Communication and Cultural Studies Annotated Bibliography

Correspondence and Cultural Studies - Annotated Bibliography Example We requested that members update and extend their gathering papers in view of these points of view. The subsequent volume presents an interdisciplinary gander at how force and types of social portrayal communicated with regards to Austrian-American relations during the virus war. Taken all in all, the commitments challenge gullible thoughts of social government. Since the get-go, people have communicated a worry for morals. Plato Republic is basically a work of political morals, as is Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics. For both Plato and Aristotle, the great individual was a principled resident adding to the city-state. The thought of metro goodness infers a populace that is educated, dynamic, sacrificial, edified and, most importantly, just. Rhetoric and the investigation of correspondences have since quite a while ago loaned themselves to examination into morals. There is all inclusive understanding that human correspondence requests worry for morals. These articles are the result of a gathering of global extents that were supported by the Linacre Center to find the significance of the encyclical Evangelium vitae (in 1995) of John Paul II. The motivation behind the investigation was for social insurance morals.

Tips on Writing a Good Research Paper

Tips on Writing a Good Research PaperDo you think it's hard to get a good research paper online writing service? Most college students would agree that writing a research paper is one of the most difficult things that they have to do in their whole college education. Here are some tips on how to write a good research paper.Choose the right keywords: Sometimes the hardest part of a research paper is choosing the right keywords. This might sound simple, but for some reason most people seem to think that all they have to do is list a bunch of keywords that match the topic of the paper. The truth is that you need to know which keywords will turn up high in Google and which keywords will be buried in the paper. These are some things that you should look out for when choosing your keywords.The title and keywords play the most important role in a research paper. Use keywords that you already know will be searched when you publish your paper. For example, if you are going to write about the movies that you like, you may want to use words that are similar to what you enjoy seeing in the movies.As you write the research paper, make sure you put out the ideas in a way that readers can get what you are trying to say from it. Avoid the phrase 'this' and instead use 'that'. Think of the paper as being like a film, the title should be like the title of the movie.What you choose to write in the research paper should make the main idea of the paper clear to your readers. If you're writing a paper about car insurance, then you should write like you are talking about a car, not an insurance policy. Do not overdo the flow of the paper.Some research papers are written with so much information packed into them that there is no way the reader can read it all. At these times, it is best to cut out a few chapters and revise. Do not worry about the length of the research paper; rather concentrate on making sure the ideas are in the paper.Most students and colleges will find the research paper writing service that you want to use to be a great help in developing a good research paper. With this service, you can also find writers who specialize in providing information about the topics that interest you.

Neoliberalism as a Tool of Market Capitalism Free Essay Example, 5500 words

Globalization is a post-war (1945 -) phenomenon. It describes the process whereby trade , economies and communication become more integrated on a world scale. Largely speaking, it has been facilitated by a marked increase in a variety of technologies, such as progress in the areas of transportation and telecommunications, and it has been also facilitated by relative political stability and a consensus of market capitalism. As a term, it was coined in the early 1950s but did not come into prominence in political literature until the late 1960s. One of the defining features of this process is that it is largely market-driven, and as Moody [1998] argues, legitimated by the rise of neo-liberalism coinciding with the decline of Keynesian economic models [Moody, 1998: 119]. That is, and in brief, Keynesian economic theory, posited that the means of creating economic growth was to centrally control an economy to some extent, and this entailed establishing a social infrastructure which placed money directly into the hands of individuals within a society. The theory suggested that by increasing the amount a government spent in areas such as social programs, the greater the prospects that the benefactors would generate revenue for