Icetruck.tv News Blog
Icetruck

Icetruck

World

Utah nurse gets $500,000 in blood arrest row

p05dxvss

Utah nurse gets $500,000 in blood arrest row

Media playback is unsupported on your device
Media captionNurse Alex Wubbels was following hospital protocols when she was arrested in Utah

A US nurse who was held for refusing to allow police take a blood sample from an unconscious patient has accepted $500,000 (£376,500) in compensation.

Alex Wubbels reached the monetary settlement with Salt Lake City and the University of Utah, her attorney said.

Her arrest by police in July caused outrage when footage of the incident later emerged. She was seen handcuffed and dragged by a policeman to a car.

She was later released without charge. The policeman was sacked last month.

His superior was demoted.

  • Utah policeman fired for arrest of nurse who was doing her job

The police officer, Detective Jeff Payne, was sent to University of Utah Hospital on 26 July to collect blood from an unconscious lorry driver injured in a head-on collision with a suspect fleeing police in another vehicle.

The patient was not suspected of wrongdoing.

Ms Wubbels, who was duty nurse that day, told Detective Payne that he did not present a warrant to collect the blood sample, as required by state and federal law.

She also said blood could not be taken without consent from the patient.

Ms Wubbels declined to tell the officer where the patient was or let him draw blood.

She even called her supervisor to get her to explain to the detective that the nurse was only following hospital policy.

Image copyright Salt Lake City Police
Image caption Detective Jeff Payne (L) was fired and James Tracy, his watch commander, was demoted two ranks

Lt James Tracy, a watch commander, then instructed Det Payne to arrest Ms Wubbels and he proceeded to shove the screaming nurse out of the emergency room before holding her against a wall to handcuff her.

Ms Wubbels told reporters at a news conference in September: "The only job I have as a nurse is to keep my patients safe.

"Blood is your blood. That's your property."

The University of Utah later said it had introduced a new policy on blood samples barring officers from coming to the hospital in person to seek them.


Source – bbc.com

Technology

Technology seeks to preserve fading skill: Braille literacy

WireAP_d9853e1348234034a1357e2f1c072a0f_12x5_992

Technology seeks to preserve fading skill: Braille literacy

The Associated Press
In this Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017 photo proofreader Georgie Sydnor runs her fingers over braille at the National Braille Press in Boston. The Boston-based organization has been a leading force for braille literacy in the U.S., since its founding as a weekly newspaper for the blind in 1927. But it now is confronting a record low literacy in the writing system for the blind as it marks its 90th birthday this year. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

    For nearly a century, the National Braille Press has churned out millions of pages of Braille books and magazines a year, providing a window on the world for generations of blind people.

    But as it turns 90 this year, the Boston-based printing press and other advocates of the tactile writing system are wrestling with how to address record low Braille literacy.

    Roughly 13 percent of U.S. blind students were considered Braille readers in a 2016 survey by the American Printing House for the Blind, another major Braille publisher, located in Louisville, Kentucky. That number has steadily dropped from around 30 percent in 1974, the first year the organization started asking the question.

    Brian Mac Donald, president of the National Braille Press, says the modern blind community needs easier and more affordable ways to access the writing system developed in the 1800s by French teacher Louis Braille.

    For the National Braille Press and its 1960-era Heidelberg presses, that has meant developing and launching its own electronic Braille reader last year — the B2G .

    "Think Kindle for the blind," Mac Donald said as he showed off the portable machine — which has an eight-button keyboard for typing in Braille as well as a refreshable, tactile display for reading along in Braille — during a recent tour of the press' headquarters near Northeastern University.

    The venerable press, which started as a Boston newspaper for the blind in 1927, has also looked beyond printing Braille versions of popular books and magazine titles.

    Educational materials like school textbooks and standardized tests, as well as business-related publications like restaurant menus, instruction manuals and business cards, comprise an increasingly larger share of revenues, Mac Donald said.

    "Braille isn't dead by any means," he said. "But it needs technology to adapt and evolve."

    Waning interest in Braille has been a challenge since the 1970s, when school districts started de-emphasizing it in favor of audio learning and other teaching methods, said Chris Danielsen, spokesman for the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore.

    New technology has allowed people with visual impairments to live more independently than ever, but they're also playing a role in eroding Braille's prominence, said Cory Kadlik, a 26-year-old Massachusetts native who lost his sight as an infant.

