Persistent Feelings Research Articles

Life after College: Liminal Legality and Political Threats as Barriers to Undocumented Students’ Career Preparation Pursuits

ABSTRACT Prior research has established that undocumented immigration status disrupts students’ transition into life after college, but limited research has examined their preparatory experiences in college. Drawing on interviews with 154 undocumented college students and 32 alumni, we examine how immigration status impacts undocumented students’ career planning and preparation. We find that professional development opportunities and college social networks facilitate successful career transitions for both those who received DACA and those who did not. Although DACA facilitates access to a wider variety of professional development opportunities in college, a lack of permanent legal status continues to pose barriers. Yet, both those with and without DACA identify persistent feelings of uncertainty that constrain their career planning, particularly in the face of ongoing political threats to the DACA program. In all, we contend that DACA has supported the post-college transitions of undocumented young adults, but its effects are substantially constrained because it is an increasingly compromised form of liminal legality. We assert that experiences of liminal legality are shifting due to the increasingly temporary and threatened nature of contemporary immigration policy making.

URGENT FACTORS RELATED TO THE INCIDENCE OF DEPRESSION IN ELDERLY IN KORONG TOBOH WORK AREA PUSKESMAS KAMPUNG DALAM

According to the survey results of the World Health Organization (WHO) 1990 every year there are 100 million cases of depression (Handajani, 2003). It is estimated that in the future (2020) Developing countries in disease patterns will change, ie unipolar major depression will replace respiratory diseases as the top down (Amir, 2005). The purpose of the study to determine the factors associated with mental disorders (depression) in the elderly dikorong Toboh Puskesmas village in 2014. Depression is a mood disorder. Mood is the atmosphere that is pervasive and persistent feelings experienced internally and that affects a person's behavior and their perceptions of the world (Sadock & Sadock, 2007) This study uses descriptive analytic study with cross sectional approach. The study was conducted in Korong Toboh Puskesmas In the village on 23 to 30 June 2014, all elderly study population aged over 60 years who are as much as 168 diKorong Toboh sampling technique is simple random sampling, 42 samples were obtained. SPSS data processing is done. The results showed the total sample of 42 respondents, 54.8%, has a female gender, 52.4% of respondents do not work, 64.3% supported no families and 61.9% had a mental disorder. There is a significant relationship between sex with the incidence of mental disorders (depression) in Korong Toboh Puskesmas In the village, There is a significant association between the incidence of work with mental disorders (depression) in Korong Toboh Puskesmas Village In and There is a significant association between kejandian family support with mental disorders (depression) in Korong Toboh Puskesmas Kampung in. It is expected that this research as an input and information for institutions and health workers in health centers in order to plan more effective programs, so as to provide information to the public about the factors associated with depression in the elderly and may prevent further occurrences.

Understanding the typical presentation of emptiness: a study of lived-experience

Background Persistent feelings of emptiness, while poorly understood, characterise a range of mental health difficulties. Aims To investigate the meaning of emptiness from the perspective of those with lived experience. Method 240 participants detailed their experiences of emptiness in a survey. Inductive thematic analysis was performed to produce a detailed description of emptiness and a definition of its typical manifestation. In a follow up survey, 178 individuals with lived experience of emptiness rated the accuracy of this definition. Results Nine components of emptiness were identified. These were used to produce a definition of the typical manifestation of emptiness, which highlighted a sense of going through life mechanically, purposelessly and numbly, with a psychological and bodily felt inner void, together with a sense of disconnectedness from others, and of not contributing to an unchanged but distant and remote world. Participants in the second survey judged this definition as highly accurate. Conclusions First person accounts of emptiness point to an integrated experience concerning the relationship between the self, others, and the external world more generally. Therefore, emptiness can be conceptualised as an existential feeling; a background orientation structuring the way in which the self relates to the interpersonal and impersonal world.

The need for publicly funded research on therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs.

The need for publicly funded research on therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs.

