To a new beginning (Conclusion)

In this blog, in this moment, I see where it's my mind...

This academic year I had the opportunity to instruct me in the field of technology, virtual and English. The learning process was well enriching and reality the fact is that much helped me both my personal and professional development. The order to build the website and the blog makes me feel safer as this allows you to collect all jobs and projects I've done or I've participated. During the semester, I would say that to understand a little better why people think, feel and behave as it does (and the term "people" we include ourselves), the field of psychology gives us answers to many questions, because we are not easily explained, and all these jobs that were course requirements helped me realize many things. I learned that to treat social problems we must not only discuss or present possible solutions, but must also provide the necessary to achieve what is proposed tools. What I really liked the course is that the teacher was not confined to the classroom. We participate made presentations of our colleagues, we showed ourselves different jobs, which we stated our different views, always with respect, and us to conduct analysis of all these dynamics. We played many issues such as poverty, violence, among many other super interesting topics. I was shocked and delighted with the teaching method of our teacher as we never limited, on the contrary, it was a source of motivation and aspiration. This blog is my tool for others to know my work and I do not think I could have done it without this course without teacher. It was a unique experience. Upon start producing these works it did something difficult and stressful. Honestly this course helped me a lot too because we can make a difference, we must begin dialing equity above all things. Finally, I am very happy with the work I did and I'm pretty sure that will serve me a lot for my future. It is essential to acquire such skills and develop increasingly more as a person.

Many Thanks to Prof. Iara Segarra 

We force babies to eat?

Feeding a baby is a topic that many parents have trouble, especially the stage where they begin to incorporate solid. We facial task is feeding children because most things seem not like and many times, trying to get the same test, it ends in tears and anger.

Why is it wrong to force a baby to eat?

For many reasons. First, because forced to eat is dangerous; if the baby cries while we put food in the mouth you can suck the food. Second, because we have a serious problem of childhood obesity, just missing children eat even more. Third, because it is counterproductive: the more you try to force more will refuse to eat, and end up hating those foods that have forced him. With such bad luck that parents always put more emphasis on foods they consider healthier, and never insist with candy or junk food. Children end up hating healthy food. But above all, because you can not force feed a human being. Because it is unworthy. Even in prison they can force feed the prisoners.

Aphasia... new disorder?

It is a mysterious brain disorder can be confused with the preliminary stage of Alzheimer's, but does not deprive patients of their memories, but the words to talk about them.

It is called primary progressive aphasia (PPA), and scientists said they are looking for better ways to diagnose this disease little known. That will help people whose thoughts are lucid but can not express them to receive proper care.

Even many doctors know little about this rare type of aphasia, and spread the problem is key to improving care. There is a study underway to try to slow the progression of the disease by electrical stimulation of the affected region of the brain.

Language and speech are enormously complex. 100 requires just talk activate muscles between the lungs and lips to produce at least 14 different sounds per second, said Dr. Joseph Duffy, of the Mayo Clinic.

A stroke or brain injury can often leave the person with problems to produce sounds or words. The APP occurs for a different reason, because the region of the brain that controls language is sick and degenerates, resulting in communication difficulties -a first glance similar to those caused by dementia.

Interesting...

Reference: http://www.sinembargo.mx/15-02-2016/1623005

Two years = 50 words

Today, I think about kids again, let's see...

"Typically, a child speak. We want to end this widespread phrase 'and speak'. If a child with two years does not use about 50 words is not that it is vague, it is that something happens. " Says Ana Torrico, secretary of the Association of Speech Therapists of Asturias (ALPA), adding that "the problems of language are like a ball, if they persist, they end up having an impact on other areas of life, such as education and social ".

It is of utmost importance to make a correct diagnosis of these problems. It is the pediatrician who has the obligation to inform parents if there is an abnormality, and then derive the child to early care units, formed by speech therapists. A performance that must be done before they start going to school. This diagnosis is crucial, because the late onset of speech may be due to different factors, and only experts can determine whether it is by an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) or one language (TEL).

