chain of command is laid out so that ethical guidelines can easily be established and appropriately enforced.They also referrals to agencies better equipped to handle particular situations in order to better serve their clientele. Within the next five to ten years, the need for their services will increase. However, unless federal guidelines change and more funding is established the current trend of only operating for a few years will continue. Adult Day Care Centers The majority of in-home care providers for physically or cognitively disabled adults are family members, generally an adult child or a spouse. Without the care of these family members, many adults would require nursing home care.Family caregivers are extremely valuable, but often need additional help in caring for a loved one. Caregiving can take an enormous toll, both financially and physically. Adult day care can provide needed respite from caregiving and may reduce the need for a nursing home. An adult day care center, also commonly known as adult day services or adult day health care, is a non-residential facility providing activities for elderly and/or handicapped individuals. While centers of this kind are available, they often have waitlists due to the high demand.Most centers operate 10 – 12 hours per day and provide meals, social/recreational outings, and general supervision. Adult daycare centers operate under a social model and/or a health care model. Daycare centers may focus on providin g care only for persons with Alzheimer's and related dementias or their services may be available for any disabled adult. The original concept was to provide a â€Å"sitting service† as it were to provide activities and stimulation for care-recipients in an environment outside of the home.The care-recipient would receive supervision and possibly some limited care while the caregiver would have a break from the routine of daily caregiving thus allowing them to take care of other responsibilities or simply have time to themselves. This also allowed peace and quiet to relieve the stress of caregiving. The care center might offer transportation at a nominal additional cost to transport the loved one to and from the center. This initial model is still around but it has undergone some tweaking in order to prove profitable.There are now three basic models for adult day care that were developed mostly so the government would be inclined to contribute financially. The traditional mode l with social services, activities, crafts and some individualized attention; the medical model with all of the aforementioned services plus skilled services such as nurses, therapist, psychiatrists and geriatric physicians; and the Alzheimer’s model with services specifically designed to support and care for Alzheimer’s patients. Participation in adult day care often prevents re-hospitalizations and may delay admission to residential long term care.For participants who would otherwise want to stay at home alone, the social stimulation and recreational activities may improve or maintain physical and cognitive function. Adult Day Care Centers are designed to provide care and companionship for seniors who need assistance or supervision during the day. The goals of the programs are to delay or prevent institutionalization by providing alternative care, to enhance self-esteem and to encourage socialization. (Eldercare. gov, 2012) A mission statement defines an organization s fundamental purpose.It answers the basic questions of why the organization exists while describing the needs that it is attempting to meet. It also provides the basis for judging the success of the organization and is capable of attracting donors and volunteers while simultaneously encouraging community involvement. Your mission statement embraces the reasons your practice exists (besides just making a living for you and your staff), the core values your organization shares and expresses through its work, how you serve your key stakeholders, and your overarching (sometimes idealistic) goals. Urology Times, 2011) The mission statement of the adult day care center created for this paper would read as follows: To provide a secure and nurturing environment for clients who need social environment, consistent supervision and loving assistance. This mission statement sums up the goals for the center in a concise manner while offering reassurance to the client’s primary caregivers. The list of professionals necessary for organizational success includes licensed nurses, certified nursing assistants, a certified nutritionist, a physical therapist and an occupational therapist.These employees are the ones who would be required to have a degree, licensure or certification in their respective areas. This does not include staff such as receptionists and bookkeeping. The licensed nurses would be responsible for the overall day-to-day operation of the center and particularly ensuring that the center is operating according to state licensing regulations and health department policies and procedures. They would supervise the nursing assistants and medication staff while also reviewing client history prior to admission to the facility and conducting admission assessment conferences.The certified nursing assistants (CNAs) would be responsible for assisting with overall client care including but not limited to assessment, care planning, mobility, safety, comfort, and unit efficiency. The medication staff’s only role would be to ensure the proper storing and dispensing of client prescriptions. Next would be a nutritionist. Nutritionists play a preventative role while offering education about what kind of foods are consumed. They offer menu suggestions and assist with understanding the connection between food and emotions.They would be a vital member of the center’s team since the typical center serves breakfast and lunch and an afternoon snack. The final professionals necessary for a creditable adult day care center are an occupational therapist and a physical therapist. Occupational therapists are proficient in modifying the physical environment as well as training the individual in the proper use of assistive equipment to increase independence. They also emphasize helping their patients engage in meaningful activities of daily living (ADLs).Physical therapists are trained to identify