the economy in general or a believe that money earned by the richest would trickle down to the poorest [Boyle and Sims, 2009: 27]. By contrast, neo-liberalism maintained that by cutting social programs, and in turn, reducing government spending and therefore taxes, more wealth would be generated through the reinvestment of income which would have been paid in taxes: this new policy approach was neoliberalism: a mixture of neoclassical economic fundamentalism, market regulation in place of state guidance, economic redistribution in favor of capital (known as supply-side economics). In his sense, it is both inseparable forces of supply and demand, but it is also largely indifferent to national interests, and even less so with regard t o the interests of labour organized or not. We will write a custom essay sample on Neoliberalism as a Tool of Market Capitalism or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now

Color Blind Racism Essay - 781 Words

Color-blind Racism As I waited in line at a grocery store I noticed that the wait was unbearably long. It’s the first of the month a man snickered to me, confused I asked him what do you mean? He replied with people receive their welfare checks today, I know you are not one of them. I told him you never know what someone is going through or what their financial situation is so you can’t pass judgement. After I said that he told me to look around and see what type of people I see. I continued to look when I notice a large amount of Hispanics in line, even though that’s what I saw I told the man I see people waiting in line. He continued to tell me how illegal aliens are ruining our economy, taking our jobs, and taking advantage of our†¦show more content†¦The most aggressive level of color-blind racism is the scapegoat theory when a person or group is blamed irrationally for another person’s or groups problems or difficulty. I feel like the scapegoat theory is the mo st pernicious because it makes a minority group feel inferior for something that did not do. Than the exploitation theory which is the view of racial subordination in the United States as a manifestation of the class system inherent in capitalism. Finally the last level is solely discrimination which is the denial of opportunities and equal rights to individuals and groups because of prejudice of for other arbitrary reasons. Not to mention the various ways minorities tried to assimilate to American standards and were still rejected. For example Takeo Ozwa attempted to become a U.S. citizen by following the Anglo-conformity steps but in the end was simply denied because he was Japanese. Even scientist skewed their research to depict minorities as inferior human beings; books were published to promote this way of thinking a great example would be Types of mankind and Notes on the state of Virginia. An experience I went through that proved to me color-blind racism is prevalent was when I applied for a job. When I turned sixteen I was so excited to apply for a job because I wanted to feel independent. Naively I didn’t realize that race and ethnicity had a big part of wether or not I got hired. As I applied to this clothing store everything went as planned andShow MoreRelatedColor-Blind Racism In America1131 Words   |  5 PagesCarlos Collins Writing Assignment 1 Hair is a basic element of most of our lives, so to many, hair is a trivial thing. However, the fact that we live in a social climate that routinely rejects aspects of communities of color, hair has come to be an increasingly symbolic piece of our racial identities. This is especially true for the black community in the United States. After generations of countering Eurocentric ideologies surrounding acceptability, members of the black community are beginningRead MoreThe Linguistics Of Color Blind Racism1262 Words   |  6 PagesEduardo Bonilla-Silva is a professor of sociology. He has written multiple books about color racism. The linguistics of color blind racism: how to talk nasty about blacks without sounding â€Å"racist† is one of the works that incudes color racism that I will be discussing. This title describes how other races that are racists are trying to hide so they find ways to speak about the blacks trying to not sound racist. I am in agreement with Silvaâ€℠¢s work because I have witnessed instances where semanticRead MoreThe Myth Of Racial Americ Color Blind Racism3433 Words   |  14 Pages The Myth of ‘Post-racial’ America: Color-blind Racism in the Push to Repeal Affirmative Action in Higher Education By: Samantha L Bowden Dr. Bernd Reiter CPO 5934/LAS 6936: Race/Ethnicity/Nation December 2th, 2014 INTRODUCTION Across the sociological indicators, minorities, and especially blacks, â€Å"lag behind whites in the United States in terms of income, wealth, occupation and health status, educational attainment, and other relevant indicators† (Bonilla-SilviaRead MoreNative Indian Culture : Color Blind