Compulsive Hoarding free essay sample

While some people believe it is not, hoarding is a mental disorder that is difficult to treat and is often judged as a personal problem rather than a mental disorder. The new appearance of television shows that are specific to this mental disorder, place this disease in the spotlight. Compulsive hoarding has become something that is looked down upon and that the person whom it is affecting is just messy and disgusting. Everyone has stuff, even if it’s a kitchen drawer filled with old thumbtacks, a spool of thread or old birthday cards tucked aside somewhere. We are genetically programmed to collect, accumulate, and save a variety of things. Our forbearers saved anything that could be materially useful. So, to want more and to keep it is fundamentally human-a common, usually normal, and natural behavior. Compulsive hoarding is the excessive acquisition of possessions and the failure to use or discard them. â€Å"People who hoard typically cannot stop acquiring things† (Hartl 2009). Many individuals who hoard do not get rid of things because they want to avoid making a decision about whether to keep it or throw it away. Another central component to compulsive hoarding is cluttered living spaces. Someone who hoards often feels embarrassed; avoid inviting others into the home; can’t find things; and often argues with spouses, family members or both about their hoarding problem. Hoarding is a disease that affects more than just the person suffering from the disorder but the lives surrounding that person as well. â€Å"Psychologists estimate that four million Americans do not ever throw anything away. During the last thirty years the size of the average American home has grown 53 percent, from 1,500 square feet to a little over 2,300 square feet† (Tunajek 2009). Hoarding behaviors can begin as early as the Hoarders 3 eenage years, although the average age of a person seeking treatment for hoarding is about 50. Hoarders often endure a lifelong struggle with hoarding. They tend to live alone and may have a family member with the problem. â€Å"It seems likely that serious hoarding problems are present in at least 1 in 50 people, but they may be present in as many as 1 in 20† (OCD 2010). Hoarding affects many types of people but is more prevalent in older adults. Many times hoarding is associated with a traumatic event in someone’s life resulting in the need to keep items in order to feel safe. Hoarders often call themselves â€Å"thrifty. † They may also think that their behavior is due to having lived through a period of poverty or hardship during their lives. Research to date has not supported this idea. However, experiencing a traumatic event or serious loss, such as death of a spouse or parent, may lead to a worsening of hoarding behavior. â€Å"In hoarding, people seldom seek to display their possessions, which are usually kept in disarray. In collecting, people usually proudly display their collections and keep them well organized† (OCD 2010). Most often, people hoard common possessions, such as paper, books, clothing, and containers. Some people hoard garbage or rotten food. More rarely, people hoard animals or human waste products. Often times collected are valuable but far in excess of what can be reasonably used. The definition of OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Compulsive hoarding was commonly considered to be a type of OCD. Some estimate that as many as one in four people with OCD also have compulsive hoarding† (OCD 2010). People with OCD may be plagued by persistent, unwelcome thoughts or images, or by the urgent need to engage in certain rituals. They may be obsessed with germs or dirt, and wash their hands over and over. They may be filled with doubt and feel the need to check things repeatedly. †In most individuals, compulsive hoarding Hoarders 4 appears to be a synd rome separate from OCD, which is assosiciated with substantial levels of disability and social isolation†(Alonso 2008). Compulsive hoarding is also considered a feature of obsessive compulsive personality disorder and may develop along with other mental illnesses, such as dementia and schizophrenia. Dementia is the progressive deterioration in cognitive function-the ability to process thought. Some signs and symptoms of dementia are memory loss, moodiness, and communicative difficulties. Having memory loss and compulsive hoarding could lead to dangerous levels of stuff in one’s home and not remembering what you have or where you placed an item can lead to more acquiring of the same item. Keep in mind that individuals with dementia are continuously losing parts of their lives. Losing a meaningful role in life, an income, friends, family, and a good memory can have an impact on a persons need to hoard and or to keep things safe. Hoarding in this population is oftentimes triggered by the fear of being robbed. Hoarding can be treated and with psychotherapy and medications and help individuals learn to have a more organized lifestyle. Cognitive behavior therapy is the most common form of psychotherapy used to treat hoarding. Learning to categorize and organize your possessions to help you decide