by Cup Of Nurses | Nov 3, 2023 | Podcast
Exploring the Wonders of Ketamine: A Revolutionary Approach to Mental Health
In recent years, ketamine has emerged as a groundbreaking therapy in the realm of mental health treatment, offering hope to those who have struggled with conditions that may not respond to conventional treatments. In this blog post, we will delve into the world of ketamine, examining what it is, how it works, its clinical applications, the conditions it treats, the subjective experience, and a comparative analysis with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has long been used in medical settings for sedation and pain management. Originally developed in the 1960s, it gained popularity as a recreational drug due to its hallucinogenic properties. However, in recent years, ketamine has found a new purpose in mental health treatment.
How Does Ketamine Work?
Ketamine’s mechanism of action is complex and not entirely understood, but it primarily involves antagonizing the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in the brain. By modulating glutamate, a neurotransmitter associated with learning and memory, ketamine is believed to induce neuroplastic changes that can alleviate symptoms of certain mental health disorders.
Clinical Applications:
Ketamine is now administered in clinical settings, often in low doses, to treat various mental health conditions, including:
- Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD): Ketamine has shown remarkable efficacy in individuals who have not responded to traditional antidepressants. Its fast-acting nature is particularly beneficial in crisis situations.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Some studies suggest that ketamine may help reduce the symptoms of PTSD, providing relief for those who have experienced trauma.
- Chronic Pain: Ketamine’s analgesic properties make it a valuable tool in managing chronic pain conditions.
The Ketamine Experience:
Ketamine induces a unique psychological state often described as a “psychedelic” or “out-of-body” experience. Users may feel detached from their surroundings, experience visual distortions, and perceive a heightened sense of introspection. It’s crucial to note that these effects are dose-dependent, and therapeutic doses are significantly lower than those used recreationally.
Ketamine vs. SSRIs:
1. Speed of Action:
- Ketamine: Rapid onset, often providing relief within hours.
- SSRIs: Gradual onset, may take weeks to months to show full therapeutic effects.
2. Efficacy:
- Ketamine: Demonstrates effectiveness in treatment-resistant cases.
- SSRIs: Effective for many individuals but may not work for everyone, especially in severe cases.
3. Duration of Effects:
- Ketamine: Effects may last days to weeks, necessitating periodic treatments.
- SSRIs: Continuous daily use is required for sustained effects.
4. Side Effects:
- Ketamine: Generally well-tolerated, but the potential for dissociation and transient increases in blood pressure.
- SSRIs: Common side effects include nausea, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction.
5. Administration:
- Ketamine: Typically administered intravenously or through intramuscular injections in a clinical setting.
- SSRIs: Taken orally as a daily medication.
Ketamine represents a paradigm shift in mental health treatment, offering hope for those who have exhausted traditional options. While its use is still evolving, the promising results in treating conditions like TRD and PTSD underscore its potential to transform the landscape of psychiatric care. However, as with any medical intervention, it’s crucial for individuals to consult with healthcare professionals to determine the most suitable approach for their specific needs.
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/tNoHtaZiDVo
by Cup Of Nurses | Oct 13, 2023 | Podcast
Unlocking the Secrets of Dreams: A Journey into Dream Analysis
Dreams have fascinated and puzzled humanity for centuries. They offer a glimpse into the enigmatic world of our subconscious, reflecting our deepest desires, fears, and unresolved issues. Dream analysis is a powerful tool that can help us decode these cryptic messages from our minds. In this blog, we’ll explore the intriguing realm of dream analysis, delving into the foundational theories of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.
Understanding Dreams: A Brief Overview
Dreams are a natural part of the human experience, occurring during our sleep cycles. They encompass a range of emotions, experiences, and scenarios that often leave us questioning their meaning and relevance. Throughout history, various cultures and societies have sought to interpret dreams, believing they hold important messages or insights into our lives.
Sigmund Freud and Dream Analysis
Sigmund Freud, a pioneer in the field of psychology, made significant contributions to dream analysis. He believed that dreams provided a gateway to the unconscious mind and were a representation of repressed desires and hidden thoughts. Freud introduced the concept of the “dream work” process, involving mechanisms like condensation, displacement, and symbolism.
Key Freudian Concepts in Dream Analysis:
1. Manifest Content:
The manifest content of a dream is the literal, surface-level storyline that we remember upon waking. Freud believed that this manifest content masked the true, hidden meaning of the dream.
2. Latent Content:
The latent content refers to the underlying, symbolic meaning of the dream. Freud emphasized that uncovering this hidden content was crucial for understanding our unconscious desires and conflicts.
