Erica Rigoroso

Tag: health

  • Unpacking the Stigma Around Tourette Syndrome

    Tourette Syndrome is a condition of the nervous system that causes those with TS to move or vocalize involuntarily. Though there is more awareness of the condition, some people may still misunderstand what Tourette Syndrome is and how those with the condition experience it.

    Keep reading to unpack the misconceptions about TS and understand the condition more.

      Why is Tourette Syndrome Misunderstood?

      Without the correct information, many medical conditions can be very misunderstood–including Tourette Syndrome. As a condition that affects the nervous system and causes involuntary movement or vocalizations, able-bodied people may find it unusual that someone with TS’s body works differently than theirs.

      While those with TS have different experiences than those without it, there is still no excuse for ignorance or discrimination. All people, regardless of their differences, deserve kindness and respect.

        Common Misconceptions About Tourette Syndrome

        One common misconception about Tourette Syndrome relates to vocal tics. Often played as a joke in movies or television, people with TS are depicted with their vocal tics being solely obscenities or expletives. According to the Tourette Association of America, only 10% of those with TS experience this kind of vocal tic.

        Another misconception about TS is that those with the condition are able to control their tics. This is false, as TS is a disorder of the nervous system that makes those with the condition move or vocalize involuntarily. 

        Something that some people may assume about TS is that those with the condition must live restricted lives that center around controlling their symptoms. This is untrue, as many people with Tourette Syndrome live ordinary lives just like any other person. While some people with the condition may experience more severe symptoms, TS is just part of their everyday life.

          Raising Awareness for Tourette Syndrome

          With a few misconceptions about Tourette Syndrome cleared, there is still more to understand about the condition. There are many advocacy groups dedicating their efforts to educating others about TS, along with providing support for those with it or their friends and family.

          The Tourette Association of America along with Tourettes Action are both well-known groups aiming to educate and inform the public about Tourette Syndrome.

            Conclusion

            Tourette Syndrome has many misconceptions about it because of how it is depicted in media, but also due to a general misunderstanding of how it affects the nervous system. Though the condition might seem confusing to those that are misinformed, there are many resources that provide information about TS. Educating others about Tourette Syndrome is incredibly important to those with the condition, as it can foster more support and understanding for those with the condition. Most importantly, this understanding is a show of respect and kindness for others, regardless of any differences.

            This article was written for Ferry Godmother Productions, Inc.

              1. How to Support Someone with Autism

                Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental condition that affects how a person interacts and communicates with others, along with affecting their learning and behavior. People with autism experience the world differently and may have different needs than those without the condition. Having an understanding of the condition can help raise more awareness of this unique experience and can make a significant positive difference in the lives of those with autism.

                Read more to learn how to support someone with autism.

                Symptoms of Autism

                Some common behaviors related to social interaction include:

                Autism encompasses a spectrum of experiences as it affects different aspects of a person’s life, with its symptoms differing in levels of severity. While not every person with autism experiences the same symptoms, many people on the spectrum may behave differently when it comes to social interaction/communication or exhibit restrictive or repetitive behaviors.

                • Using an unusual tone of voice when speaking, whether it is varying in intonation or monotonous
                • Making little or inconsistent eye contact
                • Using facial expressions, movements, or gestures that may not match with what is being said

                Restrictive or repetitive behaviors may include:

                • Becoming upset by slight changes in routine
                • Being overwhelmed by sensory input, such as light, sound, clothing textures, or temperature

                Supporting Someone with Autism

                With such a variety of symptoms, supporting the needs of someone with autism may look different from person to person.

                No matter the differences, as with any friend or family member, interacting with someone with autism requires care, patience, and respect. As mentioned earlier, understanding these different experiences will give you a better idea of how to interact with someone with autism positively.

                Some steps that you may take to support someone with autism are:

                • Showing interest in their interests, such as by asking them to talk or show them to you
                • Being clear and direct in your communication with them, which can include specifying why you are communicating with them (such as for a school project, or to socialize with them)
                • Providing a space for them with minimal negative sensory experiences, such as a quiet room with an adjustable light source

                Milestones Autism Resources, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of those with autism, provides a thorough list of practices for interacting with those with autism, emphasizing communication and encouragement.

