Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Academic Writing for Adults Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Academic Writing for Adults - Essay Example Otherwise, I understand I would have to take the Writing Workshop, which offers a more intensive training for students who have exceptional difficulty with their academic writing. I believe that I do not need to take the Writing Workshop. Far from experiencing â€Å"writing anxiety,† I have a strong interest in writing, and my personal goal is to learn how to write more effectively. I believe that Academic Writing for Adults will be a good venue in which I could pick up pointers for improving my writing style. I understand that the course is for academic writing, which will provide me a greater opportunity to express myself better through my writing for the purpose of passing my courses, maybe even get better grades. In my youth, I had moderate difficulty in writing; I believe, though, that it was not so much because I was afraid of writing, or because I did not know how to write. At a young age, there appeared to be little to write about. I felt that I had not experienced as much as I had to in life, for me to gain enough insight to write about things. Of course, it was different about lessons. When needed, such as in an examination where essay writing was required, I usually could find enough to say, in order to create a decent-enough essay, and was confident in writing. When the type of writing is about impersonal things, such as subject matter that comes from lessons or a book, I have had little problems in writing. You might say that these are things that could be studied and memorized, then repeated when it becomes necessary to do so. Student’s last name However, when the requirement is to write about my personal insights and to venture my own opinions, I sometimes grope for the words that I must put together, in order to express what is formed as a concept in my own mind. Because of this, I feel that my problem with writing is not so much in the area of spelling or grammar, but one of a higher level, dealing with the finer points of writing , and the techniques to convince and entertain the reader. Now that I am joining an adult class, I feel that I have had more experience and more insights that I think are worth sharing. From my exposure to the outside world in the course of growing up, I have picked up a bit more vocabulary, even a bit more of the idiomatic expressions and common sayings that may be useful in forming my own statements and expressions. Needless to say, the more advanced means of communication has helped a lot in providing all of us with a ready source of information. Social networking, for instance, gives us all a chance to write to countless people in the world, to exchange ideas and to interact at a personal level in a manner that enriches us. This technology was not available to me in my youth; for this, I believe the youth today are in an enviable position, to be able at an early age to write and communicate with everybody else in the world and to grow together as a global community. I may be goi ng beyond the scope of a mere academic writing course, but I believe that writing is the key to reaching out through a more permanent medium than just conversing by speaking. Sometimes it is easier to get a message through by talking, because when we run out of words, we can use gestures and body language to get the message through. Writing is different, because one has to put down in a sheet of paper what one wants to say, without the use of facial expressions, body language, or other actions. The reader has only the words that the Student’s last name writer has put down on paper (or electronic medium) in order to grasp the message the writer wants to convey, in the way he wanted to convey it. The course if for academic writing, I understand. Eventually, though, I hope I could develop my writing skills to the point of

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Is It Ethical To Use Animals In Medical Testing?

Is It Ethical To Use Animals In Medical Testing? Medicine is very complicated field. There is no doubt that it has helped human beings through history to live longer, but it has had its bad times too. Because of medicine we have found cures for various diseases, and now can extend our lives for years. Medicine is helping animals too. However, on occasions, medicine is a very controversial field, and animal testing is one of the most controversial fields of medicine. Some people and medical experts regard animal testing as necessary and helpful in discovering various cures. On the other hand, many animal right groups, and also medical experts, consider animal testing cruel and unnecessary. In my opinion animal testing is unethical and if not forbidden it should be limited to the maximum. Animal testing kills innocent animals in the cruelest ways such as dissection, poisoning, vivisection, toxicology testing, and other methods. To better understand why animal testing is unethical and why it should be limited I will present the pros a nd cons arguments of animal testing. First of all, animal testing should be forbidden because for certain products there is no need for testing. There are products, which pose no danger to the human health, but medical personnel still performs tests on animals to see the results. These are just in case tests, which kill animals for no cause. For example, killing animals just to find out if a shampoo or soap smells good is unethical. Medical companies, and experts, should create some kind of ethical code for animal testing. For example, animal tests are forbidden for products that do not cause serious health problems in human beings. Lab experts and doctors should find other ways how to conduct safety testing for such basic products, and limit the number of animals that are killed. Additionally, many experts argue that results from animal testing may generate at least two or more different outcomes. For example, soap may cause allergy in rats, but not in rabbits. In this case both animals would be killed for no result. Also, blinding or killing a rabbit just to see if some new kind of mascara is satisfactory is very cruel and unethical. Further, animals are different from human beings they have different bodies and other organs, so testing on animals may not bring the expected results. Rats, frogs, or rabbits may react to some chemical or drug, but