3. Symbolism:
Freud argued that dreams often utilize symbols to represent suppressed thoughts or desires. Analyzing these symbols could shed light on unresolved psychological issues.
Carl Jung and Dream Analysis
Carl Jung, another influential figure in psychology, approached dream analysis from a different perspective than Freud. Jung believed that dreams held a deeper meaning and were a pathway to the collective unconscious. He emphasized the significance of archetypes and the process of individuation.
Key Jungian Concepts in Dream Analysis:
1. Archetypes:
Jung proposed that dreams contain universal symbols and themes known as archetypes. These archetypes, such as the hero, the shadow, and the anima/animus, represent fundamental human experiences and emotions.
2. Collective Unconscious:
Jung theorized the existence of a collective unconscious shared by all humans, containing universal experiences and memories. Dreams, according to Jung, connect us to this collective unconscious and offer insight into our shared human experience.
3. Individuation:
Individuation is the process of becoming the truest version of oneself. Dreams play a crucial role in this process by revealing aspects of our unconscious that we need to integrate to achieve wholeness.
Understanding dream analysis through the lenses of Freud and Jung provides a multifaceted perspective into the intricate world of dreams. Whether you align with Freud’s emphasis on hidden desires or Jung’s focus on archetypes and the collective unconscious, exploring your dreams can offer valuable insights into your psyche.
As you embark on this journey of unraveling dreams, remember that each dream is unique to the dreamer. By delving into dream analysis, you may uncover the keys to understanding yourself on a deeper level and unlocking the secrets that lie within your subconscious mind. Happy dreaming!
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/DIT7YmhLL2M
by Cup Of Nurses | Oct 3, 2023 | Podcast
Tall Poppy Syndrome is a term often used to describe a cultural phenomenon where successful or accomplished individuals are criticized, resented, or cut down by society, especially by those who may be less successful. This phenomenon is common in various societies around the world and can have significant effects on individuals and the community as a whole. In this blog post, we will explore what Tall Poppy Syndrome is, its effects, and ways to navigate success while being mindful of its implications.
What is Tall Poppy Syndrome?
Tall Poppy Syndrome is a social phenomenon where people who achieve notable success, recognition, or accomplishments in their field are subject to criticism, jealousy, or backlash from others in their community. The term “tall poppy” comes from the metaphor of a poppy flower standing tall among a field of shorter flowers, symbolizing exceptional achievement and visibility.
In essence, Tall Poppy Syndrome is a manifestation of envy or insecurity that can lead to attempts to diminish the success or prominence of the individual in question. People exhibiting this behavior might criticize or undermine the successful person, often with the aim of bringing them down to a perceived acceptable level or to make themselves feel better.
Effects of Tall Poppy Syndrome
Fear of Success: Individuals may develop a fear of achieving or showcasing their successes, fearing that they will be targeted by criticism or jealousy from their peers.
Stifled Growth:
Tall Poppy Syndrome can stifle ambition and deter people from pursuing their goals wholeheartedly. They may hold back on their potential to avoid standing out and inviting criticism.
Inhibition of Innovation:
When people fear criticism for their innovative ideas, they may shy away from sharing or implementing them, ultimately hindering progress and growth in various domains.
Impact on Society:
This phenomenon can have detrimental effects on society as a whole by discouraging excellence, progress, and innovation.
Navigating Success with Awareness
Stay True to Your Goals: Focus on your goals and aspirations, regardless of external criticism. Remember why you started and the difference you aim to make.
Build a Supportive Network:
Surround yourself with individuals who support and encourage your growth, success, and achievements.
Be Mindful of Your Actions:
While celebrating your success is important, be sensitive to the feelings and aspirations of others. Show empathy and offer support to those around you.
Mentor Others:
Use your success and experiences to mentor and guide others. Help them achieve their potential while fostering a positive environment.
Educate and Raise Awareness:
Spread awareness about Tall Poppy Syndrome and its effects on individuals and society. Encourage open discussions and promote a culture that appreciates success and hard work.
Tall Poppy Syndrome is a phenomenon that can negatively impact individuals and society, hindering growth and progress. It’s essential to stay focused on your goals, cultivate a supportive network, and educate others about the importance of celebrating success and fostering a positive environment. By being aware of this phenomenon and working towards a more encouraging and uplifting society, we can create a culture that embraces achievement and innovation.
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/fmSnxfpaAv0
by Cup Of Nurses | Sep 15, 2023 | Podcast
- Why did you become a Sex therapist? What did you find so fascinating about it that you wanted to pursue it?