which ones to discard is a form of treatment in hoarding cases. By practicing the removal of clutter with the help of a clinician or coach and then independently removing clutter is the usual method of treating people who hoard. Attempts to â€Å"clean out† the homes of people who hoard without treating the underlying problem usually fail. Hoarders whose homes are cleared without their consent often experience extreme distress and may become further attached to their possessions. This may lead to their refusal of future help. â€Å"In addition, mental health clinics do not ask questions about clutter and saving possessions as part of their routine diagnostic interviews† (Frost 2010). Hoarders 5 Another form of treating compulsive hoarding is medication. The medications most commonly used for hoarding are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), an antidepressant. This medication causes a boost in serotonin levels in the brain which can alter a person’s mood, for example helping a depressed person feel happier. Although some research suggests that people with hoarding symptoms are less likely to respond to SSRI’s, other research has found that the SSRI drug parozetine (Paxil) may improve hoarding symptoms as well as other symptoms associated with OCD. Medication alone does not appear to reduce hoarding behavior and medicine can be used to treat conditions that may make hoarding worse, like depression and anxiety. Hoarding has become a very interesting subject in America with the start of new television shows related to the disorder. On TLC’s Hoarding: Buried Alive television crews go into the homes of extreme hoarders to explore the psychology behind their compulsion to accumulate and store large quantities of nonessential things. The show first aired on March 14, 2010 at 10pm. Each episode will tell of two severe hoarders struggling with behavior that has made every day existence unbearable for both them and their loved ones. With the help of expert therapists and organizers, the hoarders will attempt to unlock the key to their obsessions in the hope of reclaiming their lives. Another television show that is popular is Aamp;E’s Hoarders. The show first aired on August 17, 2009. Each 60-minute episode of Hoarders is a fascinating look inside the lives of two different people whose inability to part with their belongings is so out of control that they are on the verge of personal crisis. The show is in its third season and continues to air people’s lives on air for everyone to judge. Hoarders 6 Both television shows are similar in their approach to the disorder and both shows bring a professional to the hoarder’s home to help them work through the cleaning process. Many people watch out of curiosity and to keep their own habits in check. It can be a motivational show to keep your own house clean but it can also be a place where someone with a serious problem is judged and looked down upon. Symptoms of hoarding are associated with feelings of joy, delight, guilt, fear and anger. Symptoms also include the inability to throw anything away and having the feeling that that particular item will keep you safe. â€Å"It has been found that clutter can lead to health problems including stress, weight gain, and physical hazards from an unhealthy environment. Most experts agree clutter can be a contributing factor to noncompliance to taking medications and keeping appointments, being able to exercise and eat well, and other healthy behaviors† (Tunajek 2009). The signs and symptoms of hoarding are apparent in some situations and in others because of the isolation of a person, no one may know how that particular person is living. Severe clutter threatens the health and safety of those living in or near the home, causing health problems, structural damage, fire, and even death. Expensive and emotionally devastating evictions or other court actions can lead to hospitalizations or homelessness. This can further cause problems for the hoarder and make it harder to live a â€Å"normal† lifestyle. Conflict with the family members and friends who are frustrated and concerned about the state of the home and the hoarding behaviors can lead to depression and continuing arguments. The lack of personal connections due to hoarding can keep away anyone who might visit, ultimately causing more of a depression and loneliness. Having severe clutter can make it difficult to reach anyone who might be in distress inside the home and potentially that person could die if they cannot be reached for medical attention. The clutter also makes it impossible to Hoarders 7 keep the home clean and sanitary for human habitation not to mention poor air quality from potentially rotting food or waste from animals. Hoarding can affect a person’s life in a traumatic way. That person can suffer from depression and be judged harshly by neighbors due to the view that television shows can portray. Many people who hoard do not get rid of anything because they want to avoid making a decision about whether to keep it or throw it away. The best option can be medications and therapy in treating compulsive hoarding with continued support from family and friends.