this does not guarantee that the reaction will be the same or similar when tested on human beings. Because, humans are different from animals there is no need for animal testing. Medical workers should find more efficient ways to test products that will get them the right results. According to many animal rights groups and medical experts, that are against animal testing, the biggest argument against animal testing is that there are now many other alternative testing methods available. The medicine has become so advanced that animal testing is obsolete. If we want more accurate and real results we can use human cells for testing. They may show the exact reaction and results from drugs or other testing. Also, tissue studies are very advanced methods for testing medical cures and drugs. Tissue samples can be used to analyze the effects of a soup or other body creams, or an allergen or other type of drug. These tissue experiments will show the desired effects on human beings. Because of the above mentioned alternative testing methods, and many others which are available nowadays, animal testing should be banned or very limited, as there is no need for it. Even though, many people consider animal testing cruel and unethical, many other consider it essential for achieving the desired medical results. These pro animal testing groups have their arguments about this issue. One of their strongest arguments is that medical research saves millions of lives each year. Because of testing on animals, they argue, medical workers around the world could find cures to HIV/AIDS, cancer, Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, and many other non-curable diseases as of the moment. Therefore, those supporters of animal testing argue that if animal testing is eliminated there may be some future problems in finding new cures for existing and new diseases. That is why animal testing is so important. Another argument for animal testing is that animal testing not only helps human beings, but it also helps animals. During the last two to three decades, the discovery of various cures for animal diseases has increased dramatically. Animals today live longer compared to 40 to 50 years ago. Pro groups argue that thanks to animal testing, animals now have better chance to survive diseases and injuries. Animals are treated from various diseases thanks to them and the experiments done on them. Nowadays, a whole field of medicine is dedicated to animals. Doctors are performing surgical operations on animals; horses and dogs and other domestic animals are treated for various kinds of viral infections, etc. Also, defenders of animal testing argue that if there were other testing techniques, that can substitute animal testing, then they will accept them. But, as of the moment, according to them, there are no other advanced testing techniques. That is why now and in the future, until some other testing methods are found, animal testing remains the most valuable testing method. People and medical science are massively dependent on animal testing to find cures for some serious diseases. Moreover, as some supporters of animal testing claim, we should be more concerned with saving human lives than with saving animal lives. According to them, animals are worthy to some respect, but they are not as worthy as a human live. Many of them argue that if a person comes in the situation to choose between saving the life of a rat or the live of his mother, the answer is already known. That is why, animal testing should be allowed, because saving human lives is more beneficial than saving animal lives. However, the testing processes and experiments should be controlled. Finally, the strongest argument for animal testing is that the complaints of the people, who are against animal testing, are not correct and they are vague, and they do not constitute serious arguments. The pro groups argue that animal testing has generated very valuable information of how certain drugs, and other medical cures, work inside human bodies. Because of animal testing we are where we are in medicine today. Even though, both pro and cons groups have strong arguments, according to me, animal testing is unethical and cruel. Maybe it should not be forbidden altogether, but certainly it should be limited. Animal testing should be used when looking for cures for some serious disease such as cancer. But, it should be strictly controlled when the testing is done for products that cannot harm human health, such as testing animals for detergents. The medical companies and experts around the world should seat and discuss ways to reduce animal testing to the minimum. There should be some ethical standards of how animals should be used and treated during tests.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Iceberg As Metaphor For Life :: essays papers

Iceberg As Metaphor For Life The poem " The Iceberg" by Sir Charles G.D. Roberts was written in 1931 when Roberts was 71 years old. When one is amidst old age a person tends to reflect on life. Experience of the past come to mind and you begin to reflect more on birth and death. This poem is an interpretation of Roberts's reflection on life and death and his course throughout life. The poem "The Iceberg" is a metaphor for life, it is the voice of something that has approached the end and is facing death with the peacefulness of calm waters but with the forcefulness of a massive iceberg. What makes the poem more personal is that it is written in free verse. Free verse is known as "open form" verse. It is printed in short lines rather than continuity of prose, it differs because its rhythmic pattern is not organized into meter. Most free verse also has irregular line lengths and lacks rhythm1, all of which this poem possesses. Writing the poem in free verse allowed the poet to express himself fully and without any limitations. This coincides with the poem being written in the modernist period, which was first and foremost an era in which all traditionalist literary forms of the 19th century were abandoned. Roberts had many philosophical influences and they are clearly seen in his poetry. The iceberg can represent the human consciousness and the three levels (id, ego and the super ego) which in psychology are often put into a iceberg like diagram. Throughout the poem the reader should realize that the iceberg is a metaphor for life and the human form. Essentially we are like the iceberg in which only the tip is showing. Therefore the iceberg in the poem becomes a human life form and is personified in that it is able to think and speak on a human level. "The Iceberg" leads the reader through the road of life, its very much like a map outlining the many hardships and stages the human form and psyche will go through . The poem is most of all a reflection of Roberts coming to terms with the possibility of death and the memories of childhood and birth. The poem starts with the birth of the iceberg as it is "spawned" from something larger.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Eating Disorders