    Kadlik said he is "not the strongest Braille reader," in large part because of what technology allows him to accomplish.

    Computer software reads aloud emails and other digital documents for him, and his smartphone helps him complete everyday tasks like sorting the mail.

    "I have an application that can read the print on the envelope to me," said Kadlik, a technology specialist at the Braille & Talking Book Library in Watertown, part of the Perkins School for the Blind, the nation's oldest such school, where Helen Keller was educated. "That's crazy. That's unheard of."

    But while technology has opened up a new world not dependent on Braille, it also presents its best chance at survival, said Kim Charlson, the library's director.

    Electronic Braille computers allow users to digitally store hundreds of Braille materials that would otherwise be large and unwieldy in print, not to mention access the internet and complete other computer-based tasks in Braille.

    Such machines have been around for years, but their average cost of $4,000 to $5,000 has so far kept them out of reach for most, says Charlson.

    That is starting to change. The Perkins Library, for example, will soon start loaning out 200 devices that normally retail for about $475, and the National Braille Press' Braille computer costs $2,495.

    "Technology is the key to making Braille more relevant by getting it into the hands of more people," said Charlson, who began losing her vision as a child and is now totally blind.

    Another key is overcoming perceptions that Braille is hard to learn and inefficient to use, said Joseph Quintanilla, the vice president of development at the National Braille Press.

    Quintanilla, who has been legally blind since age five, said he regrets shunning Braille growing up. He started to appreciate its role in imparting crucial grammar and communication skills only when he entered the working world and had to play catch up.

    "I don't think we would ask sighted people to go through life without reading," Quintanilla said. "So we shouldn't do that for blind people."

    ———

    Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo. His work can be found at https://www.apnews.com/search/philip—marcelo.

    • Star


    Source – abcnews.go.com

    World

    Miss Peru Pageant turns into gender violence protest

    p05lmr3f

    Miss Peru Pageant turns into gender violence protest

    Media playback is unsupported on your device
    Media captionMiss Peru contestants highlight violence against women

    Participants in Peru's Miss Universe Pageant broke with tradition and recited statistics detailing violence against women rather than give their body measurements.

    The organisers also joined in showing news material of prominent cases of gender-based attacks.

    The 23 aspiring beauty queens were hoping to get through to November's Miss Universe Competition in Las Vegas.

    Last year thousands of women marched in Peru against gender-based violence.

    Instead of giving their bust, waist and hip size, the contestants took turns reciting a roll call of shocking data.

    One contestant said a girl dies every 10 minutes due to sexual exploitation in Peru.

    Another said more than 70% of women in the country are victims of street harassment.

    The televised show shocked viewers who were expecting traditional light entertainment.

    The contest organiser, Jessica Newton, told the AFP news agency: "Unfortunately there are many women who do not know, and think they are isolated cases.

    "I think that the fact that you are looking at your regional representative, at the queen of your department, giving open and real figures about what is happening in our country is alarming."

    She said out of the 150 participants in Peru who had begun the contest, five had been victims of violence, including rape.

    At the end of the evening the pageant contestants were asked what they would do about violence, instead of lightweight questions about hobbies and ambitions.

    The winner of the Peru pageant, Romina Lozano, representing Callao department, said her plan would be "to implement a database containing the name of each aggressor, not only for femicide but for every kind of violence against women. In this way we can protect ourselves",

    The contestants are planning to lead a march to highlight violence against women in Lima in November.

    According to the Observatory of Citizen Security of the Organisation of American States, Peru ranks as second only to Bolivia with the worst record of violence against women in South America.

    The Peruvian government says 800 women have been murdered in gender-related violence in the six years leading up to 2015.

    Peru's Congress passed a law in September 2015 providing comprehensive measures to prevent and punish violence against women and set up shelters and temporary refuges for women.

    Gender-based violence has been a hot issue in Peru.

    Last year tens of thousands of women demonstrated in Lima and other cities calling on the authorities to do more to stop it.


    Source – bbc.com

    World

    Battle of Beersheba charge recreated for centenary

    _98562680_00ea9e6f-ff54-4175-8afc-ce4bc889acd5

    Battle of Beersheba charge recreated for centenary

    Image copyright EPA
    Image caption A recreation of the World War One charge by Australian and New Zealand cavalry

    Israeli, Australian and New Zealand leaders have commemorated the 100-year anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba.

