The following chapters describe how our environment and choices in everyday life that may affect us in the future. The people we want in our lives, how we interact with each other, and having healthy relationships. I learned about female contraceptive and it is useful knowledge. My health aspect is to keep track of my relationships as well as practicing safe sex practices.
Chapter 4
In this chapter I learned about healthy relationships. There are many questions to ask about yourself before being in a relationship with others. You have to ask yourself if you love and take care for yourself enough to be in a relationship. Also, are you ready to be in a relationship? Are you ready to accept responsibility for your own decisions, choices, and actions? I hope to be able to develop my potential through exercising and eating well. Self nurturance means being able to know your self worth and to work to the best of your ability to be grow responsibly.
What makes a healthy relationship?
- predictability: being able to predict their behavior based on past behaviors
- dependability: rely on them for emotional support
- faith: feeling certain about their intentions as well as behavior
Self disclosure is key to creating healthy communication so being able to talk about your past is important. Getting to know yourself and your behaviors and how to properly disclose them. Become more accepting of yourself because you are who you choose to be. Be willing to discuss your past because it helps to learn from your mistakes and being responsible about your health to people you care about. Know when and where to discuss your history. Do not be talking about your sexual history during a party or at dinner. That’s just wrong place, wrong time.
Chapter 5
This chapter describes the many reproductive choices. This included many methods of contraception, protection, as well as fertility awareness methods. Reproduction is important to know how to prevent pregnancy and what safe sex practices are.
Barrier methods include male and female condoms. It was news to me when learning about the female condom, spermicides, contraceptive sponges, diaphragm, contraceptive skin patch, vaginal contraceptive ring, contraceptive injections, contraceptive implants, and IUDs. The female contraceptive has many advantages and disadvantages. For example: the male and female condom is similar to the male condom as it is single use and also has the risk of a tear. Spermicides can be: a jelly, cream, foam, suppositories but the only downside is it can be messy and/or cause allergic reactions. A contraceptive sponge is convenient and lasts 24 hours but it can cause allergic reactions or even cause toxic shock syndrome. A diaphragm or cervical cap is used with spermicides and can fit inside the woman and offers protection as well as being used multiple times. A contraceptive skin patch is similar to the pill but can be changed once a week. The downside is that it may cause side effects when used along with combination pills. Contraceptive implants such as Nexplanon is a small plastic capsule that is inserted into the womans upper under arm. It releases progestin for up to 3 years and suppresses ovulation which can be costly and can be only inserted by an clinician.
Behavioral methods and feritility awareness methods. Some methods of contraception require more self control such as withdrawal. Abstinence is deliberately avoiding intercourse. Fertility awareness methods (FAMs) rely on altering sexual behavior during certain times of the month. The first 5 days of the menstrual cycle is relatively safe for unprotected sex. Days 6-8, when sperm is deposited it may remain viable at ovulation. Days 9-13; unprotected sex is not safe. Day 14 is ovulation. Day 15-16; unprotected sex is not safe. Days 17-18; ovum may remain viable through this point. Days 19-28; safe for unprotected intercourse. Knowing your menstrual cycle is important to avoid unexpected pregnancy.
Chapter 6
Addiction is a serious, persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance that has negative consequences. There are substance addictions such as drug abuse, smoking, drinking and there are process addictions such as gambling, gaming, sex, shopping, eating. There is usually a sense of pleasure or euphoria involved that causes people to constantly crave it to feel normal. Physiological dependence occurs during addictive behaviors and results in withdrawal syndrome. Our bodies react in a way where physiological dependence or behavioral dependence would change our bodies on the cellular level.
There are five symptoms present in addictions.
- compulsion or obsession
- loss of control
- negative consequences
- denial
- inability to abstain
Biochemical messengers called neurotransmitters are altered at specific receptor sites in our brains caused by drug use or chronic stress. Our tolerance towards mood altering substances and experiences increases and would require doing more of it to get the same amount or intensity of the high. Stopping causes withdrawal and can stop the bodies production of endorphins which would cause depression, cravings, or moodswings.
Addiction is dangerous and people with low self esteem, tendencies for risk taking behavior or poor coping skills are more likely to develop addictive behaviors. People who look outside themselves for solutions and explanations for life are more likely to experience addiction. Environmental influences and cultural expectations can help determine whether people engage in certain behaviors. The social learning theory describes how people can learn behaviors by watching their role models like their parents and celebrities.
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