Embedded Files
We know this is a stressful time, we hope that our resources are able to bring some comfort in this unstable time. We are experiencing this together!
Why should we discuss our health?
Why should we discuss our health?
Learning about the body systems in their entirety has long been stigmatized because of the lack of professional ability to discuss certain topics without having patriarchal/colonial topics/conversations pieces, coming up. It's important that we understand that we all have bodies, and while we all have our differences, many of us face similar issues. Unfortunately, the greater community has made certain topics uncomfortable to talk about with medical professionals, leaving a grave whole of medical issues that have never been discussed. As medicine has continued to evolve, it has continued to leave out female bodies, black bodies, and other demographics they'd rather ignore.
Medical system (corporation side) has focused on profit rather than treatments for the past 20 years, which has left many people in a lull of being able to discuss these 'taboo' stimagtized issues. Of course we have continued to see a loss in medical access with the recent cut of medicaid and higher insurance premiums. We have to be able to come together as a community, without enabling abuse and manipulation, and discuss these medical problems that we face so medicine facilities and doctors are able to do more research and find the causes of our long-term issues.
Our parents and grandparents were very scared to discuss their medical history and conditions, due to worry that the government or jobs may use that information as a reason to discriminate against them. We want to acknowledge that this is still an issue, and can always resurface as an even bigger issue. However, we are hoping that this information sets people up to communicate effectively with their doctors, while also maintaining the knowledge that they can look into their issues on their own. Discussing medical issues publicly when you feel confident and able, is something that can help many people. Whether you are just discussing it with friends or posting about it publicly, you are calling attention to medical information you did not have prior, which guarantees there are others like you out there. Our government and billionaire overlords don't want us having access to medical information of any kind, especially easy to comprehend and example experiences that people can quickly access for helpful information on how to get the same help from their doctors, or assistive devices, etc.
Why are we Providing Health Education:
Why are we Providing Health Education:
We want to make sure that all people, at any age have access to the important pivotal things about maintaining a healthy balanaced life. It's very difficult to get education on the things we assume our parents or guardians may be teaching us. Rarely do the older-adults in our young-adult life, give us the kind of parental information we may have missed out on (sometimes we have to also look out for this behavior if it's presenting inappropriately). Not every person has parents/guardians, and not every parent/guardian has access and ability to provide this education for their children.
We know that health is a widening topic every moment. Whether to choose a variation of hollistic, modern, or convention medical practices, there is always room for growth. We know that some of the health information/product companies are not always keeping our best interest in mind; however, trusting the masses of scientific data and repetitive testing is important. Many doctors, pharmacists, and scientists, would agree that hollistic and modern medicine both have something to learn from one another. The reasons that some hollistic measures work, is because of its molecular compounds and pharmacology.
When trying to formulate safe and confident medical decisions for yourself, you need to have all the information. Understanding, that having a basic wide-spread knowlegde of situations, allows us to prepare mentally, physically, and emotionally, before facing the situation. It also doesn't hurt to know that what you feel is valid, and may be something you are not alone in facing. Finding resources can be difficult in the realm of any an all medical questions. We try to provide you with the least-discussed aspects of health that impact each of us at a higher rate. Destigmatize the medical issues we face as a part of our human condition, allows a bit of freedom and recognition to anyone who may be facing or knows someone who is facing a similar issue. Mental Health, Sexual Health, and Drug Health, are huge factors to our health as we grow up; yet, they are also the least discussed and recognized among regular society. Increasing our awareness and willingness to communicate about these topics, allows for people to believe they are not alone. Seeing someone else face a really difficult thing/difference and survive, can typically make others feel better about their differences. (Like when you would see someone get a vaccine before you did, as a child; it made you feel better about the outcomes.)
Health in its bigger context, is a privilege that many of us take for granted. This doesn't mean that if you're healthy your life is easy and great, it simply means that you take on life without having to worry about your inability to do certain things. For people who are chronically-ill or differently abled than a typical healthy individual, these parameters of social interaction change due to the lack of accommodable social spaces. There is a lot to learn about aging, but something we learn even as children is that our bodies are constantly changing. (You may break your arm, and it may heal perfectly; for someone else is may not. These things differences between us as a beautiful reflection of our genes and environmental influence.)
It's important for us to remember that the label disabled is important but also holds some distain from the differently abled/disabled community. The label of 'disability' in its social context is a medically and government associated system of necessity for help or accommodation. Without said label, establishments and police do not have to accommodate your differences. The label in its reality suggests that people do not have the ability to do something, whereas many people believe that they are still able- just differently that the typical person. Differences are often overlooked or unseen in the public eye, especially in relation to learning differences (dyslexia, ADHD, Autism, etc. ). Learning Differences don't diminish your ability to be smart, but change the ways in which you learn.
Medical Care is NOT free in the United States, and we use an insurance system. Due to the insurance system, prices for medical care have risen to amounts that are unreasonable, and receiving care as a person without insurance may not seem available or reasonable. Many people don't go to the hospital because of this reason, but please remember that medical bills cannot effect your credit score, and they can not make you pay the bills. For younger individuals, and those under 18, you can typically receive state health care for free or lost cost health insurance. Due to the lack of access to medical insurance information and other issues with health-related care, we developed a research-guided page for users to find some answers.