    The World War One battle in what is now southern Israel is considered a key moment in the Allies' efforts to break the Turkish line and capture Jerusalem.

    Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull described it as "part of our history".

    To mark the occasion, about 100 Australian horsemen took part in a small-scale recreation of the battle's defining charge though the desert.

    On 31 October 1917, Australian and New Zealand cavalry galloped towards to the Turkish trenches and seized control of the city, a strategic crossroads and important water source.

    Image copyright EPA

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the victory ultimately helped create the state of Israel.

    "Exactly 100 years ago brave ANZAC [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] soldiers liberated Beersheba for the sons and daughters of Abraham and opened the gateway for the Jewish people to re-enter the stage of history," he said.

    The Battle of Beersheba led to the Balfour Declaration – the first time the British government endorsed the establishment of "a national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.

    While many Israelis believe it was the foundation stone of modern Israel and the salvation of the Jews, many Palestinians regard it as a betrayal.

    Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the "the battle has become part of our history, part of our psyche".

    Image copyright Getty Images
    Image caption New Zealand Governor-General Patsy Reddy, Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu lay wreaths

    "They spurred their horses through that fire, those mad Australians, through that fire, and took the town of Beersheba, secured the victory that did not create the State of Israel but enabled its creation," he said.

    "Had the Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria not been overthrown by the Australians and the New Zealanders, the Balfour declaration would have been empty words," he added. "But this was a step for the creation of Israel."

    New Zealand Governor-General Patsy Reddy said the Beersheba victory had boosted morale, and been a significant moment for her nation in an international context.

    About 500 Turkish soldiers died in the battle, according to one military historian, Jonathan King.

    It also claimed the lives of 31 Australians and eight New Zealanders.

    The battle was considered one of the last great cavalry charges before sophisticated weaponry rendered horses obsolete in the military.


    Source – bbc.com

    World

    New York attack: Eight killed by man driving truck

    p05lncz0

    New York attack: Eight killed by man driving truck

    Media playback is unsupported on your device
    Media captionNew York terror attack: How the events unfolded

    At least eight people have been killed and 11 seriously hurt in New York after the driver of a truck mowed down people on a cycle path in Lower Manhattan.

    A 29-year-old man who emerged from the white pick-up truck was shot by a police officer and arrested. Officials later said it was a terror attack.

    Media named him as Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US in 2010.

    A note was found in the truck that referred to so-called Islamic State, a law enforcement source told CBS News.

    Image copyright CBS
    Image caption US media identified the suspect as Sayfullo Saipov seen in this 2016 photo

    The suspect – who had apparently settled in Florida – was taken to hospital.

    New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said it was a "cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians".

    He added: "We know that this action was intended to break our spirit. But we also know that New Yorkers are strong, New Yorkers are resilient and our spirit will never be moved by an act of violence and an act meant to intimidate us."

    President Donald Trump tweeted: "My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!"

    • In pictures: New York truck attack
    • 'He was revving – I saw him hit people'

    New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner James O'Neill said the injured had "serious but non-life threatening injuries".

    He described what had occurred, based on the latest information he had received:

    • Shortly after 15:00 local time (19:00 GMT), a vehicle rented from retailer Home Depot struck cyclists and pedestrians while being driven along the West St-Houston St path for many blocks
    • The vehicle then hit a school bus, injuring two adults and two children on board, and came to a halt
    • The driver emerged holding what appeared to be two handguns and made a statement "consistent with a terror attack"
    • He was shot in the abdomen by a police officer stationed near the scene
    • A paintball gun and a pellet gun were recovered from the scene
    Media playback is unsupported on your device
    Media caption'We will be undeterred' by the attack says NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio

    "The dead and injured were just going about their days, heading home from work or from school or enjoying the afternoon sun on their bicycles," the commissioner said.

    "This is a tragedy of the greatest magnitude for many people, for many families here in New York and beyond today."

    Image Copyright @realDonaldTrump @realDonaldTrump Report
    Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump: In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!Image Copyright @realDonaldTrump @realDonaldTrump Report

    Mangled bicycles littered the scene of the attack, which occurred as much of the city was celebrating Halloween.

    One witness, identified as Eugene, told ABC Channel 7 that he saw the white pick-up truck driving fast down the cycle path alongside the West Side Highway, near Stuyvesant High School, at full speed and hitting a number of people.

