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When Nostalgia Is Good and When It's Bad

8/5/2021

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We all go through our childhood filled with memories. Some good, some bad, but many tend to hold on to the positive ones until adulthood. We all have a sentimental yearning for our earlier years, as it's often a period of simplicity and happy moments. But nostalgia and the rosy lenses it puts on us is a double-edged sword- it's both a good thing and a bad thing.
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When Nostalgia Is a Good Thing

You feel more connected
When we look back on good old times, we remember the people we spent time with and the bonds we have made with them. This feeling of camaraderie strengthens as we remember the past, making us feel more connected to the communities we are a part of. Reminiscing with friends is often a good way to bond, and it's one way for friends to solve conflicts too.

​​You can get motivated to deal with the present
When times get tough, we sometimes go on the brink of giving up. But what reels us back are thoughts of our past hardships and how far we have come. A good example is looking at Facebook Memories and old pictures and creating positive thoughts when comparing then and now. This is why we feel the need to document monumental events in our lives. 
Parents even go as far as hiring professional photographers and photo-editing services for baby photos. It's such a nice feeling when we see leaps of our improvement through photos, scrapbooks, and memories.

​You'll have a stronger sense of identity
Self-reflection is a great activity everyone should practice because it allows us to understand ourselves and, in turn, work on self-improvement. Looking back and seeing our progress simply solidifies the progress that has been made. We may remember the past as being rosy and cheerful, but the truth is, we were also going through difficult times then. And we persisted through them because we are strong- with the strength that's baked in our identity.
​Let's face it: looking back at the past negatively only breeds further negativity. Admitting the bad that has happened is necessary, but it's also important to recognize the good, especially in our personal life. Here are more reasons sometimes nostalgia is a good thing.

When Nostalgia Is a Bad Thing

​Although nostalgia can be a good way to strengthen our sense of self, it can be bad for us if we end up stuck in the past. When we use our memories to escape the present and romanticize our past, it could signify other underlying problems.
Depression
Using our memories to further exacerbate our current negative feelings can lead to us falling deeper into a pit. This is when looking back is bad: it brings up the feelings of guilt, helplessness, and other negative emotions. Looking back on past instances to "confirm" feelings of guilt or self-hatred may be a sign that you need professional help.

Rumination
Rumination means deeply thinking about something. While this in itself is not a bad thing, it can lead to feelings of distress when you unhealthily fixate on a scenario. In the case of nostalgia, we often obsess about that one good thing that has happened to us in the past- believing that nothing can come close to it. When your source nostalgia enters this level of regret and obsession, that's when rumination can become destructive.
​Anxiety
Although nostalgia can help motivate us to get back on our feet, it can also lead to anxiety if we illogically fear what has not even happened yet. This is called anticipatory nostalgia, and it involves imagining a future where we would have lost something that has not even happened in the present. As an example, people who experience this type of anxiety fear that they will fail a test in the future, so they will not take the test now (or not take it seriously).

Love and romance addiction
A breakup can be devastating, and when a person winds up thinking about past relationships obsessively, it can damage their self-esteem and weaken their ability to cope. Nostalgia can make even negative experiences look positive, something that those thinking about their past relationships are prone to do.
​Everyone likes to look back every now and then. It's nice to think fondly of what was and what will be, and it can even be a great way to bond with others or get to know ourselves deeper. But as with anything, too much nostalgia is not good. A healthy dose of nostalgia mixed with a good sense for the present is always the best position to take.

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Cutting Edge: The Benefits of Robotics and Technology in Healthcare

8/3/2021

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Medicine has always relied on advancements in science and technology to provide better treatment for patients. Researchers have noted a steady rate regarding applications for new drugs, especially for biological illnesses and cancer, over the last 20 years. Aside from progress in medical knowledge and drugs, there have also been great advances in prosthetics and healthcare technology.

Scientists have developed new ways to detect anomalies, check on the well-being of patients and administer medical procedures. Science and technology have always been intertwined with great healthcare and the industry is now incorporating another facet: robotics.

Here are just a few ways medicine has made use of advanced machinery and technology.

1. Sensory Prosthetics
According to some statistics, there are almost 2 million Americans who are living with a loss of limb in the country, although the actual number may be higher. Modern technology has advanced enough that they can interact with the world around them easily thanks to prosthetic devices. However, not all prosthetics are for lost limbs. Some are for replacing or augmenting sensory organs such as eyes.

Sensory prosthetics are some of the most valuable applications for robotic vision outside of manufacturing facilities. This technology allows people with impaired vision to see the world and, in some cases, let people with lost limbs feel tactile sensations again.

Computer systems and similar technologies have also enhanced the precision of these prostheses, offering better control to amputees and similarly disabled adults.

2. Advanced Sensors
Half the battle, when it comes to fighting diseases, is won with better diagnostics. If the signs and symptoms of a disease are noticed immediately, doctors will have an easier time providing adequate treatment and saving the lives of patients. Modern sensors have advanced well beyond the first X-rays to include such machines as magnetic resonance imagery and radiography.
Now, medical technology includes such sensory machinery as micro-endoscopy robots. Endoscopy usually involves inserting a small camera on a wire into a natural opening to detect problems. However, micro-endoscopy robots are just tiny cameras in capsule that a patient can swallow, removing some discomfort. These new cameras are also more powerful than older models, providing better imaging and higher resolution for analysis.

Other forms of advanced sensors that could theoretically be developed could use nanotechnology to provide readouts at a cellular or even subcellular level.

3. Artificial Organs
Organ damage is sadly a very real consequence of several diseases as well as the result of catastrophic injuries. Although some organ damage can be repairable after considerable surgery or rehabilitation, those who survive still risk the effects of compromised systems.

Medical scientists have now begun to work on groundbreaking technology to create artificial organs. People have grown skin cells to help bur victims regenerate their own, but the possibilities being explored can go further than that. There have been cases of scientist creating artificial blood vessels as well as a fully functional artificial pancreas. In the future, new technology can ease the burden on organ transplants.

4. Telehealth Services
The lockdowns and social isolation protocols necessitated by the pandemic has highlighted the importance of establishing long-distance methods for providing patients with adequate healthcare. Such advances allow medical professionals to cater to the needs of their patients without inundated already crowded hospitals or exposing people needlessly to contagion.

Teleconferencing software such as Skype and Zoom have proven invaluable in diagnosing and advising people at home. However, new technology has taken things one step forward. Surrogate healthcare providers are machines that resemble tablets with mobility aids. These robots let medical professionals assess patients who may not have their own laptops or similar devices.

5. Clinical Training Devices
Healthcare is only as good as healthcare providers, meaning that it requires excellent training for its practitioners. Although gone are the days when medical schools needed to result to grave-robbing for anatomical training, there is still a grave need for better training devices. Robotics and technology have the means to offer such advanced training.

Surgeons today still mostly practice on cadavers or have to hone their skills on the job. Advanced clinical training devices can simulate all the intricacies of the human body. Life-sized robots with fake organs can simulate realistic bodily reactions to provide surgeons with additional training without needing a lot of fresh bodies.
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Medicine is always looking for advances, incorporating various branches of science and technology to get the job done. Robotics is simply one more facet of science that healthcare professionals and researchers are exploring to provide patients with the best care possible. Who knows what sort of treatments and diagnostic procedures can be available in the future, thanks to the tireless work of scientists?
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