Shame (Brene Brown)
Shame is a painful feeling that arises as a result of a negative evaluation of one’s self. It is normal to experience shame every once in a while, but chronic shame can cause psychological issues, low self-esteem, and negative self-talk. Shame is quite similar to guilt, which arises as a result of committing some wrongdoing and feeling regret for it. The difference between shame and guilt is that shame does not require any wrongdoing; one can feel shame from being made fun of for an interest of theirs or an aspect of their personality.
There are two types of shame: trait shame and state shame. Trait shame is an enduring feeling of negativity regarding a specific aspect of one’s self. The shame could stem from one’s physical appearance, a medical issue, insecurities about one’s voice, etc. On the other hand, state shame is temporary and based on a specific moment of embarrassment. As the name suggests, the shame is tied to the state the shameful party is in, and not a trait inherent to their personality.
Specific Learning Disorder
Have deficits in one or more academic skills; reading, writing and/or mathematics; difficulties in reading is often referred to as dyslexia
Speedball
A speedball is a mixture of both heroin (a depressant opioid) and cocaine (a stimulant). This enhances the effects of both drugs while significantly increasing the risk of overdose. A speedball can be injected intravenously or snorted, but the risk of overdose remains high regardless of the method used. Users of speedball report longer-lasting and more intense highs than when either drug is taken alone. There is also a misconception that the side effects of both drugs cancel each other out, but this is not the case.
The reason why speedball is so dangerous is because of how stimulants and depressants interact in the body. Heroin, a depressant opioid, is infamous for slowing one’s breathing, which reduces the amount of oxygen that enters the body. Cocaine, on the other hand, is a stimulant which increases heart rate and causes rapid breathing, necessitating the circulation of more oxygen than required when sober. The combination of both drugs makes it exceptionally difficult for the body to process either, as each substance requires completely opposite actions from the lungs, heart, and brain. This results in frequent overdoses, mostly due to the overconsumption of heroin.
Stimulants
Stimulants are substances that increase activity in the central nervous system, causing feelings of high energy, confidence, and alertness while reducing appetite. There are many different kinds of stimulants with a wide range of potency and legality. For example, the most commonly used stimulant in the world is caffeine, which is legal and easily available due to its low potency. However, stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine are predominantly misused for illicit purposes, reflecting their high potency and potential for addiction.
To dive further in depth on how stimulants work, they interact with neurotransmitters in the brain known as norepinephrine and dopamine. Norepinephrine helps control blood pressure and heart rate, while dopamine affects the brain’s reward system. Given how they impact brain activity, stimulants carry a very high potential for abuse. The dopamine released by stimulant use directly incentivises further abuse, and the overactivation of norepinephrine caused by repeated use could result in dizziness, abdominal cramps, and even heart failure. For this reason, it is extremely important to take only the dosage prescribed for prescription stimulants, and to practice care when dealing with the nonprescription variety.