    He also reported hearing about nine or 10 shots.

    Image copyright Reuters

    Another witness, who gave his name as Frank, told local TV network NY1 that he had seen a man running around an intersection and heard five to six gunshots.

    "I saw he had something in his hand, but I couldn't tell what it was. But they said that it was a gun…

    "When the cops shot him, everybody started running away and it got a little bit crazy right there. So when I tried to look again, the guy was already down."

    President Donald Trump had been briefed on the incident, the White House said.

    In separate tweets, he said:

    • "In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"
    • "We must not allow ISIS [Islamic State] to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!"
    Media playback is unsupported on your device
    Media captionEmergency services on the scene of the attack

    Piecing the evidence together

    By Nick Bryant, BBC News, New York

    At the moment the New York authorities are saying that it was a lone wolf, that the attack wasn't part of a wider conspiracy or plot.

    But this is an active crime scene at the moment and they are still trying to piece together precisely what happened.

    The attack happened on Halloween, one of the most festive days in the New York calendar.

    The pavements were crowded with kids in costumes and there are still children trick-or-treating just yards away – it's a bizarre scene.

    But it shows how New York absorbs this kind of thing.

    We are just yards from Ground Zero, a site which reminds all New Yorkers of that awful day back in 2001. It didn't take police long to confirm that the city had once again been the target of terror.

    Are you in the area? Email [email protected] with your experiences. Do not endanger yourself.

    Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:

    • WhatsApp: +44 7555 173285
    • Send pictures/video to [email protected]
    • Upload your pictures / video here
    • Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
    • Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100

    Or use the form below


    Source – bbc.com

    Technology

    Simon’s Cat game app showed adult bite advert

    _98556317_52fa29d4-e75e-425d-83bf-8b41b8c8cc0c

    Simon's Cat game app showed adult bite advert

    Image copyright Strawdog Publishing
    Image caption The Simon's Cat game requires players to connect matching coloured treats

    The UK's advertising watchdog has intervened after an adult advert was shown within a video game app popular with children.

    The pop-up ad featured a "temporary tattoo" that looked like a deep bite mark, placed on a woman's shoulder.

    The imagery appeared in the match-puzzle title Simon's Cat Crunch Time in July.

    Wish.com, the retailer responsible for creating the ad, failed to respond to the complaint.

    The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it was concerned by the San Francisco-based company's lack of response and ordered the business to ensure its adverts were properly targeted in the future.

    Although the body does not have the power to impose fines itself, it can refer repeat offenders to Trading Standards, which can take further action.

    The game's publisher has also banned Wish.com from serving ads to its products in the future.

    'Red and bloody'

    The Simon's Cat game has a Pegi 3 rating – meaning it has been judged to be suitable for anyone above the age of three – and has been installed more than one million times on Android and iOS devices.

    As with many titles, adverts are automatically placed within the software by algorithms, which are supposed to screen out adult content.

    Image copyright Wish
    Image caption This Wish.com ad was spotted within the game app on 24 July

    The publisher, Strawdog Studios, told the ASA that it also had the power to remove ads manually.

    But it added that it relied on customer reports to flag unsuitable content, and had not been alerted to the tattoo image before the watchdog had become involved.

    "We considered the app was likely to have strong appeal to children and therefore children were likely to have seen the ad," said the ASA in its ruling.

    "We noted that it was not clear from the ad that the product shown was a fake tattoo and we considered that the image… which was red and bloody, might cause distress."

    The authority added that Wish.com was obliged to ensure the ad was not promoted again in an untargeted manner.

    The company – which describes itself as the world's sixth biggest e-commerce business – sent an automated response to the BBC when asked for comment but has yet to address the problem.

    "The ASA has a growing problem with non-UK online businesses, who will sometimes take the view that a self-regulatory body can be ignored," said Andy Milmore, a partner at the law firm Harbottle & Lewis.

    "This is especially so where the complaints relate to 'inappropriate' marketing, where the ultimate backstop of enforcement action under criminal statute is unlikely to apply."


    Source – bbc.com

    Technology

    Social media firms under scrutiny for ‘Russian meddling’

    p05lk4c7

    Social media firms under scrutiny for 'Russian meddling’

    Media playback is unsupported on your device
    Media captionFacebook says hundreds of accounts backed by Russian trolls filled news feeds with inflammatory messages

    Facebook, Twitter and Google lawyers defended themselves to US lawmakers probing whether Russia used social media to influence the 2016 election.

