My 21-year-old son's resilience through the pandemic's upheavals has been nothing short of a revelation, a story echoed in countless homes across the globe. Together with my guest, Matt Fox, we unpack the ongoing challenges and transformational journeys of older teens and young adults still feeling the ripples of the COVID-19 pandemic. From my perspective as both a parent and a professional, I offer heartfelt insights and practical guidance for navigating the post-pandemic landscape—an era that continues to test our adaptability and redefine normalcy. And for a lighter touch, Matt and I raise a glass to our shared fondness for a good bourbon and reminisce about an unforgettable old-fashioned cocktail that still brings a smile.
The episode then takes a turn towards the extraordinary tale of Larry Farish Jr., a school bus driver whose simple act of kindness sparked a larger conversation about empathy and community. It's a powerful reminder that the gestures we often overlook can have profound consequences for inclusivity, especially among children. As we explore the evolving dynamics of workplace and social life—juxtaposed with tales of digestive discomfort and concerts with less-than-stellar acoustics—the discussion brings into focus how the 'COVIDian timeline' has shifted our engagement with the world around us. We scrutinize the changing enthusiasm of the younger generation for work and play, questioning what it means for the future of our cities and the fabric of society. Join us as we navigate the complexities of life in the enduring wake of a global pandemic, all through stories that resonate and provoke thought.
FIND ME: My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast My social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno Instagram: motorcityhypno FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review. (Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)
Change your thinking, change your life! Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT The Motor City Hypnotist
My 21-year-old son's resilience through the pandemic's upheavals has been nothing short of a revelation, a story echoed in countless homes across the globe. Together with my guest, Matt Fox, we unpack the ongoing challenges and transformational journeys of older teens and young adults still feeling the ripples of the COVID-19 pandemic. From my perspective as both a parent and a professional, I offer heartfelt insights and practical guidance for navigating the post-pandemic landscape—an era that continues to test our adaptability and redefine normalcy. And for a lighter touch, Matt and I raise a glass to our shared fondness for a good bourbon and reminisce about an unforgettable old-fashioned cocktail that still brings a smile.
The episode then takes a turn towards the extraordinary tale of Larry Farish Jr., a school bus driver whose simple act of kindness sparked a larger conversation about empathy and community. It's a powerful reminder that the gestures we often overlook can have profound consequences for inclusivity, especially among children. As we explore the evolving dynamics of workplace and social life—juxtaposed with tales of digestive discomfort and concerts with less-than-stellar acoustics—the discussion brings into focus how the 'COVIDian timeline' has shifted our engagement with the world around us. We scrutinize the changing enthusiasm of the younger generation for work and play, questioning what it means for the future of our cities and the fabric of society. Join us as we navigate the complexities of life in the enduring wake of a global pandemic, all through stories that resonate and provoke thought.
FIND ME: My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast My social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno Instagram: motorcityhypno FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review. (Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)
Change your thinking, change your life! Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT The Motor City Hypnotist
Speaker 1:
In this episode of the Motor City Hypnotist podcast, we're going to talk about the long-term effects of COVID, and when I say COVID, I mean the COVID itself and the shutdown and things that happen, but it's having a huge impact on older teens and young adults right now.
Speaker 2:
I am still surprised that we're still talking about this.
Speaker 1:
We are because it's three years later, is it yeah? No, it's four years later, is it yeah? No, it's four years later. Yeah, because it was March of 20 where everything hit the fan Right and there are still young people that were affected during that area. A lot of them were in high school during COVID Sure. But there are long-term effects that have been happening and I've seen it in my practice. I've seen it with clients effects that have been happening and I've seen it in my practice.
Speaker 3:
I've seen it with clients.
Speaker 1:
I've seen it in my own son, so he's 21. So we're going to talk about that and I'm going to give you some information on what to do or kind of guide you as far as some steps that you can take if you're one of these individuals or you have a family member or child that is dealing with a lot of these issues. Got it, and as usual, we're giving away free stuff, all right. So hang in there, folks, we'll be right back.