Student perceptions of interpersonal justice, engagement, agency and anger: a longitudinal study for reciprocal effects

Based on the premise that classroom interactions unfold through a complex series of circular influences between teacher and students, the aim of this longitudinal study was to test a reciprocal effects model connecting students’ perceptions of interpersonal justice, on the one hand, and student engagement, agency and anger, on the other. Self-report measures of interpersonal justice, student engagement, agency and anger were collected from 454 Year Nine students from Northern Italy in a 3-wave longitudinal research design. Structural equation modelling with latent variables indicated that interpersonal justice in wave 1 had a negative effect on both student agency and anger in wave 2, while interpersonal justice in wave 2 only negatively predicted student anger in wave 3. With respect to the reciprocal effects, student engagement in wave 2 was found to positively predict interpersonal justice in wave 3, while a negative effect close to statistical significance was observed from student agency in wave 2 to interpersonal justice in wave 3. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for teacher practice, as they emphasize that (a) the two main facets of student participation, namely engagement and agency, are differently interconnected with the learning environment, and (b) the perception of being treated fairly is important to the point that its deficiency triggers a persistent feeling of anger in students.

Resentment in The Primary Caregiver of A Patient with Dementia in A Mexican Community

Introduction: Dementia is defined as the progressive deterioration of cognitive abilities; It begins with progressive memory loss, progressing to total cognitive limitation, with behavioral-psychiatric and functional compromise. Due to deterioration, a caregiver is essential. Reactions to caring can vary considerably, but it is now clear that many caregivers are at risk of psychosocial compromise. Resentment is defined as a persistent feeling of disgust or anger towards someone because they consider it the cause of a certain offense or damage suffered. Objective: Demonstrate the prevalence of resentment in caregivers of patients with dementia. Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 147 primary caregivers of patients with dementia who attended a university hospital. Probability sampling for convenience to people over 18 years of age. Approved by the Institution's Ethics and Research Committees. The resentment scale of Thompson et al. Was applied, with Cronbach's alpha .92. Data analysis: It was done in SPSS version 20 for Windows. Chi2 was used for categorical variables with a value of p <0.05. Results: A prevalence of resentment was found in about half of the caregivers. Mostly women, married, university educated, dedicated to the home, of medium socioeconomic level, Catholics, practitioners of their religion, who mainly take care of their mother, 7 days a week with an average of 15 hours a day. Conclusions: About half of the caregivers are resentful. There are factors that are related in favor of the presence of resentment such as occupation and activities related to care and some factors that work against such as attending support groups and being a religious practitioner.

Suicidal Ideation among People with Depression in Mental Hospital, Kabul-Afghanistan

Depression affects one's feeling and thinking, leading to a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities. Depression could lead to suicidal ideations, decrease a person's ability to functions and quality of life. A cross-sectional study was conducted to 143 samples to determine the relationship between demographic variables, depression, suicidal ideation, social support and distress. The findings show that the level of suicidal ideation is high, and there is a relationship between variables under study. The main predictors of the suicidal ideation were the high level of distress and low social support level among the study participants. Keywords: Depression; suicidal ideations; mental health eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6i16.2619

‘Love me only, at all times’ – The case of a young woman with hypothyroidism

This case report describes a 23-year-old woman who developed hypothyroidism and sought homoeopathic treatment. In this case, we adopted Kent’s approach as the patient displayed characteristic mental as well as physical general symptoms. Her primary mental characteristics were irritability and hatred toward those who offended her and a persistent feeling of being lonely. Her characteristic physical generals included desire for salt and aggravation by exposure to sunlight. Kent’s approach enabled us to select Natrum mur as the remedy. Thorough analysis and evaluation enable physicians to select the most suitable approach for any given case. This case emphasised the importance of case analysis and evaluation as an integral step after case taking. It also highlights the role of homeopathy in cases of endocrinal disorders and its efficacy in reversing pathological processes.

Impact of pain on mental effort assessed as cardiovascular reactivity.