    The three firms faced hard questions at a Senate panel on crime and terrorism about why they missed political ads bought with Russian money.

    Lawmakers are eyeing new regulations for social media firms in the wake of Russia's alleged meddling in 2016.

    The firms said they would tighten advertising policies and guidelines.

    Senator Al Franken, a Democrat from Minnesota, asked Facebook – which absorbed much of the heat from lawmakers – why payment in Russian rubles did not tip off the firm to suspicious activity.

    "In hindsight, we should have had a broader lens," said Colin Stretch, general counsel for Facebook. "There are signals we missed."

    A day earlier Facebook said as many as 126m US users may have seen Russia-backed content over the last two years.

    Lawyers for the three firms are facing two days of congressional hearings as lawmakers consider legislation that would extend regulations for television, radio and satellite to also cover social media platforms.

    The firms said they are increasing efforts to identify bots and spam, as well as make political advertising more transparent.

    Facebook, for example, said it expects to have 20,000 people working on "safety and security" by the end of 2018 – double the current number.

    • Reality Check: When 126m isn't 126m on Facebook
    • Facebook uncovers 'Russian-funded' misinformation campaign

    "I do appreciate these efforts, but I don't think it's enough," said Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota.

    Ms Klobuchar has proposed legislation that she says would make social media firms subject to the same disclosure rules for political and issue pages as print, radio and television companies.

    The companies said they would work with her on the bill, but did not say they would support it.

    Image copyright EPA
    Image caption Facebook's Colin Stretch (L), Twitter's Sean Edgett, and Google's Richard Salgado testify before a Senate panel

    Senators questioned whether the firms are up to the task of weighing free speech and privacy rights against concerns over terrorism and state-sponsored propaganda.

    "I think you do enormous good, but your power sometimes scares me," said Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana.

    What happened during the election?

    Russia has repeatedly denied allegations that it attempted to influence the last US presidential election, in which Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton.

    But Facebook revealed as many as 126m American users may have seen content uploaded by Russia-based operatives.

    The social media company said about 80,000 posts published between June 2015 and August 2017 and were seen by about 29m Americans directly.

    • Twitter's Russia briefings 'inadequate'
    • Can US election hack be traced to Russia?
    • LISTEN: Russian-backed Facebook post row in a minute

    These posts, which Facebook says were created by a Kremlin-linked company, were amplified through likes, shares and comments, and spread to tens of millions of people.

    That company, Internet Research Agency, was also linked to about 2750 Twitter accounts, which have been suspended, Twitter said.

    The firm also said it had identified more than 36,000 Russian bots that generated 1.4m automated, election-related Tweets, which may have been viewed as many as 288m times.

    Google also revealed on Monday that Russian trolls had uploaded more than 1,000 political videos on YouTube on 18 different channels. The company said they had very low view counts and there was no evidence they had been targeting American viewers.

    Most of the posts focused on sowing political and social divisions, the firms have said.

    The companies said they used a combination of staff and big data to police that content, disabling fake and spam accounts.

    Key recent developments:

    Image copyright Reuters
    • Nov 2016: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg says "the idea that fake news on Facebook influenced the (US) election in any way is a pretty crazy idea"
    • Aug 2017: Facebook says it will fight fake news by sending more suspected hoax stories to fact-checkers and publishing their findings online
    • Oct 2017: Google finds evidence that Russian agents spent tens of thousands of dollars on ads in a bid to sway the election, reports say
    • Oct 2017: Twitter bans Russia's RT and Sputnik media outlets from buying advertising amid fears they attempted to interfere in the election


    Source – bbc.com

    Lifestyle

    How to Release Tension and Anxiety In Your Relationship

    18739630_10154534190842371_6215086842624608537_n

    “Anxiety is love’s greatest killer. It makes one feel as you might when a drowning man holds on to you. You want to save him, but you know he will strangle you with his panic.” ~ Anais Nin

    A misunderstanding…

    That’s our affiliation with stress and anxiety: a misunderstanding. See, anxiety doesn’t arise with the intention of hurting us. Anxiety arises with the intention of helping us.

    But first, we must understand what stress and anxiety is and is not. We must recognize why anxiety and stress are present before we can take any type of action.