and maximize quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, intervention, and rehabilitation. Their primary focus is on the physical, psychological, emotional, and social well-being of the client. While each of these specialists concentrates on differing characteristics of care, they do experience some vocational overlap which allows them to work well in tandem. The physical and occupational therapists would be contracted out of reimbursement purposes.It is important that the timing of each unit of therapy is not inclusive of any other treatments. The clients would be timed from when the actual therapies or services begin. This would not include time for restroom breaks, waiting for someone to get ready or clothing changes. Adhering to these policies allows clients to receive quality therapeutic services while keeping the overall costs down. Needs based assessment tools are a vital part of the overall blueprint for adult day care center enrollment.These assessments allow the facility to obtain data from potential clientele in order to evaluate whether or not the center can address the client’s diverse needs. Some of the more common tools include psychological, physical, leisure interest, nutritional and risk assessments. Some facilities may elect to include financial and estate planning depending on availability and demand. Most states require a licensed nurse to conduct the psychological assessment portion of a patient's intake process. One of the most common assessment instruments in use is the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).The MMSE is a brief assessment of the cognitive state of the adult client. The instrument screens for impairment in cognition, estimates the severity of impairment at a specific point in time (usually during intake) and can be used to reassess and follow changes in the individual's mental state over time or to document changes that happen as a result of therapy or applied therapeutic support services. The nu rse typically obtains copies of any formal psychological evaluations and assessments that have been completed within the past ten years. State minimum standards outline what sorts of physical evaluation are needed.Standard tests include height, weight, blood pressure, respiration and temperature. A nurse also obtains and reviews the patient's medical history from his doctor and follows up with questions about specific conditions that may affect the patient's care plan. At this time, the patient's family and the nurse develop or make a copy of the patient's advance directive, which lays out the patient's wishes in case extraordinary medical intervention is needed to keep him alive. This documentation is crucial especially when working with the elderly. The center activity director (AD) conducts a leisure/recreational interest inventory of the patient.The inventory is a check-off list of recreational activities that the person either enjoys or does not enjoy to varying degrees. By ide ntifying recreational interests of each new patient, the AD can structure an activities program so that activities not only meet physical, mental and social needs in a therapeutic way but also engage the patient. The center's consulting nutritionist may perform their own client assessment while also looking at the care plan drawn up by the center treatment team to incorporate the patient's special dietary needs into the center's meal and snack menus.Clients with special dietary needs may require a detailed meal plan be designed. The nutritionist is also in charge of monitoring the client to ensure that the diet is satisfactory. As part of the intake process, the entire treatment team considers physical, social and mental limitations faced by the patient in addition to special needs, flight risk, fall risk, seizure potential or other possible risks in providing care to the patient. The team as a whole weighs risks, develops strategies and addresses risk factors to be incorporated int o the patient's treatment plan.The family will eventually meet with the bookkeeping staff, to assess family financial resources, insurance (including Medicare and Medicaid) and other social service resources while developing a care contract and payment plan. At this time, the staff typically provides a copy of the center's family handbook to the patient's caregivers with center policies and procedures as well as general information about operations, hours, types of services offered and terms of service.The chain of command is defined as â€Å"The order in which authority and power in an organization is wielded and delegated from top management to every employee at every level of the organization† (Business Dictionary. com, 2012). The clearer cut the chain of command, the more effective the decision making process and greater the efficiency. Military forces are an example of straight chain of command, extending in an unbroken line from the top brass to ranks. However, this ill ustration is not conducive to the requirements of an adult day care center.Chain of command is considered very important in organizations because it enhances the effectiveness of the management. The chain of command clearly shows the line of authority and responsibility in the organization, therefore, it really plays an important role in the organizations. Following is a more appropriate chain of command sequences for a facility of this nature. This type of chain is more of a pyramid and is well-suited to the organization’s needs.Volunteering, in the sense of carrying out tasks or providing services for individuals or community organizations without financial recompense, is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life. It is considered as serving the society through one's own interests, personal skills or learning, which in return produces a feeling of self-worth and respect, instead of money. Volunteering is also famo us for skill development, socialization and fun. It is also intended to make contacts for possible employment or for a variety of other reasons.Community volunteers would be a substantial part of the center’s staff as their involvement is capable of forging friendship with the clients. It is essential for an agency of this capacity to be knowledgeable about other services and facilities that the clientele can benefits from. The benefit of this is