How does being “plugged in” effect well being and brain functioning?  This question was first posed as televisions began sprouting in family living rooms across the US.  Next, desk top computers and the world wide web raised alarm as more and more people were being drawn to the computer screen. As desktop computers become more of a relic, personal laptops and cell phones serve as connectivity vectors, always at reach in  ones hand bag or pocket.  “Plugging in” is not exactly optional anymore – it is mandatory for many.  We are plugged in all the time- as blackberries and Iphones constantly buzz with new alerts.  Ironically, we are faced with the same questions that was asked 50 years ago about the television – how much is too much and what are the societal and individual implications?

While it is impossible to deny the extensive benfits of increasing accessibility to the world wide web, we should also consider some of the drawbacks.  As social networking, business, and day to day life merge on lcd screens in peoples hands, the implications on brain functioning and emotional well-being aren’t clear.  As parents, educators, and role models it is our responsibility to question the direction of the technological revolution.

What is the effect of the growing incidents of texting, gaming, social networking in children and teens?  What does living with this sense of convenience and urgency do to levels of anxiety and depression?   What are the psychological benefits and reprucussions from being “plugged in?”  Does it benefit people to “unplug?” This effects of being plugged in on psychological development and health warrants objective research.

An article titled “Outdoors and out of reach, studying the brain,” was published on August 15, 2010 in the New York Times.  The article is interesting because it challenges brain scientists to unplug for a week of rafting in the wilds of Utah.  They do not conduct any empiracal studies, however, many good questions arise regarding people’s increased connectivity and challenges some of the scientists biases as well.  It seemed that each of them found nature to be healing and revitalizing.

This topic is of particular interest to me as I have a special affinity for unplugging.  While I cannot empirically prove how it improves my well being or psychological health, I can observe my own emotional and mental state.  I have increasingly become more plugged in over the past year, owning my first blackberry now for a little over one year.  This is the longest I have been plugged in, as cell service in Hawaii extends to almost every shoreline.  I have twice hiked to a remote valley called Waimanu where the long fingers of cell service still cannot reach.  I also took three days to do a vision quest that allowed me to unplug.  It has been a fascinating transition to being plugged in, similar to how they describe a frog reacts to water that starts as cold and is slowly brought to a boil.  The frog doesn’t feel the water getting hot and thus won’t jump out of the water.  I haven’t noticed that being plugged in has affected me, yet I haven’t really unplugged to gain contrast. I used to unplug nearly every weekend for climbing expeditions in the cascade mountains.  Even then, unplugging was turning off my cellular phone that looked like a fossil – even in that day.

As I prepare for a trip to the cascade mountains at the end of the month I look forward to unplugging for 5 days.  I will take my journal and track how each day unfolds.

The question of unplugging extends to the adolescents of Pacific Quest.  What is their experience of unplugging?  How does it benefit them to not have access to computers and cell phones?  What are the effects of having to dig ones hands into the soil or play in the ocean versus type a text message on a keypad? With the outcomes that we are seeing from our students, I would speculate that the benefits are extraordinary.

The article is about Vivian Seltzer‘s developmental theory of adolescence and the role of what she calls the peer arena.  Seltzer has researched adolescent behavior extensively and has recently published Peer-impact diagnosis and therapy: A handbook for successful Practice with Adolescents.  The article explores Seltzer’s theory of Dynamic Functional Interaction (DFI).  While this theory has overlap with previous theorists, central to her perspective is the role of comparison within the peer arena.  Psychological growth comes from ones relationship to the peers, and questioning how one fits in with the group.  The article quotes her saying “[the growth process] takes lots of inventory.”

Seltzer’s perspective on adolescence seems to draw on the experience of the adolescent.  The theory posits importance on the adolescent’s world – on the daily intersubjective experiences that lend psychological growth.  Seltzers theory is valuable, as it draws on a dynamic medium – or as Seltzer points out – the Dynamic Functional Interaction.

I encourage readers to check out this theory and see how it fits for them.