Reference: Gancedo, M. (2016). Torrico: «A los dos años, un niño debería saber 50 palabras». recovered from http://www.elcomercio.es/gijon/201603/06/torrico-anos-nino-deberia-20160306012410-v.html

Children see. Children do.

Raising a child is not easy, you have to be patient and persevering in their education. And when we talk about education we are not referring to the school or academic training, which of course is important, but that parents offer their children in day to day, training them and teaching them in each of the situations they live .Our children acquire correct values ​​will depend not only on its own character, but what they learn in the family. If the child grows up in an environment where you feel loved, respected and protected you learn proper ethical values. Children need someone to guide them, to encourage them and help them in the course of his life. Need to feel supported, valued, dear ... And for that we are parents, we are the best example, your role model in all respects. We must teach by example and use the values ​​we want to learn, not only for them but for ourselves.

This video is a great example that can reflect. Let this example for our children. They need a lot of us in these difficult moments is when we teach them about the values ​​for this result are better citizens and therefore better parents.

Bad Behavior vs. Disability

Where's my mind now? I want to talk about parents, yes, let's begin... 

Let's be honest, most parents of children with disabilities, make the mistake of underestimating the social expectations of their children. Disability does not justify inappropriate behavior, and if we want our children to reach their fullest capabilities and are ready to seize the opportunities of life, we must be realistic, not only have rights, obligations and responsibilities as well as all.

Our most important obligation is to our own children: "Educate them with love and realistic expectations, so they are ready for the world to profit the most of their abilities." (Tardio, 2016)

Many parents justify behavior as a result of disability. True, disability can cause different behaviors, but your reaction as a parent is what determines if the behavior continues or re-routed. If your child learns something positive, or learns that the easiest way is the way to do everything. The education of your child is your responsibility as a parent, your child all it does is put into practice what you have learned.

The base regulating human behavior analysis, says that if a child has the ability to behave improperly to obtain or avoid something, has the same ability to properly behave with proper training, and learn that there are better ways and more appropriate both get what you want or need.

Reference: Tardio, E. (2016) La discapacidad no justifica el mal comportamiento. Recuperado de http://www.elianatardio.com/2016/03/18/discapacidad-comportamiento/?utm_content=buffer006ea&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Toys are important for the development of our children?

Let's see where's my mind today...

One of the great challenges and occupations of parents is to give their children the best opportunities for development. Thus, one of the most controversial aspects of raising a child is the type and amount of toys that should have, especially in these times when the offer is vast and varied. Literally, there is no place we go with children and not find a toy section, from the park, supermarkets, squares and everywhere they appear.

It is common the idea that a toy serves only to entertain, but if we know that more attention can be great tools for knowledge and learning. Of course, this depends on the qualities and possibilities that has the object that our children interact. Reflecting on this aspect is vital because, through the decisions we make on this subject can contribute to a healthy development or saturation that hinder meaningful learning.

From neuropsychology, he states that action is vital to gain knowledge as the brain creates neural networks (synapse) that become learning through interaction, discovery, movement and handling; In this sense there are many toys on the market that hamper these aspects, in fact, the most popular are those that prevent the child be creative, print them imagination and thus generate knowledge. (Farias, 2013)

For example, action figures or toys that have sounds, lights, movement and many colors are very common but they only serve for the child to observe them in performing their multiple exploits, merely press a button to start the action . In these toys no chance of play, interaction or movement.

The same situation occurs with video games, which are highly stimulating and generate anxiety and stress, are unfortunately becoming more common and parents are turning to them in an effort that children are quiet but the resulting consequences are serious, since difficulties concentration, delayed learning and socialization problems.

Another key aspect in the development of the child and takes neuropsychology, is the game as a volunteer and desirable activity, ie, as a source of internal motivation of the child and to be so essential that it is a free play, full possibilities and where necessary to reflect to solve obstacles, this is possible with simple objects and often no cost, like going to the park and let our children to interact with their peers, allowing them to play with boxes, dishes and other items all have at home, drawing, molding clay; these games are set in the understanding that the simpler the toy, the more likely.

