What Trichotillomania is Like

Trichotillomania is a disorder in which anxiety, stress, or boredom cause one to pull out their own hair, as a means of gratification and ease of their anxiety.  Trichotillomania can range from mild to severe, and I personally have had experience with trichotillomania.  I have an incredibly mild version of trichotillomania, and I have a tendency to play with my hair and pull it out when I am feeling stressed about something.  Although my own condition of trichotillomania is not severe, I struggle not to pull it out on a daily basis, for no reason, it's just difficult not to initiate the behavior.  Even though I have experience with the disorder, I have recently come across two individuals who have experienced trichotillomania at a severe level, and it makes me feel grateful that my own trichotillomania has not reached the same level that theirs has.  The first person I came across, who has shared their own experience with trichotillomania is named Sandy Rosenblatt, and after reading her testimonial, I feel even more compassion for people who have this disorder in general.  I learned that Sandy, as a result of having trichotillomania due to a stressful household as a child, became a victim of bullying and peer violence, and to think that people would harm an innocent little girl over a disorder makes me disgusted.  Sandy explains in her testimonial, that her hair pulling still continues to this day, but it is not as severe as it had been during her childhood.  I feel proud of Sandy, because at the end of her testimonial, she explains that while she has shame for her disorder, she knows she is an amazing human being, and she insists that she won't let her trichotillomania hold her back from being her best, and that is a big deal to have self-love when an individual has a disorder.  Besides Sandy, I also read a testimonial by a woman named Kelsie Hanna.  I think Kelsie's trichotillomania story is very inspiring, because although she battles trichotillomania, she has persisted against her condition enough to become a hair dresser.  In Kelsie's story, she explains that throughout her life, Kelsie got recurrent migraines and felt as if ants were crawling on her head, and the only way in which those feelings would go away, was if she pulled out her hair.  Over time, she explains that it simply became a habit, even if her symptoms were not occurring.  I personally can't even believe that Kelsie's trichotillomania had symptoms of ants crawling on her head, and that makes me understand just how awful this disorder can truly get.  I feel inspired by Kelsie as well, because she decided to make a support group for people suffering from trichotillomania, and as a result, she now believes that she was given trichotillomania as a gift, not only to help herself, but to help others, and that makes me realize that disorders can be used as an element of self-growth and determination.  Although both of these women have lived lives which have involved severe cases of trichotillomania, it makes me realize that  Jesuit Values are a large part of living with, and overcoming effects of mental disorders.  With trichotillomania specifically, and with the two women's testimonials, it is obvious that cura personalis, magis, men and women for others, unity of heart and mind, contemplatives in action, and finding God in all things are all important elements of having, and living with a disorder.  Between Sandy and Kelsie, both women used cura personalis, because they each realized that they needed to care for themselves, even though they had a disorder.  In magis, both women focused on it, because they both strive for excellence, even though they live with trichotillomania. For men and women for others, Kelsie was specifically involved, because she used her own illness to make a support group for others experiencing trichotillomania, and in that group, she also helped people to understand that they are not alone, which is unity of mind and heart.  Besides those Jesuit values, both of the women also were contemplatives in action by posting their stories to help others, and both women found that their disorder actually brought about some good in their lives, which is the value of finding God in all things.  Overall, I feel deeply for the struggles of embarrassment, frustration and sadness, that trichotillomania has caused for both women, however, I am also proud of both of them for being stronger than their disorder, and it really shows the toll in which a disorder can take on an individual.  Also, I believe that the six Jesuit Values are significant factors which can help someone with a mental disorder, to become aware of the good that can come out of their disorder, and the further potential that a disorder can cause someone to reach.
http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Have-Trichotillomania/2637302
http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/my-health-story/hair-puller-hairdresser/




Rosenblatt, S. (2012).  I Have Trichotillomania.  Experience Project.
           http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Have-Trichotillomania/2637302
Hanna, K.  (2014).  From Hair Puller to Hair Dresser: Kelsie's Life With Trichotillomania.
           Everyday Health.  http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/my-health-story/hair-puller-  hairdresser/

