Activating Your Psychological Demon Slayer

 

The Psychological Significance of Keeping Your Demons at Bay by Turning Them Against Each Other

We all have demons. They are the negative thoughts, emotions, and memories that haunt us. They can keep us up at night, make us feel anxious and depressed, and sabotage our relationships and goals.

But is there a way to keep our demons at bay?

This may sound counterintuitive, but it is actually a very effective way to deal with negative thoughts and emotions. When we focus on the negative, it tends to snowball. One negative thought leads to another, and before we know it, we are completely overwhelmed.

But when we turn our demons against each other, we break the cycle of negativity. We start to see the absurdity of our negative thoughts, and we realize that they are not as powerful as we thought they were.

For example, let's say you are struggling with anxiety. You might have a negative thought like, "I am going to fail this test." This thought can lead to a spiral of anxiety, making you feel more and more stressed and overwhelmed.

But what if you turned that thought against itself? What if you said, "That's ridiculous! I have studied for this test for weeks. I am going to do great."

This simple act of defiance can be very powerful. It can help you see the irrationality of your negative thoughts, and it can give you the strength to overcome your anxiety.

Of course, turning your demons against each other is not always easy. It takes practice and patience. But it is a very effective way to deal with negative thoughts and emotions.

If you are struggling with demons, I encourage you to try this technique. It may just be the key to keeping them at bay.

Here are some additional tips for turning your demons against each other:

• Identify your demons. What are the negative thoughts, emotions, and memories that haunt you?
• 
  Challenge your demons. Ask yourself if your negative thoughts are really true. Are they based on evidence?
• Defy your demons. Stand up to your negative thoughts and emotions. Tell them that they are not going to control you anymore.
• Focus on the positive. When you start to feel overwhelmed by negative thoughts, focus on something positive. Think about a happy memory, or spend time with someone you love.

Remember, you are not alone. Everyone has demons. But you can keep them at bay by turning them against each other.

Do Dreams actually stop our unconscious thoughts or desires from surfacing??

Freud's Theory on the Two Parts of Dreams

Dreams have two parts: the latent dream-content and the manifest dream-content. The latent dream-content is the original content of the dream, before it is transformed into the manifest dream-content. The manifest dream-content is the dream that we actually experience. There are four factors that influence the transformation of the latent dream-content into the manifest dream-content:

• condensation 
•  Condensation occurs when multiple dream thoughts are condensed into a single image or symbol in the dream that we actually experience.                      
•  displacement
• Occurs when the emotional significance of a dream thought is transferred to another dream thought or image in the manifest dream                             
•  figuration
•   The proces
  s of giving concrete form to dream thoughts                           
• secondary revision
• The process of making the manifest dream more logical and coherent. 

Dream interpretation is the process of understanding the latent dream content by identifying the dream thoughts that have been transformed into the manifest dream content,

Dreams have two types of content:

1. dream thoughts
1. The core of the dream is made up of thoughts, memories, and feelings.
2. connecting paths
1. links between the dream thoughts which can be logical or illogical, and they can also be conscious or unconscious

Dream censorship distorts dreams and is a part of the mind that tries to keep unacceptable thoughts and feelings from becoming conscious. This dream censorship cannot completely erase the dream thoughts or the core of the dream. This can make them difficult to understand. Because of this process dream interpretation is a valuable tool for understanding the unconscious mind. The following is an example of dream censorship in the process:

Laura has a dream about killing her boss. Dream censorship may distort the dream by making the boss into an animal or someone that Laura does not know. The dream censorship might also make the killing of her boss an accident or a circumstance where the murder is justified, such as in self-defense.

Laura's dream censorship could not prevent the core of the dream which was killing her boss; however, it was able to distort the core and disguise it so as to hinder its transformation from the unconscious to the conscious.  

Dreams are often illogical and incoherent because of the part of the mind that tries to censor unacceptable thoughts and feelings.

Freud believed that dream interpretation could explain dreams so that they would make sense by identifying the underlying dream thoughts which is the original dream before it is affected by dream censorship.

Here is an example of how dream interpretation can restore the coherence of a dream:

Laura dreams that she is being chased by a monster. The monster represents Laura's fear of her boss. Dream interpretation can help Laura to understand that the dream is really about her fear of her boss and then the dream makes more sense.