Speaker 3:
Get ready for the Motor City hypnotist, david R Wright. Originating from the suburbs of Detroit, michigan, he has hypnotized thousands of people from all over the United States. David R Wright has been featured on news outlets all across the country and is the clinical director of an outpatient mental health and hypnosis clinic located just south of Detroit, where he helps people daily using the power of hypnosis. Welcome the Motor City Hypnotist, david R Wright.
Speaker 2:
You know, David, I gotta ask you something.
Speaker 3:
Yes.
Speaker 2:
I like talking over music beds. Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:
Talk over the music bed. You try to nail it at the end if you're going into a promo.
Speaker 2:
Exactly. So, I know we're going to talk about COVID and how it's still affecting folks socially and the anxiety that's existing out there. But I got to ask you how have you been? Because it's been a hot second.
Speaker 1:
It has been a little while. I was sick for a week, I know you were out of town one week I wasn't feeling well, another I was sick last weekend, just this cold allergy thing that's going on. I don't know what's going on, but it's been kind of hanging on for a couple weeks now. So, yeah, I've been out for a bit, yeah, but we're back. We're back Back in the saddle. Plus the time change has happened, I think, since we went last. So at least it was light out when I got here. It won't be light when I leave yet, but eventually we'll get there, right, right.
Speaker 2:
But yeah, I'm excited for you to be here.
Speaker 1:
I'm glad we're back and, just by the way, folks, their voice is here. That's Matt Fox. Hey, david, hanging out with us doing a podcast. Yo, let me adjust my camera, but what do you do? Do your thing, let me get my stuff going here. We're here here in the Podcast, your Voice Southfield Studios doing a podcast. Yep, the palatial Southfield Podcast. Your Voice Studios. Yes, we are With a full bar and we're enjoying a drink, you know? Yeah, I don't know what you have. I have some Four Roses.
Speaker 2:
I grabbed Wild Turkey 101. Oh really.
Speaker 1:
Nice.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, change it up a bit. I got a bottle of the Old Forester Prohibition, oh yeah. Oh, it's so good, it's one actually. It's my second favorite. My first favorite is the old Forrester statesman. Okay, so the statesman is actually from those uh ring those movies, the Kingsman movies. The second one you know. They brought out the statesman.
Speaker 1:
Okay.
Speaker 2:
That's my favorite bourbon at this point in time.
Speaker 1:
I had a. We went out to eat yesterday. Instead of cooking, we went out for dinner, okay. So we went to the vault and wined out. I don't know if you've ever been down there. I have not Great food, fantastic food, but they have their signature drink. There is called a gold medal. It is their version of a old-fashioned version of a old-fashioned. Oh okay, but it is so good. Yum, oh it's fantastic.
Speaker 2:
I'll tell you about an experience I had with an old-fashioned one time.
Speaker 1:
A drink, yes, or a woman?
Speaker 3:
The drink.
Speaker 2:
David.
Speaker 3:
What in blazes are you talking about?
Speaker 1:
I'm just wondering, you know, I don't know, oh, da-da-da-da, like this in the background.
Speaker 3:
What the fuck is it with you? I, I don't deal with grilfs. All right, yeah, that's crazy, yeah, that's crazy.
Speaker 2:
It's crazy.
Speaker 1:
So, anyway, we're here doing a podcast. Let me tell you where you can find me, folks. My website is motor city hypnotistcom. Check that out especially, and I know we're down to the wire here. We're almost in April. My my show season starts in a week and five days. April Fool's. It is April, april 13th. I'm going to be in Florida, university of Florida, gainesville, for their huge dance marathon. I've done this show a couple of times in the past, over the past few years, so this will be my third time down at University of Florida. Okay, always a fantastic show. Thousands of kids in there in the basketball arena. If you've seen my website, that's, that's my cover I know you're excited.