A Mental Health diagnosis that I would like to focus on for this paper is the eating disorder of Anorexia Nervosa. Eating Disorders became a recognized topic of subject due to health difficulties that later caused many people to die in America. According to Ekern (2017) Eating disorder is an illness that is characterized by irregular eating habits and serve distress or concern about body, weight or shape (Ekern,2017). When dealing with an eating disorder, it can involve lacking or having very small food intake which can eventually harm a person's health. The most well-known types of dietary issues incorporate Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and binging. The topic of discussion for this paper is Anorexia nervosa (also known as Anorexia). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Anorexia nervosa has been recognized for centuries. Sir William Gull coined the term anorexia nervosa in 1873, but Richard Morton likely offered the first medical description of the condition in 1689. Despite its long-standing recognition, remarkably little is known about the etiology of, and effective treatment for, anorexia nervosa. Prevalence rates for anorexia nervosa are generally described as ranging from 0.5% to 1.0% among females, with males being affected about one-tenth as frequently (Attia and Walsh, 2007). According to the site National Eating Disorders (2018), Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by weight loss (or lack of appropriate weight gain in growing children); difficulties maintaining an appropriate body weight for height, age, and stature; and, in many individuals, distorted body image. People with anorexia generally restrict the number of calories and the types of food they eat. Some people with the disorder also exercise compulsively, purge via vomiting and laxatives, and/or binge eat (National Eating Disorders, 2018).I believe that when a person is heavily bothered by making sure he or she meets their specific ideal weight, he or she will do whatever it takes to have that ideal weight for whatever desires they may want to have it for. According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Anorexia nervosa commonly begins during middle to late adolescence, although onsets in both prepubertal children and older adults have been described. Anorexia nervosa has a mortality rate as high as that seen in any psychiatric illness and is associated with physiological alterations in virtually every organ system, although routine laboratory test results are often normal and physical examination may reveal only marked thinness (Attia ; Walsh, 2007). I've even seen people who would not even appear as though they are fat and will end up suffering from Anorexia nervosa. This is one of the reasons why a person should not judge someone even if he or she may be thin. If a person believes that they are truly fat, then that individual may have a higher risk of suffering from this Mental Health diagnosis. According to Attia and Walsh (2007), DSM-IV describes two subtypes of anorexia nervosa—the restricting subtype, consisting of those individuals whose eating behavior is characterized by restriction of type and quantity of food without binge eating or purging behaviors, and the binge-purge subtype, consisting of those who also exhibit binge eating and/or purging behaviors, such as vomiting or misuse of laxatives (Attia and Walsh, 2007). Having a loved one, patient, or client who is battling with this eating disorder must know that eventually that person will need to seek help in the future. There are many cases where there is a friend, family, or counselor whom is concerned about someone's well-being. This is where they will have to have an intervention and/or treatment group for that person. There are many behavioral counseling and therapy sessions such as support groups, psychoeducation therapy, cognitive therapy, and education on nutrition for clients whom are battling with Anorexia nervosa. According to Attia and Walsh (2007), The course of anorexia nervosa is highly variable, with individual outcomes ranging from full recovery to a chronic and severe psychosocial disability accompanied by physical complications and death. Intervention early in the course of illness and full weight restoration appear to be associated with the best outcomes (Attia and Walsh, 2007). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Adolescent patients have a better prognosis than do adults. One-year relapse rates after initial weight restoration approach 50%. Intermediate and long-term follow-up studies examining clinical samples find that while a significant fraction of patients achieve full psychological and physical recovery, at least 20% continue to meet full criteria for anorexia nervosa on follow-up assessment, with many others reporting significant residual eating disorder symptoms, even if they do not meet full criteria for anorexia nervosa (Attia and Walsh, 2007). Treatment for Anorexia NervosaIndividuals who suffer from Anorexia nervosa often need guidance, treatment and support from others to get through their mental illness. However, some individuals may feel as though there is no one there to help them during their time of need. A person suffering from this disorder may often hide what he or she may experience on a daily basis from fear of embarrassment or judgement from others. According to Knapp (2017) Eating disorders are multidimensional disorders that impact physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects of a person's life. As a result, people often require several types of interventions in order to recover (Knapp, 2017). This section will explore how a social worker will form a treatment group with someone who may suffer from Anorexia nervosa. According to Sequential Stage Theory, the social worker will use 5 different stages known as the Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning. These stages move group members from an immature state to a more mature state.This will be a Closed- Group due to the hypersensitive diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa meaning that this is a group not meant for just anyone to come into. In the first stage, the social worker will work on Forming the Treatment Group. The social worker will work on setting the structure of the group i.e. what to keep inside the group. The social worker will understand that she is working with someone who suffers from a Mental Health Diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa, so this means that rules will be discussed in this stage. Acceptance of the group members is being built in this stage. Each group member will introduce themselves and begin to build relationships.The second stage is known as the Storming stage. This stage is also known as the testing stage in which the group members are getting a feel of what to expect. Some members will be dominating and/or controlling where as other members may not be as talkative. As learned from documents in the class, the group members will have to bend and mold their feelings, ideas, attitudes, and beliefs to suit the group.The third stage is called the Norming stage. As learned from documents presented in this class, in order to move to the next stage, the group members will have to change their mentality from a testing mentality into a problem-solving mentality for treatment. The group members will begin to understand the norms of the group and will actually begin to work on ways to reach their goals. The group members must now understand in this stage that treatment will be needed to reach their goal of not suffering from Anorexia nervosa any longer. They must be willing to accept that they will no longer suffer from thoughts of worthlessness, anxiety or depression.The fourth stage is called the Performing stage. This is the stage that the group members will focus majorly on obtaining treatment that will aid them in reaching their overall goal. Evidence- Based Treatments for Eating Disorders, in general, include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Family Based Treatment (FBT), Psychopharmacology (Medicine). Even though Anorexia nervosa is known as a serious illness, Therapy is a treatment that can help an individual through Anorexia nervosa. According to Knapp (2017), a clinical social worker often will provide psychotherapy while acting as a bridge to connect you to additional resources for a medical evaluation and nutritional assessment/counseling, both of which are also critical arenas for intervention (Knapp, 2017). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Effective treatments generally assess outcome by weight and behavioral change. Nonspecific support needs to be paired with expectation of progress in measurable medical, behavioral, and psychological symptoms. Weight restoration is generally associated with improvement in a variety of psychological areas, including mood and anxiety symptoms (Attia and Walsh, 2007). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), In contrast, psychological improvement without accompanying changes in weight and eating behavior is of limited value. Patients and families should be informed about the physiology of weight gain, including the substantial number of calories required daily (Attia and Walsh, 2007).According to Attia and Walsh (2007), A family-based outpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa, also called the â€Å"Maudsley method,† may be helpful for younger patients. This approach empowers the parents of a patient with anorexia nervosa to refeed their child, renegotiate the relationship between child and parents to involve issues other than food, and help their child resume normal adolescent development without an eating disorder. Several preliminary studies have shown promising results for family therapy with adolescent patients (Attia and Walsh, 2007). There are multiple options of Outpatient Services when it comes to an individual understanding what may work for them to obtain the best treatment plan as a way to get better. According to Knapp (2017), Psychotherapy can be in an individual, couples, family, and/or group format. Many individuals who are seen as an outpatient may require more than one kind of therapy (Knapp, 2017). Knapp used an example of a student who is in college who is away from home who may attend an individual/ group Psychotherapy session weekly and then also need to have a family Psychotherapy session intermittently. The social worker also may make a referral for the client to see their primary physician or a referred doctor may evaluate his or her health status and provide treatments, in which they can often provide medical evaluation and follow-up care. A social worker can also make a referral to a registered dietician who can provide nutrition assessment and counseling. This is extremely essential if the person needs help learning or remembering what normal eating is. Furthermore, if necessary, a social worker can make a referral for the client to have Psychiatric evaluation/follow-up. It is necessary for some individuals with eating disorders, especially for those who also struggle with depression and anxiety. Antidepressant medications, especially SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), are often prescribed to treat depression and possibly to reduce cravings. If the social worker may find it fitting for their client to be a part of Psychoeducational activities which include specific skills training, such as relaxation or assertiveness training, then the social worker can make a referral for his or her client. They can also include recommended readings about eating disorders and recovery. A social worker may also feel that it is beneficial for their client to attend Self-Help Groups. Self- Help Groups, for example, 12 Stage programs can offer help and a theory of recuperation. A social worker may find it beneficial to refer their client to Intensive outpatient programs (likewise some of the time called incomplete hospitalization) are typically entire day or night programs that incorporate eating suppers with different residents alongside psychotherapy. If the client is at a stage to where he/she may get medically worse from their sickness, then the social worker should make a referral for the client to go to a Hospital facility which can