Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Hurry, September

 Mail--only one incoming last week, but I caught up on outgoing mail

postcard from Teresa,
she and Ricky took a vacation from Louisiana's heat and humidity :)



Outgoing Mail

Postcard to Patty & Dave




--

Fires, floods, Covid, Climate Change, Afghanistan, Hurricane Ida.  Stress.  Sorrow.  

Air pollution is linked to mental health.  An interesting article, especially as we continue to see more and more behavior that seems bizarre, destructive, self-defeating, and frankly, just plain nuts.  Combine the effect of air pollution and all of the stresses society is currently enduring like those listed above, and the results are frightening.  I've seen these studies recently on several Neuroscience sites lately, and my previous theory that "there is something  in the water" making people lose their sense of reason is evidently wrong, but there IS something in the air:

"Recent research has shown that small increases in air pollution are linked to significant rises in depression and anxiety. It has also linked dirty air to increased suicides and indicated that growing up in polluted places increases the risk of mental disorders. Other research has found that air pollution causes a “huge” reduction in intelligence and is linked to dementia. A global review in 2019 concluded that air pollution may be damaging every organ in the human body."

Research as early as 2012 that examines the link between air pollution and mental illness.


To lighten the mood:

 Svend, wear the helmet!



13 comments:

  1. It's not just "regular" air pollution, it's smoke from wildfires and wood burning stoves.

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    1. Right--even small increases in air pollution can be dangerous, when you think about the smoke from the fires it is truly frightening.

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  2. It is quite hair-raising - especially after lockdown showed us how the air quality can change really quickly when circumstances change.

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    1. I have wondered why so many people seem to have lost their sense of reason, but the combination of air pollution and too much stress might explain it.

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  3. I honestly thought things couldn't get any worse when Trump was elected. Then I thought things couldn't get any worse when Covid hit in 2020. 2021 seems to be on record for one of the worst years yet. The fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, Afghanistan, and now the insanity of vigilantes in Texas. I'm almost looking forward to a long, rainy winter. I'm ready to hunker down and immerse myself in my books. Enough of reality.

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    1. How short a time for such a series of disasters! Such animosity. Reality has really become almost too much to deal with, hasn't it? I know I feel like an ostrich sometimes, looking for escapism wherever I can find it. Hunkering down with books is a relief!

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  4. I'm not surprised, air pollution or any kind of pollution can cause so much harm. Let's all hope that people will wake up before it's too late. As former president Barack Obama said: "We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it." Even people who don't like him should agree to that, right?

    Anyway, I love the Oklahoma card. Do you do a postcard exchange/postcrossing? I can send you one from Germany or other European countries, if you like.

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    1. I just wonder how much of the anger, violence, and aggression has do to with air pollution. The last several years of uncivil and uncourteous behavior has been appalling. Yes, even those who have in the past denied climate change must at least now believe as we face the consequences.

      I don't really do exchanges, but I love getting postcards and letters!

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    2. It might contribute but at the moment, I think most people are totally exhausted with the Covid situation and want it to end, one way or another. I prefer the scientific method because I believe it's the safer version.

      I see about the postcards. I don't participate in any of the exchanges myself but every year on postcard day I ask my friends on FB who wants a card. Then it takes me a couple of months to send them. LOL

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    3. We are exhausted and stressed and realizing that this isn't over after that brief time when we hoped the vaccines would be the beginning of the end of Covid. Of course, Covid isn't the only thing driving our mental and emotional exhaustion--the challenges seem to be on every front.

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    4. Definitely not the only one but it's contributing. And knowing there are people who don't want to get the vaccine and thereby prolonging the whole pandemic makes it even worse.

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  5. Like Les above, I'm kind of in the hunker down and avoid most people mode myself. I've reconnected via email with a couple childhood friends, both male, so it's been interesting exchanging stories and finding out about their accomplishments. Unfortunately, one reason for this is I can't attend my high school reunion (55th) in Virginia for several reasons. "Chatting" with these guys has served as an antidote for the insanity in the world.

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    1. How nice that you have reconnected with childhood friends. Since you won't be able to attend your reunion, you will at least have different first-person accounts.

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Good to hear from you!