Tag Archives: learn

Coping, Health, Uncategorized

How Pets Sense Our Emotions and Strengthen Our Bonds

 

Girl hugging a cat

Pets can sense human emotions and strengthen the bonds

Pets  can normally sense human emotions, from fear and happiness to sadness and joy. Dogs and cats are good at responding to our emotions, mainly through a series of cues. That emotional connection can strengthen our bonds.

Dogs can recognize all sorts of tones, voices, expressions and even body language, let alone changes in how we smell to them. That’s how they can understand when you’re happy, angry or even scared. Based on all these, they often adjust their behaviors.

Here are some cues that help pets understand our emotions:

What Pets See

Many animals can understand facial expressions , especially dogs.   A dog who knows you fairly well can know the difference between different faces, such as surprised or happy faces.

There is a wide range of emotions that show in our faces.  Believe it or not, they can distinguish between different emotions even while looking at pictures!

Apart from your face, your body language is just as important. Even if you don’t notice it, your posture will be different based on your emotions. Even your movements can showcase some changes that your pet will quickly notice.

Dogs are incredibly attuned to their owners’ behaviors, often reacting to changes in tone of voice, gestures, or even the way you walk.

What Pets Hear

The tone of your voice is usually a strong indicator that your emotions shift. Obviously, the better your pet knows you, the better it can observe this change. How your pet feels will also affect everything.

For example, activity packages for dogs can keep dogs well trained, happy and secure. They’ll be able to spot emotional changes and read your thoughts better. They can notice sadness, anger or happiness based on how you speak.

We also vocalize differently when we express our emotions.

You might’ve seen those challenges on social media where owners shout lovely things at their dogs, yet their dogs don’t understand what’s going on. However, once the owners change their tone, dogs start wagging their tails, despite being told nasty things.

This explains that dogs mostly rely on how we talk and our tone, rather than the words we use.

Sure, it doesn’t mean dogs can’t learn certain things, especially when it comes to things they love, such as food, treats or walks. But the tone is simply more important, as it conveys your emotions more clearly than words alone ever could.

What Pets Smell

Not all pets will use their noses to detect emotions and read how we feel. Dogs, in particular, will have no issues detecting emotions.

People normally experience changes in body odors based on their emotions. While most people can’t notice all these changes, dogs will quickly straight away. Their sensitive noses can pick up on subtle chemical signals released when we’re excited, happy, or fearful.

Some odors are associated with excitement. Others are associated with happiness or perhaps fear. Either way, dogs will notice them and react accordingly.

What Pets Do About Our Emotions

All the emotions pets can feel on their owners are mainly used to adjust their behavior. That’s why your dog is likely to come cuddly next to you and comfort you if you feel sad.

Some dogs will cuddle. Others will nuzzle you or even lick your tears away if you’re crying. Each pet develops its own way of showing empathy, shaped by its bond with you and its understanding of your feelings.

On the same note, pets will learn from your emotions. They will pick up on cues and develop behaviors to support you. According to some studies, pets can even catch emotions. If you feel terribly sad, your dog may feel the same, only because of you. This emotional mirroring shows the connection between you and your pet.

Bottom line, there is no doubt about it: pets  (especially dogs) can feel our emotions and adjust their behaviors to match our needs. They want to support you. Since pets can sense human emotions, they can strengthen the bonds.

Blog #34 posted 9-22-25.  By Guest Contributor Daisy Becker.

A message from Mary at Health Vista, Inc:

If your pet is anxious or having behavior problems, look at your own emotions to see if those could be affecting your pet.  With the insight that you gain, you can take steps to get the help you need. You could learn some coping skills from the Coping and Relaxation Workbook. You can also find many helpful resources at healthvista.net. Improving your emotional health can also help your pet!

Trafficking

What Parents Need to Know About Child Grooming and Trafficking

Young girl looking forlorn and fearful

As parents, you need to be aware of child grooming and trafficking. You want protect your children.  But you might not know everything that is going on in their lives. This blog is meant to end child grooming and exploitation through prevention education and awareness. Child grooming is something that can’t be ignored.