Racism880 Words   |  4 PagesAnother form of racism placed onto Native Indian people is color-blind racism. This form of racism rationalizes â€Å"racial inequality as the outcome of nonracial dynamics† (Robertson 120). Color-blind racism takes the standards created by the dominant discourse and applies them to all ethnic groups, putting them on an even level plain field without recognizing historical or social context of each group. Therefore, according to color blind racism, the effects of casualties and stereotypical of NativeRead MoreRacism And Racial Segregation : A Color Blind Society1052 Words   |  5 PagesRace in America has been a conscientious objective since the begi nning of time. Individuals of different hues perpetuate the racial spoils system which vigorously rejects the Martin Luther King theory of a color blind society. Throughout history, the criterion of which racism has stemmed has evolved vastly, yet it’s probably more of an issue in today’s current events than ever before. Through researched data I was able to create a census for this so called issue with race in America. This researchRead MoreIs the Emphasis on a Color-Blind Society an Answer to Racism Essay1109 Words   |  5 PagesIs the emphasis on a Color-Blind Society an Answer to Racism? Racism is a word that sparks a nerve in many individuals today. As hard as it is to believe, racism is still a big factor in what we as a society know as a unified America. Although, it is not as obvious as it was in the past, it still goes on, just in ways that are less noticeable. We ask the question, is the emphasis on a color-blind society an answer to racism. Ward Connerly claims it is a way to stop the segregation and make AmericaRead MoreLimits of the American Dream and Racism behind the Facade of Color-Blind America1321 Words   |  5 PagesAmerican Dream and Racism behind the Faà §ade of Color-Blind America While the United States is a great country in terms of being home to so many nationalities, races, cultures, and religions, its greatness is often exaggerated through the perpetuation of myths and false assumptions. One of the myths that those who pursue the American Dream often believe is the idea that the United States is a color-blind society where anyone can achieve the dream regardless of ones race, color, gender, religion,Read MoreEssay about Eduardo Bonilla-Silvas Book, Racism Without Racists1653 Words   |  7 Pagesdiscusses the new racism in his book, Racism without Racists. Bonilla-Silva classifies the new racial discrimination as color blind racism. Color blind racism is then structured under four frames (26). Color blind racism is believed to have lead to the segregation of the white race from other minorities called white habitus. Color blind racism and white habitus has affected many people, whom don’t even realize that they are, have been or will be affec ted. Color blind racism is an â€Å"ideology,Read MoreThe American Civil War And The Civil Rights Movement1539 Words   |  7 PagesIn elementary school, students study the Civil War, and the Civil Rights movement. Teachers speak about slavery and racism as if it were a thing of the past; and juvenile minds are lead to believe that Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream has finally come true. But as these futile minds mature, they encounter different versions of this â€Å"dream†. Caucasian faces may live to believe the world is a blissful place, but scoff at the waitress who struggles to speak english. Brown faces may look at the homosexualRead MoreRacism And The Civil Rights Moment Era1076 Words   |  5 PagesColor-blind racism has a linguistic style which forms when dominate groups speak about subordinate groups without sounding racist. The author describes it as using â€Å"thread to join pieces of fabric into garments.† (Bonilla-Silva, Pg.53). â€Å"If the garment is being assembled in an open forum (with minorities present or in public venues), dominant actors will weave its fibers carefully (‘I am not a racist, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ) and not too tight (I am not black, so I don’t know†). If, in contrast, the needlework is

Reflection On Group Work Impact Of Teenage Pregnancy †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Reflection On Group Work Impact Of Teenage Pregnancy. Answer: Introduction Group work is important in terms of enhancing the awareness regarding the importance of unity, coordination and collaboration. Transfer of skills from one team member to the other enriches the preconceived skills, knowledge and abilities of the individuals (Malekoff, 2015). This assignment conducts a SWOT analysis of working in a group. Overall experience as a group The working experience was a very bad one. This is due to the behaviour of one of the team members. The rest of us had to take the burden of completing the whole project. This was somehow a burden for us; however, three of us maintained