incorporate inpatient or potentially/private care specialized in eating disorders. Furthermore, Hospitalization is vital for the client if he/she is: At the point when a dietary issue has gotten to a state of causing a restoratively perilous condition, when it is related with genuine mental issues, for example, suicidal ideation, when it has prompted genuine self-damage, or when the power of the confusion does not react to outpatient treatment alone. It is important to be persistent in seeking treatment for an eating disorder, such as Anorexia nervosa. Factors such as general stress level, other emotional issues, the intensity of the treatment chosen, and readiness for recovery can make a difference in whether a particular course of treatment is successful. There is also a National Helpline sponsored through the National Eating Disorders Association for clients to talk with someone if need be and the hotline number is 1(800)931-2237. On the website for National Eating Disorders Association, there is also a list of other support resources for the client and/ or his or her family.The final stage is known as the Adjourning stage. This stage is also known as the termination stage. This stage is looked at as being the stage that the group members feel a sense of accomplishment and treatment has given. During the final stage, group members will learn to say good bye to one another as a form of ending their relationship. This may also induce feelings of stress and/or anxiety. During this stage, the social worker will also discuss with the group member his or her progression. The social worker should encourage the group member to continue with the progress he or she has made. If needed, the social worker should refer the group member to additional services that may be beneficial to other issues that he or she may face following termination. It is vital for the social worker to follow-up with the group member once services are terminated. Follow-up can help the group member from relapsing or even coming back for services. However, the social worker should give the group member the phone number to the agency in case services may be needed again.Conclusively, there are more people than we will ever know who may suffer from the Eating Disorder of Anoerxia Nervosa. As a social worker working with this population, it is important to understand exactly the signs of someone who suffers from it and ways to treat this particular population in focus. A social worker who conducts a Treatment Group should us the Sequential Stage Theory which is using the five different stages of Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning in order to treat the client. Eating Disorders A Mental Health diagnosis that I would like to focus on for this paper is the eating disorder of Anorexia Nervosa. Eating Disorders became a recognized topic of subject due to health difficulties that later caused many people to die in America. According to Ekern (2017) Eating disorder is an illness that is characterized by irregular eating habits and serve distress or concern about body, weight or shape (Ekern,2017). When dealing with an eating disorder, it can involve lacking or having very small food intake which can eventually harm a person's health. The most well-known types of dietary issues incorporate Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and binging. The topic of discussion for this paper is Anorexia nervosa (also known as Anorexia). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Anorexia nervosa has been recognized for centuries. Sir William Gull coined the term anorexia nervosa in 1873, but Richard Morton likely offered the first medical description of the condition in 1689. Despite its long-standing recognition, remarkably little is known about the etiology of, and effective treatment for, anorexia nervosa. Prevalence rates for anorexia nervosa are generally described as ranging from 0.5% to 1.0% among females, with males being affected about one-tenth as frequently (Attia and Walsh, 2007). According to the site National Eating Disorders (2018), Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by weight loss (or lack of appropriate weight gain in growing children); difficulties maintaining an appropriate body weight for height, age, and stature; and, in many individuals, distorted body image. People with anorexia generally restrict the number of calories and the types of food they eat. Some people with the disorder also exercise compulsively, purge via vomiting and laxatives, and/or binge eat (National Eating Disorders, 2018).I believe that when a person is heavily bothered by making sure he or she meets their specific ideal weight, he or she will do whatever it takes to have that ideal weight for whatever desires they may want to have it for. According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Anorexia nervosa commonly begins during middle to late adolescence, although onsets in both prepubertal children and older adults have been described. Anorexia nervosa has a mortality rate as high as that seen in any psychiatric illness and is associated with physiological alterations in virtually every organ system, although routine laboratory test results are often normal and physical examination may reveal only marked thinness (Attia ; Walsh, 2007). I've even seen people who would not even appear as though they are fat and will end up suffering from Anorexia nervosa. This is one of the reasons why a person should not judge someone even if he or she may be thin. If a person believes that they are truly fat, then that individual may have a higher risk of suffering from this Mental Health diagnosis. According to Attia and Walsh (2007), DSM-IV describes two subtypes of anorexia nervosa—the restricting subtype, consisting of those individuals whose eating behavior is characterized by restriction of type and quantity of food without binge eating or purging behaviors, and the binge-purge subtype, consisting of those who also exhibit binge eating and/or purging behaviors, such as vomiting or misuse of laxatives (Attia and Walsh, 2007). Having a loved one, patient, or client who is battling with this eating disorder must know that eventually that person will need to seek help in the future. There are many cases where there is a friend, family, or counselor whom is concerned about someone's well-being. This is where they will have to have an intervention and/or treatment group for that person. There are many behavioral counseling and therapy sessions such as support groups, psychoeducation therapy, cognitive therapy, and education on nutrition for clients whom are battling with Anorexia nervosa. According to Attia and Walsh (2007), The course of anorexia nervosa is highly variable, with individual outcomes ranging from full recovery to a chronic and severe psychosocial disability accompanied by physical complications and death. Intervention early in the course of illness and full weight restoration appear to be associated with the best outcomes (Attia and Walsh, 2007). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Adolescent patients have a better prognosis than do adults. One-year relapse rates after initial weight restoration approach 50%. Intermediate and long-term follow-up studies examining clinical samples find that while a significant fraction of patients achieve full psychological and physical recovery, at least 20% continue to meet full criteria for anorexia nervosa on follow-up assessment, with many others reporting significant residual eating disorder symptoms, even if they do not meet full criteria for anorexia nervosa (Attia and Walsh, 2007). Treatment for Anorexia NervosaIndividuals who suffer from Anorexia nervosa often need guidance, treatment and support from others to get through their mental illness. However, some individuals may feel as though there is no one there to help them during their time of need. A person suffering from this disorder may often hide what he or she may experience on a daily basis from fear of embarrassment or judgement from others. According to Knapp (2017) Eating disorders are multidimensional disorders that impact physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects of a person's life. As a result, people often require several types of interventions in order to recover (Knapp, 2017). This section will explore how a social worker will form a treatment group with someone who may suffer from Anorexia nervosa. According to Sequential Stage Theory, the social worker will use 5 different stages known as the Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning. These stages move group members from an immature state to a more mature state.This will be a Closed- Group due to the hypersensitive diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa meaning that this is a group not meant for just anyone to come into. In the first stage, the social worker will work on Forming the Treatment Group. The social worker will work on setting the structure of the group i.e. what to keep inside the group. The social worker will understand that she is working with someone who suffers from a Mental Health Diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa, so this means that rules will be discussed in this stage. Acceptance of the group members is being built in this stage. Each group member will introduce themselves and begin to build relationships.The second stage is known as the Storming stage. This stage is also known as the testing stage in which the group members are getting a feel of what to expect. Some members will be dominating and/or controlling where as other members may not be as talkative. As learned from documents in the class, the group members will have to bend and mold their feelings, ideas, attitudes, and beliefs to suit the group.The third stage is called the Norming stage. As learned from documents presented in this class, in order to move to the next stage, the group members will have to change their mentality from a testing mentality into a problem-solving mentality for treatment. The group members will begin to understand the norms of the group and will actually begin to work on ways to reach their goals. The group members must now understand in this stage that treatment will be needed to reach their goal of not suffering from Anorexia nervosa any longer. They must be willing to accept that they will no longer suffer from thoughts of worthlessness, anxiety or depression.The fourth stage is called the Performing stage. This is the stage that the group members will focus majorly on obtaining treatment that will aid them in reaching their overall goal. Evidence- Based Treatments for Eating Disorders, in general, include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Family Based Treatment (FBT), Psychopharmacology (Medicine). Even though Anorexia nervosa is known as a serious illness, Therapy is a treatment that can help an individual through Anorexia nervosa. According to Knapp (2017), a clinical social worker often will provide psychotherapy while acting as a bridge to connect you to additional resources for a medical evaluation and nutritional assessment/counseling, both of which are also critical arenas for intervention (Knapp, 2017). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), Effective treatments generally assess outcome by weight and behavioral change. Nonspecific support needs to be paired with expectation of progress in measurable medical, behavioral, and psychological symptoms. Weight restoration is generally associated with improvement in a variety of psychological areas, including mood and anxiety symptoms (Attia and Walsh, 2007). According to Attia and Walsh (2007), In contrast, psychological improvement without accompanying changes in weight and eating behavior is of limited value. Patients and families should be informed about the physiology of weight gain, including the substantial number of calories required daily (Attia and Walsh, 2007).According to Attia and Walsh (2007), A family-based outpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa, also called the â€Å"Maudsley method,† may be helpful for younger patients. This approach empowers the parents of a patient with anorexia nervosa to refeed their child, renegotiate the relationship between child and parents to involve issues other than food, and help their child resume normal adolescent development without an eating disorder. Several preliminary studies have shown promising results for family therapy with adolescent patients (Attia and Walsh, 2007). There are multiple options of Outpatient Services when it comes to an individual understanding what may work for them to obtain the best treatment plan as a way to get better. According to Knapp (2017), Psychotherapy can be in an individual, couples, family, and/or group format. Many individuals who are seen as an outpatient may require more than one kind of therapy (Knapp, 2017). Knapp