Pain typically impairs task performance, increases fatigue, and is associated with behavioral disengagement. Together, this suggests that pain impacts effort, defined as the mobilization of resources to carry out behavior. However, empirical evidence on this issue is lacking. Drawing on motivational intensity theory, this study investigated the impact of pain on effort mobilization during cognitive task performance. We administered individually adjusted painful thermal stimulations during an easy memory task during which we measured effort as cardiovascular reactivity-a valid and objective measure. Control conditions included painful stimulations alone, the memory task alone, and the memory task with nonpainful heat stimulations. We expected pain to increase subjective difficulty due to additional demand on cognitive functioning, and in turn effort according to motivational intensity theory. Effort-related cardiovascular reactivity was predicted to increase along these conditions: pain-alone, task-alone, task with nonpainful stimulations, and the strongest effort when painful stimulations were administered during the task. Overall, the findings offered support to our hypotheses. As predicted, results showed that pain increased subjective task difficulty (P = 0.020). Moreover, most of the effort-related cardiovascular measures showed the expected pattern with the strongest reactivity when painful stimulations were administered during the task compared with the other conditions (p < 0.02). These results are first evidence that pain impacts mental effort assessed as cardiovascular reactivity. We discuss how such extra effort might be related to the persistent feeling of fatigue and behavioral disengagement frequently observed in patients with chronic pain.

Substance Use and Sports- or Physical Activity-Related Concussions Among High School Students.

History of concussion is associated with substance use. Data from the 2017 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N = 14,765) were used in this study to examine associations between sports- or physical activity-related concussions and current cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use among high school students, and whether other factors moderate those associations. In addition to having played on a sports team, potential moderators examined included persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, hours of sleep, and serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions. The association between sports- or physical activity-related concussions and current cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use was significant when controlling for sex, grade, and race/ethnicity and the potential moderators with the exception of cigarette smoking while controlling for hours of sleep. Those involved in the care of high school students after a concussion may consider assessing current cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use.

An Exploration of the Dynamic Nature of Psychological Ownership in a Classroom-as-Organization

Background: Feelings of ownership play an important role in experiential education and are associated with several positive outcomes. However, researchers have yet to explore the dynamic nature of psychological ownership and its antecedents in experiential courses from the perspectives of the students. Purpose: The authors used the lens of psychological ownership theory to explore the experiences of students in an experiential learning setting. Methodology/Approach: In this study, the authors used repeated waves of semi-structured interviews in a two-semester classroom-as-organization (CAO). They then used a five-step process to identify themes describing the students’ experience. Findings/Conclusions: The authors found that different antecedents to psychological ownership worked together at different points in the development of the CAO, that students did not want full control of the CAO (despite their feelings of ownership toward it), and that students anticipated feelings of ownership that persisted after the class had ended. Implications: Educators may struggle to identify the level of control students’ need in a CAO to reap the benefits of the experience. Persistent feelings of ownership after experiential learning ends can contribute to student development.

Abstract 16213: Short QT Syndrome Case Study

Introduction: Short QT syndrome (SQTS) is a very rare genetic disease of the electrical system of the heart which is associated with an increase risk of abnormal cardiac rhythms and sudden cardiac death. First described in 2000 with the first genetic mutation associated with SQTS described in 2004. We present a case of Short QT syndrome in a 53 year old male. Case: A 53 year old male with a PMH of HTN, alcohol abuse, and tobacco dependence presented to the ED with palpitations. Patient endorsed that he was in his usual state of health the day prior to arrival. He went to bed after drinking alcohol and woke up suddenly pale and diaphoretic with dyspnea and a persistent feeling of impending doom. On arrival to the ED, he was tachypneic (26 breaths/min) with a heart rate of 163 bpm and a blood pressure of 100/80 mmHg. EKG showed atrial fibrillation with RVR. The patient converted to normal sinus rhythm after one dose of IV Cardizem 10 mg was administered for rate control. The next day he had multiple episodes of Torsades de Pointe and monomorphic ventricular tachycardia treated with synchronized cardioversion, 2g of magnesium, IV amiodarone and lidocaine drip. He was transferred to the ICU for further evaluation and monitoring. Repeat EKG showed normal sinus rhythm at 75 bpm and short QT (QT= 328). TTE showed normal biventricular size and function (LVEF 60-65%) with no valvular abnormalities. Dual chamber Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) was placed and outpatient genetic testing was scheduled. Discussion: SQTS is very rare with roughly 70 cases identified worldwide since the condition was discovered in 2000. It is a congenital channelopathy related to potassium channels and represented by a normal heart rate with accelerated cardiac repolarization. Normal QT range is 350-440 msec while SQTS range is 210-340 msec. Mutations in the KCNH2, KCNJ2, or KCNQ1 genes lead to enhanced flow of potassium ions across the membrane of cardiac muscle cells. Patients can present at any age with palpitations, syncope, atrial fibrillation, and sudden cardiac death. The cornerstone to diagnosing SQTS is an electrocardiogram. Patients with SQTS can be managed with ICD implantation, quinidine (especially with KCNH2 mutation), and sotalol (with other mutations other than KCNH2).