the unity and completed the project. The attitude of the member seemed vague in terms of the partnership working spirit within us. Personally speaking, my experience was a bitter one at the beginning. However, as I resumed work with my other team members, I learnt a big lesson regarding handling the things in adverse situations. This lesson has made me realized that independence is of utmost importance if one has to emerge successful in ones life. Strengths and weakness of working as a group Working with the other team members has enriched my preconceived knowledge, skills and expertise on heinous crimes such as teenage pregnancy. Exchange of information from the team members to me is the major drive behind this. Along with this, sharing the project has resulted in the successful completion within the stipulated deadline. Apart from this, collaboration from the other team members has helped me to overcome the major issues, which I had encountered while executing the project. Careless attitude of one of the team members towards doing the project work is one of the greatest weaknesses, which I can point out in terms of the group work, which we were assigned. This attitude has strained the unity and coordination between us. Challenges of group work Careless attitude of one of the team member is the greatest challenge for us. Coming to the discussions compelled us to repeat the constructed plans delayed the actual execution of the project related activities. In addition to that, even after repeated explanations of the things he had to do, he failed to execute them properly, which added to our complexities. Most troublesome was his habit of copy pasting the information from the internet sources, which had high chances of us getting caught for plagiarism and collusion. Upon asking the reason for doing this, excuses were always ready on his mouth. This type of behaviour strained his relationship with the professors, which deprived us from the external help and support, which we required for completing the project on teenage pregnancy. This deprivation attached an interrogative parameter on the quality of our project. Different perspective on working as a group If the professors had indulged in meeting regarding correcting the team member, I think our project would have been the best. Along with this, if face to face discussions were done with that team member regarding the reasons for this behaviour; it would have certainly led to some constructive solution. This would have benefitted us, the team member and the professors. Apart from this, we as team members could have asked about the issues, which is facing, for which he is exposing this kind of behaviour. Conclusion Counselling can be one of an effective means of transforming an individual. This is applicable for any of the aspects even partnership working. Taking the example of the team member, who exposed lackadaisical approach towards the project, counselling would excavate several reasons of this kind of behaviour- psychological, intentional, and hierarchical among others. The rest of the team members need to maintain the unity and coordination for setting an example before the team member and most importantly successful completion of the project within the stipulated time. References Brandler, S., Roman, C. P. (2015).Group work: Skills and strategies for effective interventions. Routledge. Lindsay, T., Orton, S. (2014).Groupwork practice in social work. Learning Matters. Malekoff, A. (2015).Group work with adolescents: Principles and practice. Guilford Publications. Reynolds, M. (2013).Group Work in Education and Training. Routledge.

Mobile Operating Systems free essay sample

Mobile Operating Systems (Mobile OS) Introduction: A mobile operating system, also called a mobile OS, is an operating system that is specifically designed to run on mobile devices such as mobile phones, smartphones, PDAs, tablet computers and other handheld devices. Much like the Linux or Windows operating system controls your desktop or laptop computer, a mobile operating system is the software platform on top of which other programs can run on mobile devices. The operating system is responsible for determining the functions and features available on your device, such as thumbwheel, keyboards, WAP, synchronization with applications, email, text messaging and more. The mobile OS will also determine which third-party applications (mobile apps) can be used on your device. Types of Mobile Operating Systems There are various types of MOS. When you purchase a mobile device the manufacturer will have chosen the operating system for that specific device. Often, you will want to learn about the mobile operating system before you purchase a device to ensure compatibility and support for the mobile applications you want to use. We will write a custom essay sample on Mobile Operating Systems or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Among