Would you Know if Your Child is Being Groomed?

A “groomer” for trafficking rings finds ways to get a child to trust them. The groomers, or people who work with them, try to break the child and parent bond. In today’s world, with the internet, apps, and constant communication with others, families are at risk. It is important to talk about this, even though it is a topic no one likes to discuss.

What is Grooming?

According to ex-FBI agent Ken Lanning, the term “grooming” originated in the 1980s during a series of investigations into sex crimes against children in the US.

​He uncovered patterns of behavior and specific techniques used by predators to gain access to and the compliance of victims. Grooming techniques used by sexual predators who were not strangers but known to their victims. They work hard to gain trust and respect from children and families.

​Most children know their groomer, which is why it can make the grooming process easier. Sometimes, strangers kidnap children for trafficking, but it is not as common.

Signs that children and teenagers are being groomed:

Many of the signs of grooming can look like normal peer-to-peer or adult‐child relationships, which is why grooming is difficult to spot. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s important to trust your instincts, watch for signs, and monitor your child’s behavior. Be aware of the potential for child grooming and trafficking in your community.

​The following signs might indicate that your child is being groomed.

  • Talks a lot about a particular adult or older teen.
  • Wants to spend a lot of time with a new person in their circle of friends and won’t let you meet them.
  • Start a relationship with an older person.
  • Skipping school or sporting activities.
  • Suddenly spending less time with current friends or changing friendship groups.
  • Spends more time alone in their room.
  • Closes down their computer, or apps when you enter the room.
  • Unexplained gifts like clothes, jewelry or electronics and doesn’t want to talk about where the gifts came from
  • Does not want to talk about what they’ve been doing or lies about it.
  • Stops telling you about their day or asking for your advice.

What to do if you think a child is being groomed:

Grooming isn’t always obvious. It’s important to trust your instincts if something doesn’t feel right. It’s a good idea to keep your child away from the person you’re concerned about until you find out more.

​It’s also important to:

  • Watch out for signs that you or your child is being groomed.
  • Stop the person from being alone with you or your child.
  • Avoid letting the person do favors for your family.
  • Ask other families who know the person if they have ever felt uncomfortable or seen them do inappropriate things around children.
  • Find out how your child feels about the person by asking questions like ‘Do you like how “_______” acts around you?’ or ‘_______’ likes a lot of your Instagram posts. Does he follow you on any other social media or try to message you?
  • Make sure you know your child’s friends and parents. This will help you know when a new person entering your child’s circle could pose a threat.
  • If you’re concerned about an adult getting too close to your child, tell them you are watching them and do not hesitate to contact the police.

Learn more about prevention and resources at: www.pearlatthemailbox.org

About the author: Sheri Lopez was groomed at the age of fifteen over three months before being trafficked (sold for sex) for seven years. At age 21, she was rescued by a woman named Pearl at the apartment mailbox where she was being held. It took over twenty years for her to grasp what happened to her and another five years before she was able to speak out about this.

She is the founder of the nonprofit organization, Pearl at the Mailbox, and is a motivational speaker, author, and an advocate for survivors. She also works on legislation in Arizona, where she resides, and at the federal level to protect children and survivors.

Blog Post #33  was added 1-9-25.  Written by Guest Contributor Sheri Lopez . She can be contacted at www.pearlatthemailbox.org

 

Addiction, Health, Learning, Recovery

Dangers of Fentanyl and Substance Use in the Digital Age

Children with computers, tablets, cell phones and head phones
We are the digital age.

Fentanyl and substance abuse impacts every community in some way. There are increased dangers for young people in the digital age.

Risks of Internet Use

Ease of access has made it possible for anyone young or old to purchase the drugs. It is easily accessible through online platforms because drug dealers bypass dark web restrictions and sell drugs online. The internet has transformed how substances are bought and sold because it can be anonymous and convenient for buyers and sellers.

Risks of Social Media

Social media platforms are gateways for young people to access illegal drugs like fentanyl. Drug traffickers advertise on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. Typically, the advertising disappears in 24 hours via stories and posts, accompanied by code words and emojis. Prospective buyers contact the dealers through the post, and the conversations move to encrypted apps like Signal or Telegram. Payment is made via Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, and Remity.