                Other Forms of Support

                While there are many ways to support someone with autism on an individual level, there are also a variety of support groups and organizations that assist in providing resources for those with the condition and their friends or family.

                These may include local support groups, which can provide assistance and resources for supporting someone with autism.

                Conclusion

                Autism Spectrum Disorder can affect a person’s interaction with others and behavior. Understanding the different experiences that someone with autism has can help foster positive relationships and interactions with them, with support including respect, patience, and clear communication.

              2. How Virtual Reality Can Improve Mental Health

                Virtual reality can allow you to experience the world from the comfort of your home, ranging from immersive 3D worlds to fast-paced rhythm games. While it can bring excitement and wonder, virtual reality can be an effective way to find relaxation and calm the senses.

                Read more to learn how virtual reality can promote better mental health.

                Simon Riches’ Study on Virtual Reality and Mental Health

                Virtual reality is known for its immersive abilities. As a technology that grants a convincing digital perspective and hands-on experience, using these features for relaxation can be extremely effective. A 2023 study by clinical psychologist Simon Riches and his colleagues found that virtual reality is an effective tool to promote relaxation.

                The study followed 848 participants with conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and psychosis. Riches and his colleagues propose that virtual reality is a more accessible way to treat the stress these mental conditions may cause, as “stress management interventions for people with mental health conditions are numerous but they are difficult to implement and have limited effectiveness in this population.”

                How VR is Used to Promote Relaxation

                Riches’ study involved placing participants in a VR headset, mostly sitting down during the experience. It showed them nature-based environments like forests, islands, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and beaches to promote relaxation. Some participants could explore these digital landscapes and walk along a path, or touch the water of a waterfall. Other participants experienced a more stressful environment or exercise, such as walking on a shaky path.

                Similarly, in a 2022 study, clinical psychologist Jingni Ma and her colleagues found that natural landscapes in VR were effective tools to help promote mindfulness (“a mental state where one is focused on the present moment with non-judgmental awareness”) training in adults.

                Results: Virtual Reality Can Improve Mental Health

                The results of Riches’ study found that using VR to explore and experience virtual landscapes can promote short-term improvements in levels of relaxation, along with reduced anxiety or stress. Because of these results, VR was reported to be more or equally effective in comparison to non-VR relaxation techniques.

                Conclusion

                With all its possibilities, virtual reality can be a powerful tool to relax and de-stress. Experiencing digital landscapes in VR proves itself in multiple studies to promote better mental health as a source of relaxation and aiding in mindfulness training. Though VR can entertain and excite, it proves itself to do even more.
                If you are looking for more ways to reduce stress, read more at MagicFeet.club.

                This article was written for and belongs to Ferry Godmother Productions, Inc.

              3. Quarantine the past: looking at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected UMBC students

                By Erica Rigoroso

                The beginning of the COVID-10 pandemic changed the lives of millions around the world, including the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

                COVID precautions created a physical distance between students and professors as quotidian campus life came to an abrupt halt in March of 2020, and classes migrated online.

                But more than just physical distance separated students from campus life. Students at UMBC and other colleges experienced a mental distancing; not just from other students, but from feeling part of a campus community.

                Have students—and the university as a whole—recovered from the disruptions caused by COVIID?

                Trevor Jansen, a UMBC alumni who lived on campus in 2020 during the COVID lockdown said that he felt that UMBC managed the sudden transition to online learning from in-person classes.

                Jansen states the lockdown was handled “about as well as they could have considering the circumstances. The transition to online learning wasn’t seamless, but they managed to keep the school year going without any major disruptions.”

                He pointed out that not only student, but professors too had to adapt very quickly to a new way of teaching and learning.

                “It seems like professors were kind of thrown in the deep end and expected to swim with their classes.”

                Jansen says that he found it harder to connect to students and professors during online classes and meetings.

                “Things definitely felt more distant with online learning,” he said.

                “There was much less incentive to pay attention in class, and group activities were even more awkward online than they were in person. I got to the point where I would just leave a class if they started putting us into breakout rooms.”

                Though he said that he had some good classes during the online period with memorable professors, “I don’t remember them nearly as well or as fondly as the professors I got to see and meet with in person.”