two-fold. First, you show your clients and their families that you really want them to succeed. Second, this service allows you to network with other agencies providing them with additional clientele. If the experience is positive (for all parties involved), then it is likely that they will return the favor.Collaboration among agencies is the key to preventing fragmentation. In addition to reducing the likelihood of clients falling through the cracks between disparate and unconnected agencies, collaboration can foster a more holistic view of the client. Sometimes just a simple change of perspective can make the difference between circumstances being viewed as â€Å"needs† and being viewed as assets. For example, a single parent who cannot find a babysitter on a particular evening misses a treatment session. See Appendix for a suggested agency referral list. The ethical standards that govern the human services profession depend on many variables, including the human service professional’s level of education, professional license, and even the state in which they practice† (Martin, 2011). In the state of Oklahoma, an adult day care is required to have a designated administrator-of-record who has been licensed by the state. Because of the nature of this agency and the mandatory licensure, it falls under the umbrella of the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners for Long Term Care Administrators’ Code of Ethics which was adopted from the American College of Health Care Administrators’ C ode of Ethics.The abbreviated version contains four simple expectations. EXPECTATION I -Individuals shall hold paramount the welfare of persons for whom care is provided. EXPECTATION II – Individuals shall maintain high standards of professional competence. EXPECTATION III – Individuals shall strive, in all matters relating to their professional functions, to maintain a professional posture that places paramount the interests of the facility and its residents. EXPECTATION IV – Individuals shall honor their responsibilities to the public, their profession, and their relationships with colleagues and members of related professions. American College of Health Care Administrators, 2012) These expectations are reasonable and simple to understand. Maintaining the standard of the governing organization would not present any difficulty. In addition to the code of ethics from a superior governing organization, the center would adhere to the following principles as well: quality of care, participant rights, participant selection, appropriateness of care, representation of care and fees, conflicts of interest, accountability of member, and protection of the public. Enforcing these principles would ensure the utmost quality of service.The final ethical standard for this center would come from the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA). NADSA gives what they refer to as the Six Domains of Health Care Quality. The work to ensure that all facilities with their certification provide care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable. A needs assessment is a systematic exploration and analysis of â€Å"the way things are† and â€Å"the way things ought to be. † A need is not a want or desire, but a gap between the current situation and the optimal situation.Using both qualitative and quantitative research, a needs assessment identifies gaps in training, programs, services and outreach efforts. Needs asses sments can be used to identify and solve performance problems in order to direct a natural resource or outdoor recreation organization's future planning efforts. Needs assessment surveys provide a way of community members what they see as the most important needs of that particular group. These surveys are important only to agencies who value community feedback.They offer an excellent opportunity to gather and score the opinions of those the agency is trying to assist. Needs assessment surveys are necessary to learn more about the communal needs, gain a more honest and objective description of needs and become more aware of issues that may have fallen under the radar. As baby boomers and others seek quality care for their parents, the adult day care industry is growing at a rate of five to fifteen percent, dependent on location. According to The National Adult Day Services Association 3,500 centers are caring for approximately 150,000 adults daily. In 1990, ADS facilities reported c osts between $30 to $35 dollars a day† (Burke, Hudson, & Eubanks, 1990). Today, cost estimates for not for- profit facilities range from $40 to $50 and for-profits range from $60 to $70 per day. The average age of the adult day center care recipient is 72, and two-thirds of all adult day center care recipients are women. Thirty-five percent of the adult day center care recipients live with an adult child, 20 percent with a spouse, 18 percent in an institutional setting, and 13 percent with parents or other relatives, while 11 percent live alone.Fifty-two percent of the adult day center care recipients using adult day services centers nationwide have some cognitive impairment. (Bauer & Moore, 2009) Since the 1970s there has been a continued growth of adult day health service programs, with the most rapid growth occurring after additional Medicaid funds became available through approved waiver programs. There is no existing federal policy regarding adult and pediatric day health services, so there is great variability among states’ approaches to adult day health services (ADHS), and rightly, great variation in programs, services, and standards.Because literature on reimbursement approaches specific to day health services was scant, long-term care literature to describe reimbursement structures and factors utilized for needs-based reimbursement systems was heavily relied on. In theory adult day services seem to offer an ideal alternative to caregivers by providing a daytime care environment outside of the home. One would think that a program where a loved one could be nurtured, stimulated and provided medical care would be a welcome relief for both the caregiver and the care-recipient. In practice it does not seem to work.To only have added about 133 new care centers a year in the entire country does not seem like enough. Yet there are thousands of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home