Moreover, the amount of toys they have at their disposal is also important, as proposed by Jonh Payne in his book Parenting with simplicity: “El número de juguetes que tu niño tiene a la vista, y que puede usar, deberá reducirse de manera radical”. This is because, the fewer objects to play with, increases the degree of care and the ability for deep play; the fewer toys have experience less disconnection and burden, this can observe when children have many elements of play and only take one after another without stopping at any giving the perception that they need more toys, because those available are not enough, what it leads parents to a circle of endless consumption.


Reference:  Farías, I. (2013) Imporancia de los juguetes para el desarrollo de los niños. Recuperado de http://psic.mx/index.php/conversemos/item/115-importancia-de-los-juguetes-en-el-desarrollo-de-tu-hijo-una-perspectiva-neuropsicologica

Enthusiasm Help You to Learn

Where's my mind today?... 

When we talk about learn, we mean that is a unique process of development and personal growth that involves complex mental operations. Recent advances in neuroscience show that positive emotions promote learning. (Rodríguez Ruiz, 2015) For the process of learning to occur it is necessary that learners want to learn, enthusiasm promotes learning. 

I thinks that the enthusiasm works as a stimulant for the brain, facilitates the connection between neurons and enhances mental operations and therefore learning. Ensure excitement in the act of learning is often turned into a very complicated task. It really is where the information is a unique address traditional education systems, and learning becomes a routine, a global process that must be equal for all. In these educational systems using obsolete methods, the individuality of each child is not respected, it is not allowed to discover content, explore, give meaning and make it yours.

In contrast, traditional systems become a machining learning act, and thereby denature the process. All this leads to a logical disappointment, lack of motivation, lack of enthusiasm and an absence of learning. Finally we find a panorama of school failure who do not know to put that solution and do not fully understand the causes, as we move away from the understanding of the learning process.

Reference: Rodríguez Ruiz, C. (2015) El esntusiasmo favorece el aprendizaje. Recuperado de http://educayaprende.com/el-entusiasmo-favorece-el-aprendizaje/

Our society... This is psychology

Where is my mind?...

Today want to focus on subjects that involves 

psychology. As I mentioned in my introduction, actually I am preparing myself in the psychology and mental health area. In general terms is known as the equilibrium status between a person and its social and cultural ambient which guarantees it laboral, intellectual and social activities to achieve wealth and a good lifestyle. Mental health is a term used more as an analogy of what its known as health or physical condition, but related to it, there are more complex dimensions than the organic and physical functioning of the person. This term has also been defined multiple ways because of studies from different cultures. Its concepts includes wealthiness, autonomy, competition, emotional potential, and some others. On the other hand, precisions of the World Health Organization says that there are no official definitions about what mental health is and that any definition given to it will always be influenced by cultural differences.

There is a short relation between social psychology and mental health. In consequence of the instability of a person with a mental condition, it will be reflected in the society as well. We see how groups are created and communities inside of one big society, the divisions that occurs and how some groups are constantly marginated and left out. Social acceptance to people who suffers any mental condition is proven to be the best help and also the best way of prevention from mental disorders. Unfortunately, people with this kind of conditions are victims of discrimination, even from their own family, they are not accepted easily in the work nor the educational area or even in the community. The lack of knowledge about what a mental health condition means, it is another factor that has to do with marginalization. Young people have a high potential of minimizing possible disabilities if the social acceptance is big and if they receive the necessary help and services. Recuperation comes along with the social acceptance, as I mention before. Discrimination and stigma makes the process of recuperation a whole lot more difficult for those people with mental conditions.