Viktor Frankl (1905-1997) has influenced the lives of many through his famous book Man’s Search for Meaning. The book begins with Frankl’s first hand account of surviving several holocaust concentration camps.  Frankl’s “logotherapy,” stems from his experience, emphasizing that a person’s ultimate freedom does not lie within others hands or situations at large, but within the individual him/her self.  The ultimate choice is one of attitude. On page 104 Frankl says “Everything can be taken from a man but…the last of the human freedoms- to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” (Frankl, 104)

Frankl’s work has important implications for psychotherapy.  I utilize the book with many of the students I work with.  Students are often struck by the sheer power in Frankl’s story. Many are inspired by his existential approach and contemplate their individual ability to stand into life’s challenges.  Frankl says  “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” I like quote because it highlights that one should first try to change ones “situation.”  This could be as simple as changing ones diet or exercise routine.  For others, their situation is such that it cannot be changed.  Imagine the individual who suffers from paralysis (as Frankl discusses in the interview).  This individual can only change himself.

The road was windy. She knew where she wanted to be, but wasn’t sure how to get there. She was afraid of getting lost or missing something. She didn’t always see the beauty around, as she was often focusing on something else.

The first paragraph is about me. I was on my way to Carlbrook School to tour the grounds and say hello to a past student that was getting ready to graduate. I had flown from Hawaii to the East Coast and was turned around either due to the extreme jet lag I was experiencing after a red-eye or the confusing back country roads.

The second paragraph is about Allie. She was graduating from Carlbrook, and windy road was a great metaphor for a young woman who started the journey confused and insecure. She didn’t always see the beauty in herself, but if she only looked up, slowed down and focused, she would be sure to see what everyone else saw in her.

Luckily, we both got to our destination.

The next morning I found myself on the same road, only more familiar with the terrain and confident as to where I was headed. Though I was well rested, it was only because I was so exhausted that I didn’t hear my alarm and got to sleep in. Arriving late to the graduation, I felt guilty and embarrassed, and slipped into the crowd. thankful the sun was not yet blazing down. I looked around at the intimate group and was impressed by the love and care I could feel from everyone—the parents, the teachers, the headmaster, the other students, the advisers/therapists.

Though love was present, it was the feeling of gratitude was overpowering. Each and every one of the 23 graduates expressed thanks to their parents for giving them the opportunity to come to Carlbrook. All 23 of them! How I wished I could have told Allie  that she would be thanking her parents for this. Had I told her that during her first weeks in wilderness (or her last, for that matter) she would have thought I was crazy.

I had gratitude as well. Gratitude that Allie had invited me to her graduation. Gratitude that I got to witness amazing young men and women start a new chapter in their life. Gratitude that I got to see Allie come full circle.

You see, I get the pleasure of working with students when they first start this windy road of a process. I rarely get to see the end of the process. Rather, I stand with the student and the parents at the start of the daunting journey—a road so long there is no end in sight, so many highs and lows it disappears from view, so curvy one is guaranteed to get sick along the way. I only wish I could wrap up what I saw at Carlbrook, the gratitude, the pride in both parents and in the students themselves, and the love, and show parents the end of the road.

This was written with consent from Allie herself who is excited to head to college and start shopping to decorate her dorm.

The study was conducted by Maryse F. Bouchard, a researcher at the University of Montreal in Quebec.  According to media source MSNBC, this was the largest study to date that has looked at the effect of pesticides on child development and behavior.  Her research shows that the organophosphate pesticides (comprising 70% of pesticides used in food production) have adverse effects on the nervous system specifically.

This type of information is valuable for parents and children alike.  Organic food production and consumption is the best means to ensure ones safety from dangerous pesticides and chemicals.  Go organic farmers!

Robin Fox, an anthropologist who teaches at Rutgers University in New Jersey, shares about the mysterious way that family dinner engraves our souls. “A meal is about civilizing children. It’s about teaching them to be a member of their culture.” Read more in Time Magazine

Therapy has its place in therapeutic environments.  Therapy becomes too much when it is unbalanced, invading play time and meal time.  Field staff can serve as role models and reinforce positive light conversation during meal time to optimize digestion and socialization for students.