                Fellow UMBC alumni Michael Fialkowski offers a slightly different take on how UMBC handled the sudden jump to online classes.

                “I felt so bad for the less tech-savvy professors; turns out its difficult to teach when you can barely work a Zoom room. I feel that it’s easy to forget how far everyone’s digital literacy has come since we were forced online for school and work, and we had to figure out how to do videoconferencing on the fly.”

                Fialkowski feels that the school could have done more to address the mental health effects of the pandemic for students.

                “I also know that those times were tough on the mental for many – but as far as I know we didn’t receive much guidance on seeking out counseling or other mental services.”

                COVID-19’s impact on college students

                A collaborating team of researchers from Chinese and American universities conducted a study on 335 college students monitoring their mental health experiences from the start of the pandemic in 2020 to two years later in 2022.

                The researchers wanted to examine the way that emotions like fear and happiness were connected to university students’ mental health and these effects on their education.

                Participants were screened for psychological disorders and answered questions that would measure their anxiety, depression, hostility, interpersonal sensitivity, and sleep symptoms over the two-year study.

                Other factors considered by researchers included which students received the COVID-19 vaccine and students testing positive for COVID. 60% of students tested positive for COVID, with more female students than male students being affected.

                The results of the study presented a correlation between the effects of the pandemic and college students’ mental health and education.

                Participants showed an increase in feelings of fear, stress, and decreased happiness, with a reported 95.7% of the sample reporting and experiencing moderate to severe mood disorders.

                In turn, the self-reported decline in mental health took a toll on how participants were able to retain information from class. Students reported an average score of 7.6 on a scale of 10 rating how much COVID affected their ability to learn during the pandemic, with 10 being the most severe.

                Another group of researchers reported their findings on COVID’s effects on 4,714 college students in New York and New Jersey, the largest and most diverse sample of college students as of April 2022.

                The researchers studied the psychological, academic, and financial health of college students, along with paying attention to how racial and ethnic groups may have had different experiences during the pandemic.

                They conducted a survey for the students, which included a broad range of topics, such as COVID-related stressors, social behavior, and financial, academic, and mental health changes.

                A large number of students reported changes in socialization both with their families and on social media, with 73% reporting less interaction with their friends and families, and 75% reporting more social media use compared to before the pandemic.

                In addition to the lessened levels of socialization among participants, most students reported a decline in their mental health. 74% of students reported feeling more depressed, 76% felt more anxious, and 83% experienced more frustration or boredom.

                Moreover, the shockwaves from the initial changes from the pandemic can still be felt by students in both their academic and social lives.

                The Return to Campus

                Eighteen months after the initial lockdown, UMBC opened its doors to in-person classes and residence halls at full capacity during the 2021 Fall semester.

                At UMBC’s annual Fall Opening meeting in 2021, Provost Philip Rous said, “I feel like I’ve waited a very long time to say this, but… welcome home.”

                Though some older students were returning to campus, and to their sense of “normal college life,” many new residents were experiencing college for the first time in a post-quarantine world.

                The 2021-2022 school year welcomed almost 2,100 new students to UMBC—the largest incoming fall class in UMBC’s history.

                What did it mean for students to come out of high school fully online and then come out into the world beyond the extent of COVID precautions?

                Jonah Sichelman, a third-year student who came to UMBC as a freshman in Fall 2021, expresses the kind of social anxiety he felt in the transition from high school to college.

                “My entire last year of high school was online and I wasn’t leaving the house much at all then, so I had definitely gotten used to note being around people or not making new friends,” he said.

                Despite his worries, Sichelman felt welcomed by the UMBC community and connected with others because of this shared experience.

                “It was surprisingly much easier to make friends than I thought it would have been because of how things had been beforehand. Living on campus made it surprisingly easy to make friends and meet people despite being in the middle of a pandemic.”

                As a returning student, Fialkowski felt not just relief about coming back to campus, but also a sense of gratitude. He believes that the struggles that the UMBC community faced as students and faculty experiencing quarantine brought people closer together.

                “Once we came back to campus, I felt that my classmates and professors took more care to connect with one another, and I had noticeable better relationships post-lockdown,” he said.

                “Maybe it took a pandemic to recognize that we shouldn’t take our relationships – no matter how small – for granted.”