On Globalization and Sovereignty free essay sample

While some people may argue that the rise of modern technology brings about a global market, which subsequently compromises the necessity of sovereign states, this is not the case. Indeed, the perpetual development of superior technology facilitates international trade and communication. However, there is no evidence that the phenomenon called globalization necessarily leads to the dissolution of sovereignty. Globalization may make the state more difficult to manage, but the sovereignty nevertheless still remains. If globalization eradicated state borders, and united the world through its super effective forms of communications and electronic business transactions, then the result would be a singular body of people that has no evident leader to enforce law and order. Therefore, although globalization may create an image of borderless countries, the state still remains to prevent mass chaos and disorder. What is the actual effect of globalization? To say that the rise of technology creates an international trade system would be rather superficial. We will write a custom essay sample on On Globalization and Sovereignty or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page What globalization ultimately inclines towards is a potential market place with common technology, factor endowment, and prices (Adams 167). The result is a levelled playing field across the globe. Competition can start in one place, and have the same potential for success as a business on the other side of the world. The implications of this equilibrium of states, where all states basically provide the same opportunities to its citizens, are multifarious. For example, once the world reaches this equilibrium, do state borders really hold any value? Its as if the world comes together under the umbrella of international economy and trade, becoming a single entity, encompassing all of humanity. However, some countries will not enjoy the full benefits of globalization: the increased reliance on trade, external funds, and DFI [direct foreign investment] may constrain the ability of individual nation-states to pursue social agendas (Hadenius 273). In order to satisfy the global community, individual states face difficulty in dealing with local, national inquiries. Such extremities of international conformities become evident when countries abide to policies that must be made to ensure the stability of the global market. Influential NGOs that have active international agendas (276) will not be so kind as to consider state borders when it comes to fulfilling their goals. While these NGOs, such as the WTO, may have genuinely good intentions in creating a balanced economy and trade, some countries will be negatively affected by such changes. As Hadenius claims, politically weaker nations may find themselves unable to pursue more egalitarian agendas without serious consequences such as outflows of capital (273). When states comply to the demands of the global market, their individual strength weakens, for they must sacrifice sums of money for the sake of supporting globalization and its policies. Subsequently, with less funding to ensure power and authority in their own states, sovereignty is found to be in a dire situation of lack of control. In result, the country is simply a victim of autonomous, structural developments in the world economy (275). What power they had had to be exchanged for the satisfaction of the population, to keep up with the ever-changing trend of the world. Yet globalization does not hold any influence over the borders of a strong nation. Hadeniuss point specifies and focuses more on the weaker, poorer states. He claims so because poorer nations are much more reliant on DFI and external funds, while stronger nations are the ones that provide these funds and dictate the flow of the global market. However, the notion of rich and poor is irrelevant and trivial on the effects of globalization on sovereignty. What remains essential to understand is that in spite of the influences of globalization, states will linger and remain in existence. John Agnew proposes an idea that globalization has merely further complicated an already complex relationship between sovereignty and territory (Agnew 2). Agnews view on globalization is not solely on its economic implications; rather, globalization entails other sophisticated state affairs, such as immigration and national currency (Lentner 136). These complexities of globalization can be extended to Hadeniuss argument; although foreign aid and DFI may be a temporal solution for poorer states, these international interactions weaken states authoritative power and are complexities brought about by the rise of globalization. While complexities may weaken a states ability to govern itself, these exterior influences do not discredit the role of a state. Agnew claims states have never exercised either total political or economic-regulatory monopolies over their territories (Agnew 2). Expanding on his claim, states always have exterior powers that affect decision-making. However, the increase of these exterior influences by globalization does not imply the total loss of control of a state. Other authors, including David Smith, argue the same point: states, especially weaker states, have never been able to guarantee their control over activities within or across their borders (Smith et al. 34). Complexities, complementary with globalization, make state control difficult, but not impossible. Smith also lays out the fundamental types of sovereignty: interdependence, domestic, Westphalian, and international legal sovereignty. He argues that states may enjoy many combinations of these four types of sovereignty. The example he gives is of Taiwan: it may have Westphalian sovereignty (exclusion of external authority in governing), but lack international legal sovereignty (recognition of one state by another) (Smith et al. 35). In any case, globalization may occur, disregarding state borders, but the concept of sovereignty lives on, hardly affected by it. The existence of sovereignty is not eroded by the growth of globalization. However, is sovereignty still necessary? Can the world function solely on the concept of globalization, and without the notion of sovereign states? In addition to Smith stating that sovereignty is not being fundamentally transformed by globalization (34), the notion of sovereignty is absolutely essential in the process of maintaining order throughout the world. When globalization pushes the world into an equilibrium of egalitarian states by producing an equal opportunity for business, there is no authority structure that can definitely choose among competing normative prescriptions (34). NGOs may push states around, influencing decisions here and there, but nevertheless there remains no master organization that holds absolute authority over every state. Therefore, if by globalization a single body of people were to arise, the world would simultaneously plummet into anarchy, causing chaos and disorder ubiquitously. It is for this reason that individual state control is still necessary, even for the sake of globalization itself. Perhaps, one may propose that groups, such as the United Nation, act as a leader for globalization. However, the UN is not a singular entity that is comprised of the population of the world. Rather, the UN contains smaller segments of sovereignty, which subsequently is responsible for a smaller portion of the world population. Unless the world can come as one, under a single ruling group, the concept of sovereignty will stand firm. However, ironically, if the world does unite, and an authoritative figure holds power over the population, then globalization effectively becomes a state-instituted phenomenon. This contradiction hints at the necessity of sovereignty in order for globalization to occur. Globalization is without doubt a compelling phenomenon that allows interaction between peoples across the entire planet. Yet, it would be rash and illogical to assume that such heightened global communication and trade infers the dissolution of sovereignty. Globalization can create more complexities to state affairs and make border control more difficult, but the sovereign state nevertheless remains to maintain order. Anarchy would arise if globalization were to rise without sovereignty. However, the individual is free to utilize globalization to their own benefit. As Hadenius artistically says, Modern technology was supposed to make Big Brother omnipotent, watching you into submission; instead, it enabled us to watch Big Brother into impotence (Hadenius 263-4), we ought to manipulate the implications of globalization to better our corrupt political system. With mass communication and media, we have the option to be aware of political issues throughout the globe, and more importantly, to correct critical issues in society. It is within the individuals volition to make use of globalization as an opportunity to better their own lives, but also the lives of others throughout the world as well.