health agencies available coast to coast. Although i t is an extremely valuable service that should be utilized more often, no one seems to have an answer as to why adult day care has not been more popular with caregivers. As of yet, no data collection or research studies have been able to answer this question. However, several theories have been developed. First, and quite simply, care-recipients may not be comfortable with the concept.Many of the people who qualify for these services are afraid to leave their homes unless someone familiar is with them. The thought of being by themselves in a new environment is enough to convince them not to give it a chance. Second, the cost of the services might be detrimental to some caregivers. This is especially true of those with loved ones who did not qualify for one of the numerous waiver programs that are offered by the government. Third, perhaps there are not enough caregivers and families that are familiar with what services these center have to offer.Fourth, adult day care can prove to be its own worst enemy. About half of all centers are nonprofit organizations sponsored by churches or community associations. Often these places find themselves in a catch twenty-two; on one hand they charge next to nothing which does not allow them to cover all of the associated expenses. On the other hand, if they were to raise their rates, they run the risk of turning away potential clients. From 1989 to 2004 the number of ADHS facilities doubled. A survey completed in 2001 put the number of adult day care centers at 3,493 nationwide.This trend is projected to continue. In the next five to ten years, it is expected that the need for adult day care centers is going to drastically increase due to the length of time the general population lives. The average lifespan continues to increase due to advances in health care thus creating an influx of elderly citizens who will eventually need to depend on others for their care. As more and more people continue on in the workforce, they will begin to rely more heavily on adult day and adult health centers to care for their loved ones.Ideally more funding and federal regulations will come about. In addition, one can hope that the general population will become more aware of the benefits of an adult day care center. Once those two things occur, then this service can experience exponential growth while simultaneously extending a helping hand to the elderly population. References Bauer, A. , & Moore, W. (2009, October 09). Adult day service centers are vital to our growing senior population. Retrieved from http://www. journalscene. com/commentary/Adult-day-service-centers-are-vital-to-our-growing-senior-population Burke, M. Hudson, T. , & Eubanks, P. (1990). Number of adult day care centers increasing, but payment is slow. Alternate Care, 34-42. Chain of command. (2012). Retrieved from http://www. businessdictionary. com/definition/chain-of-command. html Code of ethics. (2012, August 24). Retrieved from http://www. ok. gov /osbeltca/Code_of_Ethics/ index. html How to write a mission statement that resonates. (2011). Urology Times, 39(11), 43-44. Martin, M. E. (2011). Introduction to human services: Through the eyes of practice settings. (2nd ed. Boston, MA: Pearson. Appendix Referral Agencies Adult Day Services Phone:      (405) 521-42291-800-498-7995Fax:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (405) 521-2086  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mailing Address: 2401 N. W. 23rd St. , Ste. 40 Oklahoma City, OK  Ã‚   73107 Adult Protective Services Program Oklahoma  County (405) 522-2743 Aging Services: Legal Services Shirley Cox, Legal Services Developer Phone:   (405) 521-2281Fax:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (405) 521-2086 Mailing Address: 2401 N. W. 23rd St. , Ste. 40 Oklahoma City, OK  Ã‚   73107 Area Agencies on Aging Directors Phone:   (405) 521-2281Fax:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (405) 521-2086Mailing Address: 2401 N. W. 23rd St. , Ste. 40 Oklahoma City, OK 73107 Respite Eleanor Kurtz, Programs Supervisor Phone:  Ã‚  Ã‚   (405) 522-62411-866-359-8596Fax:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (405) 521-2086 Mailing Address: 2401 N. W. 23rd St. , Ste. 40 Oklahoma City, OK  Ã‚  Ã‚   73107 State Plan Personal Care Tom Dunning, Programs Administrator State Plan Personal Care Intake Line: 1-800-435-4711 Transportation Eleanor Kurtz, Programs Supervisor Phone:  Ã‚     Ã‚  (405)  522-66831-800- 498-7995Fax:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  (405) 521-2086 Mailing Address: 2401 N. W. 23rd St. , Ste. 40 Oklahoma City, OK  Ã‚  Ã‚  73107

Beat Me Skeet Me: A Critical Analysis of “Secretary” Essay

â€Å"Secretary,† the movie, is a provocative and warped love story. Viewers may go purple with rage or gray with disgust, while many may turn pink with embarrassment in order to hide the red of arousal. This movie crosses dangerous psychological territory: the threshold between desire and pain, between surrender and subjugation. Gaitskill’s â€Å"Secretary† is more about submissiveness and â€Å"sexual perversion† (Garrett 1). Critic Regina Weinreich argues that Gaitskill’s debut is startling and refreshing due to the neediness she portrays in her characters; their â€Å"vulnerablility makes them . . . victims of their own behavior† (Weinreich 1). Steven Shainberg’s film, working from a short story by Mary Gaitskill, is about two specific characters. Some will claim that Shainberg’s film makes sexual abuse palatable, maintains that women secretly crave submission to a dominant male, and makes the case that humiliation at the hands of a man can lead to psychological freedom, not to mention all the awful things it implies about the position of secretaries. Yet, â€Å"Secretary† is so consistent in its characters that it’s fair to say that only in the case of these two weirdly satisfying people are any of the instances true to life. The film shows how specific characters bridge their isolation (Shainberg 3). The additions to the film adaptation of Mary Gaitskill’s â€Å"Secretary† makes the story more fascinating and better justifies the characters’ actions. See more: how to write a good critical analysis essay Mary Gaitskill’s â€Å"Secretary† is about a frumpy wallflower who’s so â€Å"bruised emotionally† that she’s struggling to â€Å"connect with [her]self† (Weinreich 1). She gets a job as a secretary and ends up in a strange sadomasochistic relationship with her employer. It’s a great premise for a story, especially in its absurd moments, as when the lawyer begins to spank his new hire for every typo she commits. Gaitskill is an insightful writer; her stories are â€Å"lean and quick and tightly controlled,† yet the end of â€Å"Secretary† is flat, and too serious (Garrett 1). Gaitskill’s humor in â€Å"Secretary† is dry and teasingly salacious; it’s a more subtle incitement of sadomasochism. Having been spanked and sexually humiliated by her employer, the narrator feels estranged from her own body. And she likes that estrangement; it fires her sexual fantasies. When you finish reading the story, you think to yourself, â€Å"So what? Why should I care for this character?