Speaker 2:
I know you're excited for that yes, I am, it's, it's.
Speaker 1:
I love doing that show, it's fantastic. And then I'm off to off to iowa for a couple of high school shows. So so what I what I'm saying is that the dates are filling up quick in. In fact, I just got two requests this week for shows high school shows that I can't do because I'm already booked, really. So if you're out there and you're still looking for a hypnotist for your all-night party, reach out immediately because there are spaces open. It just happens to be when your grad night is Right, because I do still have days open. It's just a matter of what day your grad night is Right, because I do still have days open. It's just a matter of you know what day your grad night party falls on.
Speaker 2:
Right.
Speaker 1:
Definitely reach out now because, as time goes on, those spots are going to fill up Right. Find me on social media Facebook and YouTube, which are both Motor City Hypnotist and, just a heads up on this YouTube this is a really big sidebar here, but I talk a lot with my clients in therapy about self-care, and part of self-care is engaging in hobbies or doing things that you enjoy, something that brings you satisfaction, so I just started posting. I posted my first video on YouTube concerning the model I'm working on my Jupiter 2 model.
Speaker 2:
Right.
Speaker 1:
So the first one I went through and I've shown you pictures and videos of that one, matt and there's a huge learning curve. This thing is so so many pieces and so detailed and there are a lot of modifications that you have to do to make it right. So my first one I kind of looked at as a test run, so I'm starting from scratch. Another one, really, yes, so it's going to be a Jupiter 3? Could be, yeah, could be. What are you people?
Speaker 2:
On dope. Oh, it's the dope mobile.
Speaker 1:
But anyway, I posted a video of my process of starting that model. So if it's something you might be interested in, or if it's something you might be interested in, or if it's something that, even if I say Mobius Jupiter 2 model, you'll know what I'm talking about.
Speaker 3:
And if you have that kit.
Speaker 1:
Here's the thing. I'm not a professional model builder but, being through it once, I can tell you what to look out for. And that's my most recent video on YouTube is the first part of what to do when you start out building this model.
Speaker 2:
All right, does it sound like that old PBS channel? No, it doesn't. No, it doesn't there.
Speaker 1:
There is some there there's a level with the volume issues because at one point I was looking into my, my, my laptop to do an intro video and the sound is not nearly as clear as when I used my GoPro to film what I was doing. You need a headset with a microphone on it, I do. I need to get a direct mic and I do have one on my desk. I just didn't pull out my board to hook it up. Got it, but anyway that'll get better. But if you're interested in that, check it out.
Speaker 1:
That is on my YouTube channel, fun, yes. And my Snapchat and Instagram are both Motor City Hypno H-Y-P-N-O. Yeah. And as we always do, there's a free hypnosis guide available for anyone who wants it. Text the word hypnosis to 313-800-8510. And again, if you need that number, it's the number right on my website. You can text it directly to that number or just look in the show notes for that number as well. There you go, get your free hypnosis guide. The biggest thing is wherever you're listening, whether it's on whatever platform you're listening on iTunes, spotify, stitcher, whatever podcast platform you listen on, subscribe. And the biggest thing is leave a review. That's the most helpful thing you do is leave a review, because that helps other people find the show, and that's what we want. All right, all righty, bring it. So we got that all out of the way. It's ready, here we go, we're ready, yep.
Speaker 2:
That's how winning is done.
Speaker 1:
All right, this is a great story, okay, so I'll just start reading it. School bus driver Larry Farish Jr is known in his community for going above and beyond. Oh good, now he's touching the hearts of strangers after an act of kindness went viral. Farish Jr, who drives buses in Louisville, kentucky, I recently noticed a little boy named Levi was having a rough morning. Normally, when I pull up, he's standing there waiting for me with a big smile, but on this day he was sitting on the ground with his jacket over his head, said Ferris Jr, 35. How old are these kids? This kid is a first grader. Oh, okay, yeah, so yeah, something's amiss. Ferris Jr, 35. He said. I asked him hey, buddy, what's going on? What's wrong? That's when Levi, a first grader at Englehard Elementary School, explained through tears that he didn't have pajamas for pajama day. Got it? Ferris Jr closed the doors and watched as Levi slid into a seat away from his friends. It's hard being a kid.