What Trichotillomania is Like

Trichotillomania is a disorder in which anxiety, stress, or boredom cause one to pull out their own hair, as a means of gratification and ease of their anxiety.  Trichotillomania can range from mild to severe, and I personally have had experience with trichotillomania.  I have an incredibly mild version of trichotillomania, and I have a tendency to play with my hair and pull it out when I am feeling stressed about something.  Although my own condition of trichotillomania is not severe, I struggle not to pull it out on a daily basis, for no reason, it's just difficult not to initiate the behavior.  Even though I have experience with the disorder, I have recently come across two individuals who have experienced trichotillomania at a severe level, and it makes me feel grateful that my own trichotillomania has not reached the same level that theirs has.  The first person I came across, who has shared their own experience with trichotillomania is named Sandy Rosenblatt, and after reading her testimonial, I feel even more compassion for people who have this disorder in general.  I learned that Sandy, as a result of having trichotillomania due to a stressful household as a child, became a victim of bullying and peer violence, and to think that people would harm an innocent little girl over a disorder makes me disgusted.  Sandy explains in her testimonial, that her hair pulling still continues to this day, but it is not as severe as it had been during her childhood.  I feel proud of Sandy, because at the end of her testimonial, she explains that while she has shame for her disorder, she knows she is an amazing human being, and she insists that she won't let her trichotillomania hold her back from being her best, and that is a big deal to have self-love when an individual has a disorder.  Besides Sandy, I also read a testimonial by a woman named Kelsie Hanna.  I think Kelsie's trichotillomania story is very inspiring, because although she battles trichotillomania, she has persisted against her condition enough to become a hair dresser.  In Kelsie's story, she explains that throughout her life, Kelsie got recurrent migraines and felt as if ants were crawling on her head, and the only way in which those feelings would go away, was if she pulled out her hair.  Over time, she explains that it simply became a habit, even if her symptoms were not occurring.  I personally can't even believe that Kelsie's trichotillomania had symptoms of ants crawling on her head, and that makes me understand just how awful this disorder can truly get.  I feel inspired by Kelsie as well, because she decided to make a support group for people suffering from trichotillomania, and as a result, she now believes that she was given trichotillomania as a gift, not only to help herself, but to help others, and that makes me realize that disorders can be used as an element of self-growth and determination.  Although both of these women have lived lives which have involved severe cases of trichotillomania, it makes me realize that  Jesuit Values are a large part of living with, and overcoming effects of mental disorders.  With trichotillomania specifically, and with the two women's testimonials, it is obvious that cura personalis, magis, men and women for others, unity of heart and mind, contemplatives in action, and finding God in all things are all important elements of having, and living with a disorder.  Between Sandy and Kelsie, both women used cura personalis, because they each realized that they needed to care for themselves, even though they had a disorder.  In magis, both women focused on it, because they both strive for excellence, even though they live with trichotillomania. For men and women for others, Kelsie was specifically involved, because she used her own illness to make a support group for others experiencing trichotillomania, and in that group, she also helped people to understand that they are not alone, which is unity of mind and heart.  Besides those Jesuit values, both of the women also were contemplatives in action by posting their stories to help others, and both women found that their disorder actually brought about some good in their lives, which is the value of finding God in all things.  Overall, I feel deeply for the struggles of embarrassment, frustration and sadness, that trichotillomania has caused for both women, however, I am also proud of both of them for being stronger than their disorder, and it really shows the toll in which a disorder can take on an individual.  Also, I believe that the six Jesuit Values are significant factors which can help someone with a mental disorder, to become aware of the good that can come out of their disorder, and the further potential that a disorder can cause someone to reach.
http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Have-Trichotillomania/2637302
http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/my-health-story/hair-puller-hairdresser/




Rosenblatt, S. (2012).  I Have Trichotillomania.  Experience Project.
           http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Have-Trichotillomania/2637302
Hanna, K.  (2014).  From Hair Puller to Hair Dresser: Kelsie's Life With Trichotillomania.
           Everyday Health.  http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/my-health-story/hair-puller-  hairdresser/

For Monday 2-23

The start of the third experiment: Action. For this experiment I've decided to try to practice the of Karma Yoga, I want to be able to take more selfless actions in my everyday life, to practice "paying it forward" without the concern of reward but just simply from the heart. The second action I want to take is flow- the positive psychology concept that we need to be fully immersed, energized, and focused when taking a particular action.

