Serenity
Serenity refers to a state of peacefulness where the mind is calm and unruffled by the external environment. This higher spiritual echelon, or inner peace, is accompanied by a sense of contentment and bliss. Human beings are distinct from all other life forms due to their intelligence and consciousness. The conscious mind perceives the external world and feels various emotions based on experiences and perception.
These feelings, emotions, and sentiments, in turn, determine our inner equilibrium or “inner life.” Consciousness, which stems from internalization of social values and morals, also plays a major role in directing the inner equilibrium. Most of the time, the inner life or equilibrium of a human mind is in a disturbed state. The mind is never at peace, and chaos reigns due to anger, shame, feelings of guilt, and sadness. The human mind strives to achieve the right balance or equilibrium. The eternal quest for the ultimate goal—bliss—proceeds in many directions.
Some seek respite in various forms of addiction, or others by passionately submerging themselves in work or pleasure. These paths, however, never satiate the true desire for peace or tranquility. Serenity, or peace, is achieved by striving for inner peace first. The most important step in this direction is to recognize the inner child of the mind. The second step emancipating the inner child from all forms of abuse and loving it unconditionally, like a child.
Self-love is the key to serenity. Self-love doesn’t require one to be directed by the inner child. One should take control as a conscious being and love one’s self, yet not be dictated by it. Some find serenity in nature; for others, serenity is found in visiting with family and friends. True serenity is achieved by empowering the inner life and allowing it to reflect the external life.
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March 10, 2010
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More Reasons to Quit Smoking
Recently, a pregnant cashier raced back to her post after a smoke break and explained to her customer that she was sneaking cigarettes when the baby’s father would not notice. She seemed oblivious to the harm her addiction could be causing the child.
But now there is a new way for mothers to gently break the cigarette habit, and it comes at a time when medical experts are finding increasingly alarming reasons for pregnant women to wean themselves from nicotine and tobacco.
Some studies indicate that smoking can as much as double a woman’s risk for having a low-birthweight baby. This occurs either due to the increased risk of preterm delivery or to poor fetal growth or both, caused by smoking. Low-birthweight babies are at risk of serious problems including cerebral palsy, mental retardation and learning problems. Smoking may lead to an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) after birth.
According to the Center for Disease Control, the chances of pre-term delivery, or any birth before 37 weeks, are much higher in women who smoke during their pregnancy. Babies who are born that early in the pregnancy are at a much higher risk for developmental disabilities while in the womb. This is because the chemicals in cigarette smoke can cause the mother to go into pregnancy before all the essential systems have had time to develop completely. Low birth weight can also increase the chances of early infant death or even death of the baby while still in the womb.
The medical journal “Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery” reported that smoking leads to an increased risk of having babies with webbed fingers and toes, and missing or extra fingers and toes. The study concluded that smoking half a pack a day increased the risk of having a baby with digit abnormalities by 29 percent. The study, which looked at live births in the United States in 2001 and 2002, recorded 5,171 infants with such defects.
Additional cigarettes bring even more alarming results, increasing the child’s risk by as much as 78 percent. These defects can lead to surgery and other unwanted complications for the infant.
When the mother smokes, so does the baby. Poisons such as nicotine get into the placenta, which connects the mother to the unborn baby. The placenta then becomes thinner, trying to spread to other areas of the uterus which may have more oxygen and nutrients. The thinning of the placenta can cause pre-term labor or placenta previa, a condition where the placenta covers the cervix.
Why in the world would someone risk the health of her baby? Addiction is many times defined as insanity.
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February 22, 2010
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METHAMPHETAMINE
Methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant that is closely related to amphetamine, but has longer lasting and more toxic effects on the central nervous system. It has a high potential for abuse and addiction.
Methamphetamine use is on the rise around the country. It has reached epidemic proportions mainly because it is easy to make using common household items.
Meth is often referred to as speed, chalk, ice, crystal, and glass.
The drug increases wakefulness and physical activity and decreases appetite. Chronic, long-term use can lead to psychotic behavior, hallucinations, and stroke. People who use meth often don’t sleep – sometimes for days on end. They lose weight quickly because the drug suppresses appetite.
Meth addicts often have lost some of their teeth, look gaunt, and will have sores on their body from nervous energy they are trying to get rid of.
National health statistics report that over 12 million Americans have tried methamphetamine with many of them quickly becoming addicted to the drug.
Methamphetamine is taken orally, intra-nasally (snorting the powder), by needle injection, or by smoking. Abusers may become addicted quickly, needing higher doses and more often.
Methamphetamine increases the release of very high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which stimulates brain cells, enhancing mood and body movement. Chronic methamphetamine abuse significantly changes how the brain functions.
Animal research going back more than 30 years shows that high doses of methamphetamine damage neuron cell endings. Dopamine- and serotonin-containing neurons do not die after methamphetamine use, but their nerve endings (“terminals”) are cut back, and re-growth appears to be limited.
Human brain imaging studies have shown alterations in the activity of the dopamine system. These alterations are associated with reduced motor speed and impaired verbal learning.
Recent studies in chronic methamphetamine abusers have also revealed severe structural and functional changes in areas of the brain associated with emotion and memory, which may account for many of the emotional and cognitive problems observed in chronic methamphetamine abusers.
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February 6, 2010
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