the various MOS here we discuss a few that are popular in market now. Android OS (Google Inc. ): The Android mobile operating system is Googles open and free software stack that includes an operating system, middleware and also key applications for use on mobile devices, including smartphones. Updates for the open source Android mobile operating system have been developed under â€Å"dessert-inspired† codenames (Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich) with each new version arriving in alphabetical order with new enhancements and improvements. Bada (Samsung Electronics): Bada is a proprietary Samsung mobile OS that was first launched in 2010. The Samsung Wave was the first smartphone to use this mobile OS. Bada provides mobile features such as multipoint-touch, 3D graphics and of course, application downloads and installation. BlackBerry OS (Research In Motion) : The BlackBerry OS is a proprietary mobile operating system developed by Research In Motion for use on the company’s popular BlackBerry handheld devices. The BlackBerry platform is popular with corporate users as it offers synchronization with Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino, Novell GroupWise email and other business software, when used with the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. iPhone OS / iOS (Apple) : Apples iPhone OS was originally developed for use on its iPhone devices. Now, the mobile operating system is referred to as iOS and is supported on a number of Apple devices including the iPhone, iPad, iPad 2 and iPod Touch. The iOS mobile operating system is available only on Apples own manufactured devices as the company does not license the OS for third-party hardware. Apple iOS is derived from Apples Mac OS X operating system. MeeGo OS (Nokia and Intel) : A joint open source mobile operating system which is the result of merging two products based on open source technologies: Maemo (Nokia) and Moblin (Intel). MeeGo is a mobile OS designed to work on a number of devices including smartphones, netbooks, tablets, in-vehicle information systems and various devices using Intel Atom and ARMv7 architectures. Palm OS (Garnet OS) : The Palm OS is a proprietary mobile operating system (PDA operating system) that was originally released in 1996 on the Pilot 1000 handheld. Newer versions of the Palm OS have added support for expansion ports, new processors, external memory cards, improved security and support for ARM processors and smartphones. Palm OS 5 was extended to provide support for a broad range of screen resolutions, wireless connections and enhanced multimedia capabilities and is called Garnet OS. Symbian OS (Nokia) : Symbian is a mobile operating system (OS) targeted at mobile phones that offers a high-level of integration with communication and personal information management (PIM) functionality. Symbian OS combines middleware with wireless communications through an integrated mailbox and the integration of Java and PIM functionality (agenda and contacts). Nokia has made the Symbian platform available under an alternative, open and direct model, to work with some OEMs and the small community of platform development collaborators. Nokia does not maintain Symbian as an open source development project. ebOS (Palm/HP) : WebOS is a mobile operating system that runs on the Linux kernel. WebOS was initially developed by Palm as the successor to its Palm OS mobile operating system. It is a proprietary Mobile OS which was eventually acquired by HP and now referred to as webOS (lower-case w) in HP literature. HP uses webOS in a number of devices including several smartphones and HP TouchPads. HP has pushe d its webOS into the enterprise mobile market by focusing on improving security features and management with the release of webOS 3. x. HP has also announced plans for a version of webOS to run within the Microsoft Windows operating system and to be installed on all HP desktop and notebook computers in 2012. Windows Mobile (Windows Phone 7) : Windows Mobile is Microsofts mobile operating system used in smartphones and mobile devices – with or without touchscreens. The Mobile OS is based on the Windows CE 5. 2 kernel. In 2010 Microsoft announced a new smartphone platform called Windows Phone 7. Advantages of MOS: They can do more than a feature phone and can have higher end hardware which a feature phone cant have. Instead of Java apps, you get better, higher quality apps on smartphones. They provide richer functions and are more advanced and internet works more better on them. Simply, a smartphone is like computer in your pocket. Android, iOS, Symbian and Windows Phone are all smartphone OSs so they can do more than what a typical feature phone can do. Disadvantages: Smartphones (which is a phone that runs on an OS and can do more than a feature phone) are more vulnerable to viruses and they consume more power which results in a shorter battery life.

