Anna's Ruminations

Revelation

2009-05-05T19:57:00.000-07:00

When It Comes to Pain, Who’s the Weaker Sex?
By Allison Ford

My father had his hips replaced a few years ago and his most profound takeaway from the whole experience was a newfound belief that when it comes to pain, men are total wimps. When we visited him at the hospital, he told us about lying awake at night, listening to the men on the orthopedic ward moan and cry for the nurses to give them more medication. Dad said there were many women on the floor, but the ladies were silent, tolerating their pain and slogging through their physical therapy without complaint.
Whenever he tells the story to a woman, she invariably reacts with a roll of the eyes and an exasperated “Well, duh!” Any woman will tell you that females are far more tolerant of pain, despite society’s assumption that men are the tough and stoic ones. Most women have seen their husband or boyfriend cry at the smallest stubbed toe or twisted ankle, while women are the ones who deal with childbirth. Scientists, too, have long assumed that women were more tolerant of pain than men. As it turns out, several respected pain studies have shown that in fact, men are the ones who handle pain better.

Are Women the Wimps?

According to multiple studies in the U.S. and Great Britain, it takes more painful stimuli for men to report feeling pain, and when they do feel it, they tolerate the pain longer. Women are more sensitive to pain and they’re more likely to complain of chronic pain conditions such as migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis. The only women who have a measurably different response to pain are natural redheads, who have a naturally higher pain threshold.
Not only do men and women perceive pain differently, we also deal with it in different ways. Researchers found that women tend to ruminate on the negative emotional aspects of their pain, while men only think about the physical sensations. While men are more likely to deny their pain, abuse drugs and alcohol to reduce tension, or look on the bright side of things, women’s coping strategies are very different, and perhaps more effective. Women are more likely to get medical help, seek social support, distract themselves with other pleasurable activities, and practice relaxation.

The Estrogen Connection

Some scientists beg to differ with these generalized conclusions because there is a huge variance of pain tolerance among all people, not just between men and women. Many factors can influence how acutely we feel pain and scientists are beginning to explore the differences for the pain threshold discrepancies. Between men and women, the thing that seems to have the most profound impact on pain is the menstrual cycle. As anyone who’s ever gotten a bikini wax right before their period will tell you, a woman’s sensitivity to pain can fluctuate throughout the month. Right before menstruation, estrogen levels are low, causing the brain to process pain differently than when levels are high, as they are during other points in the cycle. Estrogen levels also rise significantly during pregnancy; studies show that as women approach labor and delivery, they become increasingly less sensitive to pain.

Real Men Don’t Have Pain

Many other factors influence how we respond to pain, including psychological conditions, intelligence, and emotional balance. Focusing on the physiological differences ignores the different ways that men and women are socialized to react to pain. Boys are often encouraged to deny it and its accompanying emotions, since weakness or displays of emotion are unmasculine. Researchers have found that it’s only after starting school that boys begin to report less pain and their expression of emotions becomes noticeably less than girls’. Adult male pain research subjects have reported that they feel obligated to downplay or deny their pain to preserve their masculinity. And in studies, whether a man is interviewed by a male or female researcher affects his reporting of pain. Men report less pain in front of women than they do in front of other men.
Considering the sociological differences between men and women, scientists now theorize that it’s incorrect to label all women “wimps” about pain; maybe it’s just that women are more perceptive about their pain and they report it more honestly. Women are known to describe their pain in greater detail and precision, and to better express how the pain makes them feel. It’s widely acknowledged that women are far more likely to seek medical attention for pain, but their complaints often don’t raise concern in their doctors and they’re less likely to be taken seriously or be treated effectively. In what some clinicians have dubbed “The Yentl Syndrome,” women generally have to display more prolonged or serious symptoms of pain in order to receive the same level of treatment as men.

Although the science might come down slightly on their side, it’s hard to take studies seriously that claim women can’t handle pain. My boyfriend takes the day off from work every time he has a bellyache, but I suffered through kidney stones, the worst pain I’ve ever experienced, and only agreed to go to the hospital because I couldn’t sleep. My best friend described childbirth as “not really that bad.” I knew ballerinas who would dance until their feet were bloody and battered. No matter what these scientists say, I know far too many men who cry over a stubbed toe and way too many women who put up with chronic and excruciating pain to believe that women really are the weaker sex.

http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22187/73256-comes-pain--who-s-weaker-sex-/3

Pictures On Kates Computer

2009-04-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

Teaser Trailer

2009-01-26T15:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday!

