Blog 5

 

Hawa Abdi is a notable woman that ran a hospital and refugee camp through Somalia civil war, providing shelter and medical care to thousands. Hawa Abdi is one of the first female gynecologist in the country of Somalia. She received an education in the former Soviet Union and opened a clinic in an area with one of the largest camps for displaced people. With the help of her three daughters that also studied medicine they created the Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation that helps Somali women have hope in getting an education in the medical field. They provide scholarships for females that want to train how to become female doctors and nurses, and general medical training for both men and women. Hawa and her giving spirit have not gone unnoticed while earning the Fern Holland Award, and Vital Voices Global Leadership Award 2013. I find this woman to be inspirational, because not everyone in this country gets a chance to receive an education at all, and to be able to offer others with a chance of education to better provide for themselves and others is a selfless act. Many people in this country die from starvation and lack of medical treatment, and this foundation is helping provide more healthcare to save their country.  

 

 

2013, April 2. Hawa Abdi. Vital Voices Global Partnership. Retrieved from: http://www.vitalvoices.org/vital-voices-women/featured-voices/hawa-abdi-0

Personal Stress Manangement Plan

 

In our society today many people live such a fast-paced life that is full of hassles, demands, and frustrations that can be overwhelming at times which can lead to stress. Stress can make you feel like your life is out of balance. Every person has different stressors that can affect them in many diverse ways. Here are my five top stressors:

v College

v Work

v Finances

v Social/personal relationships

v Change

There are certain things that contribute to each of the stressors that can trigger my stress.

v College is something that is very time consuming, and very rewarding at the same time. However, I am currently taking a full course load that includes 18 hours. Taking this many classes at once is difficult and takes a lot of organizing when it comes to managing the course load. The triggers that cause my stress related to college is the deadlines that it creates. I have an average of 12 assignments due a week, which can be overwhelming to a person that works a full-time job. Most of the time I have multiple assignments due on the same day, which can trigger my stress because it gives me the sense of being on a time crunch.

v There are many things that trigger stress related to my work. I am a full-time nanny that cares for a two year old, and a nine month old baby. The biggest trigger of stress is the fact that I am responsible of caring for someone else’s children, and during my work hours I am constantly worried that something bad might happen to one of the children and I would forever hold myself guilty for that. Another trigger of stress is one of their children has speech difficulties, and at times he gets frustrated when we are not able to understand what he is wanting. It adds stress to me because I am there to meet his needs as a child and it is heartbreaking when there is a barrier of speech.

v Financial issues is another factor in the stress involved in my life. The biggest triggers to my financial issues are student loan payments for school, rent and a car payment. All these are big financial responsibilities for a young adult that is still trying to finish a college education.

v Being single in a big city means a person needs to be social to interact with others. A stress trigger in my social life is going on dates. I am constantly worried about making a good impression, and what their opinions are on me.

v The stress triggers on my change stressors are the idea of having to get a new job after graduating college with the possibility of having to move towns. The idea of the unexpected triggers stress in my life.

When a person is stressed out the body reacts just as if were facing a life-or-death situations and the fight-or-flight response kicks in. Exposure to stress over a long period of time can lead to serious health problems. The physical strains the stress puts on my body is a decrease in my immune systems which leads to frequent colds. Also, I experience issues with my digestive system along with body aches. Not only can stress have an impact on the physical part of the body it plays a major role in the psychological response.  When I am stressed over work, school, money, personal relationships, and a fear of change it takes over my mind and feelings. I start to feel over-whelmed as if everything is start to get out of my control, which leads to a slight feeling of anxiety. At times I find myself being moody that often makes me short-tempered. One of the biggest issue I face is self-esteem. I feel as if I am not confident with my appearance so it takes over my entire demeanor.

Personal Stress Management Plan:

 

Having stress in my life often makes me feel like my life is out of control, but I can control it by the way I respond to stress. Managing stress is about taking control of the situation and making changes. Here are the techniques I plan to incorporate in my life to reduce the amount of stress. The change I expect from this plan is a decrease in my stress levels with a sense of being the controller.

v Good time management. Improving how I spend my time will give me greater control of my life.

v Stop procrastinating. Putting things off until the last minute just increases my stress level.

v Perfection doesn’t exist. There is always room for improvements, but everyone has imperfections.

v Well rested. Getting a good night sleep will rest the mind and body which will help decrease the stress levels.

v Create to-do list. Being more organized with a busy schedule will help with the feeling of being overwhelmed.

v Debt-reduction plan. Creating a monthly spreadsheet of when bills that need to be paid.

v Have confidence. Presenting myself with more confidence will allow me to be more calm and relaxed.

v Stay positive. When challenges arise look at them for a chance of personal growth.

v Set aside time. Have time in everyday to rest and relax. Do something that I personally enjoy.