Mental Illness a New Kind of Language Barrier Professor Ramos Blog

Mental Illness a New Kind of Language Barrier To see it is to believe it, right? But what if you do not know what you are looking at? What if you do not know what you are looking for? Understanding a person suffering with a mental illness can be challenging and overwhelming; it is difficult to understand them, and difficult to communicate with them. But what do you do when you are faced with something difficult? You try to understand it, it is like untying a knot, you find the ends of the thread first and work your way through. To begin, you will get an idea of what it means to be a mentally healthy person. Then you will learn about the signs and symptoms of two specific mental illnesses, Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia, so that you can gain a deeper understanding of each illness and its uniqueness. After each description of these diseases will be techniques of how to interact and communicate with a person suffering from the symptoms of these diseases. What makes a person mentally healthy? Adrienne Dill Linton, who put together the book Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing, defines a mentally healthy person as â€Å"a person who is a living being with physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social dimensions who interacts with the environment to achieve a chosen life purpose† (1272). Healthy, self-actualized individuals have an accurate perception of reality, they have an ability to accept oneself and others (Linton 1273). A mentally healthy person can be spontaneous, they can solve problems, essentially a mentally healthy person can adapt to change. There is a need for privacy and a need for independence. A mentally healthy person can express themselves emotionally. This person has a frequency of happy moments in their life that produce a sense of worth, hope, and love of life. They identify with humankind, can maintain satisfactory relationships, they have a sense of ethics and they have some sense of resistance to conformity (Linton 1273). This definition and explanation is meant to give you a baseline of what makes a person mentally healthy and self-actualized. Now we will begin to explore how mental illness varies from this baseline. What is Bipolar Disorder? In the book, PN Mental Health Nursing, Bipolar Disorder is described as a mood disorder with recurrent episodes of depression and mania (Sommer et al. 107). Mania is psychotic, paranoid, and/or bizarre behavior. Psychotic behavior can be better explained by simply saying that one has a disconnection from reality. A person demonstrating paranoid behavior may think that everyone is out to get them. To be manic is to have a labile or easily changed mood with euphoria, agitation and irritability (Sommer et al. 109). A person going through a manic episode, has mood changes easily and quickly without rhyme or reason. This person is restless and wants to get going even if they don’t know where they are going or what they are doing. Interference or criticism of what a manic person’s chosen task is can cause increased agitation and irritability. During a manic episode there is an increase in talking and activity and flight of ideas (Sommer et al. 109). This basically means that there is rapid, continuous speech with sudden and frequent topic change. A person going through a manic episode has a disconnection from reality in the fact that they have a grandiose view of self and their abilities, they think of themselves as godlike. In the book The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide, author David J. Miklowitz explains grandiosity as feeling superior to everyone else and believing that only very special people can understand them (24). There is a high level of impulsivity that comes with a manic episode, like spending money and giving away money or possessions (Sommer et al. 109). This can be confused with generosity but the two couldn’t be more different. Generosity describes a person who is prepared to give more than is strictly necessary or expected while impulsivity describes a lack of self-control. The depressive part of bipolar disorder is a flat, blunted, labile affect (Sommer et al. 109). A flat affect means the facial expression never changes, a blunted affect means there is a narrow range of normal expressions and labile affect means an easily changing facial expression. This person going through a depressive episode experiences tearfulness or crying and lack of energy. Francis Mark Mondimore, the author of Bipolar Disorder: A Guide For Patients And Families, describes some of the symptoms of the depressive part of bipolar disorder as having a loss of pleasure and lack of interest in activities, hobbies, sexual activity, and states that this person may have physical reports of discomfort or pain (18). A person with bipolar disorder who is experiencing a depressive episode may not be able to make sense of why they are feeling so low, there may not be a clear reason why they can’t stop crying. Keep in mind what they are feeling is real to them, and it is important to have empathy but not sympathy. To have empathy is to have an ability to understand and share the feeling of another. Sympathy