Challenges for Parents or Guardians

Sadly, online drug dealing leads to substance use among youth, causing addiction and overdose. That is why the organization, SUPE, Substance Use Prevention Education, was founded to combat this dangerous trend.  Fortunately, SUPE has reliable information and resources and even a video to help young people make informed choices and to help protect them from online drug dealers. It also has vital information for parents to protect their children from  fentanyl.

Risks of Living in a Drug Culture

We live in a culture that glamorizes drug use. And young people are easily influenced. The consequences of fentanyl use among our youth are devastating. Its potency increases the risk of overdose, which can be fatal even with minimal exposure. Many young people experimenting with drugs may not be aware that fentanyl can be present in substances such as counterfeit pills. This lack of awareness and education about the dangers of fentanyl further compounds the problem, which is why SUPE provides free resources to empower families.

Moving from Addiction to Recovery

When young people become addicted to drugs, the people around them suffer, struggle to cope, and find support. If you are struggling and need help, there are practical resources and tips to help with addiction and coping that can be found on healthvista.net.

  • Educate yourself and learn about the signs and symptoms of drug use and addiction. This helps you understand what the person is going through.
  • Communicate as calmly as possible. Express concerns without confronting others. Avoid casting judgment, arguing, and pointing the finger. Listen actively and allow the person to talk while showing empathy and understanding.
  • Offer support, but also encourage professional help. Seek guidance from a healthcare professional, counselor, or addiction specialist. Let the person know you are there to help them on their recovery journey.
  • Find more treatment options through SAMHSA‘s treatment locator or Addicted.org‘s extensive directory listings of treatment centers. Other local resources may also be offered by local healthcare providers.

Both parents and young people who are going through have a lot of stress, anger, sadness, and resentment. Supporting someone with a substance use disorder is emotionally challenging, but your care and concern can make a significant difference.

  • Learn ways to cope and prepare for the challenges ahead.
  • Seek support for yourself; for example, attend support groups or speak with a counselor.
  • Take care of yourself and prioritize your mental and physical health.

Now you know more about the significant dangers in the digital age and can be more watchful. Easy access to fentanyl impacts communities in a big way.  Prevention of fentanyl addiction and ready access to treatment (if needed) are vital for your family and community’s health!

 

Blog # 31 posted August 5, 2024 by Guest Contributor Marcel Gemme, the CEO/Founder of SUPE

Health, Learning, Uncategorized

Learn Music at Home in this Pandemic

Smiling oman with headphones on

Why Learn Music at Home?

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed many lives. It put limits on socializing, traveling, and going to classes. So many things were avoided or postponed that it may affect a person’s physical health, mental health, and their well-being. It is important to find things that will help you take care of your mental health during these challenging times.

There are many ways to cope with feelings of stress or isolation, one of which is learning music at home. Did you know that playing an instrument benefits your brain?

Music in Human Evolution

Music has been around for a long time, playing an essential role in the life cycle of humans. Evidence was discovered that ancient ancestors made flutes from animal bones and used stones and woods as percussion. They used music to bond socially and to calm babies. Our ancestors developed music as one of their ways of communicating and for ritual and religious practices.

During the early years of music, most songs had a religious theme and were used for worship. Now, we also have contemporary music. The beats, rhythms, tempo, lyrics, and popularity of different genres changed through the years. Also, the way people access and listen to music has changed. Music transitioned from reels, phonograph records,8 track tapes, cassette tapes, CDs, and radio to headphones, earbuds, and Bluetooth devices. Now, people can easily listen to their favorite songs using mobile phones. You can sing along with emotional or upbeat lyric videos on YouTube or find Karaoke versions of the songs you like. Choosing inspirational music for adults or for teens can even be used to help your mood. Music can be a healthy choice that can decrease anxiety and stress.