- Looking at an article from Gitnux: 32% of people that watch porn believe their porn habits are problematic or addictive, 56% of divorce cases involve one party having an obsessive interest in porn.
- Have you seen a lot of cases of porn addiction? Why does it happen?
- Typically those who compulsively or habitually watch porn it is due to a feeling of loneliness, isolation, a feeling that they cannot be themselves around others, or that relationships with others drain them. They go to porn then to feel a part of something fun and pleasurable where they can just let their inhibitions go.
- So are they divorcing because of the porn watching, probably not. They are already feeling lonely and isolating themselves or looking for a nonjudgemental place to be themselves. That’s a couples issues.
- Who struggles more with sex men or women? Why?
- They both have their own struggles. The most common struggles for men are erectile dysfunction, using porn more than they’d like, and wanting more or less sex than their partner.
- Women most commonly struggle with the impacts of sexual trauma, lack of pleasure in sex, painful sex, and mismatched desire for sex.
- My theory is that men are more focused on performance.
- What are the typical struggles or thoughts that men go through vs. women?
- Men = Performance due to expectations of what it is to be masculine, you’re not a man if you can’t get hard/want sex all the time/want to be more submissive in the bedroom, and able to become desirous for sex quickly or spontaneously
- All men want is sex/ pressure to keep their men satisfied, only able to desire sex if the stars are aligned or it’s been a good day or after steps, responsive
- Does bad sex lead to a bad relationship?
- Sex is a big part of any serious relationship and I’ve found that a lot of relationships and marriages fall off if there is a lack of sex. Phases/Seasons
- Why do some couples have sex but then find it hard to talk about sex with each other? The world finds it hard to talk about sex, and that’s why. It is not normalized. No practice. Even in medical and therapeutic settings, it has been documented that unless a doctor specifically asks about sex, patients will not bring it up first. Also fear of judgment from partner
- How can women and men increase their libido or sexual drive?
- Men are focused on having peak testosterone levels and lots of times take supplements to promote it or even go on TRT.
- Always good to check in with your doctor about hormone levels for both men and women if they’re experiencing a lack of desire, erectile issues, vaginal dryness, pain with sex.
- Is there anything you recommend for men and women to increase their sex drive? Supplements, sleep, exercise?
- The basics of taking care of yourself, sleep, eating right, exercise, and if that is as good as it’s going to get then prioritizing and finding what it is you’re really looking for (touch, attention, etc.)
- Can working the night shift affect it?
- Absolutely, if partners are two ships passing in the night then their mindset will be in opposite places. Other than that, working the night shift people often lack sleep, sun, socialization with friends and all of these things can affect how sexy we feel. When we lack sleep our hormones don’t always have time to restore to their proper levels and so it can result in a lack of desire and erectile issues, less lubricating.
- How does sex and the perception of sex affect people who have been sexually assaulted?
- It looks different for everyone but some common themes are: Have a lot of sex so that they can feel like they are in control of their sex life and their body but what’s going on here is that they have the sex bc of underlying beliefs of lets beat them to the punch. OR they avoid sex, only have sex out of obligation or duty, or dissociate during sex. Or some people are just fine having sex within the context of a safe rx afterwards but they may have triggers pop up from time to time.
- What does the healing process look like?
- Finding the person’s beliefs about the event, their fault, why it happened, how it has impacted their views of self, others, and the world (can’t trust anybody or questioning higher power) and working through each of those beliefs that are not helping them.
- Sex is such a big part of life, how does it affect relationships when someone is unable to have sex or is uncomfortable with it
- Partners begin to feel unloved, unattractive, unfulfilled
- Have you seen an increase in Non-Monogamy?
- Can you explain a non-monogamous relationship?
- Yes, there has been an increase in various types of non-monogamy
- Swingers: swap sexual partners
- Open: sexual contact
- Polygamy: marriage with multiple
- Pulyamour: romantic relationships with others
- Throuple/Triad: a monogamous relationship with more than 2
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/fmSnxfpaAv0
https://www.instagram.com/togethernesstherapy/
by Cup Of Nurses | Jun 23, 2023 | Podcast
How AI will affect nursing and Healthcare
Have you wondered how far can AI go? Or how useful can AI bots like ChatGPT be? Chatgbt has been on the rise, it surpassed 1 million users within 5 days of launch setting the record for quickest user growth. It surpassed online services like Instagram, Netflix, Facebook, Spotify, and Twitter it blew them out of the water as Instagram took second place with 2.5 months.