used an example of a student who is in college who is away from home who may attend an individual/ group Psychotherapy session weekly and then also need to have a family Psychotherapy session intermittently. The social worker also may make a referral for the client to see their primary physician or a referred doctor may evaluate his or her health status and provide treatments, in which they can often provide medical evaluation and follow-up care. A social worker can also make a referral to a registered dietician who can provide nutrition assessment and counseling. This is extremely essential if the person needs help learning or remembering what normal eating is. Furthermore, if necessary, a social worker can make a referral for the client to have Psychiatric evaluation/follow-up. It is necessary for some individuals with eating disorders, especially for those who also struggle with depression and anxiety. Antidepressant medications, especially SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), are often prescribed to treat depression and possibly to reduce cravings. If the social worker may find it fitting for their client to be a part of Psychoeducational activities which include specific skills training, such as relaxation or assertiveness training, then the social worker can make a referral for his or her client. They can also include recommended readings about eating disorders and recovery. A social worker may also feel that it is beneficial for their client to attend Self-Help Groups. Self- Help Groups, for example, 12 Stage programs can offer help and a theory of recuperation. A social worker may find it beneficial to refer their client to Intensive outpatient programs (likewise some of the time called incomplete hospitalization) are typically entire day or night programs that incorporate eating suppers with different residents alongside psychotherapy. If the client is at a stage to where he/she may get medically worse from their sickness, then the social worker should make a referral for the client to go to a Hospital facility which can incorporate inpatient or potentially/private care specialized in eating disorders. Furthermore, Hospitalization is vital for the client if he/she is: At the point when a dietary issue has gotten to a state of causing a restoratively perilous condition, when it is related with genuine mental issues, for example, suicidal ideation, when it has prompted genuine self-damage, or when the power of the confusion does not react to outpatient treatment alone. It is important to be persistent in seeking treatment for an eating disorder, such as Anorexia nervosa. Factors such as general stress level, other emotional issues, the intensity of the treatment chosen, and readiness for recovery can make a difference in whether a particular course of treatment is successful. There is also a National Helpline sponsored through the National Eating Disorders Association for clients to talk with someone if need be and the hotline number is 1(800)931-2237. On the website for National Eating Disorders Association, there is also a list of other support resources for the client and/ or his or her family.The final stage is known as the Adjourning stage. This stage is also known as the termination stage. This stage is looked at as being the stage that the group members feel a sense of accomplishment and treatment has given. During the final stage, group members will learn to say good bye to one another as a form of ending their relationship. This may also induce feelings of stress and/or anxiety. During this stage, the social worker will also discuss with the group member his or her progression. The social worker should encourage the group member to continue with the progress he or she has made. If needed, the social worker should refer the group member to additional services that may be beneficial to other issues that he or she may face following termination. It is vital for the social worker to follow-up with the group member once services are terminated. Follow-up can help the group member from relapsing or even coming back for services. However, the social worker should give the group member the phone number to the agency in case services may be needed again.Conclusively, there are more people than we will ever know who may suffer from the Eating Disorder of Anoerxia Nervosa. As a social worker working with this population, it is important to understand exactly the signs of someone who suffers from it and ways to treat this particular population in focus. A social worker who conducts a Treatment Group should us the Sequential Stage Theory which is using the five different stages of Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning in order to treat the client.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Russia’s Economic Future

Russia's economic future Nowadays, Americans always come up with the rise of China and India as new economic powerhouses on the global stage. It’s easy to forget that another superpower in Asia – Russia – occupied the central spot in our nation’s foreign policy consciousness for almost five decades after World War II. But Russia still matters. In August, global wheat prices surged to two-year highs after Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced a ban on exports due to weather-driven supply shortages there.And the country remains a dominant supplier of oil and natural gas to the world market. Unlike China, however, the former Soviet Union has not been nearly as successful in making the transition from the communist era to a more market-based economy. According to Russia expert Bruce Parrott, not even the Russians are sure just what they want to be going forward. Although, the Russian economy faces serious challenges.Russian industry is not likely to regain a n important role in a global economy that demands peak efficiency. Consequently, the export of primary commodities and raw materials is likely to remain the bulwark of economic development. Primary commodity markets are relatively more susceptible to fluctuations than are industrial markets. Russia is likely to continue to be influenced by economic trends that it cannot control.International investors, including the major investment banks, commercial investors, and companies interested in expanding their businesses in world markets have remained on the sidelines, scared off by Russia's long-standing problems with capital flight, reliance on barter