Wellness class in the Ohana camp touched upon nutrition, diet and the mind-body connection. We discussed healthy, organic, sustainable food choices as well as the food industry as a whole. Also discussed were the manifestations of stress on the body, sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, the role of stress and stress management techniques. We ended the class with chi gong and deep breathing exercises as well.

The assignments given to each student was

1. write down 3 major stressors in their life, 3 physical, emotional or mental manifestations of their stress and at least 2 ways to relieve stress when they perceive it.

2. Create a recipe for the PQ cookbook including how to prepare with specific healthy ingredients

Work days are perfect opportunities for people to help conserve one of the last remaining native rainforests in the Kilauea summit region outside of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. As Tunison explains, “The goal of forest restoration is to perpetuate a diverse, largely self-sustaining native rainforest community that provides opportunities for education, a model of stewardship for the community, and inspiration for artists.”
We were greeted by out guide and some other local volunteers. We were told that we were looking to rid or should i say help rid the forest of an invasive type of Ginger plant. Right away we knew we were perfect for the job when handed tools that are very familiar to us (hand picks and bags for weeds!)

Before we started on the extracting of ginger we were given an educational tour around the forest. The students were able to pick up a few new pieces of information and a chance to show off what they already know. After our tour we got right down to business. WOW did we get a whole lot of ginger! I am hoping this is the start of a new relationship with the Niaulani Forest so we can continue to help restore this beautiful forest.

We finished up by filling our bags as much as possible, saying our thanks and hopes to come back, then jumping into the car to head to Punalu’u Black Sands Beach for some lunch and relaxed fun.

At Pacific Quest the students choose to go on a 3 night, 2 day Rites of Passage/solo fashioned about the model of a Vision Quest .  They prepare by reading books that focus on the solo experience, do assignments that focus on severance and beginning a new story in their life, and create an intent that focuses on the gifts they are claiming for themselves.  Though all the preparation work is crucial, the actual experience the students have out there on their own, no one can prepare them for because it is sometimes the most powerful experience the teen has ever had.  I have been humbled and impressed by the words and thoughts that come from this experience when the students return to share their story.

Below is an excerpt from a student’s journal at the end of her solo. When I heard  it, it brought tears to my eyes, and I feel lucky she is letting me share it with all of you.

“My solo is drawing to a close. The earth has completed another rotation. The sun begins to set in the sky. Upon waking in the morning, I’ll pack up and head to base. I’ll walk back through the threshold. I’ll eat peanut butter and jelly and begin the process of incorporation. I can’t say I’m not relieved. I’m hungry and bored and lonely. But what I’ve experienced here, I wouldn’t trade for anything. I will return to the world a different person, a woman who has come into her intent, a woman with a renewed passion for life and love for herself. I will look in the mirror and I will not cringe. I will smile at the sight of this girl who is caring, intelligent, affectionate, creative, adventurous, and wise. A young woman who has been through so much and yet so little. So tomorrow, as I watch the sun go up and prepare to pack up my stuff, I will know that this is not an end but a beginning. The beginning of the rest of my life.”

–Pacific Quest Student

PQ field staff Billy Barnett made headlines in Hawaii recently for winning the 13th annual Big Island International Marathon.  Check out the article for details- it captures Billy’s humble nature and good spirit.

Billy dedicates every other week of his life to the students at PQ.  As a field staff, he is responsible for the students safety and therapy, as well as teaching them the hard/soft skills they need throughout the program and life.  Billy has a passion for working with adolescents and it shows.

Billy has inspired students in the past to take care of their health and use exercise as a means of releasing tension and maintain well being.  Students engage in daily exercise at PQ as a means of addressing holistic health.  Billy models healthy living in the day to day.  In fact, the day he won the marathon he was on a short break from PQ for the day.  Great determination and modeling!  Nice work Billy!