† The secretary begins and remains much the same. She is the kind of person who suffers from such low  self-esteem that she invites and accepts abuse. She â€Å"frequently wonder[s] if there’s something wrong with [herself]† (Hallgren 2). You can’t blame the lawyer for maltreating her and you find yourself wishing that he’d managed to knock some sense into her. It’s hard to feel for anyone so stubborn and resigned. The protagonist in the story wasn’t known to enjoy pain before the incident, so it’s hard to justify how she responds to her boss’s abuse. The only explanations for her reaction are that she was bewildered, curious, or simply passive and submissive (Kakutani 1). In the movie, Lee Holloway is a lost young woman with family issues. She’s just been discharged from the asylum and has gone right back to what put her there in the first place, a compulsion to cut herself. Lee finds a job as a legal secretary at the office of attorney Edward Grey. When she first enters the office on a rainy morning, she’s wearing a hooded rain coat, which makes her look innocent and introverted compared to Grey in his business suit. The description of the lawyer in the story gave no real feeling of dominance, except that he had an aggressive hand shake. The movie, on the other hand, gives the audience a very clear image of his strength and control, and all his little quirks, such as the red markers he keeps and his built up energy that he exhausts by working out. In the film, the characters’ motives and personalities are â€Å"not only dramatically palatable but emotionally plausible† (McCarthy 1). Once we get to know Grey, we learn that he’s trying to let out his inner pervert, and the effort is making him into a repressed wretch; his eyes bulge with suppressed rage and fear. Lee is the fly the spider cannot resist. Through their increasingly bizarre relationship, Lee follows her deepest longings to the heights of masochism and finally to a place of self-affirmation. The boss-secretary relationship starts to take on master-slave overtones before the big moment when, as punishment for a couple of innocent typos, Grey demands that Lee bend over his desk so he can administer a few thwacks across her ass. Lee is transformed. As Lee submits to this humiliation, she experiences an â€Å"exhilarating release and a shock of recognition† (Ansen 1). The episode allows her to stop the impulse of cutting herself. Louise Pembroke, a self-mutilator herself, argues that â€Å"S&M  is not a self-harm substitute. Pain as pleasure is not the same as pain from self-injury† as the film suggests (Pembroke 3). Joe Queenan believes that â€Å"Lee has [just] found a less destructive and more socially acceptable outlet for her . . . masochistic tendencies† (Queenan 1). As she and Grey continue their dominance/submission games, she begins to dress better, carry herself with confidence and lose the social awkwardness that was her personality. In Gaitskill’s story the spanking incident was â€Å"just another quality in the cumulative discovery of character† (Johnson 1). Debby came to little if any revelation in the story. The characterization of Lee makes â€Å"Secretary† a charming comedy. As she puts up with the conventional courtship practices of her gentle but dull boyfriend, who is not in Gaitskill’s story, she’s as ungainly and self-conscious as a stranger. Peter asks Lee â€Å"‘I didn’t hurt you did I?’ after a bout of imagination-free sex. Lee stares into space, her gaze signaling, ‘If only'† (Kemp 2). The spanking incident leads to a flowering of Lee’s sexual self that pushes aside the boyfriend, her twittery mother, her snotty sister and her drunk father. Grey’s imperious manner and his imposing office are the triggers that allow Lee to escape her cocoon and become a kinky sadomasochist butterfly. The twist here is that Grey is hounded by shame and it’s up to Lee to rescue him from his self-loathing. This helps show the film’s point that sexual liberation lies with surrender to one’s own kinks, and that even perverts deserve to find a soul mate. Lee was â€Å"so profoundly moved by someone having discovered her secret source of satisfaction† that she was able to be open about it (McCarthy 2). â€Å"Secretary† is, at its core, a little love story which dares to suggest that genuine love can come from sexual dominance. In the written story, the lawyer doesn’t show any remorse, except to send Debby a severance check. And, Debby barely comes to any epiphany over the strange occurrence with her boss. In the film, however, the secretary begins as a self-conscious cutter and transforms into a free and beautiful woman. This is what distinguishes the film as truly perverse; it envisions S&M not as a stereotypical session with whips and chains, but rather as a force capable of transforming a person.  