Final Reflection

I gotta be honest, I love this class! It was very different from any writing class I've ever taken. It was fun! I loved the fact that we made the things that we wrote about. We actually got to experience them, which meant we were able to tell a true and honest story in our writings. I was excited to actually try something I've never done before and everything that we did in this class were all new things. I liked that I actually got to make something from scratch and turned in into something pretty cool. When I first signed up for the class, I really didn't know what to expect. It sounded interesting but I was nervous because I didn't know what I know what to expect besides writing papers. Turns out, it is actually really fun to "hack" into a community and observed them, make a cute little aid for a cute little dog, make my own first piece of art out of strings, or appreciating that we are all makers and that we just simply didn't recognized it before. I also think that Dr. Reitmeyer should continue to teach this class in the future. Its Exciting!

Yay for break! Happy Holidays!


https://www.google.com/search?

Final Reflection

This class way unlike any class I have ever taken. I have never been a huge writer. Writing was never really my thing. I like doing physical things with my hands. Making, manipulating, hacking anything that I could get my hands on. That is why this class was so interesting. When I realized I was going to have to take a writing class I was not too happy, but it was not something that I could change so I can to terms with its and started looking at what I could take. When I say this class I was intrigued. The thought that went through my head was that if I was going to have to write, it might as well be about something that I like doing in the first place. 

I have learned a lot from this class, both about making and about writing. I still would not call myself a great writer, but I would say that my writing has definitely improved. Most of what I have had to write in the past was essays on books, and research papers that very concrete, but this class was a lot different. It allowed for a lot of creativity, while still maintaining the structure necessary for school learning environment. 

My favorite part of this class was definitely the final make project. I this project we were told to make something. When I first say it I couldn't believe that making something was out final. So I kept in in the back of my head for the majority of the semester, and come time to decide what I was going to make, I had a pretty good idea. It was a little over ambitious, but wheres the fun and safe and easy. I end up completing a huge chunk of what I wanted to do and was very happy about it. This class encouraged me to think about my making process and to try to reflect on and improve it.

Making process

Making the model of Master Shake was pretty difficult. When creating a 3D model you are constantly changing views of the model, because the line you just drew might look correct in one view but then it will be going in the complete opposite direction you thought it was going. I started off by making the body which was the most complex part of the model. After the body was created I made the hands. Having to free draw the hands on a laptop mouse pad was extremely difficult. Finally I made Master Shakes straw. The next step was for me to start printing out the parts of Master Shake. The first day I tried to print the body the printer would not even lay down the melted plastic. All it did was create little coils and clumps of plastic it did this ten times. The second time we fixed the clumping problem, but then I found a flaw in my model. I made Master Shake hollow so it would take as much material and for some reason it made him without a lid. I found this problem when I was previewing the print and looking at all the layers I noticed it had no top. So then I went back and fixed the model. After fixing the model and finally getting the printer to work it was time to start printing the body. I set up the printer and started printing the body. Everything was going good up until around 85% when the model started to move around on the 3D printers tray. That’s when I had to cancel the print because it lost its position. I tried printing it multiple more times even in different sizes to see if that would change anything, but the model kept coming loose at different times. The only things I was able to successfully print where the hands.

The Last Hurrah

Let's see, how do I start this blog post? <-- Like that. Haha no. I suppose that I would start off by saying that I actually enjoyed learning under Prof. Reitmeyer. I should be focusing on the class, but technically, talking about the teacher is the best way to talk about the class itself.
There is a lot to say about Prof. Reitmeyer, but what I enjoyed most about her was her upbeat attitude and enthusiasm to teach. I believe it is stated in my blog about learning back at the beginning of the year that I did not like school, so having a teacher that is so excited for it has been... interesting to say the least. I find it comforting to know that I do not always need to be excited to learn, because the Prof. will most definitely express it for me, and a probably a few others as well. That wasn't a lot, but that is enough of the kumu (teacher). Smooth Transition.
Just like with the Prof., I enjoyed the class. Maker's Space has been very insightful to my knowledge on the making game, and also, surprisingly, quite inspirational in, well, making me make. Or rather want to make; everyone in the class knows I cannot actually make. With all of the projects we received in the class, I have been well trained in preparing for future makes. That is another thing; the projects that we were assigned, the amount that we had; there was not a lot of them. Wow I appreciated that. I know that I should not actually be grateful for the number because they were big projects that required a lot of time, but I am looking at the bigger picture. Thank goodness we did not have a lot of projects and even smaller assignments for the class. I guess that is all I have to say about the class. Last Smooth Transition for the semester.
Thank you, Prof., for a good and easy time.


Take it easy,

Keola Pascua

^^Look at me ending this thing like a letter. Where did that come from?

Last Week of School! ... For now

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/cheering_minions.gif