buy custom Evidence Based Practice Nursing Research

buy custom Evidence Based Practice Nursing Research Evidence Based Practice in Nursing Research The nursing procedure that is discussed in this essay is the routine shaving of the surgical site. Nurses traditionally expect patients undergoing surgery to have hair removed from the surgical site with the aim of reducing infection at the surgical location. The shaving of hair at the surgical site has primary been done using the disposal safety razors. As much as the shaving of hair was believed to be more effective in the prevention of surgical site infections (SSI), many questions have been raised about its efficiency in terms of eliminating the risk factors on patients undergoing surgery. For instance, present research points to the view that the routine shaving of hair from the surgical site is in fact harmful, since it increases the threat of surgical site infections, and should be completely avoided in the contemporary nursing practice. Therefore, it is recommended that electric clippers must be used to remove the hair out of the surgical site immediately before the surgery. Moreover, it is important to instruct patients on effective hair removal strategies that will prevent them from doing so at home, and only hair that interferes with the surgery has to be removed.

OBESITY Thesis Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

OBESITY - Thesis Proposal Example The control group could be selected from the same sample of students who engage in active sports. The weight gain for both group of students is monitored for a specific period of time to establish the relationship between inactivity and obesity] 3. Does obesity play a major role in increasing the cost of healthcare in the United States?[Provisional answer: Yes, the cost of treating obese people in the country is raising] 4. Should the government enforce strict dietary and exercise regimen in schools to control incidents of obesity? [Provisional answer: Yes. Compulsory physical exercises and regulated diet should be imposed on all school-going children.] Thesis The government should enforce strict physical education program and dietary restriction in all schools to control the prevalence of obesity in the society. Nutritionists and researchers attribute poor dietary habits and lack of exercises as the major causes of obesity in the society (Bernard, 2007). These detrimental habits dev elop in the early stages of child development especially in schools.

EGBC report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

EGBC report - Essay Example Researches and extensive studies have shown a direct linkage between energy and population growth. Due to this reason, Egyptian government and other officials have decided to look for different ways which can reduce the GHG emission and power consumption. For the accomplishment of this goal, developing energy efficient building is the first step in identifying the alternative methods of efficient energy. There have been many proposals forwarded for improved performance but manpower and interest is absent here. Many people are experiencing this dilemma however some other people are looking for alternative systems in order to deal with this issue and increase awareness to other people about its importance. In subsequent paragraphs, there are some initiatives taken for the bridging the gap between code compliance and code design. In 2009, a major step was taken by Egyptian government in establishing Egyptian Green Building Council-EGBC. There are many international and national personalities who have become member of this council; they include NGO officers, government officials, ministers, labour leaders, contractors and prominent businessman. The objective of developing this council is to satisfy environmental conservations and energy efficiency by providing opportunities to investors to adopt BEECs and other existing codes. The purpose of focusing on new constructions is that by focusing on it, EGBC can utilize its leverage as an organization to persuade and educate builders, engineers, owners and contractors about the advantages of establishing green constructions on people, community and most significantly, to the nation. In this way, green construction can be a required objective for buildings, construction work and other projects as energy efficiency codes would be tools, material and road map to attai n that desired objective. The imperative motivation is to eradicate the clichà ©d perspectives related to the green