Another of the subjects that relates the mental health and the social psychology is poverty. By this I do not mean that every poor person has a mental condition, but as it happens a lot in the explanation of the psychological phenomena's, the correlation between poverty and mental health follow a circular logic, making that the socioeconomic conditions levitate the chances of experimenting psychological problems, at the same time that the mental illness implies a bigger risk of social exclusion. Poverty suppose a composition of stressful situations, such as economic tensions, family conflicts, residence changes, unemployment, less educational opportunities, social discrimination, etc. Definitely, people who encounter this type of situations usually go through circumstances they hardly take control of, and their lives keep on going on on a constant life full of obstacles. This constant exposition to stressful events, has been related with negative consequences like for example, a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, postraumatic stress disease, addictions, social problems and delinquency, between many others. On the other hand, going around the circle, mental illness implies a higher risk of poverty. This way, psychological and social problems affect with the educational and laboral level that a person can reach, because a mental condition not treated implies, in many cases, a difficulty grade added. Also, people with mental health diseases, most of the times confront social stigmas and prejudices, which implies a barrier that maybe is more difficult to get through when it comes to finding a job and reducing the risk of poverty and exclusion.
We can observe that mental health themes has to do with many areas such as neuropsychology, developmental, social, educational and clinic psychology, etc. This way we can confirm that this is an area that has relevance, not only for the world of psychology and investigation, but it has big implications with the progress of of our society and the world in general. With out a doubt, this area is a present door open to the future.
Psychology is one of the most important sciences in the daily life of the individual, because it works with it behavior. Social and mental health, both helps people with problems that affects them like for example, violence, abuse, parent and child relations, communication and some others. The way of communication and social behave of the person or a group of people, are studies used to evaluate and treat the diseases and possible dangers that represents for society in general. Most of the mental diseases have a solution or at least a treatment which it can be effective if its applied on time.

Just like this, we want to break the vicious circle that unifies negative thing about social psychology and mental health, it requires a different focus, more flexible, and socially conscious among the health professionals. But, it also requires us to focus and establish our priorities as a society in those economical disadvantaged areas. We have to keep on mind that most of the people hold on and go through life conditions that risks their mental health. Remembering the increment of poverty, violence, abuse, etc. it is possible that the treatment of health problems that are associated to it, soon it becomes an emergency if its not the case already.

References:

De Carlo Santiago C, Kaltman S, & Miranda J (2013). Poverty and mental health: how do low-income adults and children fare in psychotherapy? Journal of clinical psychology, 69 (2), 115-26 PMID: 23280880
Madariaga, C. & Sierra, O. (2000). Redes sociales y pobreza. Barranquilla: Ediciones Uninorte.
Mebarak Moisés, et. al. (2009). Salud Mental: Un abordaje desde la perspectiva actual de la psicología de la salud. Psicología del Caribe. ISSN 0123-417x. N° 23: 83-112
Muñoz M, Pérez Santos E, Crespo M, Guillén AI. (2009). Estigma y enfermedad mental. Análisis del rechazo social que sufren las personas con enfermedad mental. Madrid: ed. Complutense.
Sica, C. (2014). Escuela para la vida. Centro de Altos estudios en Psicología Social. Recuperado de: www. contencionemocional.com/caeps/

Today I was looking about eating disorders. I found a short, simple and very interesting video. I consider it one of the saddest disorders for how affecting individuals and their families.

Stereotypes exist in our lives from cradle to our dead, and is due largely to the media and other forms of education. We women should feel proud for what we are and not for how we look. We are more women so we lived, not because we have the flat stomach. They must love ourselves and accept us for our personality and soul, not by the size of our breasts. Nor should we judge those who need flat stomach to feel beautiful, to feel more woman without wrinkles on the face and to large breasts who wants to walk eating the world. As Lydia Aquino says: "Up tits, up teeth and keep quiet complex above the Percocet that numbs the pain of not being happy staring in the mirror!"

But remember: If is a desorder, we should give help. Please, it is a desorder very dangerous!!

My first fight behind bars... giving love and help. (Week One)

Where's my mind today? Let's see...    