Before the sadomasochistic relationship developed, Lee mutilated herself privately. When their relationship began to unfold, â€Å"it [was] as if [Lee admitted] somebody else into [her] private world† of masochism (Shainberg 1). The protagonist of Gaitskill’s story seems to accept the sadistic behavior of her boss as a reinforcement of her own piteousness, whereas the protagonist of the movie attains a kind of self-liberation through it. When Lee submits to the lawyer’s demand that she sit at his desk until he returns in order to prove her love, she undergoes an endurance test. She waits there with her hands flat on his desk as day turns into night and back again to day, eating and drinking nothing, urinating on her fiance’s mother’s wedding dress, and enduring confrontations with her fiance, family members, a priest and tv crews. The effect of this incredible act of submission, which is found in the film but not the story, is not to reinforce the secretary’s low self-esteem, but to demonstrate that she finds within herself a power to endure. She approaches the act not as though it were a psychodrama but as though it was a contest of self-restraint. Her ability to suffer surpasses the lawyer’s ability to enjoy the spectacle of suffering, her masochism exceeds his sadism, and with this realization they enter into a strange new territory: a loving relationship in which the usual imbalance of power between sadist and masochist is offset by the strength of her masochism. The two characters seem destined for each other. Mary Gaitskill’s short story is well written, but touches more on abuse and submissiveness than sadomasochism and love. Gaitskill shows the characters relationship as being determined â€Å"by the convergence of mutually compatible fantasies,† rather than â€Å"such abstract passions as love, hate or desire,† which are portrayed in the film (Kakutani 1). The movie is much more intriguing and effective at getting a point across. Short stories, unlike films, are limited in the amount of information that can be portrayed, and the depth of which characters can be depicted. The protagonist’s self inflicted pain, her horrible family ties, and her boyfriend are just a few of the additions to Gaitskill’s story that make the plot and characters in the movie stronger. Works Cited: Ansen, David. â€Å"Hostile Work Environment: Typing, Filing, Bondage: This ‘Secretary’ Aims to Please.† Newsweek 17 May 2003: pg.70 Garrett, George. â€Å"Fun and Games for Sadomasochists.† New York Times 21 Aug. 1988: BR3 Hallgren, Sherri. â€Å"Stories Explore the Tangled Emotions of Complex Lives.† San Francisco Chronicle 29 Dec. 1996: p3. Johnson, George. â€Å"New and Noteworthy.† New York Times 18 June 1989: BR34. Kakutani, Michiko. â€Å"Seedy Denizens of a Menacing Downtown World.† New York Times 21 May 1988: pg.17 Kemp, Phillip. â€Å"Secretary.† Sight and Sound 13 (2003): 54-5 McCarthy, Todd. â€Å"Secretary (Sundance).† Variety 385 (2002): 36-7 Pembroke, Louise. â€Å"Secretary.† Mental Health Practice 6 (2003): p 26-7 Queenan, Joe. â€Å"The Story of an Office Romance With a Twist.† The Guardian (London, England) 17 May 2003: p12. Shainberg, Steven. Interview by Terry Gross. Fresh Air. WHYY-FM. 31 Oct. 2002. Weinreich, Regina. â€Å"Small Affirmations.† The American Book Review 11.3 (July- Aug. 1989): 12, 19

Biochemical Addiction and Human Behavior Essays

Biochemical Addiction and Human Behavior Essays Biochemical Addiction and Human Behavior Paper Biochemical Addiction and Human Behavior Paper Addiction is of many kinds, there may be a drug addiction or interpersonal relationship addiction. These different addictions may vary in a lot of ways but there are still common mechanisms that bind them together. Addiction also refers to a recurring compulsion of an individual to do something despite their harmful consequences to one’s health, mental state or social life. This term may also be applied to some compulsions as gambling and overeating. Biochemical addiction is â€Å"self-induced changes in neurotransmission that result in social problem behaviors Milkman (1983). Biochemical addiction may not only refer to the cases of substance abuse but to activity characterized by compulsion, loss of control and continuation of the substance despite harm. Self-induced changes because they are the ones who caused these changes in the neurotransmissions that had equal behavioral changes. As psychopharmacology is a study of drug-induced changes in the behavior of a person, as well as the mood, sensation and thinking, this issue may be of help to understand clearly how drugs may alter the behavior of a person. What could possibly the actions of the drugs that may affect its neurotransmission and in turn affect the behavior of the person? Some people who underwent an intolerable experience may undergo treatment that may make them addicted to the drug used. Say for example, people who get depressed get temporary arousal from stimulants. Those who may be under stress may choose opiates as their mode of treatment. A person’s psychological state is affected by the medicines that he is taking. How could possibly drugs alter the behavior of the person? What are the activities involved in the synaptic terminals that affects this kind of behavior? What are the neurotransmitters that are responsible for the said changes of the behavior in human beings? These and more will be discussed as take a closer look at biochemical addiction and changes in human behavior. Neurotransmission has to do with addiction. This process occurs in the Central Nervous System (CNS) composed of the Spinal Cord and the brain. The neurons, composed of a body, axon and dendrites, are the one responsible for the transmission of the signals from the body to the brain and from the brain to the body. Neurotransmitters are then released from the pre-synaptic terminals into the synaptic junction. Then these neurotransmitters may then either be integrated into the post-synaptic membrane where if they are collected in sufficient amounts, the membrane will depolarize and transmit the signal, or neurotransmitters may be degraded by enzymes. In the post- synaptic terminal if there are neurotransmitters that would be bound to certain receptors would activate the enzyme adenylate cyclase that would convert adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) which in turn affects membrane sensitivity and subsequent neurotransmission. With a disruption in this process caused by any stimulus may change the transmission of the signals and an equivalent behavioral manifestation may be seen. Stimulants may cause an increased neurotransmission. Within the pre-synaptic terminal, there are certain enzymes that may degrade neurotransmitters. If this happens these neurotransmitters never reach the post synaptic nerve terminal and the impulse will not be transmitted. Disruption in the neural networks can result to abnormal and addictive behavior. Say for example if Haldol is given and post-synaptic receptors are occupied