Effect of Football on Fatigue of Patients with Breast Cancer Treated with Nano-Chemotherapy

Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most common and uncontrollable subjective and persistent fatigue feelings in patients after breast cancer surgery, which seriously affects the rehabilitation effect and quality of life of patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of football intervention on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in patients with breast cancer after nano-chemotherapy. The objective of this study is to explore the exercise program that can make patients actively carry out rehabilitation exercise and achieve good rehabilitation effect, so as to provide a theoretical and empirical basis for the study of cancer fatigue and quality of life of patients after breast cancer surgery. In this study, a quasi-experimental study method was used to conveniently select 60 breast cancer outpatients with tumor-related fatigue symptoms in a tertiary hospital in Liaoning Province. According to the convenience group, they were divided into a control group and an intervention group, 30 cases in each group. The control group received routine hospital nursing, while the intervention group received football intervention for 6 months on the basis of routine hospital nursing. The intervention measures include explaining the related knowledge of cancer-related fatigue, helping patients develop football projects, guiding patients to record football sports diaries, checking patients’ football sports diary records at the beginning of each chemotherapy cycle, and discussing football sports feelings with patients. After six months of intervention, the researchers assessed cancer-related fatigue symptoms and quality of life. Football can improve the fatigue, physiological, psychological, and psychological states of breast cancer patients after nano-chemotherapy; reduce fatigue, anxiety, and depression; improve sleep; and ultimately improve the quality of life.

Screening Slaughter. The Repressed Politics and Troubled Aesthetics of Gabriel Serra Argüello’s La Parka (2013)

This article operates on two premises: 1) that contemporary practices of intensive industrial livestock farming are producing catastrophic ecological effects, and 2) that, in the capitalist drive for maximum productive efficiency and the absence of effectively enforced animal-welfare legislation, industrial meat producers currently inflict atrocious abuses on animals on a historically unprecedented scale. Taking a cue from Michael Pollan’s proposal of glass-walled slaughterhouses as a remedy for the presently unchecked brutality, I examine a text that would appear to offer extraordinary insight into a highly secretive operation: a contemporary documentary film shot primarily in a Mexican cattle slaughterhouse yet circulated internationally, screened for the Mexican Senate, and nominated for a U.S. Academy Award. My argument is that, like the makers of previous slaughterhouse documentaries, La Parka director Gabriel Serra overcame the taboo against showing real animal slaughter in large part by evading consideration of the crucial ethical and political implications and by claiming to represent the slaughter of non-human animals as a metaphor for human suffering. I analyze Serra’s apologetic and solipsistic humanist rhetoric and the specific technical devices by which he structures his film as a “character portrait” of a saintly slaughterer, seeking to absolve him of moral responsibility having stunned or killed close to four million animals in the course of a twenty-five-year career. I argue that the intended justification of industrial slaughter is undermined by various textual contradictions, including the protagonist’s own comments on his persistent feelings of guilt, his evidently traumatized state, and the sheer power of images of animal killing, which various film theorists have interpreted as unique in their ability to resist metaphorization and rhetorical containment.

