death

darnold1975

Most Dangerous Internet Challenges Part 2 

“The screen is a window through which one sees a virtual world. The challenge is to make that world look real, act real, sound real, feel real.”

-Ivan Sutherland

Now Let’s Continue…

Bird Box Challenge

The Bird Box Challenge was inspired by the movie Bird Box starring Sandra Bullock. The goal is to complete everyday tasks blindfolded. They go for as long as 24 hours with little success. This was happening so much that one of the streaming giants, Netflix, issued a statement: “Can’t believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE. We don’t know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019, and it is that you not to end up in the hospital due to memes.” And as teens always do, a 17-year-old girl had a car wreck from trying to drive blindfolded where she hit another car, a light pole and a sound barrier. And she hasn’t been the last. 

To me this one could’ve been fairly innocent as long as people didn’t get too crazy. But driving  blindfolded? There is a reason for not allowing blind people to drive. And then all of a sudden, a girl who put a beanie over her eyes says, “I can do this!” Ok dummy by yourself is one thing. But she had a passenger who was like, “Don’t worry. I’ll tell you when you get close to something.” Did her agreeing passenger fall asleep or was she thrown onto the floorboard upside down?

One chip Challenge

This is one that I’ve personally noticed being more noticeable. I can’t tell you how many of the one chip challenge videos I have watched. In the earlier blog I wrote about the Scoville Heat Units scale that is used to show how spicy an item is. The challenge required participants to eat the Paqui chip and then see how long they could go without food or water. The One Chip Challenge has a spice level between 2,200,00 to 2, 300, 000 SHU (brainy.com, 2023). The chips sold individually came wrapped in foil in a coffin shaped box at a price of $10. Poison control centers warned that the concentrated amount could cause allergic reactions, trouble breathing, irregular heartbeats, heart attacks and strokes. 

On September 1, 2023, a 10th Grader died after doing this challenge. The autopsy found that he had a heart attack which was due to the high concentrate of chili pepper extract coupled with a congenital heart defect that led to his death. As a result, the chip company collaborated with retailers to have it removed from their shelves. And the One Chip Challenge is no more. Congenital heart defect or not, I would’ve had one for sure if you threw that level of spice on me.

Tide Pod Challenge

I’m still shaking my head about this one. However, while working in the field of addiction I saw people go to extremes to get high or drunk. And, yes, there was a client so desperate to drink that she drank Tide with Bleach. One camera and one pooper later and the lining of her digestive tract was burned. But the majority of the people doing the challenge were not alcoholics. They were kids and teens.

In my younger days those who were my audience were only a handful of people. Today, kids have access to the internet which is viewed by billions of people. But equally as guilty are the media who glorify stupidity. The challenge requires the person to hold or chew a Tide Pod and then spit it out. Ingesting or inhalation of the detergent include difficulty breathing requiring intubation, seizures, excessive vomiting and death.

Nyquil Chicken Challenge

I was the kid that when it came to medicine time before bed I ran and hid. In the late seventies and early eighties most of the medications administered to children were not tailored to kids’ taste buds. And since Nyquil was first made in 1966 there has not been, in my opinion, a big push for making the medication delicious. I always imagined that I was being fed snake venom by my parents. So, this idea of Nyquil Chicken was likewise never a temptation.

“Nyquil Chicken” or “Sleepy Chicken” involves boiling, sauteing or marinating chicken in the green cough syrup. One of the things that happens with medications or substances is that when you heat it the properties change. Once these things change from a liquid to a gas it can irritate the membranes of the air way potentially damaging the lungs. When consumed, the medication is concentrated and unequally distributed. The harmful side effects when taken at a greater dosage than the recommended dose can also be deadly.

I hope you have enjoyed reading and watching the videos of some of these ridiculous internet challenges. Some of these that I’m writing about I didn’t know were even in the universe. I’m learning so much while researching this topic. And I can tell you that it’s been a “honey hole” of information. Keep reading as there is one more blog in this series of some of the most dangerous internet challenges available to all who find it fun to seek death in an effort to become the next social media phenom.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife

darnold1975

Most Dangerous Internet Challenges

“The internet is a dangerous place. If you are not careful it will consume you and rob you of your happiness.”

-Germany Kent

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today I want to talk about something that continues to make its mark while constantly evolving. Internet/Social Media Challenges can be fun and inspiring. However, there are challenges that are dangerous and even fatal. I can’t cover them all. I can, however, bring into focus several of the dangerous challenges that have circulated the internet. I cannot fit all these on one blog so this will be a series. Some of the videos I have posted are probably over exaggerated and make for some good laughs. For those who have suffered injuries and death, the humor of the videos quickly disappears.