M- most 'mazin
O- of
M- moms everywhere!!!

p.s. pay attention to the title p-l-e-a-s-e; I'm not that mean :)

"Mom, I don't ever remember you using this one, and it still has stuff in it!"

2008-11-09T11:08:00.001-08:00

On Friday, I helped my mom clean her room. After everything was cleaned up, I started on her closet. I organized it enough that her closet doors could shut without struggle. I was able to dig up six purses. I threw each new purse I found onto the bed, and one by one listened to the clanging and rustling noises they made when they landed. For some reason, all of the purses were still full of stuff from who knows how long ago, so instead of finishing my moms closet, we decided to clean out her purses. One by one we dug through purses, sorting out trash (candy wrappers, gum wrappers, old receipts, un-used diapers) and toys (tractors, backhoes, dump trucks, truck drivers) and miscellaneous items (unwrapped candy, pens, sticky-pad papers), until we were almost done. Then we came to "the special purse." "Mom, I don't ever remember you using this one, and it still has stuff in it!" I was half horrified and half amused. It was so dense, that I thought it was a scripture bag. I opened it to find everything but scriptures.

So I dumped it out to see what my mom carried around seven or eight years ago...

I found all sorts of things, things like the old Extra gum packs (empty), pens, lotion, receipts, a tape (those old things that people used to use to record things), random index cards, contact cards, old old old candy, same kind of gum, lots of wrappers, and my favorites ...

Does anyone want to guess how much change my mom was carrying around in her purse? We counted all but pennies ...

A palm pilot. Yes, one of these cavemen monsters. ;) I remember how cool these used to be. My mom told me how hard she worked to get one for my dad for his birthday. She didn't take any money out of the bank account at all. She worked hard to earn the money, doing endless jobs for my Nana and Oma. The palm pilot that she got for my dad is the same one I used to play on at church. Sadly, no one carries them around anymore...

Pepper spray. I would have taken it out of the case, except it was atight leather case, and I didn't want to risk it. I've heard too many stories about pepper spray. This is the type of thing you don't really need in Utah.

I just want to say one more thing before I finish: Yes mom, this will be mentioned at your funeral.

Tagged by My Mother

2008-10-21T16:03:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard, this is a game of blog tag. I was tagged by my mom. To whom it may concern, here are the instructions to blog tag: Copy the colored words, Paste them into a new post, Fill in the blank.

I am ... excited to do my art homework.
I know ... how to make chocolate chip cookies (I have the recipe memorized!).
I want ... the term to finally be over.
I have ... a new sister, Leah.
I wish ... high school would get easier.
I hate ... when people are mean to be funny or just plain mean.
I miss ... my family in California.
I fear ... murderers, kidnappers, and spiders.
I feel ... thoughtful.
I hear ... my brother trying to beat box and happy screams from the basement. (no offence Matthew).
I smell ... butterscotch pudding.
I crave ... an ice cream sundae and short bread.
I search ... my head for answers to these.
I wonder ... what to get Abby for her birthday.
I regret ... procrastinating my work.
I love ... Leah and my family.
I care ... about blogging now.
I always ... want to hold Leah.
I am going ... to California for Christmas!
I believe ... in miracles.

Now I tag Melissa.

So Why Does Sam Think Knives Are Funny?

2008-10-19T21:25:00.001-07:00

Because we tickle him with them! (just kidding)

Sam loves knives. Don't ask me why, I don't know why. Whenever we leave the dishwasher open, knives are the first thing he grabs out of it. Also, he doesn't just grab the little butter knives, he grabs the big sharp and pointy ones. One day while I was sitting at the table doing homework I here Abby yell, "Oh No! Sam!" I looked at Sam who had found the biggest and sharpest knives in the open dishwasher. Then Sam started walking towards Abby, with the knives pointed strait at her so he can give them to her. Abby started gasping and making terrified noises while she backed away from Sam. Now what did Sam do when he saw this? He starts laughing! Abby kept backing up and gasping, and Sam thought that was pretty funny, so he started to chase her with them. As soon as we recovered from the shock, we confiscated the knives, and the dishwasher was shut and securely locked (well, as securely as you can lock a dishwasher).

Serenity is a Teal Sailboat

2008-10-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

This is a poem I wrote for my tenth grade english honors class:

Serenity is a Teal Sailboat
by: Anna

On calm waters with glistening waves,
A cyan sailboat with stillness glides.
Floating with hardly even a breath,
Peacefully it rides.

The vessel, or the catamaran,
Encompassed in well worn green trim,
Delicately layered wood in teal,
Emits a tranquil charm.