The Association Between Sports- or Physical Activity–Related Concussions and Suicidality Among US High School Students, 2017

This study examined the association between sports- or physical activity-related concussions and having seriously considered attempting suicide, made a suicide plan, or attempted suicide (ie, suicidality), and tested potential moderators of the association. Risk factors such as persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, low academic grades, few hours of sleep, and current alcohol or marijuana use will increase the odds of suicidality among those who self-reported sports- or physical activity-related concussions, while protective factors such as physical activity and having played on a sports team will decrease the odds. Cross-sectional study. Level 4. This study used data from the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a biennial, school-based, nationally representative survey of US students in grade levels 9 to 12 (N = 14,765). Logistic regression models examined associations between self-reported sports- or physical activity-related concussions and suicidality among the students, and whether physical activity, having played on a sports team, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, academic grades, hours of sleep, or current alcohol or marijuana use moderated those associations. Sports- or physical activity-related concussions were found to be associated with suicidality. The associations remained significant in models that adjusted for demographic characteristics, and they did not appear to be moderated by physical activity, having played on sports team, academic grades, or sleep. Given the findings of this study and others, health care providers are advised to ask students who have experienced a concussion about their emotional well-being as part of their symptom-based assessment, using validated, age- appropriate concussion symptom scales. Comprehensively assessing students who have experienced a sports- or physical activity-related concussion for persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness may alert providers to thoughts of suicidal ideation and will allow for earlier intervention. If thoughts of suicide are discovered among adolescents with a concussion, or if other risk factors are observed, referrals to medical and mental health providers for a more comprehensive assessment may be warranted.

Sports- or Physical Activity-Related Concussions and Feelings of Sadness or Hopelessness Among U.S. High School Students: Results From the 2017 Youth Behavior Risk Survey.

For this study, we explored the association between high school students' reported history of sport- or physical activity-related concussions and persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Data from the 2017 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS; N = 14,765) was used for this analysis. YRBS is administered to high school students throughout the country every 2 years. Findings from this study demonstrate that the prevalence of persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness was 36.4% among students who reported sustaining one or more concussions. Compared to students who did not report having sustained a concussion, the odds of persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness were significantly higher among students who had sustained one or more concussions (AOR = 1.41). These findings support the need for continued efforts by school nurses and other health care providers to identify students with a history of concussion and assess their mental health needs.

Aberrant Functional Network Connectivity Transition Probability in Major Depressive Disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and serious mental disorder characterized by a persistent negative feeling and tremendous sadness. In recent decades, several studies used functional network connectivity (FNC), estimated from resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), to investigate the biological signature of MDD. However, the majority of them have ignored the temporal change of brain interaction by focusing on static FNC (sFNC). Dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) that explores temporal patterns of functional connectivity (FC) might provide additional information to its static counterpart. In the current study, by applying k-means clustering on dFNC of MDD and healthy subjects (HCs), we estimated 5 different states. Next, we use the hidden Markov model as a potential biomarker to differentiate the dFNC pattern of MDD patients from HCs. Comparing MDD and HC subjects' hidden Markov model (HMM) features, we have highlighted the role of transition probabilities between states as potential biomarkers and identified that transition probability from a lightly- connected state to highly connected one reduces as symptom severity increases in MDD subjects.Index Terms- Major depressive disorder, Dynamic functional network connectivity, Machine learning, Resting- state functional magnetic resonance imaging, Hidden Markov model.

Impact Of One On One 12 Week Individualized Exercise Program On Cancer Related Fatigue And Functional Capacity

Cancer related fatigue (CRF) is the most commonly reported side effect during and after cancer treatment. This level of fatigue can have disruptive effects on individuals’ daily lives, continuing on up to 5 years post treatment. CRF is defined as a persistent feeling of fatigue that is not brought on by cognitive or physical exertion, and is not relieved by sleep or rest. Aerobic exercise is suggested to alleviate symptoms of CRF. PURPOSE: This feasibility study examined the relationship between functional capacity and CRF. METHODS: Six cancer survivors (59.5 ±11.8 yrs.) enrolled in a one on one individualized 12 week exercise program. The 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT- F) were used to assess subjects’ functional capacity and self-reported fatigue before and after the exercise intervention. Exercise sessions were completed 3 times a week for an hour. Sessions included 20 minutes of cardiorespiratory training, 30 minutes of total body strength training and 10 minutes of balance and flexibility training. 6MWT and FACIT-F were assessed at baseline (week 0) and at the final assessment (week 12). RESULTS: Functional capacity as measured by distance walked during the 6MWT showed a significant (p= 0.007) increase after exercise intervention. FACIT-F Total scores also showed a significant (p=0.013) increase. CONCLUSION: Exercise intervention has a significant impact not only of the functional capacity of cancer survivors but their self-reported CRF.