Speaker 3:
It is hard being a kid.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, farish Jr says. Knowing that Levi wanted to participate but couldn't filled him with sadness. I thought to myself I got to fix this. Farish Jr said. After Farish finished up his morning routes, he headed to a family dollar store and purchased two pairs of pajamas for Levi. Then he headed over to Levi's school to make things right. I said you were hurting this morning, you were crying, so I got you these pajamas. Farish Jr recalls he was so excited. You should have seen how his face lit up. Farish Jr adds that Levi hugged the pajamas to his chest.
Speaker 1:
Levi rocked his pajamas on Pajama Day at Jefferson County Public Schools. Good for him. Mr Larry, as the kids call him, turned Levi's whole day around. I can tell Mr Larry is nice and his heart is filled with joy. Levi said in a news release when he got me the pajamas I did a happy cry. Farish, who previously worked as a correctional officer and a truck driver, says he's found his calling. I've been driving buses for seven years. It's my passion because I get to build bonds with the children. He said I truly love every minute of it. After Jefferson County Public Schools posted on its Facebook what ferris jr did for levi, people started sharing their own stories. Mr larry is the absolute best. We were blessed with him as our bus driver for four years. Top-notch human being. One person wrote sweet add in another larry is the absolute best and kiddos know what they are and know that they are in great, caring, capable hands with him there you go.
Speaker 3:
That's the story.
Speaker 2:
I like that.
Speaker 1:
Part of me, though, you know and I'm always I can't say that I'm a skeptic or that that's crazy, but part of me is like why didn't the parents get to skip pajamas for pajama day? Wow, you know, I know I probably shouldn't think that way in these good stories that have really these heartfelt messages.
Speaker 2:
Let me ask you this question yeah, back when you were in elementary school, do you remember there being a pajama day?
Speaker 1:
I don't remember there being a pajama day. I'm sure we probably had one, so let me ask you this next question.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, and I get it. I totally understand. It's fun, it keeps things lively in the school, but why do we need pajama day in the schools?
Speaker 1:
I don't know. I don't know that we necessarily need it, but I think it's a situation where, when a kid feels that they're left out or that they're not, they don't have the things that other kids have. Well, I think that's the key thing I said don't have the things that other kids have.
Speaker 2:
Well, I, I think that's the key thing. I said it it's because it keeps the kids engaged. You know they they want to be comfortable, right. You know kids wear pjs to school already well, just kind of right right. So it's like what's so special about pajama day when they can wear whatever they want and still be within the dress code?
Speaker 1:
sure, right, right, and and I went to public school, we could wear shorts and t-shirts all year. Right, which?
Speaker 2:
is fantastic, the young man's in first grade. He's visibly upset His jacket is over his head.
Speaker 1:
Right, he's bummed out because he can't take part in pajama day.
Speaker 2:
So did he have any clean?
Speaker 1:
pajamas. Well, see, these are the questions that pop into my head and Farish is a fantastic. The bus driver was above and beyond Sure and did a great thing for this kid, and that's what we're focusing on. Yes, yes, yes, but yeah, you're right, I thought why didn't the kid have pajamas to wear? I just felt bad for the kid.
Speaker 2:
Well, if I become a bus driver, I'm just going to have to keep a pair of PJs in the glove compartment just in case. Absolutely you never know.
Speaker 1:
I mean sure you could you know, that's a little creepy.
Speaker 3:
It depends on what clothes you're wearing. Hey, nice clothes, gentlemen. I didn't know the Salvation Army was having a sale.