All of us are human, and that makes us unique and awesome in our own abilities. If you lost the ability to move your hand right now, how would you have to compensate? Not everyone has someone by their side in all phases of life. (Community Organizing being a key to supporting each other.) Sometimes mentally putting yourself in other people's shoes can allow you to have a better understanding, but it doesn't mean we can understand the Social Discrimination that may come along with a range of undetectable/ detectable health issues in our modern society.
A necessary part of each person's transitions in life is beginning to understand your sexual desires or sexual identity. Sexual health is a large piece of our always changing and maturing bodies. It's important for us to keep ourselves and others informed so we can all make safe informed decisions about our bodies. When it comes to sexual health, there are a lot of ways that we can make sure we are being safe and healthy with our sexual actions. There are a lot of sexual acts that don't even include sharing of fluids so that you are not at risk of spreading STD/STIs. We believe that in order to know when others are being inappropriate around the topic or act of sex, we must konw how others should treat us when engaging in these acts. The number one way to silence those affected by molestation, rape, abuse, etc., is to remove their ability to know what is happening to them. Talking to young children about how our bodies work, and the boundaries we have for them, will increase the awareness these youth will have going forward. Knowing how to respect genitalia and bodies of those around us in crucial in our maturing process and sexual health.
It's a large misconception that we shouldn't know about how our bodies work and what's important about them. There are lots of things to check on as we get older and go through puberty, so it's important that we discuss the genitalia you have as well as others. One day not only may you encounter another person's genitals, but you would want to know how to respect them and get consent for actions involving any genitalia of yourself and others. We make it a priority to discuss these private parts of the human condition with care and respect, because of the lack of respect often given to both typical female and male genitalia. Also important to keep in mind that there are no people who should touch your private parts or genitalia without your consent or need for medical emergency.
As we grow up we encounter new people and experiences, so even if our mental health is in a good state, being aware of how to help, and also how stand back when it comes to the mental health issues of those around you is crucial. We could all stand to be kinder and more caring to one another; but understanding someone may have trouble putting together their thoughts into words, or that the way they are communicating may be(/not be) expressing how they really feel. You can't predict the way that people are going to engage with you, because you can't predict what they are going through in that current moment. You should always take time to assess the situation and think about what social systems, and life differences may have impacted this person you are engaging with. If you are worried about your, or someone else's mental health please check out our Suicide Harm Prevention Guide. We also put together an Emotions and Feelings Guide so that if you are having trouble with the way that your emotions are presenting themselves, you can check it out for a little bit more information.
It's likely that at some point in life, everyone will have at least seen one of these drugs. Especially when discussing Alcohol, Marijuana, and some street and commercial drugs. This education is important so you know what to look out for, and also hear from people with direct experience from using these drugs during difference periods of life. It's important also to note that drug dealers and obtaining drugs is often one of the most dangerous parts of participating in illegal substances. So making sure you know the people you buy from, and trust their sources, is a huge hurdle to move past. Lastly, making sure that even if you didn't participate, or don't plan on it, that you know what to do in the event of a friend or person around you has an adverse drug reaction.
Also some drugs like Alcohol, Marijuana, and Psilocybin are legal or decriminalized in some areas and it the information should be available and accessible so that everyone can learn about these substances before ingesting them.
Youth will always find a way to get involved in the things they shouldn't, and even if they don't they can still encounter drugs with friends or peers. Making sure any and all drug users or peers can access this information is necessary.
Consent in All Spaces is a mechanism we can use to focus on how we would want to be treated in any given situation. We know that being forced to do anything is uncomfortable, and when it comes to sexual encounters there is a high tendency for people to abuse their position in the exchange of pleasure. This is not only a crime, but a tendency high enough that 1 in 4 people Assigned Female At Birth, or represent femininity, are sexually abused before the age of 18. This is not to take away from the ways that males are alos victims of sexual asssault.
Talking about consent is important and there are plently of ways to make is a sexy experience. We should always discuss our sexual preferences in terms of sexual acts, before we engage in sexual acts with someone new. It's important to discuss STD/STI status and make sure that this is a person you are comfortable with. Continuous consent is also important, and if you aren't feeling a situaiton don't feel compelled to continue. Make sure to have good communication with the people you are engaging with, this can be even in non-sexual spaces. Consent can revolve around many different areas in life such as, medical procedures, touching (hugging/kissing), discussion of personal information or triggering information, etc.
Do you know how your body works?
Do you look at your body frequently? Is there anything that you feel that seems new?
Do you know if you have checked your skin recently for any irregularities?
Does anything seem different than it was in the past?
Brushing our Teeth Regularly
When it comes to brushing our teeth and keeping our dental hygiene good, know that you can start at any time! Many people struggle with good consistent dental hygiene, and many don’t have access to reasonably priced dental care.
Brushing our teeth, two times a day is the recommendation, but doing it as often as you remember (more or less) is the best practice when you struggle with a dental cleaning routine.