by dopamine, it would occupy the same receptors but not allowing dopamine to bind. The blocking then would inhibit overactive neurotransmission associated with Schizophrenia thus controlling the mood swings commonly observed in schizophrenia patients. Cocaine if taken prevents degradation of the neurotransmitter in the junction available to the post-synaptic membrane which causes overly saturated receptors resulting to over-active transmission of the electrical impulse that results in increased state of arousal (Chien, 1969). Other areas where disruption may occur are located in the pre-synaptic terminal. Inside the terminal are monoamine oxidases which degrade dopamine and norepinephrine. If there is too much MOA would cause depression in some people thus giving MOA inhibitors may resolve this depression (Chien, 1969) Disruption in the cAMP system would also cause changes in behaviors. If there is an increase in cAMP there would be a decrease in adenyl cyclase, then would result to a decrease in production of cAMP neurotransmissions are also slowed thus causes changes in mood (Chien, 1969). There are also disruptions that cause decrease in neurotransmission. There are substances or activities that cause this decrease in neurotransmission such as barbiturates or meditation that result to the release of endorphins or enkephalins which would act as the body’s own opiates. They would attach themselves to the pre-synaptic terminals that cause a decrease in the neurotransmitter. This then results to slower neurotransmission and in turn results in the effect desired by satiation-prone individuals. This activity increases adenyl cyclase, which would increase cAMP thus increasing again the neurotransmission. In long exposure to this, the person may exhibit tolerance thus there would be a need to increase the activity or substance to achieve the desired effect. If there is a stoppage of the activity or substance this then may increase the quantity of cAMP and the rate of neurotransmission thus resulting in an agitation mood of an individual withdrawing from opiate ingestion or satiation activities (Chien, 1969). These are the evidences that people would have changes in their behavior as they are into biochemical addiction. Changes in the amount of the neurotransmitters may affect the transmission of the signals causing some unwanted mood or behavioral changes. Some who take in drugs may not want the effects of the said drug but they are not in control of their moods or behavior at this time. They are being controlled by the effect of the said drug to their body. What then is the effect of this issue in biological psychology? This issue may help us understand the mechanisms on how some drugs or activities may cause a change in the behavior of the person. This may also help us understand why people, who are under the influence of drugs act the way they do. Also in this way we can see how drugs can affect one’s emotion, one’s mood and one’s behavior. Drug addiction, as it is one of the most discussed problems of the society nowadays, may be decreased through the help of information dissemination. People if properly informed about drug addiction and its effects may think twice before indulging themselves into the vice. Having enough knowledge of what drugs causes these kinds of effects, they may choose what drugs to take or what drugs to avoid. Thus it is very important that the mechanism of addiction be understood by the people (Jaffe, 1980). Addiction may not only mean addiction to drugs. Thus people must also be aware when an activity may cause them addiction. They must also know when enough is enough of an activity. If a person feels that he needs to do the same thing over and over just to satisfy himself, he should at the earliest possible time learn to discipline himself to avoid addiction, thus preventing negative behavioral changes that it may cause in the later part. References: Chein I. 1969. Psychological functions of drug use. In Scientific Basis of Drug Dependence, ed. Steinberg H. London: Churchill Jaffe, JH. 1980. Drug addiction and drug abuse. In Goodman and Gilmans The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, eds. Gilman AG, Goodman LS, Gilman BA. 6th Edition. New York: MacMillan Milkman H, Sunderwirth S. Oct. 1983. The Chemistry of Craving. Psychology Today, p. 36-44

The Autobiography of an Ex-colored Man essays

The Autobiography of an Ex-colored Man essays Some Americans will give the African American talents, a full service uplift or let them pass as being white and they will have no limitations on their talents. Seeing them as being white brings no racism into play. Therefore, racism is just an act of cruelty that hurts the African American society. This story of an Ex-Colored Man describes the racial issues he faces as he journeys through life. The young ex-colored mans earliest of his life and home in Georgia were very limited. He lived with his mother and a white man used to come all the time to visit him when he was younger. Shortly after he remembered his childhood, he moved away to Connecticut with his mom. They finally got settled in Connecticut and got on their feet. Then all of a sudden his mom started to receive money under the table, from the white man in Georgia, which in turn helped support the family. The young mans mom was a very neat and hard working woman, also a very careful and nurturing mother. She loved her son and supported him in everything that he wanted to do. With his mothers support, the young man was able to overcome obstacles that stood in his way. One of the young mans first interest was when he was a young kid, he was bright and interested in music. This interest he had in music developed into an above average piano player. His talent expressed that he just loved music and the piano. The first struggle that the young man remembers about his color is when he first started school. As he recalls, his first day at school he knew no one and began to feel very lonely. He made his first friend when he helped out a Red Head during a spelling bee in class. Another memory he encountered at school was when the principal asked all the white children to stand up. When the young man stood up, he was asked to sit down and stand up later with all the colored later. Later on that day as he walked home all the kids tea...