Make up for Lost Time

Although listening to music is good, it is even better if you learn to play music, to build your brain power, creativity, and to express yourself. It is never too late to learn to play an instrument. It is possible at any age. During this pandemic, many people spend a lot of time at home, scrolling on social media sites and playing games. Instead, you could use your computer, smartphone, or other gadgets to go online to learn to play music. Becoming a musician will help you develop new skills and can fulfill your long-time dream of learning to play music.

Choose an Instrument

If you want to learn music, the first step is to pick a musical instrument. Something that you are interested in learning, and find the best instrument for you. You might want to visit a music store to see what is available, and how much they would cost to rent or buy. Choose an instrument that you really like because it will help you keep going during the times when it seems too difficult. If you are interested in string instruments, you may want to try the ukelele first before a violin or cello.

Consider the type of songs and music you love to listen to. Choose an instrument that you could play your favorite songs with. Or, you could choose to use your voice as your instrument and have singing lessons.

Consider buying a music book that has some easier versions of songs that you like, to help you be inspired and have fun during your practice. It takes time and requires so much patience that you will want to do everything you can to stay motivated and happy.

Find A Teacher

After you have decided on the instrument, you can also look for a teacher who will help you learn and develop your new skill. During this pandemic, if it is not safe to meet people outside, you can still study your instrument at home with the help of a teacher who will give a lesson and interact with you virtually. Sometimes, online lessons may be at a lower price than face-to-face lessons.

If you cannot find local music teachers that will help you play an instrument, you can try enrolling at a music school that offers online music or voice lessons. Various schools offer music lessons online, such as Sage Music. The teachers at Sage Music are supportive, patient, and professional musicians that give individual attention to learn how to play your chosen instrument. Having the support and guidance of a music teacher will make a difference in your journey to learn music.

Learn Music Online

Restrictions from the Covid-19 pandemic are not a hindrance to becoming productive and learning something new. If you wish to learn music, you can do that online. With high-quality music lessons, your musical skills grow and improve. As you achieve your goals, you gain self-confidence, feel great about your music, and have fun.

Find Ways to Cope

Accept that the pandemic has brought a lot of changes to people’s lives. Music can help many people to cope with stress and anxiety. Music can help people overcome mental health issues and create a sense of community, belonging, and participation. Virtual performances can be beautiful and inspiring for performers and for those who are able to watch and listen.

Conclusion

If you have anxiety and are feeling stressed, consider learning music to help improve your sense of well-being in spite of the pandemic. Start and learn music now, as a way of coping, relaxing, and developing your skills.

 

Blog Post #27 added 10-27-21 by Guest Contributor Curtis Dean of Sage Music.   Edited by Mary Knutson of Health Vista, Inc.

Learning

Reflections: Ways to Learn at an Older Age

Challenging myself to learn:learn with book, hands and pencil

I always valued and enjoyed lifelong learning. But, now I am over 60.  I wonder if I can learn at an older age?  As I age, I feel more like slowing down than “ramping up”.  I am not very confident about learning new skills. And, I am not sure I should take on any big new technology projects, even though it was my plan to do more with my website now that I am semi-retired.

Gaining Confidence:

I took a huge step when I decided not to renew my website maintenance contract (because of the expense).  It was very scary to imagine doing it myself.  I talked to my family and some friends about it, and they seemed to think I could do it. But, I knew I needed lots of support as I learn at this older age.

I chose to switch to GoDaddy webhosting because they take care of some of the maintenance tasks, and they have 24/7 customer service by phone. They seemed very patient and helpful during the transition when  I called many times for many reasons. One of them said he could tell by my voice that I was a “mature” person and he was impressed that I was doing this.  Even though it was like saying he thought I was old, It was nice to hear some positive words during stressful times when problems needed to be solved.

Learning at an older age:

I watched some tutorials and videos, but that didn’t seem to be enough for me.  I looked for an online class to take, but didn’t find what I needed.  Thankfully, I found a book I had called the WordPress: The Missing Manual (2014).  I bought it many years ago but hadn’t read it yet.  I know it is outdated, but it is a great overview so I can understand what WordPress is, how to manage it, and how to maintain it.  And, it gives some step-by-step directions!