Rational: After adding this stress reduction techniques in my everyday life I am hoping to be more organized, relaxed, with a positive outlook on life. Overall, these techniques should lower my level of stress.

After putting my personal stress management plan into effect for one week I was able to see a big improvement in my overall stress levels, and organization skills. Adding these specific techniques in my life allowed me to have more control of how I spent my time, which abled me to have some time at the end of the day to relax and enjoy myself. Each day I felt well rested and less stressed. I am going to attempt to make this a permanent change in my life.

 

 

Blog #4

 

Assault is often defined when a person intentionally puts another in fear of receiving serious physical harm or offensive contact. Woman are often the victims of assault, and these accidents are usually caused by men. Although, assault cannot be fully prevented women can take precautionary actions to help reduce the risk of being attacked. Here are some steps to take to reduce the risk of assault:

            Be aware of the surroundings.

            Avoid isolated areas.

            Do not walk alone in the dark.

            Have a cell phone nearby in case you need to call for help.

            Avoid putting headphones in both ears. Keep an ear bud out to be able to hear the surroundings.

            Avoid carrying heavy loads. This makes it an easy target to attack if the victim’s hands are full.

            Consume alcohol in moderation, and do not leave drinks unattended.

            If one is going on a date be sure to inform friends or family of where you will be and with who.

            Keep the house door and car locked at all times.

            Do not be afraid to say no.

            If in an unfamiliar location keep a cellphone handy.

The form of assault that usually occurs in woman in sexual assault. According to the United States Department of Justice, sexual assault can be defined as any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs by force or without consent of the recipient of the unwanted sexual activity. On average about 2/3 of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim, and 73% of sexual assaults were committed by a non-stranger. Also, more than 50% of all sexual assaults and rape incidents happened within one mile of the victim’s home, and 43% occur between the hours of 6:00pm and midnight. (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) This being said every woman needs to take precautions in reducing the risk of assault.

References:

Sexual Assault. The United States Department of Justice. Retrieved from: http://www.justice.gov/ovw/areas-focus

Helping Reduce the Risk of Sexual Assault. Safe Help Line. Retrieved from: https://www.safehelpline.org/ways-to-reduce-your-risk-of-rape-in-the-military

Statistics. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. Retrieved from: https://www.rainn.org/statistics

Blog 3

 

 

Media is in our everyday life as society has evolved over the years. Majority of the American population spend a lot of their time on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or watching reality TV shows, movies, and reading the most recent fashion in magazines. While our time is being consumed by all of that it tends to have an impact on the way that we feel about our own body imagine. The way that media portrays the “ideal body” imagine of a beautiful woman is tall, skinny, flawless skin, and bleached white teeth. When in reality we are all formed by different body types. The so called “perfect” body that is portrayed has many impacts on other women’s health. A lot of women want to have the “ideal body” and will do whatever it takes to get it whether it is from surgical procedures, fad diets, unhealthy eating disorders, excessive exercising.

Health educators can help get rid of the negative images of the ideal body by informing woman that are wanting to lose weight how to do it in a healthy way. Health educators can provide information for a low calorie diet that will provide the body with the accurate amount of nutrients for the body. Along with information on how to exercise correctly that will help in the aid of losing fat, and gaining muscle. Also, educators need to inform woman of the negative effects of how the fad diets, and unhealthy eating disorders harm the body.  

I don’t think that the media is accepting more diversity in the body shape and size of woman than what was “acceptable” years ago. You don’t really see plus size models advertised in forms of media, and you sure do not see plus sized models on the runways. The overall goal of media is to be make money, and the reality is that in our society skinny sales. I believe that our society could benefit by incorporating “average” size women into the media industry. Woman are beautiful in their own personal way regardless of size, shape, or color.  

Blog 2

Having “the talk” with your children can be embarrassing, and awkward for both the parents and the child. However, it is a necessity that pre-teens are informed with educational information that will help them live a safe intimate life. Our society has many influences on our children when it comes to sex, but regardless of the movies, reality shows, or internet teens often say their parents have the biggest influence on the decisions about sex. Teenagers that have this conversations with their parents are more likely to post-pone sexual activities, have fewer sexual partners, and have safe sex using protections and birth control.

Scenario:

Where: I would have the conversation in a place where my child feels most comfortable, whether it be in the comfort of our own home, or in the car where eye contact does not have to be made so they don’t feel so awkward.

When: I would have “the talk” with my children early on during the pre-teens years between the ages of 9-15 depending on when I feel is the best time. It is best for a child to hear about sex, and be able to openly talk about it before they hear it from their peers.

How: I would most likely have the conversation after watching a movie, or TV show that had intimate relationships. Another opportunity I would take if the subject of relationships were brought up.