transactions, corruption of government officials, and fears of organized crime. The Russian government and leading economists in the country have developed an agreement on the need for various kinds of administrative changes.Failures such as corruption are not moral failures, but a failure of administrative structure. There is a consensus that the country needs to strengthen the institutional and legal underpinnings of a market economy. Improving the legal and regulatory structure would provide a reliable framework for improving governance, strengthening the rule of law, reducing corruption, and attracting the long-term capital needed for deep restructuring and sustained growth. The country also needs to improve its tax system to encourage greater tax compliance and a realistic appreciation in the opulation that the people must pay for the costs of a modern society. The government must avoid pressures to use central bank money to finance its budget deficit. Further reforms are needed in the banking sector, including a legal framework to make it easier to close down troubled banks. Any measures aiming to reduce poverty levels among workers are primarily associated with the increase in the official wages drawn by the lower paid workers, the majority of which are women, and also with the identification and taxation of i ncome in Russia's informal sector.A positive sign was that in mid-year 2000, the Russian government adopted an official development strategy for the period 2000-10. The strategy identified economic policy directed at ensuring equal conditions of market competition, protecting ownership rights, eliminating administrative barriers to entrepreneurship, making the economy more open, and carrying out tax reform. The strategy identified the creation of an effective state performing the function of a guarantor of external and internal security and also of social, political, and economic stability.The strategy spoke of a â€Å"new social contract† between the more active sections of Russian society and the reformed government. Analysts of Credit Suisse bank believe that in the next 10 years the Russian economy will grow by more than 60 per cent. They base their forecast on the Russian abundant natural resources, the active development of its energy infrastructure, as well as on the c ountry's strong scientific and technological base in certain industrial sectors.We foresee a bright future for the Russian economy, and we forecast an increase of 4. 9 per cent in 2011 and of 4. 6 per cent in 2012, said the Credit Suisse bank analysts. They believe that the Russian economy will thereafter be growing by 5 per cent annually and they believe that the major reason for the increase in the Russian economy is due to the well developed oil sector, which is still developing steadily.Head of the Russian Academy of Sciences' institute of economy's center for comparative study of transitional processes, Leonid Bardomsky has this to say about the forecast of the Swiss analysts: â€Å"The Swiss analysts have made a conservative forecast, taking into account that in the last decade the Russian GDP has doubled. The experts have cautiously predicted an increase of 60 per cent, in view of the fluctuation of oil prices on the global market, where there is the expectation of an increa se of 60 per cent which is normal for the sector.Income from oil can guarantee the mentioned 60 per cent increase, but reaching 100 per cent will require the development of nanotechnology†, said Bardomsky. He believes that the Swiss bank has no trust in this and hence its conservative forecast is based on global extraneous developments. Meanwhile, Russia's economy has many problems also. For example, it remains very vulnerable to external shocks and has not yet been able to develop a stable base for continued growth and poverty reduction.While the data are not yet sufficient to carefully assess the impact of the economic recovery on the enterprise sector, it appears that the rebound in the non-oil/gas traded goods sector has so far been driven by the real depreciation of the ruble and the greater availability of capital. Furthermore, there are indications that industrial growth is beginning to slow. Therefore, maintaining a realistic exchange rate, while controlling inflation, must remain a policy priority for sustaining the recovery and future growth of the real economy. Strong fiscal discipline needs to be maintained.A large swing factor is, of course, the level of capital flight, the reduction of which depends on progressive improvement in the investment climate in Russia. Finally, over the longer-term, Russia's deteriorating infrastructure is a matter of concern. Russia's basic public infrastructure—including roads, bridges, railways, ports, housing, and public facilities such as schools and hospitals—was built during the Soviet period. After independence, investment in maintenance and new construction of public infrastructure has fallen dramatically.Russia's aging physical plant is likely to become an increasing constraint to growth unless an improved investment climate can ensure substantially higher levels of investments than is presently the case. According to these problems, Russia should diversify its economy and not rely solely o n oil and gas if it wants to achieve a significant breakthrough; it should continue to keep the ruble weak in relation to other world currencies, to get the best from, the export of its raw materials.The Managing Director of the Department of Global markets of The New York-Mellon Bank, Michael Wolfork, says that in the first half of the New Year, prices of the Russian raw materials will increase as a result of high demands, and it will come about due to the lower exchange rate of the ruble against the dollar. European countries, the U. S and Japan will be buying more Russian goods if the ruble remains weak, said Wolfork. I think the world wants Russia to have a strong economy, to bring benefits not only to Russians, but also to the rest of the world.If the potential of the Russian economy increases, the economies of the rest of the world will likewise be boosted. Financial experts believe that by 2030, the Russian economy will become the strongest in Europe, and this view is backed by experts of Price Water House Cooper in a report circulated in the City of London, the financial center of Britain. It is believed by experts that by 2030, the Russian economy will become the 5th strongest in the world.