Currently, ChatGPT has over 100 million users and about 1 billion visits a day with 15% of its users being Americans. This isn’t just a national occurrence, but a global phenomenon. It’s only a matter of time before ChatGPT and other AI systems will start to have a big impact on healthcare.
If you haven’t tried out ChatGPT I highly recommend you try it. ChatGPT is a Google search engine on steroids where you can ask the AI any question. You can have it write you a Haiku, proofread your paper, have a conversation, or even just look something up.
ChatGPT and Healthcare
What impact can this have on healthcare? Have you ever used doctor google? Chatbots have been shown they can generally answer medical questions and can generally pass medical exams most of the time. But people feel put of by putting their trust in software. One of the world’s most popular doctors with a random success rate. The redness on your skin can be either an irritation or straight-up cancer, doctor google is easy and convenient but most of the time it just doesn’t give you what you’re looking for when it comes to getting a quick idea of what your medical issue is.
- Every minute 70,000 inquiries get answered by dr google
- 89% of people google their symptoms before asking their doctor
- Google gets about 1 billion health questions a day
- 40% of people use Google instead of a doctor
Often when you go see your doctor or go to the ED you get asked to explain what exactly happened and how you feel. What the medical professionals are trying to do is to get as much information as possible to make as best prediction about what is going on. The more you put in the search bar the better the results are going to be.
Why ChatGPT is going to surpass Google
We live in a high pace society we thrive on speed. Whatever gets us what we want the quickest wins 99% of the time, we don’t like to wait. Let’s take a look at the history of the search.
- Before the telephone, if you wanted to find something out you’d have to look through an encyclopedia or newspaper, or have to know someone.
- Once telephones became more common you were able to call specialists or people that may be able to answer your question from home.
- We went from having to go to places to being able to ask from home.
- Then came cellphones and internet search, meaning you can call anyone whenever and physically search the web for answers.
- Now we have cellular internet and search engines meaning you can look up anything, anytime, and anywhere.
ChatGPT takes search to a whole new level. Instead of having to look through multiple Google recommendations to find what you are looking for, you are presented with the answer in the same window. If you want more information all you have to do is ask more expanding questions. It uses fewer clicks as it searches for you and gives you the best answer. It is the fastest way to get an answer to your question.
Impact on nursing students
ChatGPT can be used as a resource for nursing students. It can answer questions, multiple choice, and regular responses. Multiple choice works better as there are options to choose from whereas asking general questions gives you multiple options and their rationale. Take it with a grain of salt because it does answer some basic questions wrong. It would be a better idea to use it more for rationale and explanations.
ChatGPT’s Impact on Healthcare
Why do most people not like going to the doctor? The 2 main reasons are fear and embarrassment. People just do not like talking about their personal medical/health life.
- The fear associated with the doctor’s office, hospitals, or medical procedures is one of the reasons people don’t go to the doctor. They may be reluctant to seek medical care or even routine procedures. They also fear that they might get hit with “bad news”.
- Embarrassment is another reason people do not like to visit their doctor. People do not like to get asked direct questions about their bowel habits, sexual activity, or lifestyles. Some feel embarrassed about the physical and other exams. Some people have a history of trauma and it is hard for them to feel vulnerable.
Fear and embarrassment are hard things to conquer. That is exactly why people would rather google what they are going through instead of seeking help from a doctor.
There was a john hopkins study that compared the chatGPT medical responses to that of doctors. The results were very interesting. The questions that were asked were “Will the toothpick I swallowed kill me? How big a deal is the lump I got on my head after running into a metal bar?”
- 80% of the participants preferred the ChatGPS response over the doctors. The responses were accurate and of higher quality.
- They viewed ChatGPT as more empathetic and had a longer explanation.
AI and diagnostics
AI algorithms are currently being used to help lead diagnosis and treatment. AI algorithms can analyze medical images like xrays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs and help identify and diagnose diseases more accurately and quickly.
You have an algorithm and software that can almost instantaneously compare what is going on in an image to all the different possibilities. Instead of having to rely on multiple physicians, using AI speeds up the process. You have all the ideas to cross reference to what is seen in the image compared to a handful of brains in the room. Something to consider is the accuracy of these AI systems. Remember people have off days, they miss certain thinkings, fatigue is a factor, and all other flaws that make us human. These are computing machines. They are more consistent than humans.
There is a downfall of it “looking outside the box” but for standard diagnoses that are easier to spot AI can be very helpful. Even when it comes to more rare types of issues the Power of AI can help with the results
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/Cl5IAd65NAI
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