7, 8-Dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin reverses depression model-induced depression-like behaviors and alteration of dendritic spines in the mood circuits

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental disorder characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness, slow thought, impaired focus and loss of interest but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Dendritic spines play an important role in the formation and maintenance of emotional circuits in the brain. Abnormalities in this process can lead to psychiatric diseases. 7,8-Dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (Dhmc), a precursor in the synthesis of derivatives of 4-methyl coumarin, plays an important role in protecting the nervous system from developing diseases and its most distinctive feature is safety. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Dhmc alleviates chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression-like behaviors and reverses CUMS-induced alterations in dendritic spines of principal neurons in brain areas of the emotional circuits including the hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) in male rats. Our results showed that CUMS-induced depression-like behaviors were accompanied by a decrease in spine density in pyramidal neurons of both the hippocampal CA3 area and the mPFC, and an increase in spine density in both the neurons of BLA and the medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the NAc, as well as a decrease in the levels of the AMPA receptor subunit GluA1 and Kalirin-7 in the hippocampus compared with the control group. Intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of Dhmc to the CUMS-exposed rats ameliorated CUMS-induced depression-like behaviors and reversed CUMS-mediated alterations in spine density and the levels of both GluA1 and Kalirin-7. Our results show an important role of Dhmc in reversing CUMS-induced depression-like behaviors and CUMS-mediated alterations in spine density.

Advice for the worried.

Jennifer—a postdoc—had been working from home for 4 weeks. Anxious about the COVID-19 pandemic, she was having trouble focusing on her research. She knew her mental health had deteriorated and that she needed advice to stay motivated. So she reached out to Steven, a friend who also happens to be a practicing psychiatrist. He didn't solve all of Jennifer's problems. But he did provide a new lens to view them through—as well as concrete steps she could take to improve her mental health. Our conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity. > “When dealing with anxiety, it's important to … practice activities that are restorative.” > JENNIFER: In academia, we are often encouraged to suck it up when problems arise. I am currently writing two papers. I know others who are writing grants. Should we expect to use this “time away from the lab” to be superproductive? > STEVEN: Working in a COVID-19 world is not normal. You shouldn't dwell on guilt if you're not functioning at maximum productivity levels. You need time to process the grief that comes with the loss of your former work life and social life. > J: I occasionally find myself spiraling down a hole of despair, spending hours reading about all the terrible things happening in the world. The news makes me feel sad and helpless, which in turn zaps all the motivation out of my day. What should I do? > S: In these spirals, it is important to recognize that there's a lot happening right now that you can't control. Even though it is incredibly hard, shift your attention to things you can control. For example, you cannot control the number of people who are dying from COVID-19. But you can do your part to maintain social distancing. > J: I am worried about members of my family getting sick. I'm also worried about my future in academia because many universities are instituting hiring freezes. How can I get rid of all this worry? > S: Try compartmentalizing the worry into a time block. Spend 20 minutes each day writing down and acknowledging your feelings. Then, think about reasonable solutions. For example, you could brainstorm how you could secure funding to extend your postdoc, which would give you more time to publish papers and apply for academic jobs next year. You could also learn about jobs that might interest you in other sectors, such as industry. > J: Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep. I'm physically tired, but my brain is restless. I end up just lying there, thinking and worrying about everything that's going on. Is this anxiety? > S: It could be. Anxiety is a persistent feeling of worry. Sometimes it is constant, while other times it rushes over you all at once. When dealing with anxiety, it's important to assess your emotions and talk about what you're going through with trusted friends and family. You should also practice activities that are restorative and relaxing, especially before bedtime. Listen to music, take a hot shower, read a book, or do something else that you enjoy. > J: These past few weeks have been difficult for so many people, and I fear it'll get worse. However, I have also been inspired by good things that people are doing. For example, students, postdocs, and faculty members at our university have donated thousands of dollars to support our furloughed food service workers. It fills me with some confidence that we will overcome this. > S: That's great. These are trying times, but they'll be easier if we do what we can to support one another. A key strategy for combating sadness, stress, and anxiety is to express gratitude for what you do have. Keep that up.