“The Talk”- People your age are experiencing big life changes right now. Many are going through hormone changes and it sparks an interest in sex, and they are curious what it is all about. I know this conversation might seem too soon, or may be uncomfortable but I want you to understand that I am here for you to talk to, and I am supportive of your decisions. You know that you can come to me with any questions or concerns at any time in your life. I just want to be the first to have the “birds and the bees” talk with you. Have you talked about sex with your friends before, or have others brought up the topic? I want you to know that sex is something that is sacred for the special someone that you love, and there will be temptation all around but I would prefer you to wait. Having sex is a big deal that comes with many risk such as emotions, pregnancy, and sexual transmitted diseases. Many of this risk can affect your whole life, which is why it is important that we have this talk, and you know that we can continue this talk if other questions come up as you get older. If you do decide to become sexually active I want you to let me know that way we can take preventative actions such as the use of condoms, and discuss the option for birth control to prevent you for having a baby at a young age. If you ever want to browse around the topic on your own time I have find some reliable sources that are appropriate for children your age. I wrote down the links for the websites that you can visit:

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/teens

http://www.scarleteen.com/

 

Reference:

Embrett, Cheryl. (2014, June 9). Age-by-age guide to talking to kids about sex. Today’s Parent. Retrieved from http://www.todaysparent.com/family/parenting/age-by-age-guide-to-talking-to-kids-about-sex/

(2014). Talking to Kids about Sex and Sexuality. Planned Parenthood. Retrieved from http://www.plannedparenthood.org/parents/talking-to-kids-about-sex-and-sexuality

Blog 1

Our health as individuals is a very important part of our everyday life that many people tend to forget about. America is one of the most obese countries due to the lack of good nutrition, and exercise. Watching what we consume in our bodies now for nutrition can affect our long-term health. As our duties as an older generation we need to encourage the adolescents healthier behaviors. There are many ways that we can encourage healthier lifestyles that are geared towards youths. One of the most popular ways to reach out is in the form of social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Discussion forms can be created along with Facebook fan pages, healthy living tips on twitter accounts, or even recipes and exercise advice on Pinterest. A major form of communication right now in texting. States could partner up with services to send out notifications of when wellness exams are due, along with healthy reminders (Medicaid, 2014). Our society is big into technology, and many people have smart phones. There could be a development of mobile applications that aid in finding information, data on where to access health services, and peer support of health questions (Medicaid, 2014). Also, parents have a big role in the lifestyle their children live. They are usually the ones that provide food for the family, and encourage active daily life. Parents should evaluate the type of food they are feeding their children, and the affects it could have on them. Many families are busy these days with work, school activities, and trying to complete errands that it is easier to drive-thru somewhere instead of preparing a healthy meal. Eating healthy food can provide the body with the adequate nutrition it needs for energy, which could help promote having energy to be active. Health educators in the school system play a big role in the adolescence life. Many children eat two meals at their school cafeteria. Instead of feeding the children unhealthy food they could provide a well-balanced meal that is low-fat, and low in sodium. School counselors, nurses, and physical education instructors can play a role in providing guidance on health, and the importance of nutrition and physical activity (Center for Disease Control, 1996). Overall, there are many ways of reaching out to the younger generation, and promoting the healthy lifestyle.

References:

Guidelines for School Health Programs to Promote Lifelong Healthy Eating. (1996, June 14). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00042446.htm

Paving the Road to Good Health Strategies for Increasing Medicaid Adolescent Well-Care Visits. (February 2014). Retrieved from http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Topics/Benefits/Downloads/Paving-the-Road-to-Good-Health.pdf

 

Hello everyone!


My name is Brittany Maxwell and I am twenty-four years young. I am a recent transfer student to Texas Woman's University, and I am very excited to see what this university has to offer! I previously attended Texas Tech University, and I will admit I will forever be a raider fan. Wreck Em' Tech! However, life happens and I moved to the Dallas area to apply for nursing schools. Moving to Dallas opened my eyes to a whole different world of business. That being said I had a change of heart, and decided to switch my major. I am currently a General Studies major for Health Studies and Business Administration. Since I was a previous pre-nursing major it is safe to say I have a big interest in the health field, but just the business aspect of things. After graduation I plan to do Pharmaceutical Sales.

In the meantime while going to college I am a nanny for a family that has a two-year old, and a six month old baby. I work full-time for the family, so my life between school and work usually consist of spending time with my friends, family, and my Pomeranian Bella. When it comes to hobbies I like to work out, and be active. Since I am fairly new to the Dallas area I like to go out and explore all the fun things the city has to offer. One thing that might make me unique from others is that my mom is an Alaskan Native, which means I am part "Eskimo".