Speaker 2:
Cheers to that.
Speaker 3:
How many ties do I have?
Speaker 1:
Cheers to Mr Ferris Jr, the bus driver. Larry Ferris Jr, the bus driver what a king.
Speaker 2:
Yes.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely winner of the week.
Speaker 2:
That's how winning is done. You know, we really shouldn't question the kindness, but we tend to question the kindness, but we tend to question the kindness sometimes as to why certain things are happening.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, but I think most human beings, I would guess, have questions when they hear a story, especially if the story is missing details. How many times have we asked, when we do these winner of the weeks, oh where did this guy come from? Or, like, what is his role? Or why did this happen? Why were they even in that position?
Speaker 2:
Right, you know which? I get it. We've asked that question. But we, you know we do question, but you know he went out of his way to do something nice.
Speaker 1:
Do something nice for a kid.
Speaker 2:
Absolutely, absolutely. I appreciate that.
Speaker 1:
No, I do too. Oh, good for you. Thanks, David.
Speaker 1:
Yeah good, absolutely All right. So back to it. So we're going to get into this. We are, we're going to get into it. So we're talking about the effect that COVID has on young adults, and when I say COVID, I don't mean COVID itself, although that can be part of it. I'm talking about the shutdowns and the schools modifying everything and everything having to be online. You know, my son is technically a junior in college right now and of the three years that he has been going, he's only had two or three classes in person. Wow, yeah.
Speaker 3:
So it's still.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, you know, a lot of things are still online. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:
And while some kids might, say they prefer that.
Speaker 1:
I just know from experience not being able to get out and do things. You're right over there. Yeah, I'm just I. You know what I? I had arby's earlier. Oh, there it is, and I have the worst heartburn right now and you're drinking well, I am but, but I did, I did, I did grab some tums on the way, so yeah, it's kind of weird and you poor thing?
Speaker 2:
yeah, just like right here in my chest like you know, even even in the, in the workforce, not just in college, but people are like I still want to work from home because, yeah, absolutely. But employers are like, even general motors, yeah, they're like, they're, they're, they're making their employees come into the office three days a week. Right, right, yeah, monday and friday you could probably stay home and work, but, you know, have to show presence.
Speaker 1:
You know what's weird? Because we were just downtown on Friday night we went to the Adam Ant concert.
Speaker 2:
Oh, good for you.
Speaker 1:
Adam Ant and the English Beat Little goody two-shoes going on. That was the encore. Did he do strip? Yep, you did that. You did Wonderful Ant music, I think so.
Speaker 3:
All right, here's the thing, though and I said this to Kendra, and again I sound like I'm a critical a-hole, but I'm very important.
Speaker 1:
I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany, but the sound was awful. The sound mix was awful. Where was it at?
Speaker 2:
It was at the Masonic, at the Masonic. Okay, so it's a small venue. It's a small venue.
Speaker 1:
It's a tough place for sound and just everything was just muddied together, like even when they were talking on the mic, oh wow, yeah, it was hard to hear what they were saying because it was just so distorted. So the sound balance it didn't sound great Like. I've been to concerts in huge venues, like at LCA, right, and you know, I'm trying to think of the last big concert I went to there, probably the Stones, okay, and the sound there was great, even though you could tell their age, but but at least the sound was mixed right so you could hear all the instruments and the vocals were clear. Does that make sense? Yeah, but, but it was kind of muddy, if that's a good word for it. But we had a good time.
Speaker 1:
So, yeah, but but the reason I said that we were downtown and there's a couple new buildings going up the old hudson site, there's a new building going on and I well, I think kendra said it to me she goes. I don't understand why these buildings are going up if nobody's working in person. Yeah, like where, where? How are they going to fill these buildings? I'm like that, that's a good question. I don't know, because it's it's it's weird, you know no, and I was.
Speaker 2:
that was the cord, sorry. There you go.
Speaker 1:
There yeah, the computer cord is a little bit wonky yeah it's got a little buzz in it.
Speaker 3:
Sorry about that. That's okay, we're fixing it. Boy that escalated quickly. I mean, that really got out of hand fast.
Speaker 2:
Ah, we handled it, we did so yeah, the whole COVID, the COVIDian timeline, we're still in the COVIDian timeline we are.
Speaker 1:
I've coined that phrase. No, and that's great. I think you should patent it?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I should. But you know people are still wanting to not be social. They don't want to go out because of the fear of getting sick, Not just the COVID, it go out because of the fear of getting sick, not just the COVID, right, it's just getting sick in general now, right, that's a lot of it.
Speaker 1:
It's just the fear of being sick. But the other thing, too, is that some people that like and I'll use my son as an example, and he doesn't typically listen. But even if he did, this is not a slam on him. But I do notice that his days are spent in his room all day long because he's either working on school stuff or attending online class or doing whatever he has to do. But the only time he got out this past semester and a half was because he was in marching band and part of pep band. Oh wow, so he would be there for the football games and for the basketball games. Other than that, you didn't have to go downtown for a class. He had to go downtown a couple times to get a book, my goodness. But in reality, again, 90% of his classes have been online.
Speaker 2:
I mean, I've been downtown more often than he has.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I know that's kind of the point I'm getting in that the world has changed. Like I went to college, I left home, I lived at school and I was just gone for four years. That's just how I did it, and I'm not saying my wife is right. That's how my oldest did it.
Speaker 1:
She just got up and left Yep, and I think kids that are in that age range, between 18 to 23 or so, are missing. I'm not going to say they're not motivated, but they haven't had to go out and do things. They're all kind of in their rooms and their bubble, and just getting things done there.
Speaker 2:
My early 20s, I couldn't wait to go out to the bar, to the club, to a concert, absolutely. I wanted to work Kids back then they worked. They worked two or three jobs, sometimes Absolutely I wanted to work. I was, you know, kids back then they worked. Yeah, they worked two or three jobs sometimes Sure, sure, but now it's just like. Well, if I have to, I guess I will.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, yeah, it's just there's not that underlying drive or motivation. And this is with all this age range in general. I'm seeing this a lot, especially with a lot of clients.
Speaker 2:
Well, there are some 40-sums out there too that are in that, 50-sums that are in that realm.
Speaker 1:
Well, that's true. I mean humans in general can have that as well. So COVID-19 affected a lot of people and I understand this. At the beginning and this is not a political debate by any means but when COVID started, we didn't know what we were facing and a lot of people didn't, including government and people in charge. So these lockdowns came and and, yeah, at the time there were arguments for and against it, but I I get it because we didn't know and and it is serious not and I'm not going to downplay the seriousness of this this- this epidemic this pandemic because people die.
Speaker 1:
People are still dying from it. So so I'm not, I'm not making a judgment that way, but when everything shut down a lot of these, these young people, they, they missed my son was a senior in high school.
Speaker 3:
Oh, he missed out, didn't have prom didn't have graduate.
Speaker 1:
They did have graduation but they had a separated like 20 students at a time at specific times. That's crazy. And so you know his graduation. They went by the letters in your last name, you know alphabetically. So none of his friends were with him at his graduation ceremony because there were like 30 different graduation ceremonies throughout a few days, right? So those kind of things. And then going into college, starting college and everything's online. And my son made a comment to me at one point. He said oh, this is like high school 2.0, because nothing had changed, right, it was still classes online like they were doing the last half of the senior year or for most of that last semester, most of that last semester.
Speaker 2:
You know kids love they got. They didn't get the opportunity to be in that social you know, environment. You know everyone had kind of shielded themselves off and then they didn't have that experience. You know in a social standing or in a social environment that you learn as a kid.