Understand Your Individual Ways of Learning:

There is a lot more to learning than you may have realized.  People have different ways of learning.  At any age, it helps if you make a plan to optimize your readiness to learn.  You can read my Ready to Learn handout at https://healthvista.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ReadyToLearnHandout.pdf

I won’t be adding new web pages anytime soon, but I am learning a lot. So far, I have gotten through most of the information about creating and editing blogs. I found out that I didn’t do them exactly correctly in the past. Next, I will start reading about web pages so I can organize things better and improve my health resources website at healthvista.net .

Practicing:

I am writing this post as a “practice session”.  If I read about something without using the information, I usually don’t remember what I read.  My plan is to practice as I go through the book, so I can learn better.  There was another reason for creating this post, I wanted to practice finding and using some free stock pictures that are not copyrighted.  I was glad to find more images for future projects on Freeimages.com, Pixabay, and Unsplash,

Growing toward success:

I know that I am gaining skills and confidence as I challenge myself.  Even if I make mistakes along the way and it takes a lot of time, I will be learning and growing.  Instead of learning less when I am older, maybe retirement is the best time to learn.  Hopefullly, there will be more time to spend learning. And, as I learn at an older age, I have more wisdom to know what help I will need to reach my goals.

Here’s to this one small success!  I am on my way to learning how to maintain my website.  I was able to create a blog post correctly!

celebration picture of 2 champagne glasses

Blog post # 19 created 5-24-20 by Mary Knutson and edited 6-9-20

Photos by Piotr Lewandowski and Wynand Van Neikerk from FreeImages,com

Recovery

Resources for Recovery

Recovery Resources:

Many of the recovery resources were written while working with psychiatric patients. However, they were made to be helpful for recovery from other kinds of illness, or for general wellness or well-being.

Many presentations and learning activities are shared in Health Vista’s resources for recovery.  They are organized under the seven elements of recovery, the same framework used for Recovery Education lessons.

Elements of Recovery:

  • Hope
  • Security
  • Support/Managing Symptoms
  • Empowerment
  • Relationships
  • Coping
  • Finding Meaning

Find resources for recovery from Health Vista

When I was working in Inpatient Behavioral Health, I started developing and writing simple but engaging and effective patient education and learning activities.

Through the years, I also collected a wide variety of free resources for recovery include Powerpoints and many other links for health education and motivation. I wanted to make them available for others to use. Although not all of the Recovery Education lessons are posted online, many of them are.  More may be added in the future, so check back often. Here are some examples:

You can find the Hopelessness to Hope Lesson handout here.

Click to see the Finding Hope Pathfinder. That recovery lesson was made into a video YouTube to help you toward the first step to recovery.  You can also use the Positive Words Discussion Guide.

Finding Hope Pathfinder narrated video

Click the title to watch  Finding Your Way to Recovery

Recovery Workbooks:

I wrote many simple, clear, and short workbooks to share. I have donated some to community groups, but the cost of printing is too high to make them all free.  The workbooks have a cost, but they are on the healthvista.net website. Topics include Managing Pain,  Managing Long-term Pain, Managing Depression,  Managing Anger, Managing Addiction, Managing Illness, Managing Mental Illness, and Coping with Trauma.

Contact me by e-mail if you want to ask if some prices can be changed.  The following coping workbook is available free of charge:

Your Recovery Workbook: Coping and Relaxation  [.pdf] can be downloaded free and printed out. 

As you will see, my website contains many free, but very valuable resources,  Please browse and explore the lessons, handouts, learning activities, and links at https://healthvista.net/health-resources/recovery-resources/

I suggest that you start by Exploring Mindfulness . Then, begin  Taking Recovery Steps:

  • Ups and downs are to be expected – It is best to handle them as calmly as possible, using help and support to get back on track
  • Take small steps – You will get to where you are going (no matter how long it takes) if you go in the right direction
  • You feel more in control when you take the recovery steps at your own pace
  • In life, there is always hope, but sometimes you have to change what you are hoping for.
  • Be open to learning and change as you start your recovery journey

“I am not interested in the past. I am interested in the future, for that is where I expect to spend the rest of my life.”  – Charles F. Kettering

Updated 5-27-20 by Mary Knutson