is a feeling of pity and sadness for someone else’s misfortune; it’s not helpful to the person who is suffering. Many people compare bipolar disorder to riding a roller coaster. During a manic episode, people often confuse confidence with grandiosity, spontaneity with bizarre behavior, sensitivity with intolerance of criticism†¦it is important to know that there is a difference. Confidence is a feeling of self-assurance coming from an appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities whereas grandiosity is an unrealistic sense of superiority. Spontaneity is sudden inner impulse or inclination without premeditation or external stimulus versus bizarre behavior which is behavior that is not appropriate to the current circumstances. Sensitivity is being easily offended or hurt but intolerance of criticism is a firm unwillingness to accept any perspectives or thoughts that are different from one’s own. Walking through a manic episode. When a person with Bipolar Disorder, is going through a manic episode, it may appear that they are going 100 miles a minute, that they are in a hurry and can’t focus. So first, be aware of your surroundings; noise, TV, music, background chatter, other people in the vicinity can escalate this person’s behavior (Sommer et al. 110). Think of these factors as stimulants, this person does not need to be stimulated anymore, so quiet the surrounding areas down or take this person somewhere that is quiet. Use a calm voice, to not use inflection or a tone when you speak, give short responses and short explanations (Sommer et al. 110). Set limits, do not let yourself be manipulated (Sommer et al. 110). â€Å"A person in a true manic state usually will not stop moving, and does not eat, drink, or sleep. This can become a medical emergency† (Sommer et al. 111). â€Å"Mania is an abnormally elevated mood that usually requires hospitalization, hypomania is a less severe episode of mania that lasts at least 4 days accompanied by three to four finding of mania. Hospitalization is not required, and the person is less impaired. Mixed episode is a manic episode and a major depressive episode being experience simultaneously, the person has marked impairment in functioning and can require admission to an acute care mental health facility to prevent self-harm or other directed violence† (Sommer et al. 107) The best thing one can do for a person suffering from a manic episode is to get them professional help. If the person in question is diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and they are experiencing a manic episode the best thing to do for them is to get them to a hospital where medical professionals are prepared to assess them. The downside of Bipolar Disorder Now, when a person with Bipolar Disorder is going through a depressive episode, the most serious concern here is suicide. If this person speaks of suicide, ask them if they have a plan. A good rule of thumb is if anyone ever mentions, or hints at suicide when they speak to you, always ask them if they have a plan? If yes, then ask them what their plan is? For example, if they plan on shooting themselves, do they have a gun at home? The reason you want to ask these questions is that you want to know if they have the means to kill themselves and you want to prevent self-harm (Linton 1298). This conversation may be uncomfortable, overwhelming and scary, but these questions may be necessary if you ever find yourself in this position. Use calm, slow, steady speech when talking to this person, this person may not respond immediately so be patient. Do not ask direct questions but rather make observations (Sommer et al. 100). Direct questions can cause stress and seem like an attack. Say â€Å"I noticed you didn’t eat today† rather then â€Å"did you eat today?† or â€Å"why didn’t you eat today?†. Never ask â€Å"why† questions, they can come off as accusatory. Make time to be with this person even if they do not speak, it shows you are available and builds trust. Sometimes you must accept silence. Silence can be therapeutic; it is important that you feel comfortable with silence because silence enables the person before you to consider their own thoughts as well as what you are communicating to them (Linton 1285). You may notice that there are some similarities between Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia, and you may use the similar communication techniques for both. Exploring Schizophrenia. A person is diagnosed with Schizophrenia then they have psychotic thinking or behavior (Sommer et al. 116). A person suffering with schizophrenia has thoughts that are disconnected from reality and it shows in their behavior. â€Å"School, work, self-care, and interpersonal relationships are significantly impaired† (Sommer et al. 116). â€Å"They display bizarre behavior patterns characterized by strange body movements and odd facial expressions, use languages that is impossible to understand, or groom themselves in unusual ways† says Richard S.E. Keefe and Philip D. Harvey in the book Understanding Schizophrenia: A Guide to the New Research on Causes and Treatment(18). This disease is characterized by its symptoms and this disease has symptoms that are separated as being positive or negative. Positive symptoms are a manifestation of things that are not normally present, think of positive symptoms as extra characteristics which are the most easily identified symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, alterations in speech, bizarre behavior such as walking backward constantly (Sommer et al. 117). Negative symptoms are the absence of things that are normally present, think negative symptoms as â€Å"missing.