    Indeed, we must understand our relationship with stress before we can act intelligently.

    And this relationship goes back a long way: about five to seven million years.

    From sabretooths to smartphones

    The “emotion center” of your brain – the limbic system – is the oldest part of your incredible three-pound, tofu-like brain.

    The limbic system is comprised of three brain structures: the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala. (Pronounced “hip-oh-thal-eh-mus,” “hip-oh-camp-us,” and “uh-mig-duh-luh,” respectively.)

    Anyways, enough brain biology. The hippocampus is primarily responsible for mood, and the amygdala is known for stimulating the “fight-or-flight” (FoF) response.

    The limbic system, including the all-important hippocampus and amygdala, are responsible for accelerated heart rate, sweating, and physical discomfort.

    It’s the system responsible for anxiety and stress.

    But here’s the main problem:

    Though our fantastic brain has progressively evolved, the FoF is still very active. To some degree, this action is necessary. Without the limbic system, we wouldn’t care too much about this thing called survival.

    The difference is that it’s not some sabretooth cat we’re wary of; it’s whether your smartphone is nearby, or if your customer is happy, or if your job is secure.

    In short: uncertainty about anything = fight-or-flight about anything= stress & anxiety about anything.

    And, as we all know, relationships carry a certain degree of uncertainty.

    Eliminating Stress

    While it may not be possible to eliminate all stress from a relationship, we can remove all unnecessary stress.

    How?

    By understanding and accepting five essential principles:

    1. Relationship anxiety is healthy – to a degree

    The first principle stems from the fact that human beings are social creatures. Our genetic makeup dictates that we seek out, care for, and love other people – including the person we eventually court down life’s path.

    When we’re emotionally invested in someone, it’s human nature to protect both them and us. This need to preserve our connections inevitably causes some degree of stress and anxiety. As a result, we feel acute anxiety when we lack a connection; and even a tinge of anxiety when we do.

    That tinge is called a love connection.

    2. ‘Naming’ your emotions helps to understand them

    Emotional intelligence is defined as “the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.” [Emphasis mine].

    Matthew D. Lieberman, a professor of Psychology at UCLA, states:

    “When you put feelings into words, you’re activating this prefrontal region and seeing a reduced response in the amygdala. In the same way you hit the brake when you’re driving when you see a yellow light — when you put feelings into words you seem to be hitting the brakes on your emotional responses…”

    Putting feelings into words is a way of contextualizing something (words) from the intangible (emotions). Clearly, this skill has far-reaching implications for relationships.

    When you label your emotions, you feel less stressed, able to think more clearly and find it easier to come up with solutions to problems.

    3. Stress in a relationship may stem from something else

    We’ve all heard the words “Don’t take it personally.” Well, the same thing applies to relationships.

    Because of our intimacy with someone else, it is easy to mistake their stress as something being directed towards us. This is especially true if your partner is one of the happy, outgoing types. (And you’re the sensitive, introverted kind.)

    Even two people who’ve been in a long-term relationship occasionally make the mistake of taking their partner’s behaviors too personally. Scientists believe this to be a defense mechanism, and something that relates back to the first principle: an innate anxiety we all feel with personal connections.

    4. Relationship stress can be altruistic

    We all fret over the things we care about – and, for most people, their relationships are the most important thing. The level of attachment we feel to a person often coincides with our levels of stress and anxiety.

    For example, let’s consider the spouses of men and women in the armed forces. Even when their loved one is stateside (not deployed), there is always some amount of anxiety over long hours, (often) low pay, and – of course – the possibility of deployment.

    We don’t agonize over people we don’t love.

    5. Asking for help isn’t a weakness

    Anyone who has suffered from chronic stress or anxiety (including this writer) will attest to just how taxing it can be at times.

    This writer decided to include “asking for help” because it is crucial to personal health and a happy life. In the throes of anxiety, depression, or a stress-related disorder (e.g., PTSD), it’s common to feel a sense of personal weakness or failure.

    It’s also common to attribute the condition to life circumstances, including relationships. But there comes the point where the condition’s symptoms become too much, and help is necessary.

    Finally, remind yourself of an essential truth: your partner loves you unconditionally, and they’ll understand.