                                                         

I want to talk about when I have the opportunity of learn social psychology. The learning process was well enriching and the reality of it is that helped me a lot in my personal development.To get to know better why and how is it that people (including ourselves) think, feel and behave, social psychology gives us the answer to many questions, because we are difficult to explain and understand. I learned that to get work with social problems, not only we have to comment or present possible solutions, but we also have to give the necessary tools to achieve what that person wants to.

As people say: “Service is the act of give”; it is a satisfactory vocation that gives joy as much as the person who gives as to the person who receives it. The social psychology practicum, was indeed an important and necessary piece in my life. It was one of my biggests challenges, full of knowledge and opportunities to help and give my services to others. During this process, there were a lot of difficulties and feelings going through. Working with confined was a goal I always wanted to achieve. I am proud enough to say that I was able to make it; I finally got to work with confined people wich is an amazing population. To make the prevention program that our professor asked for, I had to overcome one of my biggests fear, comunication. This whole process required basically comunication, with my working group (classmates), comunication to do the necesity study, with the Correction and Rehab Department of Puerto Rico, with the professor, and so goes on. Why does this represent such a difficulty for me? I have never felt very comfortable insisting, calling and bothering other people to get somenthing I need. Most of the times I feel like I am making other uncomfortable or maybe it is not the right moment to call them and so I used to fail getting them. But, this time was the one I had to insist the most, just because if they gave me the opportunity to enter any penalty institution I had to take it and give the best of me to them. That was exactly what I did, I called and drove multiple times to get all I need it.

One of the biggests difficulties I dealt with was my working group, it did not worked the way I expected. I Think maybe they were not as interested as I was or they just wanted to pass the class and nothing else; the truth is I do not know the answer to that. Thank God and the proffesor, this little inconvinience could not stop the work from continuing, in fact, when we had to give our presentations, my group worked very good and the information they gave fluctuated propperly. I am also happy because I learned how to change my way of seeing things, I bacame more optimistic and now I know what I am capable of.I was able to get the aprobation of our program from the Correction and Rehab Department of Puerto Rico. Once we got there everything was different, an unique experience, the personal treat was great and we learned so much form them. And lets not forget about the confined… I mean WOW! My point of view changed completely, the group of confined they gave us to work with was amazing. It is sad to see educated people, respectful and with goals they want to complete, stay incareated because they failed to the society somehow. Obviously we can not generalize, I am not here to say all confined are good persons but I am not here to judge. I strongly believe in second chances and that is why I wanted to show you that even when obstacles come in the way, there are opportunities out there, its just that it gets a little bit harder to get. Optimmism and perseverance are the key, I can tell you, it is not easy but with help and effort you can make it through. It was very satisfactory to see people who has lost their hope, regain it just because we talked to them with our hearts, because we told them: “we are here because we believe in you” “I do not care about your past, I only care about your desire to achieve your goals” “I do not guarantee anything, but I am here to help”. It is even more gratefull to receive a “thank you” form someone who you have helped.

On the other hand, and to conclude, I must admit I am truly happy with the work I did and I am sure this will help me with my future. It is fundamental to adquire this kind of skills and develop everytime more and more as a better person. Also, I want to thank to Dr. Laurimar Reveron for her excelent work, she never denied me any kind of help, she is a role model. I want to finish with one word that describes my experience in this practicum: enriching.

Owner of a Complicated Life (Introduction)

Oh! Hello! It's me... Elbangelis Ortiz Morales. I was born one Thursday august 19, 1993 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Actually, I live in Cayey where I study my Bachellor’s Degree at the University of Puerto Rico, Cayey campus. My parents are Ramon G. and Gloria. I have a younger sister, Elbamarie and a younger brother called Ramon Enrique. 