† These symptoms are more difficult to understand. A schizophrenic person’s affect is usually blunted or flat, inability to speak or have thoughts; this person may sit with you but only mumble or respond vaguely to questions. There is a lack of energy, a lack of pleasure or joy, and lack of motivation in activities and hygiene (Sommer et al. 117). Problems with thinking make it very difficult for a person suffering with this disease to live independently. Disordered thinking, inability to make decisions, poor problem-solving ability, difficulty concentrating to perform tasks, memory deficits (long-term memory, working memory such as inability to follow directions to find an address) are examples of what make being independent and schizophrenic difficult (Sommer et al. 117). Emotional manifestations are hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Hope is the one of the most vital emotions we possess; it is a feeling of expectation and desire for something to happen, it’s a wish, an aspiration, a daydream, an ambition. When you lose all hope, when you lose every daydream of a better life or a better day, when you lose all expectations or ambition, it can be devastating, you may ask yourself what is there left to live for. Hopelessness is deadly. Navigating the minefield that is Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is difficult in its own way because in this scenario you are dealing with someone who is hallucinating and/or having delusions. Hallucinations can take the form of hearing voices, seeing things, smelling odors, tasting things, or feeling bodily sensations that are not there. According to Sommer et al., â€Å"Delusions are false fixed beliefs that cannot be corrected by reasoning and are usually bizarre† (116). An example of a delusion would be a person believing that they are giving birth to a dinosaur. This person is not actually giving birth to a dinosaur, but to them, it is real. A Schizophrenic person who is suffering with hallucinations might hear voices or feel ants crawling on their skin. If you are faced with someone who is struggling with schizophrenia and experiencing hallucinations or delusions, do not argue and do not agree with them. This person suffering from hallucination or delusions believes they are just as real as a mentally healthy person believing that the sky is blue. To them, it is a rational and matter of fact thought. If they say they hear voices that are telling them to kill themselves you would say â€Å"I don’t hear anything, but that sounds scary† and try to provide safety to prevent them from causing harm to themselves or others. How do you keep this person safe? Seek professional help, call 911. Be genuine and empathetic in all communications with this person. Reorient them to reality and focus conversations on reality-based topics. One day, you may find yourself facing someone you care about who is suffering from the symptoms of Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder. You may find yourself wanting to help them, but not knowing where to start or what to say. Take a step back and remind yourself that this person communicates differently. Do they use words? Yes, but they are telling you something with their behavior as well. Observe the person before you, are they mumbling? Does it sound like they are talking to someone who is not there? Are they focused on you? Or are they focused on something else? Does it look like they are looking at someone or something that is not there? Do they seem panicked? Do they seem lethargic? Asking yourself questions like these will be helpful in determining how to communicate with a person diagnosed with a mental illness who is experiencing an episode. In any scenario, be available, listen, clarify, share observations, be genuine and be prepared for silence. If you find yourself perplexed by the issues that come with helping someone who is diagnosed with a mental illness you can reach out to various advocacy groups such as Mental Health America or the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Websites for mental health https://www.nami.org/ https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/ https://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml Keefe, Richard S. E., and Philip D. Harvey. Understanding Schizophrenia: A Guide to the New Research on Causes and Treatment. Free Press, 1994. Linton, Adrianne Dill. Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing. 6th ed., Elsevier Saunders, 2016. Miklowitz, David Jay. The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide What You and Your Family Need to Know. Guilford Press, 2002. Mondimore, Francis Mark. Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999. Sommer, Sherry, et al. PN Mental Health Nursing. 9.0 ed., Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC., 2014.