Resources:

Freud, S. (1911). The Interpretation of Dreams (3rd ed.). Hayes Barton Press. https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/L-999-74204

 

 

 Week 1 (8/29 - 9/2) ASK

In honor of #SuicidePreventionMonth, @988Lifeline will

be releasing a series of graphics that will list the 5 steps

you can take to help someone in a suicidal crisis. Learn more

about #BeThe1To by visiting bethe1to.com. #SPM22

If you think someone might be considering suicide, take

the first step and #BeThe1To ask. Ask directly, “Are you

thinking about killing yourself?” #SPM22

#BeThe1To

 

5 Things to do immediately if someone is suicidal

1) Ask the question “Are you thinking about suicide?” communicates that you’re open to speaking about suicide in a non-judgmental and supportive way.  Other questions you can ask include, “How do you hurt?” and “How can I help?” Do not ever promise to keep their thoughts of suicide a secret (How the 5 Steps Can Help Someone Who Is Suicidal - #BeThe1To, 2019). 

 

2) BE THERE How – This could mean being physically present for someone, speaking with them on the phone when you can, or any other way that shows support for the person at risk (How the 5 Steps Can Help Someone Who Is Suicidal - #BeThe1To, 2019). 

3) HELP KEEP THEM SAFE

How – First of all, it’s good for everyone to be on the same page. After the “Ask” step, and you’ve determined suicide is indeed being talked about, it’s important to find out a few things to establish immediate safety. Have they already done anything to try to kill themselves before talking with you? Does the person experiencing thoughts of suicide know how they would kill themselves? Do they have a specific, detailed plan? What’s the timing for their plan? What sort of access do they have to their planned method (How the 5 Steps Can Help Someone Who Is Suicidal - #BeThe1To, 2019).

4) HELP THEM CONNECT

How – Helping someone with thoughts of suicide connect with ongoing supports (like the 988 Lifeline) can help them establish a safety net for those moments they find themselves in a crisis. Additional components of a safety net might be connecting them with support and resources in their communities. Explore some of these possible supports with them – are they currently seeing a mental health professional? Have they in the past? Is this an option for them currently? Are there other mental health resources in the community that can effectively help  (How the 5 Steps Can Help Someone Who Is Suicidal - #BeThe1To, 2019).

 

5) FOLLOW UP

How – After your initial contact with a person experiencing thoughts of suicide, and after you’ve connected them with the immediate support systems they need, make sure to follow up with them to see how they’re doing. Leave a message, send a text, or give them a call   (How the 5 Steps Can Help Someone Who Is Suicidal - #BeThe1To, 2019).

 

Reference

 How The 5 Steps Can Help Someone Who is Suicidal - #BeThe1To. (2019). #BeThe1To. https://www.bethe1to.com/bethe1to-steps-evidence/

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Suicide Prevention with 988

 September is suicide prevention month

988

988 is the suicide and crisis lifeline formerly known as the national suicide prevention lifeline.

Now you can call and text from your cellphone for access to trained counselors. Also, use this number if a loved one needs crisis support.

JUST TEXT 988 FOR A COUNSELOR.

When someone texts 988, they are responded to by a group of 988 Lifeline crisis centers that answer both chats and texts. This service is currently expanding to increase local and state-level response. Once you are connected, a trained crisis counselor listens to you, works to understand how your problem is affecting you, provides support, and shares resources that may be helpful. Texting is available in both English and Spanish (988 Frequently Asked Questions, n.d.).

DOO 911 AND 988 CORRELATE??

SAMHSA is working towards a long-term vision of strong coordination between the two services so people in crisis get to the most appropriate care needed in that moment. SAMHSA is actively working with 911 counterparts at federal, state, and local levels as our country continues to improve the coordinated and appropriate response to mental health and substance use crises (988 Frequently Asked Questions, n.d.).

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 988 AND 211 

In most states, the 211 system provides health and social service assistance information and referrals. At the same time, 988 crisis counselors will provide support for people in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress in the very moments they need it most. While generally being different in scope, these systems need to be aligned, and in many cases, local Lifeline centers also respond to 211 contacts. We envision that 988 crisis centers will need to continue to coordinate with 211 and other warmlines. This will help ensure an all-inclusive approach regardless of which number a person may use first (988 Frequently Asked Questions, n.d.).

References

988 Frequently Asked Questions. (n.d.). Www.samhsa.gov. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/faqs#about-988

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Thank You, Harm Reduction Workers

 

Thank You, Harm Reduction Workers

To the harm reduction workers who work tirelessly to help people who use drugs.

Thank you:

• Thank you for providing clean needles and syringes, naloxone, and other harm-reduction supplies.
•  Thank you for offering counseling, case management, and other support services. 
• Thank you for advocating for harm reduction policies and programs. 