Italian For Travelers - Common Phrases and Expressions

Italian For Travelers - Common Phrases and Expressions Taking a trip to Italy and want to learn Italian? If you want to have an incredible experience (not like all of those typical tourists) with the language tour to Tuscany you booked or the relatives in southern Italy you’re visiting, learning to speak basic Italian is a must. Its not enough to fare la valigia (pack your suitcase) and watch Italian language movies before you arrive. Whether youre sightseeing in world-famous cities like Florence, Rome, and Venice, on a business trip in Milan, or reuniting with family, there are a multitude of ways to improve your Italian before traveling to Italy. Â   Italian Survival Phrases Your first objective should be to learn Italian survival phrases. Greetings and farewells will earn you goodwill, and ones related to train travel and your hotel will help you solve problems quickly. Plus, remembering a few phrases related to dining out can make the difference between a good meal and a memorable one. After all, if you dont know the difference between a pesca (peach) and pesce (fish), you might go hungry. Â   The Basics If youre pressed for time, focus on the fundamentals. Study the Italian ABCs and Italian numbers, learn how to pronounce Italian words and ask questions in Italian, and brush up on the euro (after all, youll have to reach into your portafoglio- wallet- eventually). Â   How Tos Dont want to miss the next train to Venice? Have tickets to La Scala for 20:00 and arent sure when that is? Here are quick, step-by-step instructions on how to tell time in Italian that will help you avoid missing curtain call. Michelangelos is around the corner. Or so you thought the sign said. Avoid missing the highlights of Italy with simple instructions on how to ask for directions in Italian. Travelers to Italy might also want to know , how to pronounce Italian words, and how to conjugate Italian verbs like a native. Â   Its All in the Hands When all else fails- your is buried deep in your suitcase and you can’t even begin to think in Italian- try to speak Italian with your hands. Its not just pointing and grunting when ordering your favorite , either. Italian hand gestures are a way to convey emotions and passions that Italians will understand implicitly. What might seem at first to be physical theater or a scene in an Italian comedy will actually be a way to connect that will be much appreciated. Â   Buon Appetito! One of the primary reasons for traveling to Italy (besides the magnificent art, the incredible history, the amazing archeological sites) is la cucina italiana. One challenge is since dishes are usually served on separate plates in a specific order. include the autogrill, or roadside snack bar; the osteria, an informal place; the trattoria, which is a medium-priced, often family-run eating establishment; and the paninoteca, a place where sandwiches and salads are often available. Travelers are often puzzled about tipping in restaurants in Italy, and for good reason. Il coperto (cover charge for bread and water)- but not the service charge- is usually included in il conto (the bill). Italians tend to tip minimally. Â   Divertiti - Have fun! One of the best ways to pass time like an Italian is to spend a day (or a month) at the beach. Here are phrases to help you do that. You’re going to see incredible sights, so you’ll want to have suitable vocabulary to express how incredible whatever you’re seeing is. Plus, you’ll find some of the best shopping in the world in Italy. You better be prepared for it. If you’re interested in learning Italian and becoming fluent, read this. And if you’re feeling really brave, you can visit these places that aren’t on the typical tourist’s itinerary. Buon viaggio!

A Journal opinion article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

A Journal opinion article - Essay Example Levin acknowledged in the article that the practice of buybacks or companies buying its own stocks is unhealthy and proposed that the general public should be notified beforehand for greater transparency. But as it is, buybacks are still practiced and if one thinks that this helps America’s economic recovery, it does not. The pracitce of corporate America of buying back its stocks will not help to recover but in fact will threaten its economy. It seems that we have not learned our lesson after all as we are again back at manipulating balance sheets to have a perception of value. Corporate America is again practicing the same principle of financial manipulation that precipitated the mortgage criss that brought us the â€Å"Financial Crisis† that took America to recover and this recovery is even questionable today. Buying stocks back is just a convenient way of unloading those excessive cash in the guise of avoiding dilution and increasing stock value. To finally recover from the crisis that we are in, values in terms of productivity has to be created. Coupled with healthy spending that will translate to a robust domestic consumption which will have a ripple effect of encouraging more production. In other words, for us to recover, plants has to be erected, new technology has to be developed, companies has to hire employees or engage in any economic activity that will create â€Å"real value† and not just buyback stocks to increase it value. Buying back stocks does not do this although it will convey the perception that a company is performing well. To explain this further, it will serve us well to cite an example to better understand how stock buybacks create a perceive performance without creating any real value. Let us assume a company buys back a million shares at $ 5 per share with a $10,000,000 cash. Profit is at $1,000,000. Observe how return on assets, return on shares and price earning ratio improve without any increase in profit. Bef ore Buyback After Buying Back Cash $ 10,000,000 $ 5,000,000 Assets 30,000,000 20,000,000 Profit 1,000,000 1,000,000 Outstanding shares 10,000,000 9,000,000 Return on Assets 3.33 % 5.00 % Return per share $ 10 $ 11.11 The above illustrates how a company increases its perceived value without an increased productivity. It just unload the cash of $10,000,000 by buying back a million shares at $10 per share. The cash diminished to $20,000,000 ($30,000,000 cash minus $10,000,000 buyback) increasing the return on assets to 5 % (1,000,000/20,000,000). Above all, the price-earnings ratio (P/E), the ratio which is often used as a measure of value of the company also increased without creating any â€Å"real value† (lower ratio is better). Where before the P/E ratio is 50 ($5/$10), it decreases to 45 ($5/$11.11) by simply unloading its cash by buying back its stocks. This is what Levin is discussing in the article â€Å"Secret Buybacks Are Unfair to Shareholdersâ€Å". Companies are c reating perceived value with the increase in return on assets, improved price earning ratio and higher return on share without creating anything. Companies only intend to give higher dividends to its stockholders which