Speaker 1:
They didn't have that right and it's for some kids it's lasted two or three years now so so a lot of these constraints that were put into place understandably, because, again at the time, we just didn't know what we were dealing with it. It reduced social outlets for for young people and it also reduced their access to school mental health programs because they weren't in school, right.
Speaker 1:
But those resources were still there, maybe not as prevalent or maybe not as accessible because you weren't there in person, right, and I will say again that this is a generalization, but I'm going by experience of having a 21-year-old at home and seeing clients in that age range. They, in general, they don't like talking on the phone, it's just like having conversations, right? If it's not a text or an email, it's probably not going to happen.
Speaker 2:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
And I think that also kind of separated everybody from accessing things that they may need. So health professionals of course had this concern while this was happening that the shutdown and being isolated is going to have a lasting effect on mental health of many adolescents, and that's what we've been seeing over the past four years. So there's a study that was done by the National Institute of Mental Health and the researchers found that teenagers' brains looked as though they had aged an average of about three years during only 10 months of the pandemic.
Speaker 2:
Aged three years at a 10-month timeframe? Yes, why?
Speaker 1:
This effect mirrors what is known to happen in teen brains after they are exposed to an adversity or traumatic event. Okay, so that this the same thing that happens if you were exposed to a trauma at age 18, sure that's the same results that happen as a result of these lockdowns and isolation? Wow, yeah, which is really you know? That's telling just that. So Francisco Bay Area had been collecting MRI scans of adolescents between ages 13 and 17 for several years when the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to pause their research. So they'd already been doing scans on young people doing the study.
Speaker 1:
All right, the original plan was to scan the brains of people from the rain, you know, to see how their brain develops over time. That was the original intent of their study. When the study restarted 10 months later, after this pause, once COVID occurred, the researchers realized they could compare images of teen brains before the pandemic with images of teen brains after the pandemic to see whether development was affected. So the researchers compared images from 64 teens who had already been scanned and 64 teens who received scans when the study restarted.
Speaker 2:
So the brains didn't actually develop, they just aged.
Speaker 1:
Yes, yeah, in a sense the research matched the pre-pandemic and the post-pandemic teen brains as closely as possible, based on sex, age when scanned, race, household income and other demographics. Researchers then compared the brain structures responsible for controlling emotions and executive functions. Now I'm getting a little heavy here, but follow me on this. They compared the brain structures responsible for controlling emotions and executive functions, such as decision making. They also compared the results of mental health questionnaires from both groups. Lastly, they plugged in brain measurements from the scans into a computer model to estimate brain age. Wow, that's a mouthful, I get that. So here's what the results in general found After pandemic shutdowns, teens reported more anxiety and depression. They also internalized problems more than teens interviewed before the pandemic. So just that statement there more anxiety and depression than before COVID, according to the study and what they found.
Speaker 2:
And then they internalize it. They won't have the vernacular to share their emotions.
Speaker 1:
Right their thoughts? Yeah, exactly, and the other thing that it prevented them from doing was learning. And when I say learning, I'm talking about socialization, learning, conflict, meeting people from different belief systems and different genders and different races and different ethnicities systems and different genders and different races and different ethnicities and having all of that well-rounded input, and that they didn't get to do that because everybody was isolated.
Speaker 2:
Right, the diversity spot of their brain got turned off.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, yeah, because they didn't have that interaction, right, yes, so we're going to get further into this because there's more on this research that I want to share with you. We'll go into that a little bit. We're going to do that in part two of this coming up. Those of you on Facebook Live stay where you're at. We're going to be right back and do episode part two. Those of you listening on audio skip ahead to the next episode or wait until it drops on the next tuesday or thursday. There you go, so we're going to follow up on the effect covid has on teenagers and young adults. Part two coming up. Fair enough, all right, folks, hang in there. Those facebook people live, facebook live people. Stay there. We'll be right back for everybody else, everybody else. Change your thinking, change your life, laugh hard, run fast, be kind. We'll see you next time.