Childhood and youth

Since I was a little girl I used to tell everyone all the new things I learned. I studied at Angélica Toro

Rodríguez Elemntary School where I won a local prize for the science fair and where I also participated at student clubs and organizations. Later on, I went to Carmen Salas de Torrado Middle School where I began to develop an interest for investigation. When I was in ninth grade I had my first investigation experience about the ocean currents. On the other hand, I also participated in art related activities that let students show their talents. Another of the interests I kept developing through my adolescence was caring and helping those with disabilities. I began learning Sign Language until I could do an oral presentation at my school about it. I graduated with honors from both elementary and middle School. Finally, I studied at Josefina Leon Zayas High School, where I continued following the same interests; art, investigation, and kids with disabilities, and it was there where I completed my high school graduating also with honors.

My college life

I began studying at the University of Puerto Rico in Cayey in august 2011when I was 17 years old. This represented a huge challenge at the beginning because it was a whole new life full of bigger responsibilities. My first year at this beautiful campus was pretty relaxing, but even though I did not finish it with the grades I used to back in school, I was very proud of the work I did. During my Bachelor’s degree I took many classes from different areas to adquire more knowledge. I remember when I took my first class about intellectual disabilities, it made me want to continue growing my interest in this area to help every person that needs me to become a independent well developed person and professional. It was in this class where I had the opportunity to interview a speech pathologist and it was there where I began to like and fall in love with this profession. I decided to start taking special education courses and in one of them I had the opportunity to do community service at the “Fundacion Puertorriqueña de Sindrome Down” in Cupey. In this place they let me work around the kids, prescience their adapted physical education class and also they let me prescience some therapies. Later, I began joining groups and organizations that helps those in need, for example “Los ronderos de la montaña”, that is a group that get clothes, food and other necessities stuff and gives it to homeless people. I also joined two organizations; SACNAS, an organization that promotes investigation and research to al those minority population that normally is left out like for example the latinos and chicanos; and MEDLIFE that dedicates to community service  by helping poor people with health care and housing. Aside my normal classes during the week, I took the

opportunity to certificate myself as a Sign Language interpreter, I must admit it was a hard semester studying Monday to Saturday. While all that was happening, I was part of an investigation called "Colectivo Universitario para el Acceso” (CUA). This project was about the difficulties the students of house protects deal with when they wanted to go to college. I worked there for a whole semester as the investigator assistant of Dr. Isar Godreau. That same semester, I was coursing my Social Psychology Practicum in which, along with some classmates, we created a prevention program guided to not relapse of the incarcerated people. We focused in confined that where about to be free and did whatever was possible for the “Departamento de Rehabilitacion y Correccion de Puerto Rico“ authorized us to give the confined our program. Thanks to our hard work and to our great professor, Dr. Laurimar Reverón Medina, who has been a fundamental piece, not only in my practimun class, but in my whole academic development at the university, we got the authorization and our plan was a success. Now, why was I interested in the confined people?. In my social psychology class,we had the opportunity to interview a professional of our interest. It was Dr. David Perez Jimenez, professor at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras who made me see confined people from a different perspective and that made me want to help them somehow. I kept on touch with Dr. Perez, finished my certifications in Sign Language and one day I commented him about the difficulties the deaf people go through in Puerto Rico and he instantly suggested me the idea of starting an investigation about it. Without a doubt, he accepted being my mentor and actually (2016) with two other mates, we are working with an Investigation called “Efectividad en los servicios educativos ofrecidos por el Departamento de Educacion a niños y niñas sordas de escuela elemental en Puerto Rico”. I then decided to learn about first aid, where I had the chance to certificate myself as a health professional. As the time pass by, I keep growing academically, personally and professionally and along with this my self confidence grows too. Actually (2016), I work at a speech pathology clinic where I am learning everyday more about the profession I want to do and at the same time I gain more knowledge and experience.

What I expect to achieve in the future?

Once I finish my Bachellor’s Degree in Psychology and mental health I hope to get accepted in a good university that gives me all the tools and the right education to be prepared and become a successful professional. Sincerely, I can see myself completing my Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology, and as always giving my best. I hope to get a good job where I constantly learn new things and achieve my goals. I want to be completely qualified to give services and to help others when they most need me.