Your work is essential. You are helping to save lives and improve the health and well-being of people who use drugs. You are also helping to reduce the stigma associated with drug use. We are grateful for your dedication and commitment. You are making a difference in the world.

Here are some specific examples of the work that harm reduction workers do:

• They provide clean needles and syringes to people who inject drugs, which helps to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis C.
• They offer naloxone training to people who use drugs and their loved ones, which can help to reverse an opioid overdose.
• They provide counseling and case management services to people who use drugs, which can help them get their lives back on track.
• They advocate for harm reduction policies and programs, which can help to make it easier for people who use drugs to get the help they need.

Harm reduction workers are on the front lines of the fight against drug use. They are working to save lives and improve the health and well-being of people who use drugs. They are also working to reduce the stigma associated with drug use. We are grateful for the work that harm reduction workers do. They are making a difference in the world. 

If you are interested in getting involved in harm reduction, there are many ways to do so. You can volunteer at a harm reduction program, donate to a harm reduction organization, or advocate for harm reduction policies. Together, we can create a more compassionate and supportive society for people who use drugs.

How Harm Reduction Programs Benefit Society

• Harm reduction is a public health approach that aims to reduce the negative consequences of drug use, rather than requiring people to abstain from drugs altogether. This approach has been shown to be effective in reducing overdose deaths, infectious diseases, and other harms associated with drug use.

• There are many ways that harm reduction programs benefit society. First, they can help to reduce the number of overdose deaths. In fact, a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that states with syringe exchange programs had a 43% lower rate of HIV infection among people who inject drugs than states without these programs.

• Second, harm reduction programs can help to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. For example, needle exchange programs provide clean needles and syringes to people who inject drugs, which helps to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis C.

• Third, harm reduction programs can help to reduce crime. People who use drugs are more likely to commit crimes in order to support their drug habit. Harm reduction programs can help to reduce crime by providing people with access to treatment and other services that can help them get their lives back on track.

• Fourth, harm reduction programs can help to improve public health. By reducing the negative consequences of drug use, harm reduction programs can help to improve the overall health of individuals and communities.

• Fifth, harm reduction programs can help to reduce stigma. By treating people who use drugs with respect and compassion, harm reduction programs can help to reduce the stigma associated with drug use.

In conclusion, harm reduction programs offer a number of benefits to society. They can help to reduce overdose deaths, infectious diseases, crime, and public health problems. They can also help to reduce stigma. Harm reduction is a compassionate and effective approach to addressing the problem of drug use.

 Some Anatomy on Postoperative Pain

Nociception is the neural processing of injurious stimuli in response to tissue damage ( 2023). Nociception starts at the sensory receptors; however, the perception does not start until the brain gets the signal. There are several of these nociceptive pathways that lead to the brain. Most axons  (which are nerve fibers that conduct electrical impulses) that carry nociceptive information to the brain from the spinal cord project to the thalamus. Their final processing takes place in the primary somatosensory cortex. There is one nociceptive pathway that projects directly to the hypothalamus in the forebrain. This area modulates the cardiovascular and neuroendocrine functions of the autonomic nervous system. This pathway is responsible for stimulating the sympathetic branch of the visceral sensory system, which gives you a fight-or-flight response (2023). 

Afferent neural pathways mediate the sensation of pain. Acute post-surgical pain has three categories

• nociceptive
• occurs in response to stimuli such as direct intraoperative tissue injury (Horn & Kramer 2022).
• inflammatory
• This pain occurs when the nociceptive fibers become sensitized which is in response to the release of inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and can last hours to days.
• neuropathic
• This pain is more chronic and it results from injury to neuronal structures.

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Postoperative pain is characterized as somatic or visceral.

• Somatic pain is the type of pain you feel in your skin, muscles, joints, and bones. 1 It can feel like a gnawing, aching, cramping or sharp.
• Visceral pain comes from your organs 

The goal for pain management aims to target the afferent pain pathways by different mechanisms such as antagonizing pain receptor activity or blocking the production of proinflammatory mediators

• Approximately 75 percent of patients who undergo surgery experience acute postoperative pain, which is often medium-high in severity (Horn & Kramer, 2022).
• Less than half of patients undergoing surgery report adequate postoperative pain relief.

"Inadequate postoperative pain control may lead to adverse physiologic effects among patients in the immediate postoperative period and places them at increased risk of developing chronic pain associated with the procedure (Horn & Kramer, 2022).

• Severe persistent postoperative pain affects 2 to 10 percent of adults.

References

 Horn, R., & Kramer, J. (2022, September 19). Postoperative Pain Control. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544298/

(2023). Vitalsource.com. https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9781938168093/pageid/377

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