Flossing our teeth and using other tools than just our toothbrushes, to clean our teeth.
Washing our Bodies
Do you wash all the parts of your body regularly?
We know sometimes bathing ourselves can seem hard to do, especially when we have trouble with our mental health; however, it can also be relaxing and regulating for the body.
Do you know about the microbiome your body has, and how to keep it healthy?
We should not use anti-bacterial soaps to wash our bodies regularly; it can cause serious damage to our microbiome and cause other infections of the skin and body.
Discussing our Health with Others
Discussing our health with others, consensually and with consciousness for our health’s impact on one another during the viral season.
Checking for Breast Lumps
If you are concerned about any of the abnormalities you find you should reach out to your doctor, or make an appointment to a Planned Parenthood for a Breast Exam.
Food Consciousness
How can we be better about fueling our bodies with food and clean water, if we have access?
Are we using the proper food protocols when storing and cooking foods we plan to eat and/or share with others?
Are we protecting ourselves and others from pathogens when cooking and handling our foods?
How can we provide meals and clean water to those in our community that are struggling with access to them?
Hydration/ Electrolytes
When you drink liquids are you getting enough water into your body?
Are you making sure that when you are drinking liquids including water, that you take into account how they affect your body’s electrolyte system? Are you getting enough salt in your diet to match your water intake?
Microbes are tiny living things that are found all around us. Also known as microorganisms, they are too small to be seen by the naked eye. They live in water, soil, and in the air. The human body is home to millions of these microbes too.
Some microbes make us ill, others are important for our health. The most common types are bacteria, viruses and fungi. There are also microbes called protozoa. These are tiny living things that are responsible for diseases such as toxoplasmosis and malaria.
"The microbiome is the collection of all microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their genes, that naturally live on our bodies and inside us. Although microbes are so small that they require a microscope to see them, they contribute in big ways to human health and wellness. They protect us against pathogens, help our immune system develop, and enable us to digest food to produce energy.
Because the microbiome is a key interface between the body and the environment, these microbes can affect health in many ways and can even affect how we respond to certain environmental substances. Some microbes alter environmental substances in ways that make them more toxic, while others act as a buffer and make environmental substances less harmful."
(Click the link below to find the most accessible option for you)
(Click the link below to find the most accessible option for you)
There are lots of ways to boost self-love, confidence, and self-esteem. Affirmations have been helpful by increasing the patience, confidence, and coping skills of individuals who practice them. Meditation is linked to better heart conditions and less anxiety & stress. These actions of consciousness exercises allow many individuals to have more concrete skills of calming oneself, and lessened anxiety and stress. It's something you can start at any age, and get used to over time while building coping/calming skills.
Planned Parenthood Sexual Health Glossary (From Different Health Conditions to Activism Information)
Planned Parenthood Sexual Health Glossary (From Different Health Conditions to Activism Information)
Excessive Interest in Children: Perpetrators may display an unusually high level of interest in children, seeking out opportunities to be alone with them or engage in activities involving children.
Inappropriate Boundaries: Watch for individuals who consistently violate personal boundaries with children, such as invading their personal space or engaging in inappropriate touching.
Grooming Behaviors: Perpetrators often employ grooming tactics to build trust with both the child and their caregivers. This can include giving excessive gifts, providing special attention, or exploiting vulnerabilities.
Secretive Behavior: Be cautious of individuals who are excessively secretive about their interactions with children, avoiding open communication or transparency with parents or guardians.
Frequent Isolation with a Child: If someone consistently isolates a child from their peers or family, it may be a cause for concern. Perpetrators often exploit isolation to engage in abusive behavior without detection.
Manipulative Techniques: Look out for individuals who use manipulation to coerce or control a child. This can involve emotional manipulation, convincing the child to keep secrets, or using intimidation tactics.
Inappropriate Sexualized Behavior: Keep an eye on any adult displaying inappropriate sexual behavior or making sexually suggestive comments around children.
Excessive Interest in Child Pornography: Individuals with a predilection for child sexual abuse may exhibit an abnormal interest in child pornography. This is a red flag that demands immediate attention.
Changes in a Child's Behavior: Pay attention to sudden changes in a child's behavior, such as withdrawal, aggression, fearfulness, or regression in developmental milestones. These changes may be indicative of abuse.
Unwillingness to Let the Child Set Boundaries: A potential perpetrator may disregard a child's discomfort or reluctance to engage in certain activities, insisting on their own desires instead.
Other pages like this:
Other pages like this:
There is always more research being done!
There is always more research being done!
If you would like to help us write about commonly silenced areas or personal experiences you may have with these topics, contact us at thisisactivism2023@gmail.com or fill out our Comments page. We want our website to be a continuous growth of knowledge to share with each other in a positive way. There are so many things we don't talk about and we should!
There is always more research being done!
There is always more research being done!
If you would like to help us write about commonly silenced areas or personal experiences you may have with these topics, contact us at thisisactivism2023@gmail.com or fill out our Comments page. We want our website to be a continuous growth of knowledge to share with each other in a positive way. There are so many things we don't talk about and we should!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse