The Enduring Impact of COVID on Youth and Society - Part 4

Ever wondered how sticking to the rules could lead to more stress? Our latest episode takes a deep look into the psychological strain that the most rule-abiding among us faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. We unravel the paradox of compliance and its effects on mental well-being, sharing insights and personal reflections that might just change the way you think about the past year's challenges. But life's not all about the heavy stuff – we'll lighten the mood with a dash of sports talk, a quirky hat story, and a tip for high school parent organizations gearing up for graduation season.

Join us as we celebrate Sophie McGarva's incredible transformation from a bullied teen to a Miss England semi-finalist and a beacon of hope for anyone struggling with self-esteem. Her story is a powerful reminder that resilience can reshape our lives. We also wade through the emotional waves stirred by the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines, offering a balanced perspective on the skepticism and hope they brought with them. Drawing parallels to "Flowers for Algernon," we explore the depths of emotional intelligence and the varied ways people have navigated the persistent impact of the pandemic. Tune in for a heartfelt discussion that's as informative as it is inspiring.

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

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

In this episode of the Motor City Hypnotist Podcast, we're talking about how COVID restrictions affected mental health for a large portion of the population that followed those rules. The people that followed the rules most stringently are having more mental health issues, so we're going to talk about what they are and why is that. Why are the people who follow the rules having more issues?

Speaker 2: 0:27

I've got my opinions, but well, we'll talk about that and, as usual, we're giving away free stuff.

Speaker 3: 0:32

So stick around, folks, we'll be right back get ready for the motor city hypnotist david all right. 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 to the Motor City Hypnotist, david R Wright.

Speaker 1: 1:22

What is going on, my friends? This is David Wright, the Motor City Hypnotist, and we're back with another episode of the Motor City Hypnotist podcast. As I forgot, we typically on Mondays, we'll tape two shows at a time. We'll do two half-hour episodes when we record. So I didn't mention last time. I don't usually wear a hat during my podcast. No, you don't, it's unusual, it's because I golfed this morning. Oh, okay, I still have my golf watch on, which is not even on. But yeah, that's why I'm kind of looking a little more.

Speaker 3: 1:51

I mean, I'm always casual here, you look relaxed.

Speaker 1: 1:54

That's fine, whatever, but I got my lion's hat on, so I'm representing. Yep One more week and a half Week and we can have for the draft. Yep, yep, sounds good, excellent. Thank you folks for showing up. Thank you for listening. We're here on the podcast, your voice, southfield studios. Yes, the other voice you hear is Matt Fox. That is me. He is with us every episode as much as producing recording.

Speaker 1: 2:15

You know, here's the thing, let me. Let me give a shout out the palatial studios and, uh, if you guys ever want to think about doing a podcast, maybe, maybe you like, I don't know. Do you know how many people in in? I'm not I'm if kendra's listening to yell at me, but you know how many people watch, like these shows, like the bachelor and the, and how many podcasts are associated with a lot of these different shows. Uh-huh, they have podcasts just for a show. Uh-huh, it's crazy. Uh-huh. Yeah, do you know? There is still a Lost podcast that is going on, I believe it.

Speaker 2: 2:48

After all these years, I just re-watched the entire series.

Speaker 1: 2:51

I have too. I've watched it through probably four times I actually watched the last episode three times.

Speaker 2: 2:57

Yeah, it's so much fun.

Speaker 1: 2:58

I know, I know it's fantastic and I'm glad we're going to. I'm going to stir the pot here before we get into our subject matter here. But those people who didn't get the ending or didn't like it or thought they were dead the whole time, get bent.

Speaker 3: 3:15

Just seriously.

Speaker 2: 3:17

What, jack? What are you doing here?

Speaker 1: 3:20

The whole thing was spelled out. I've said this to people. I've had arguments with people about this. His whole speech.

Speaker 3: 3:27

He died?

Speaker 1: 3:28

he says yeah, yes, I did. He says how are you here?

Speaker 3: 3:30

right now. And he goes how are you here right now?

Speaker 1: 3:32

right, I died too, and then, but but that's not enough, because then people could say, well, yeah, they've been dead the whole time. They're, both were dead the whole time. But then he says, because jack asked about the people in the church and he says they're all dead, and he goes everybody dies sometime, some before you, some long after you, easy, that's it. Those two statements exactly tell you what's going on, but they all waited to go together. Yes, exactly, that's the whole point, because they were all connected.

Speaker 2: 3:58

They had such a tremendous effect on one another because of what happened to them in that lifetime.

Speaker 1: 4:03

Yes.

Speaker 2: 4:04

Yeah, come on. Yes, it's not that difficult.

Speaker 1: 4:07

No no, I, but that's, that's one of the things that irks me. So, anyway, yeah, there's podcasts about everything. Back to what we were saying yeah, and if you want to do a podcast, contact, podcast, your voice, they have you come in, you sit down in the studio, you record, you don't have to do anything. You talk into the mic, that's all you do. Yeah, and then you leave. Yeah, they handle everything, they handle the RSS feed, the uploading it, just recording.

Speaker 2: 4:37

You just need show notes.

Speaker 1: 4:38

Yeah, david, Absolutely, and you know what?

Speaker 3: 4:48

I need to talk to jamie about that.

Speaker 1: 4:49

Okay, and we will. We'll take that off because because we, because there is that, that ai thing that will will do show notes for you, based on the thing, but I'm gonna mess with that we'll get into that, I know, I know that that's my thing.

Speaker 1: 5:00

let me tell you, folks, where you can find me. My website is motorcityhypnotistcom. If you are a parent organization for a high school and you need a hypnotist for grad night or prom, do it now. We're coming down to the wire. I just had an inquiry yesterday on my website and unfortunately it was a night. I already had two shows booked. Oh man, I already had a double header booked and there was no way to get. I have done three shows in the night before, but that's rare because the timing has to work Right. You know you need that drive time to set the drive time and location and all of that.

Speaker 1: 5:32

So, but if you're still looking for a hypnotist for your prom or grad night, go to Motor City Hypnotist dot com. Click on shows. You can do everything online Fill it out, get your quote, sign the contract, do your deposit. You never even have to talk to anyone and not that that's a good or bad thing, but and if you want to, you can. But you can call and talk to me as well. So, yeah, check that out. My Facebook and YouTube are both Motor City Hypnotist and my Snapchat and Instagram are both Motor City Hypno. H-y-p-n-o. And, as usual, we always give away every single show we've done. We're on this show 260, matt, I can't wait for the 260.

Speaker 2: 6:15

Nine more from now is going to be great. No, no.

Speaker 3: 6:22

Don't shut me up. I am listening to you, no more.

Speaker 2: 6:30

No, the past 259 shows have been eye-opening and educational and fun. So yeah, 260 is a lot of episodes.

Speaker 1: 6:39

Yeah, we got a lot of them out there. There's a lot of material. Yeah, there's a lot, and you know, listen and go back and find. Here's the other thing, too, for those of you who listen to us regularly If you have an idea for a show, let me know. If you want to hear me talk about something, let me know. That would be fantastic.

Speaker 2: 6:56

Do you ever play that game as a kid?

Speaker 3: 7:08

Being a hypnotist now. Did you ever play?

Speaker 1: 7:11

the game Hungry, hungry. No, no, I I did play that. Uh, I think it was with hippos, though. Oh, okay, that's right yeah that's crazy. I don't know, I know, I don't even know. I just can't help myself. I think they had ball bearings in that game. Oh, come on, guys, it's so simple. Maybe you need a refresher course, hey.

Speaker 2: 7:36

It's all ball bearings nowadays, man Sorry, all right, so where were we? I? Don't even remember we just got done with all of the socials and such we were going into winter. Free hypnosis guide. Free hypnosis guide.

Speaker 1: 7:50

Free hypnosis guide 313-800-8510. That's right, because I said we've given it every show. We're up to 260. So get your free hypnosis guide. Check out the show notes or, if they're not there, check out my website. Just go to the website, the phone number. There you text hypnosis to that number. You will get your free hypnosis guide. Perfect, and it will also ask for a Google review. So if you've not seen me in person, that's fine, but you'll have that link as well. Cool, the biggest thing wherever you're listening whether it's on I don't know whether you're on a podcast platform, stitcher, spotify, whatever, any of them um, leave a review and, uh, connect with us, like connect, subscribe, whatever it is on your platform so that you get the show whenever it drops. And again, the review is the big thing, because you know more reviews you get, the more people want to listen. Sure, all righty, is it time? It is time.

Speaker 3: 8:50

That's how winning is done.

Speaker 2: 8:52

I've seen pictures, but I'm not making them out.

Speaker 1: 8:54

Well, that's okay, because we're going to show you the pictures after I read the story. Okay, okay. So this is just a good story of somebody who overcame self-esteem issues. That's what this story is based on. Okay, alright. A student who was picked on for being an overweight teenager has shut down her bullies by becoming a cheerleading coach and a Miss England semi-finalist. Take that bitches Dick it.

Speaker 2: 9:23

Oh great.

Speaker 1: 9:23

Odin's Raven. Take that Bjes. Oh great Odin's Raven. Take that. Sophie McGarva said she was mocked by cruel classmates after she reached almost 200 pounds during middle school by gorging on junk food and snacks before turning 13. So at age 13 she was 200 pounds, poor girl.

Speaker 2: 9:44

I know.

Speaker 1: 10:03

She suffered from low self-esteem but came determined to prove everyone wrong and went on to lose 49 pounds, now 21,. Sophie even made the semifinals of the Miss England competition last weekend. Good for her. The English literature degree student now keeps in shape by coaching cheerleading for the YSJ Cats at York St John University and going to the gym three times a week.

Speaker 1: 10:18

The issues with my weight first started once I got to secondary school, explained the North Yorkshire woman Middle school, if you will. Yeah, I wasn't very sporty then and I was eating a lot of bad food like chocolates and sweets. But at that point you start to become more image aware and the girls around me were all really slim. Okay, I was never too concerned. But then a few girls started picking on me because of my size and saying mean and horrible things. I even reported it to teachers at one point, but it was sort of brushed under the carpet, which didn't help matters. After about a year of this I knew it was time for a change and I became determined to prove everyone wrong. I also wanted to prove to myself that if I put my mind to something, I could do it.

Speaker 2: 11:00

So I began watching my diet and exercising more after getting into dance, swimming and ice skating, she lost another 50 pounds okay, see, and that I'm glad it got to that point, because if they were just doing it to for because somebody else said something, if they're, but they were doing it for themselves well, and I'm glad that she said that, that that, yes, she wasn't happy with herself, even though she was getting bullied, that there's no reason for that.

Speaker 1: 11:28

That's unacceptable, right, you know? Um, I don't know what we're yelling about.

Speaker 2: 11:34

Well, I'm glad that she had the foresight to say okay, I'm not in a healthy state of mind, nor am I in a my. Is my physical physicality healthy, so I need to make some changes right absolutely.

Speaker 1: 11:47

and and the whole thing is, you feel better about yourself then right, that's the big thing. Once I got to university I wanted to join a society. As they say, it's the best way to meet people. I'm assuming that's a sorority in in that university, great britain probably. I chose cheerleading and it just went from there. I now choreograph routines and teach up to a level two standard. I'm not sure what that means. If you're a cheerleader out there, you can pipe in. We're not competitive, we're a varsity squad, so we do events and cheer on the football teams and things like that. I absolutely love it.

Speaker 1: 12:20

Cheerleading gave Sophie the confidence to model on four occasions at York Fashion Week. Good for her, giving her the belief that she could even compete in a beauty pageant. I entered Miss England after seeing it publicized on social media, thinking I wouldn't stand a chance. I like the charity aspect and what they stand for about beauty not being solely about what's on the outside Right. Good, great quote there. At school I was young and an impressionable girl who was taught by those around me that beauty was merely the reflection in the mirror, which, after the weight loss, I came to the realization this is not true. I entered Miss England to challenge myself again in aims of gaining confidence within myself and also to make my younger self proud. Got it, this girl's got to her. She gets it.

Speaker 2: 13:04

She knows this girl's got to her, she, she gets it.

Speaker 1: 13:06

She knows her head's on straight. Yeah, I wanted to gain a deeper connection with myself and those around me, proving to myself that I can succeed in things outside my comfort zone. Rah, rah, re, kick him in the knee.

Speaker 2: 13:18

So rah rah rah, we'll go back to the photo.

Speaker 1: 13:20

The other knee, the photo, the other knee. Go back to the photos, man, because I know you saw those when I when I pulled that sheet out. But blood makes the grass grow kill, kill, kill. There's a before and after of sophie. Okay, he's a cute girl she is good for her, I'm glad that she found.

Speaker 2: 13:38

I'm glad she found the inner strength to push through. And let me show you the uh.

Speaker 1: 13:42

Show you folks, if you're on Facebook, live the before and after of Sophie.

Speaker 1: 13:47

No, she, she, uh, she put herself first, so here's the thing and I know and not to get off on too much of a tangent, because we had a lot of stuff to talk about but I know bullying is a big problem and it's always been a big problem.

Speaker 1: 14:00

This is not something new, it's not something that's just come out, but it can be devastating for someone's self-esteem and their confidence and the way they view themselves. And the important thing to realize is that I'm not giving somebody a free pass or excuse, but typically bullies have had issues of their own. A free pass or excuse, but typically bullies have had issues of their own, and I've said this to my son numerous times, especially growing up in school, whenever he had a conflict with somebody, or somebody was just kind of out there or whatever, whatever. And I'm like, yeah, but you don't know what they're going through, you don't know what they've experienced in their life. So, and it's not an excuse for bad behavior and there's no excuse for bullying, nope, but I'm glad that she was able to do something positive with this.

Speaker 2: 14:46

Well, you know. Okay, so cards on table. David, yeah, I got picked on in school because I was a little bit chunky, I was short, a little bit stout, right, you know, I had peers at the same age calling me fat ass yeah. That's awful I was playing football, I was doing my own thing. I'm out by my bmx bike on my skateboard.

Speaker 2: 15:06

I'm staying active right those guys didn't care, right, you know. And then you know, as I got older I'm like I still don't care. I am who I am. If I want to make myself happier, then yeah, I'll go to the gym and I'll work out.

Speaker 1: 15:18

But that's the key thing. You said If you're doing it for someone else, don't do that. You have to do it for yourself. Because here's the thing I don't care if you lose 100 pounds or change, or if you're skinny and you bulk up, that's not going to make people like you necessarily but if it makes you feel better about yourself, that is the key thing, that's the important thing. Amen, amen, brother. So big shout out to sophie magarva sophie good job. Yes, absolutely definitely winner of the week that's how winning is done.

Speaker 2: 16:10

There was a movie with edward norton and justin timberlake's wife and he was a magician and I'm the oh, I know, I, I know, oh, oh. The name of that movie is escaping me for some reason, and it's one of I know what you're talking about the illusionist. Illusionist, yes, I knew it was something like that yes, and her character, her, her name was sophie, oh nice okay, sophie.

Speaker 1: 16:29

Yeah, so back to it. All right, folks, we're talking about and it's a very weird kind of a title for an episode or how to how to put into words shortly but what we've been talking about, and this is part two. If you haven't listened to part one, you can jump back or listen to it after this. You'll get it all together.

Speaker 2: 16:47

If we go a couple of minutes over. This is an important time, yeah absolutely so.

Speaker 1: 16:50

The big thing that the study that my wife actually brought to my attention she was doing some reading and found this and the study showed that people who followed COVID restrictions to the T or most closely are having more mental health issues.

Speaker 2: 17:07

Now it's really it's really, I'm really curious as to why that happened and what it is that they could potentially do to get better, to take themselves out of that.

Speaker 1: 17:19

Absolutely Right, yep, so one of the biggest to take themselves out of that bubble. Absolutely Right, yep. So one of the biggest things that came out of COVID was anxiety Anxiety about health, about getting COVID, about losing loved ones or your grandparents, people that are more susceptible. So that was the big thing. So, when the pandemic took hold in spring of 2020, there wasn't any understanding, there wasn't any concept of how long is this going to last? What's going to happen?

Speaker 2: 17:49

We're being told it's going to end, the lockdown is going to end at this point in time, but that never happened and it still never happened and they've never announced.

Speaker 1: 17:58

Okay, we're back to normal happen and it's they've never announced. Okay, we're back to normal. So in the study, a lot of the people who participate in the study said that that there was. There was some resilience and some some um, pushback, um, not resilience meaning oh yeah, let's follow these rules and be safe and and and.

Speaker 1: 18:14

For the first few months I think people took it to heart and we like, yeah, this is what we need to do, we're good, right, although after after time passes and you start to lose that connection with other people and working in the office and being able to go out, and it took some time for it to start having an effect on people, right, right At first, and I don't I don't say this in a in a funny way, but it was kind of a, if you want to call it a novelty at the very beginning wearing masks and not going out and being safe and I don't know, and I know there was fear involved with it. So I'm not saying that was fun, I'm not using that novelty as a word, fun but it was just like oh, this is different, this is something.

Speaker 2: 19:00

I need a mask to match every outfit that I wear.

Speaker 1: 19:02

Well, yeah, and that did happen. People started getting stylish and expressing themselves on the masks they wore and all of that, which is great, but over time, the loss of the things that you're missing start taking its toll, right. So the quote from, quote from one of the studies, says there's definitely a huge mental health impact from a long period of uncertainty and change that's left people very isolated and not sure how to connect. That's the big thing. The whole beginning of this was just uncertainty and what's going to happen? What's going to come of this? Am I going to be okay? And and it was so much so that that your normal, your normal routine was done. You weren't hanging out with friends, you weren't doing things that you always did before, so so life definitely just changed uh you, a lot of folks just went outside.

Speaker 2: 19:53

Do you remember how many people were actually walking around? Outside when I and I coined the term, the phrase, the covidian timeline that got people outside walking. Yeah right, it really did, because they had extra time.

Speaker 1: 20:07

So anxiety is a big thing and part of that anxiety again is fear of either getting it or somebody else getting it and passing away. So that leads us into this trauma, because people felt trauma from this. Let's face it, and I'm not overstating it, this was a traumatic event for most people.

Speaker 2: 20:26

Not for most, for everybody, it was a life-changing event for everybody.

Speaker 1: 20:30

So do you know right now, to date, how many cases of COVID there have been around the world?

Speaker 2: 20:39

I don't even want to try to guess how big that number is 400 million, yeah, and how many deaths?

Speaker 1: 20:47

I at least say 33 of that 5.7 million deaths. So my house, how close am I?

Speaker 2: 20:55

no way less percentage, less, yeah, yeah, maybe, yeah, yeah, maybe point something.

Speaker 1: 21:02

So, but what happened, as far as this trauma goes, if you lost someone? If Kendra's still listening, she had a great friend. They were both figure skating judges.

Speaker 2: 21:13

Okay, she'd known for forever and he ended up passing away from this. It does hit you hard when it's somebody that's close to you and I get it and I empathize with them and you know God rest them.

Speaker 1: 21:24

And think about early in this lockdown people weren't able to go to funerals or weddings or the birth of their kids. They didn't understand how to treat it. Well, no, that's what I'm saying, that it was all unknown at that point, so everything was just again, again, it was locked down based on what we thought was best.

Speaker 2: 21:45

But but the very at the very onset when people are going to the hospital, they were still trying to figure out how to treat well that too, and not having enough equipment and enough you know enough breathing machines to help people get through this.

Speaker 1: 21:56

They just didn't know it was terrible so so we were talking about I just mentioned a couple of these milestones that people lost, you know, loss of freedoms, relationships, uh, attending a funeral, uh, uh, you know meeting relatives, proms, dances. My son was a senior during the covet year. He didn't. From march until june they were online. He missed everything at the end of the year Anything.

Speaker 1: 22:21

No prom, no, in fact, graduation. I think his class was over 300 kids. They did graduation ceremonies of 20 kids apiece over the course of like a week. You had mentioned that.

Speaker 2: 22:32

And that's just crazy to me. Yes.

Speaker 1: 22:34

So, and as I said before, he didn't get to walk with his friends because it went alphabetical, or however they did, and that's a milestone in a young person's life, absolutely. So the other thing that happened was, when the vaccines came out, people started having hope. People started thinking oh okay, this is the beginning of the end, so this is all good Now. The problem is that these variants now start keep coming out.

Speaker 2: 23:02

Let's go back real quick.

Speaker 1: 23:03

Yes.

Speaker 2: 23:03

When the vaccine came out, there was still a very large number of the population that were against it, because they didn't know what was in it, because they felt that there wasn't enough research done behind the vaccine.

Speaker 1: 23:17

Absolutely, which I, which I totally understand. Behind the vaccine, absolutely, which I totally understand. Now, the point being, and my counterpoint to that would be they've been studying these types of viruses for years, for years. Yes, I know that. So, yes, it wasn't like they'd never seen anything like this before and tried to make a vaccine for it.

Speaker 2: 23:38

That was the mental state. Well, no, I get it because it came out so incredibly quickly, right right, and it was produced at such a rapid, you know rate. Yeah, like I don't trust it yeah, so the other?

Speaker 1: 23:51

the other reason that people started getting more mental health issues is that, in a way, the pandemic gave people an opportunity to be alone and think that that is one of the biggest drivers of all of these issues. Now that we're seeing, wow.

Speaker 2: 24:15

What would? What would they think if?

Speaker 1: 24:27

what would they think? If so, the new normal. As far as people now because again we're three years past this pandemic, well, it, it still exists, but it's still, but we're, but we're three years past the introduction of this thing I, I, I hesitate to use the word.

Speaker 2: 24:40

It's under control because it's still out there, but it's not as prevalent.

Speaker 1: 24:45

No, I would agree with that. And again, because we have vaccines, there are less serious illnesses, less deaths, but there are still people dying, that you know. We can't take that away. So so the, the and here's, here's my, here's my view on this the people and we're going to go back to the very beginning the people that have more empathy, that are more feeling, that are more caring and I'm not, this is not criticizing the other group heart more, they have more emotion about it. The other people who are just straightforward, I'm blocking that out. I'm just going to do what I need to do and move on. I don't care. I'm not attaching these labels to those two groups, but here's something I've talked to clients about a lot what would Brian Boitano do? Good question.

Speaker 3: 25:40

What would he do? What's?

Speaker 1: 25:41

happening. Good question what do you do? What happened? Go on so again, this is my theory of being a practicing therapist. For how many years? 30-something years, people who have intelligence emotional intelligence tend to be hurt more. Explain that. So, when I say people who have more emotional intelligence are hurt more, they're more aware of feelings and things and actions that they take to heart. People who are I'll just say it People who are dumb don't have issues.

Speaker 2: 26:21

Emotionally closed off.

Speaker 1: 26:22

Yes, okay, Well, they have their own issues as far as being emotionally closed off, but stupid people don't have anxiety and depression. What are you talking about? What's?

Speaker 3: 26:33

happening.

Speaker 1: 26:38

Think about this for a minute, though, and I've used this with clients a lot. Think about this for a minute, though, and I've used this with clients a lot. I'm like, listen, you're really beating yourself up, but, to be honest, dumb people don't have the concerns that we do. They don't worry about how they look or what their weight is, or how they're perceived by other people. They just do what makes them happy.

Speaker 2: 27:11

That doesn't make them dumb, though.

Speaker 1: 27:13

No, no, I'm using dumb in a general sense. I'm saying people who aren't grasping the situation, or maybe not as self-aware.

Speaker 2: 27:23

Okay, that's a. That's a better, that's a better thing, okay I like that better than the dumb word well, no well, but in in again.

Speaker 1: 27:31

I'm not saying that. I'm saying that not in a critical sense, I'm just saying that in like a. I'm kind of I'm being literal over no, no, yes, you are yes, for sure. So so, but my point being is that if you don't know any better, then you don't know any better, it's not affecting you. So I go back to have you ever read the book Flowers for Algernon.

Speaker 2: 27:52

I have not. Do you know it? I know of it.

Speaker 1: 27:55

Okay, so the book simply put. I read this book in 6th grade maybe.

Speaker 2: 28:01

So that's why I haven't read it, because it's that old Sixth or seventh grade yeah. I think that was banned by the time I got to high school.

Speaker 3: 28:11

I like this in the background.

Speaker 1: 28:12

What the fuck is it with you? So the book is about a scientist who's doing experiments on mice to make them intelligent. He has this procedure that makes the mouse more intelligent. It sounds like what is it?

Speaker 2: 28:27

The Secrets of NIMH? Oh, I don't know that.

Speaker 1: 28:31

The cartoon Secrets of NIMH yeah, I'm not familiar with it too much. I know of it Smart, intelligent mice. He does a test on this mouse and this mouse becomes super intelligent and able to do you know, like like just superstar huh. So once he has a success with a mouse, he does it on a person. This name, this guy's name, is charlie. I thought you're gonna say a raccoon, but go on, charlie was, was a developmentally disabled adult and he found him and did this procedure with him. Did, did it work? It did work. Oh my goodness, he ended up becoming Albert Einstein Super smart and intelligent and super high IQ. The problem was now came all the emotions that go with that.

Speaker 1: 29:13

Oh and understanding at that point that he was deficient in some way before Uh-huh and having to deal with those emotions, yep oh, wow. And then what happened was I. I don't want to ruin the book. Spoiler alert this is like a 50 year old book, all right.

Speaker 2: 29:31

So I'll probably end up because it sounds interesting, something that's up my alley.

Speaker 1: 29:34

So okay, so I, I won't, I won't tell, I won't give away the ending. Those of you that know, no, yeah, those of you that know, know what I'm saying. All right, so you know, he was happy when he was dumb, and I'm not saying dumb in a critical way, that's just the term I'm using. He was happy when he was dumb, but when he became really intelligent he had all of these issues emotionally, because now he understood the world. Yeah, all right, I like that. I'll have to check that out. So here, here's what I'm going to say. As far as those of you who have again adhered to the rules, have done what you're supposed to do, but are feeling depressed or anxious or feeling like you have some PTSD or you lost someone, here's the thing you are. You're never going to be a hundred percent safe in this world.

Speaker 1: 30:23

No, you walk outside and get hit by a bus. That's my point. You cannot have total safety and total freedom together, correct? So what I would say is talk to someone, because what, what? What we need, what we need you to get to, is that there are acceptable risks there. There, there's a reasonable fear of society and the world. You know, you don't go running across a 10 lane highway without looking. Do you know what I mean? Like certain things, you, you know, you're there, there's danger inherent. You're not looking cause you're going to get hit too fast. Well, that too. So point being is that if you are feeling these things, it's probably because you have qualities that are good. Yeah, you have empathy, you care about people, you think about people.

Speaker 2: 31:17

But there's nothing wrong with putting yourself first, no, not at all.

Speaker 1: 31:21

That's kind of. My point is that you have to take care of yourself, and that's a good thing. So if you're dealing with these feelings of anxiety and depression and these PTSD feelings, or you've lost someone to COVID, talk about it, because, listen, this is the difference You're intelligent. You can use therapy to your advantage. You can learn to change your thought patterns. You can learn to change behaviors that will make you feel better. That's the ability that we have that some people do not, unfortunately. I mean again, this is not a criticism you can't do therapy with a developmentally disabled adult One. A lot of them can't talk. You know what I mean it it so. So you have advantages as far as being aware and and know that if you're feeling anxiety and depression and these feelings, you're human. Yeah, it shows that you have some, shows you have a soul.

Speaker 2: 32:20

proof I mean really, yeah, proof that tony stark has a heart right, exactly, yes, so.

Speaker 1: 32:24

So I mean that that's the big thing. I definitely and here's the thing if you're, if you're still resistant or or fearful to go out again, definitely talk to a therapist, because, because what I would do, and I'm going to tell you my own approach, would be to gradually, uh, introduce you to new situations and just gradually work you back into whatever normal is nowadays.

Speaker 2: 32:47

Sure, Work you back into I hate to use the word society, but get back out there, Put yourself out there. You don't have to go to a big Jeff Dunham concert.

Speaker 1: 32:55

No, no, where you're surrounded by hundreds of people. Yeah, I'm not saying, surround yourself by a sporting event or something, but you know what Go out to eat.

Speaker 2: 33:00

Yeah, I'm not saying surround yourself by a sporting event or something, but you know what? Go out to eat.

Speaker 3: 33:06

Yeah exactly.

Speaker 2: 33:07

Go for a walk in a park.

Speaker 1: 33:09

You're outside, it's away from people and I know their fear is still inherent, and I get it. And you want to protect yourself, especially if you have extenuating medical conditions. Of course I get that. But the problem is, right now, that this, this pandemic, has really affect us, affected us human beings. I mean, it's it's, it's just something we've never experienced before.

Speaker 2: 33:32

It is a trauma. It is a trauma as as much as we're back to normal. It is a different world.

Speaker 1: 33:37

It is different. It is a very very different.