First of all, I want us to look back at when internet challenges first began. The earliest examples that I can find begin around 2001 with the debut of the Cinnamon Challenge and the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The Cinnamon challenge was a video of someone trying to eat a spoonful of dry cinnamon in under 60 seconds which went viral. Cellulose fibers in cinnamon are considered responsible for triggering allergic hypersensitivity reactions which make for an extremely uncomfortable experience. The chemical coumarin which is found in cinnamon is moderately toxic to both the liver and kidneys if taken in large quantities. This challenge peaked on YouTube in January 2012. Twitter reported that at its peak the videos reached around 70,000 per day. 

The challenge came with dangers that were ignored by its impulsive teens which included: Lung infections, Choking, Gagging, Burning, Itching, Allergic reactions, Vomiting, Pneumonia, Inflammation and scarring of lungs, Collapsed lungs

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was not considered dangerous, mostly due to raising money for ALS research. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was seen as safe because it raised funds for ALS research. And gained notoriety on the coat tails of rising platforms  like YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. However, any type of action that is done without knowing the possible risks involved can have some damaging effects. And teens don’t weigh the consequences. They just act and hope for the best. I can honestly say that I speak from personal experience and include myself.

Planking

Planking itself is not dangerous because you are trying to mimic a piece of wood. However, when the challenge escalates to dangerous or risky behaviors such as on top of dangerous animals, or on top of a chimney can make this seemingly safe activity dangerous.

Hot Pepper Challenge

This is one of those challenges that I was never curious about trying. Capsaicinoids is a class of compounds  that make pepper taste hot. Over time a rating scale based on the amount of heat in a product are measured in Scoville units. The level of heat that’s in a bell pepper is my level of heat tolerance at an amazing 0 Scoville units. And when I want to go all rogue on the spicy side of life, I will venture into common black pepper.

 We all know people that can tolerate spicy foods. And these people leave me flabbergasted at their tolerance. I would rather have my toenails pulled off with pliers than have to eat something spicy. But there are times when we deal with the spice in order to eat the food we like, crawfish. I am the big baby at the table that will be wiping snot and complaining about the heat.

The Hot Pepper Challenge, to me, is absolutely ridiculous. Call me whatever you want. I can’t stand getting burned in any way. I am the biggest whiny ass when I get sunburned so hot peppers can “suck it” in my world. A quick internet search about the Scoville unit level that is considered dangerous is not listed. However, anything around the  1 million Scoville units can cause significant discomfort. One million Scoville units, for example, is like the Ghost Pepper. To put this into perspective, the jalapeno pepper ranges from 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville Heat Units.

In extreme “super-hot” peppers in this category have been known to cause potentially dangerous side effects like vomiting, gagging, passing out or acute stroke. Check out the videos to see how quickly a dare goes to instant regret.

I hope some of the information you’ve read helps you to understand how potentially dangerous internet challenges are. Unbelievably, it gets even more dangerous. In the next couple of blogs I will talk about the other internet challenges that are much worse on the scale of danger. Thank you for reading! Please pass along this information to friends, family and co-workers to bring awareness. Take what you can use and leave the rest. Subscribe to my blog and never miss another post.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife

 

darnold1975

Why Pretending You’re Ok Is Dangerous?

“I was tired of pretending that I was someone else just to have a good relationship with people, for the sake of having friendships.”

-Kurt Cobain

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Okie dokie! I thought today, while staying in line about mental health awareness, it would be a clever idea to explore why we pretend that we are ok when we aren’t. And what are the reasons for doing this?

When someone asks, “How are you doing?” Most of the time they just expect the typical answer, “I’m fine.” Truthfully, though, most people do not don’t give a shit about how you are really doing. And when you tell them, you are met with an instant cellular retraction. You are seen as boundaryless or too overbearing. The truth, however, is that most people don’t know how to deal with anything that’s perceived as abnormal. My opinion is, “You asked how I was doing? So, guess what? I’m going to tell you exactly how I’m doing.” I do that sometimes just to see the reaction of others. 

When I was doing my undergraduate studies, one of my beloved professors explained this very thing. And ever since, I’ve assessed those theories only to prove them right repeatedly. I am not saying this as a blanket statement. But the truth is the truth. People back away from what they don’t understand. That’s about them, not you.

It does not speak about you as a human being. We have been conditioned as human beings, as a species, to be accepted and wanted despite the personal cost. Social media is all about presenting something that the average person considers useful in some way. It does not mean that what you witness is how someone is truly feeling. The conditioning that is implied is that without millions of followers, gets labeled as unworthiness. So, we put on a happy face and try to stay in some form of societal compliance as “normal” which doesn’t have a definitive definition. But do you know what the term “normal” actually is? It’s a setting on a washing machine. The term “normal” is actually a subjective term that doesn’t have a concrete definition. It’s nothing more than someone’s interpretation and social constructs of mainstream behavior. 