    (C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved
    Sources:
    http://theconversation.com/the-emotion-centre-is-the-oldest-part-of-the-human-brain-why-is-mood-so-important-63324
    https://aliciaclarkpsyd.com/what-is-anxiety/
    https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/anaisnin404082.html
    https://www.huffingtonpost.com/ornish-living/the-science-behind-why-na_b_7174164.html

    The post How to Release Tension and Anxiety In Your Relationship appeared first on Power of Positivity: Positive Thinking & Attitude.


    Source – powerofpositivity.com

    Lifestyle

    8 Ways To Survive A Long Distance Relationship

    “According to a 2013 study published in the Journal of Communication, people in long-distance relationships were more likely to share meaningful thoughts and feelings with their partners than those who were not.” ~ Brittany Wong, Huffington Post

    Indeed, some research does show that individuals in long-distance relationships may enjoy certain advantages over those who are not. Guess there is some truth to the whole “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” thing!

    That said, the distance between couples can produce some challenges.

    In this article, we’re going to discuss 8 ways to successfully overcome the challenges of long distance relationships. We’ll also quote a few people who’ve dealt with these problems – and defeated them by using these tips!

    Let’s get started!

    Here are 8 ways to survive a long distance relationship:

    1. Keep in touch

    This first one is a bit obvious but nonetheless important.

    You and your partner do not have the luxury of face-to-face interaction, so it’s essential that some kind of communication schedule is established. Call, text, or – even better – video chat!

    One man shares his story:

    “My wife and I had to do the long distance thing twice in our relationship. When we first met she lived about an hour away in San Jose and I lived in San Francisco…We learned that you have to call and text each other during the day and share what’s going on.”

    2. Use video chat

    While Skype won’t replace the feeling of having your partner close, it’s probably the next best thing. Many couples who must endure the inevitable difficulties of a long-term relationship make it a priority to have regular Skype dates.

    “It’s really essential that you and your partner have a schedule for when you talk … but texting is not enough to keep a relationship going. To maintain a strong relationship, you need to talk on the phone, but preferably something like Skype as often as you can.”

    3. Remember the big picture

    The long-distance thing won’t last forever, and it’s important that both individuals remind themselves of such. We’re wired for immediate gratification, especially when it comes to the person we love.

    “…My partner and I met in university and had been together for about three and a half years before he had to leave (for) his Master’s degree. We were apart for about two years. We had to constantly remind ourselves that the distance was for a short while and as we really wanted to be together, we had to make it work.”

    4. Remember to celebrate

    When two people are apart for an extended period of time, one or both people will reach certain milestones in life (promotion, pay raise, individual goals, etc.). Celebrating each other’s victories can bring your relationship some morale by sharing intimate moments.

    “(My husband) left for the Navy, and then we started dating…Right after we became engaged, he was deployed overseas for a year. What we learned is this: Celebrate everything, even if you can’t be together in person. Life is too short not to and that’s especially true when you’re in a long-distance relationship.”

    5. Temper visiting expectations

    If you’re in a long-distance relationship, the chances are that you’ll be able to visit your partner on occasion. It’s easy to anticipate that every visit will be heavenly – and hopefully, it is. Nonetheless, no relationship is perfect. Problems may or may not arise – and it’s important to remember this point.

    “There’s so much pressure with visits…Some trips will be full of great memories and carefree times, and (others) will be full of fighting over big or small issues and that’s okay!”

    6. Remember to compliment each other

    We all love when our partner gives us a well-timed compliment. Without much face time, it’s easy to “forget” what you like about your sweetheart because they’re not there to remind us. (On that note, make sure to keep plenty of pictures and reminders of the person around!)

    Compliments here and there go a long way. “I love your smile.” “I miss your great laugh!” “You’re so beautiful.” “You always make my day.”

    7. Be honest

    Things are never entirely okay all of the time. Many of us feel some added pressure to emphasize the sense everything is fine – particularly when we’re away from our partner.

    This is a mistake.

    None of us want our partner to worry. However, it’s healthy that you are both open and honest with each other despite the distance between you.

    We’re not meant to allow unresolved inner conflicts to dwell; eventually, these conflicts will come to the surface – which is why it’s so important to be honest consistently.

    8. Trust one another

    It goes without saying that trust is the backbone of any relationship. When we’re apart from our life partner, it’s even more critical that we assure ourselves of their trustworthiness.