Speaker 2: 33:44

It's a very different world, but you have to bend to where your comfortable level. Your comfort level is yeah, but don't shelter yourself from living no, absolutely that.

Speaker 1: 33:51

and that's the big thing, because soon as you isolate, you're gonna have issues if you're not communicating with people, if you're not talking to people, if you're not communicating with people, if you're not talking to people, if you're by yourself all the time, thomas, Merton, philosopher, wrote a book no man is an Island.

Speaker 2: 34:14

Well, kenny Loggins not Kenny Loggins, kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton they were islands in the stream. That is what we are.

Speaker 3: 34:20

What in blazes?

Speaker 2: 34:20

are you talking about?

Speaker 3: 34:23

No one in between. Clean out your desk.

Speaker 1: 34:28

You're gone. So here's the big thing If you're still feeling whatever symptoms you're having, you know vaccinated or not, sick or not, whether you've had it or not, if you feel like you're fearful or you have anxiety or you're depressed because the world has changed and it really has. The world has changed and there's no going back.

Speaker 2: 34:48

I actually had the opposite effect when I actually stopped it for dinner this evening. I tried to go through a drive-thru Right, it was closed. I had to go inside.

Speaker 1: 34:56

Really. So I'm like that's weird. I'm like, okay, I guess we're back to normal, I guess so. So, yes, definitely seek out some help, work on yourself. That is the best thing I can give you, and I know a lot of times when I say that I mean honestly that could be the ending of every show I do, and that seems kind of tepid a little bit. But my point is that sometimes you need help and go get it.

Speaker 2: 35:25

Just do it, do it for you, do it for you, take, take after Sophie and do it for you.

Speaker 1: 35:31

Absolutely All right. Yep, alrighty folks, that is it for this episode. Before we leave yes, we have another. Oh, where'd he go? Oh, give me a second.

Speaker 2: 35:42

I know I saw him in there. He's in here. I know I have it. There it is, sir. Can I have some more? There it is oh, do you see the name?

Speaker 1: 35:49

Yes, you did. Okay, Detroit dog rescue Oliver yeah, it's a home. He's a mixed 40 pounds um born in 2019, so that would make him four or five, yeah, something somewhere around there. Um dog friendly, he's selective, so he has his favorites cat friendly, unknown. Kid friendly over 10. Okay, activity level is medium high, so I gotta see him.

Speaker 2: 36:18

I gotta see his mixed breed.

Speaker 1: 36:20

The reason I chose this picture is he's got his toy with him.

Speaker 2: 36:22

Oh, here, we go matt I can see where the mixed breed he's got. I can kind of see a little pit bull in a little bit.

Speaker 1: 36:30

Yeah, I kind of, I kind of see almost a retriever I see the retriever in his paws but his jowls, those, that's definitely people in the ears are definitely yeah, yeah yes, he's cute.

Speaker 2: 36:37

Yeah, isn't he cute? Yes, he is, here you go. Oh, I don't have a camera on me. Oh, you don't have your Holes. That's definitely pit bull. And the ears are definitely pit bull. Yeah, yes, he's cute. Yeah, isn't he cute? Yes, he is here you go. Oh, I don't have a camera on me, oh, you don't have your camera on.

Speaker 1: 36:47

Oh yeah, you can show it yeah.

Speaker 2: 36:48

There you go, there you go.

Speaker 1: 36:50

It's Oliver, oliver. Oliver needs a home. Check it out. Yes, give Oliver a home. Yes, do it. He wants to play with this little toy with you.

Speaker 2: 37:08

It's like a little fox, it's like a little, almost like a little Tigger almost yeah. Doesn't it? I, I, I may. I'm looking at a Fox.

Speaker 1: 37:25

Okay that, but it's a toy. Yeah, all righty folks. That is it for today. We will be back next monday. Uh, just as a heads up, those of you might be listening on audio somewhere, on whatever platform you're. We do facebook live whatever we record, so you can join the, you can jump in and listen to the podcast interact ask questions, be involved.

Speaker 1: 37:39

We'd love it. So check us out on Facebook Live every Monday evening at 8 to 9 pm Eastern Standard Time, and we do two shows, and we do two shows, two half-hour shows in that hour. Yep, all righty folks, be safe, change your thinking, change your life, laugh hard, run fast, be kind, we'll see you soon. Bye-bye you.