Lush green conifers’ stand tall,
Stand proud against the bright blue sky.
Silently, placidly, the sailboat passes,
With only one passenger to carry.

An artist, paints this vista,
In smeared bold strokes of a brush,
He captures an emotion with beauty,
Seals it in time like an empty hourglass.

Fish play near the surface
Brown, blending, lazy,
Seem to disappear and camouflage,
Into the deep blue water.

Water that seems to rest,
Sparkles under the sunlight,
Sunlight that shimmers,
Dances across the surface without plunging.

The sailing craft does not stray,
But seems to dally, and stay,
Just a little longer in this place,
This place of calmness.

The peace that won’t be broken,
Except for the cry of a lone eagle,
Fills us up till’ we’ve been refreshed enough,

Enough to leave and enter a new, unforgiving place.

Made You Look!

2008-10-09T20:14:00.000-07:00

I felt like writing just now, but I realized that it's 9:20 and my chance to go to sleep early!

Haha.

Don't worry mom, :) I'll post something new over the weekend. I kind-of want to start posting again, so be of good cheer!

Halloween

2007-11-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

Halloween was a blast!!!! Originally, my dad said that I was too old for trick-or-treating. This made Halloween seem very unexciting. I didn't want to sit at home all night giving candy to kids while my friends were out trick-or-treating. (All though it might be fun to see all of the cool costumes, it is not fun to sit at home all night while your friends go trick-or-treating.) Then the day before Halloween, my mom said I could go trick-or-treating if I had a really good costume. I think my mom really wanted to try out the "headless" costume she had seen on America's Funniest Home Videos. I got to wear my "headless" costume and go trick-or-treating with my friends. I also got alot of compliments like, "that's the best costume I have seen so far," and, "I don't get it." When I got home Sam was in bed, so I didn't get to see him in his costume. I had 107 pieces of candy, and other little trinkets (toothbrush not included). After having 3 peices of candy, I hid my bag in my "stash" and brushed my teeth and went to bed. It was a good day, and now I have enough candy to last for a year!

(Me: headless)

(Matthew: a baby riding a warewolfs back)

(Sam: a pirate)

(Sarah: a cowgirl, and Abby: an indian)

My Room

2007-10-28T19:20:00.000-07:00

Four weeks ago I decided I wanted to completely clean my room. The only problem was that I did not have enough time to do it. I did it anyway. I got started and pulled everything out of my closet, dresser, desk, etc. Then I started puting it in boxes. My plan was to put everything in boxes, and then I would go through all of it and put it away again. That is not exactly what happened. On the day that I decided to do this, my dad had an open house and needed me to stand by our directional signs so they wouldn't get taken away. Because of this I wasn't able to finish my room, and there was clutter all over my floor and bed. I just decided I would sleep with Sarah and Abby, and clean my room the next weekend (a week long weekend). The next weekend I got home from school with one goal; to clean my room. However, my mom and dad had different plans. Ta da!!!! Suprise trip to California! There goes my room, that's O.K., I figured I'd just finish it when I got home from California. I got to California and then remembered that I had a book report due the day after my last day of vacation, so I had to call some friends to find out what I had to do for the book report, and then work on it while I was in California. When I got home from California I still had to finish my book report. There goes my last day of break, and my room-cleaning day. That was O.K. by me, I figured I would clean it the next weekend. Now, my mom did not know that my room was so messy, because whenever she passes my room, the door is always closed and she doesn't bother to open the door and look inside (because Anna's room is always clean). Then one day I forgot to shut my door. As my mom did her daily tour of the house, she saw my room for the first time in about a month. As you can imagine, she was mortified (because Anna's room is always clean). When I got home I got my lecture and promised I would clean my room that weekend (I also had to explain where I had been sleeping for the past 3 weeks). It took the whole day to clean my room, even with my moms help! I had about 11 boxes of crap, and gave away more than half of it. My room is now very clean, and not filled with crap anymore.

Mom, this is for you.

2007-10-28T19:14:00.000-07:00

My mom wants me to post a new entry on my blog, so I am. This is for you mom! :)

Mexico!

2007-09-07T18:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I just found out that I am going on a trip to Cabo (Mexico)! I am so excited! I am going with my cousins Kate(14) Sarah (11) Emma (7) and Carrie (7), my mom and sister, and my aunts Carol, Betty, and Mary. It will be an all girls trip to an amazing house with a cool pool and a view of the ocean. I'll take a lot of pictures and post them. The only bad thing about this trip is how long I have to wiat to go on it. I leave for Mexico in January! I wish I could pack my bags now, I guess I'll just have to wait.