Ap Language and Composition Synthesis Essay Example for Free

Ap Language and Composition Synthesis Essay Society teaches the morally incorrect and socially unacceptable aspects of murder. George Orwell’s â€Å"Shooting and Elephant† and Foster the People’s â€Å"Pumped up Kicks† address the contrary, the instances in which society leads one to murder. Orwell’s switch from first to second person within â€Å"He wears a mask, and his face grows to fit it† reveals the distance that the murderer puts between himself and his action creating a sense of personal distain; the same sense of detachment is evoked through Foster the People’s dreamily synthesized lyrics. The short clauses without conjunctions â€Å"In an instant, in too short a time, one would have thought, even for the bullet to get there† increases the pace just as the murderous act occurs intensifies the guilt suddenly felt. On the contrary, as the chorus begins in â€Å"Pumped up Kicks† the music picks up pace with a lighter music layered over the heavy down beat evokes a sense of relief that that the murder will bring after society drove the murderer insane. Both Orwell and Foster the People address varying situations in which murder must occur through their written and melodic choices. Part 2Jonathan Swift’s â€Å"A Modest Proposal† and George Orwell â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† offer a satirical view of British Imperialism. Orwell openly mocks the British control of Burma through â€Å"I was all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British† which ironically reveals the disapproval of the governing body even by those that it employs. Swift’s absurd suggestion â€Å"that a young healthy child well nursed at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food† casts light upon the horrible treatment the Irish receive from the British while the radical suggestion parallels the extensive poverty Ireland experienced. Likewise, the thought of â€Å"shooting an elephant† develops a ridiculous idea about allowing death; the awkwardly large size of an elephant criticizes the outrageous living conditions within Burma. Orwell describes the elephant as â€Å"He took not the slightest notice of the crowd’s approach† which symbolizes the blind eye the British turned to the people of Burma. Similarly, Swift justifies babies as being good food for landlords because â€Å"they have already devoured most of the parents† relating the wealthy to cannibals because of their lack of humanity toward the poor. However, Orwell directly develops empathy toward the natives of Burma stating â€Å"It was perfectly clear what I ought to do† relating to shooting the elephant to please the people and gain acceptance. Swift’s constant sarcasm does not pity the poor, but it criticizes the British for allowing their way of life. Orwell’s narrative and Swift’s sarcastic essay critique the British government’s inability to uphold moral laws and just treatment for all people.

Free Essays - Im the King of the Castle :: Kafka Castle Essays

I'm the King of the Castle While reading I'm the King of the Castle, I noticed that Susan Hill used many different techniques to put a point across, the most important being her use of imagery. However her writing also has many other qualities such as good structure and her ability to think like her characters. In addition she manages to build up tension and uses different ways of emphasising words or phrases. All of these factors contribute to her unique evocative style and add to her reputation of being a very talented writer. In chapter Eleven, paragraph thirty-eight, she describes vividly how Kingshaw feels sick with fright when Hooper locks him in the shed. "He retched, and then began to vomit, all over the sacks, the sick coming down his nose and choking him. It tasted bitter. He bent forwards, holding his stomach. When it finished he wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his shirt. He was shivering again." This passage is an example of her excellent use of imagery. She conjures up a picture of the scene as well as expressing Kingshaw's fears and senses in an evocative style by using a scene that we can all relate to and understand. An example of Susan Hill's good structure is at the very beginning of the novel, when Hooper and Kingshaw first meet, Hooper sends Kingshaw a note saying 'I didn't want you to come here'. This sets up the story line from the beginning, leading us to expect events to come. Then at the very end of the novel before Kingshaw commits suicide, Hopper sends him a final note saying ' Something will happen to you Kingshaw'. She shows the ability to be able to think like a child, which adds to the overall affect of the book because the main character is Kingshaw who is a child. This process of her thoughts gives us a wider understanding of Kingshaw's character and his thoughts. Examples of her thinking like a child appear in many forms in the novel. One of them is her use of childish language and grammar. "Now, he thought, I know what Hooper is really like. He's a baby.