    If possible, attempt to resolve any underlying trust issues before your partner leaves. In fact, try to fix anything that is causing a reasonable degree of uncertainty. It’s much better to address these things while your partner is still in your presence!

    (C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved
    Sources
    https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-to-survive-a-long-distance-relationship_us_58c96c4ae4b0934e249cbed4
    https://wearemitu.com/relationships/9-things-you-need-to-know-in-order-to-survive-a-long-distance-relationship/

    The post 8 Ways To Survive A Long Distance Relationship appeared first on Power of Positivity: Positive Thinking & Attitude.


    Source – powerofpositivity.com

    Lifestyle

    How To Trust Someone After You’ve Been Broken

    22310475_10154931857317371_8670945786428502106_n

    “Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.” – Maya Angelou

    They say it takes a while to build trust, but only one moment to break it, and most of us know how true that statement is. Most of us have probably been betrayed and hurt before by someone we thought we could trust with our lives, and it makes you wonder why you ever put your trust in them to begin with.

    However, shutting ourselves off from people only makes us bitter, isolated, and lonely, which can do even greater damage than attempting to trust someone again. It might be hard in the beginning, especially if you’ve just gotten out of a broken or abusive relationship, but with the tips below, we hope that you can open your heart once again.

    Here’s How To Trust Again After Getting Hurt

    1. Understand that people make mistakes.

    Now, this doesn’t excuse them from hurting you, but you have to realize that humans have complex emotions and thoughts, and no one is perfect. Maybe the person didn’t mean to hurt you, and didn’t realize the consequences of their actions until it was too late. Even if the relationship or friendship ended, perhaps it was for the best, and you can decide to remain grateful for the lessons and memories rather than close yourself off from future relationships.

    Try to see things from the person’s perspective, and maybe you can gain some new insight on the pain that will allow you to forgive the person in time.

    2. Don’t assume everyone is the same.

    Maybe you just got out of a relationship with someone who betrayed you, and therefore have a skewed opinion of what other people are like. This could hinder you from forming relationships with others, but don’t allow it to. Remember to use your logical brain and keep an open mind when it comes to meeting others. Not everyone is out to hurt you, and not everyone will betray your trust. There are good people out there, but you’ll never cross their path if you don’t even get out on the road to find them.

    3. Forgive yourself.

    You might be wondering, “Well, what the heck did I do wrong?! I was the victim here!” This is totally understandable, but you might also beat yourself up half the time about what happened. Maybe you partially blame yourself for how the situation unfolded, and wish you could go back in time to do things differently. To truly move on and trust others again, you have to forgive yourself, too. Realize that hurt people hurt other people, and that you had no control over how that person would treat you.

    4. Use your gut instincts.

    Not everyone in the world deserves your trust, so you have to listen to your gut to figure out who is worth giving it to. Learn from your past relationships so that you can avoid the same situation before you get too heavily invested in someone, and if they give you a reason to have doubts, don’t be afraid to bring it up with them. After all, trust is earned, not given, so if they can’t pay their dues, so to speak, then they don’t deserve your time, effort, and trust.

    If something feels off about someone, then it probably is. Pay attention to how you feel when you’re around the person; if you feel at ease and comfortable, then maybe try opening up little by little. If you feel uptight and cautious around the person, then chances are, you won’t be able to trust them in the long run.

    5. Leave the past where it belongs.

    If you bring the past with you wherever you go, it will always haunt you and stir up bad memories. In order to move on and learn to trust again, you have to leave the past behind you and accept that you can’t change it. All you can do is learn from it, and hope to meet better people that will appreciate and cherish your feelings and not take advantage of you. Dragging the past with you will only weigh you down and make it that much harder to develop solid relationships with good people.

    You might feel like you’ll never trust again, but you can learn to open your heart and allow yourself to be vulnerable after you’ve given yourself time. Take things slowly and keep your guard up in the beginning if you have to, but also know when to knock down the walls that separate you from others. Take a chance on people that you have a good feeling about, because you can only get over your past once you embrace the future and turn the pain into power.

    (C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved
    Sources:
    https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/living-forward/201609/how-rebuild-trust-someone-who-hurt-you
    https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/trust
    https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200203/how-can-you-learn-trust-again

    The post How To Trust Someone After You’ve Been Broken appeared first on Power of Positivity: Positive Thinking & Attitude.


    Source – powerofpositivity.com