Fire Survivors

The Measure of Success

firesurvivors — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:31:46 +0000

Many times we measure our success by how high we are on the ladder rather than the steps it took to get to where we are. What if we can look at our accomplishments in a different light?I am forever inspired by Booker T. Washington‘s quote

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.

This past few days have been especially hard for me with graduation, seeing my fellow classmates and people much younger than me graduate, while I still have a year left to go. In a perfect world I would have graduated this year, but due to obstacles I was unable to.

I can either spend my time beating myself up, I should have passed my portfolio review, if only I wasn’t in the fire or I can learn to embrace how far I have come. I am actively trying to chose the latter. My teachers are so amazed by the progress I have made. My family and friends remind me how much I have had to overcome to get to where I am. There is always a reason for things, even if I don’t know yet.

Propranolol, a Good Treatment for PTSD?

firesurvivors — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:38:18 +0000

There is much debate on the use of Propranolol for the treatment of PTSD. Most are quick to respond in confusion, isn’t that the drug that killed Michael Jackson? Not fully understanding the drug I went on a quest to understand if this is a good treatment for PTSD.

Most recently in my abnormal psychology class I learned about Propranolol as a possible treatment for PTSD. Like most, my initial thought was, isn’t that the drug that killed Michael Jackson? However, Propofol is the actually known killer of this beloved performer. Is this a drug that others should take? What exactly does it do? Does it actually help PTSD? My quest lead me down a long path that still has inconclusive answers.

How does it help

Regions of the brain affected by PTSD and stress. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Some clinician believe that Propranolol helps reduce hypertension anxiety and panic. This can reduce nightmares, heightened cardiac responses and other activity that is associated with the flight or fight response that is aroused with PTSD. As a beta blocker it targets the beta receptors found on the cells of heart muscles, airways, kidneys and other issues part of the sympathetic nervous system that lead to stress responses and ultimately weaken the effects of stress hormones.

What others say about it

Some of the forums that I have read have been extremely positive, especially for performance anxiety. Propranolol has helped some with shakiness and also symptoms associated with the flight or fight response.

The problems with it

When Propranolol is prescribed to a patients for PTSD or performance anxiety its “off label” use. In other words the FDA has not done enough research to conclude this drug is effective for PTSD. This can bring a whole slew of problems if the doctor is not well educated and understands how the drug works.

So is this a good treatment for PTSD? There is still debate.

You can learn more about it here.

Propranolol a Promising Treatment for PTSD, http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/729444

Propranolol Erases The Fear Associated With Memories, https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/propranolol-erases-the-fear-associated-with-memories.24051/

Propranolol,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propranolol

Interactions, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_blocker

Practicing saying, “I Am”

firesurvivors — Tue, 07 May 2013 02:09:38 +0000

One of the best parts about Sundays is watching Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday, where I get my weekly dose of spirituality and hope. I love watching Oprah’s life classes, especially reruns with minister Joel Osteen who preaches about “I am,” which can have a positive or negative connotation depending on whatever we tell ourselves.If you are like me then you are prone to telling yourself negative things, “I am fat, I am never going to graduate, I am never going to get out of the situation I am in.” Like Joel Osteen says, we will never achieve higher results if we constantly set our benchmark low. Also, like Brene Brown says, its takes the same amount of energy to believe than it does to worry, so why not just believe there are better things in store for us.

Instead of saying, “I am fat,” we should practice saying, ” I am actively working towards losing weight,” or “I am making positive strides in my life to lose weight.” By saying this we are allowing our mind to try to catch up with our heart, or soul, what we envision for our future. There is nothing positive about beating ourselves up.

Make sure you check out

Joel Osteen’s Website

Own, Super Soul Sunday

Thank God We Are Alive

firesurvivors — Mon, 06 May 2013 02:34:26 +0000

The other day I was watching a show on TV about Hurricane Katrina and the devastating tornadoes that hit the midwest. I started feeling a sense of gratitude in knowing that people did make it out alive and there is a sense of humanity on this earth.

image from hurricanekatrina.com

Often times the news likes to broadcast how many victims died in a tragic event, the straightforward facts, that can at times leave out the true news of humanity or the underlying effects of what actually happens after a tragedy.

Many people don’t know great an effort the US and the armed forces made in trying to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. At the same token, its hard to diminish the pain of the victims that were trapped in water for days, that saw helicopters dropping off water bottles, but were to far removed to receive them, the people that waited in lines like packed cattle being herded for a better place.

image via thefrisky.com

Still, I cannot get over the images of the lucky individuals that escaped out of these disasters. When you look around at their surroundings, you wonder how? Maybe they don’t see it, but they miracles in our lives, miracles of survival and a testament of the humanity we have in our nation. There was so much outpouring of help, that perhaps didn’t seem to come quick enough to these people, but it was still there. Humanity did care and wanted to show its united face.

I Passed My Portfolio Review

firesurvivors — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 01:27:37 +0000

Last year around this time, I found out that I didn’t pass my portfolio review and I was devastated. Now one year later after a lot of hard work, prayer, and reflection I just found out the great news that I passed my portfolio review. This past summer I had totally written off graphic design when I found out in the spring that I didn’t pass my portfolio review for visual communication design. Without passing I was unable to take classes and enter into my senior year. I felt like my life was over and this was a sign from God that maybe I needed to take a different path after the fire.

Then, during late summer when I was at work I was asked to work on a design related project, like most jobs I hold many hats, marketing, customer service, design, literature, and so forth. For the first time in a while, I found myself feeling centered, grounded, calm, and able to make collective decisions. That was the moment that I rekindled my love for graphic design and knew that there was a reason why I didn’t pass the review, I just didn’t know what it was at the time.

Since that day I have been working on my portfolio almost every day and trying to improve it. I have tried to remember, even though I have still have issues with memory after the fire, to try to figure out what went wrong. Fortunately, all my hard work, reflection and prayer paid off. I passed with the review with flying colors this time around.

I am more excited than ever to launch my ideas on my blog for my senior project, which will encompass a new brand for Fire Survivors and supplemental material that people can download. Please join me in my celebration.

Altruism Magazine Pages Spread

Altruism Magazine Open Cover Spread

Community Farm of Simsbury Dinner on the Farm Poster

Community Farm of Simsbury Dancing on the Farm Poster

CETA Website

Brand Identity Manual

Rebuilding My Portfolio and Life After a Fire (firesurvivors.com)