When we tell people we are ok when we really aren’t, is a “hail Mary” attempt at acceptance. But when we do that, we deny our true feelings and experiences. A big turn off when dealing with people is how they tell me how I should or shouldn’t feel about a situation. What this does is minimize the person’s feelings. It’s not up to you to tell them that their feelings are “ridiculous.”  However, the damage has been done. You just sent an unspoken message to the individual who asked the question, that they are not worthy of your time. And it’s incredibly hurtful. And since they aren’t a therapist trained on how to respond appropriately and therapeutically, the damage that is potentially caused can be catastrophic. So, instead of a positive act of vulnerability, the vulnerability is now covered in shame. We can develop a fear of vulnerability based on that one experience. And we also tend to prematurely judge every person and conversation thereafter in the same light.

I can’t tell you how many times I have been told that my fears and phobias are preposterous. But the situation that caused the fear was in fact very real. And its people, who have never gone through the same precipitating factors nor situation, who seem to have all the “correct” answers. I have been told some of those very things when it took everything I had to just be vulnerable enough to tell someone what happened. It has created so many therapeutic  “pitfalls” because of the fear and shame that I was left with from the very beginning of my trauma history. So many times, I could’ve gotten help sooner, but I suffered in silence because of how unworthy I felt trying to tell the wrong person that I needed help. And sadly, there are many people who die by their own hand. Shame was the killer.

Sometimes all you need to do is just hold a “non-judgmental” space for someone to talk. You don’t have to, nor do you need to have the answers. You are NOT a therapist. You are a “sounding board” at best. However, “non-judgmental” space is usually not common unless you’re sharing space with a competent therapist who understands the powerful and most sought-after form of safety that deserves the utmost respect.

The most supportive thing you can say to someone who approaches you needing that “sacred space,”  is, “I might not know how to help you, but your feelings are valid and I will listen supportively until we can find a mental health professional to help you.” That simple statement can change the course of someone’s life. You don’t have to be smart. You just have to be a HUMAN. Thanks for reading! Keep smiling!

Affirmation: I am a work in progress, and that is okay.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife

darnold1975

What Are The Streets Saying?Kratom

“Recovery is hard. Regret is harder.”

-Brittany Burgunder

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Are you wondering what’s the big deal with Kratom? You may not even know what Kratom is. Today, I will tell you why there’s so many things in the news about upcoming legislation.

Kratom is pronounced (Cray-tom)Kratom is a tree native to Southeast Asia. The ground leaves, when consumed in low doses, acts as a stimulant. And in high doses function as a sedative and can lead to psychotic symptoms and both psychological and physical dependence. Kratom contains two major psychoactive ingredients mitragynine and 7-hydroxymytragynine. The leaves are powdered and can then be smoked, brewed with tea, gel capsules or mixed into a liquid. Or the leaves can be chewed. It can also lead to addiction. 

There have been several cases of psychosis and symptoms including hallucinations, delusion and confusion upon use. The effects on the body include nausea, itching, sweating, dry mouth, constipation, increased urination, tachycardia, vomiting, drowsiness and loss of appetite. Users have also experienced anorexia, weight loss, insomnia, hepatoxicity, seizure and hallucinations (getsmartaboutdrugs.gov, 2024).

I used Kratom for a while to help with chronic pain. And I have to admit that it helped. When I used it, I would mix a spoonful into some orange juice and drink it. The taste is extremely bitter. And overall, I just didn’t like the way that it made me feel. I never became addicted to this substance. I can understand why people can become addicted to it. All you have to do is look at the list of side effects to realize that those same type of signs and symptoms are related to opiate use. And some people believe that Kratom is, in fact, an opiate needing some type of legislation.

Kratom supporters argue that it is helpful for chronic pain and  opiate addicts. And I personally can’t deny those facts. And with it also being a plant, some people argue that it’s safe like cannabis. It is not. Kratom can actually lead to overdose death. Cannabis has yet to have a casualty. I don’t think that it’s completely horrible. I do think that it’s a substance that needs to be used with caution. And I also don’t believe that minors should be allowed to buy it legally. Kids just don’t use it in moderation and always look to just get high. And there have been deaths associated with its use.

There are several countries that have also banned the  possession and use of kratom. These countries include: 

§  Australia

§  Finland

§  Denmark

§  Japan

§  Isreal

§  Malaysia

§  Lithuania

§  Latvia

§  Myanmar

§  Russia

§  Poland 

§  Romania

§  South Korea

§  Singapore

§  Thailand

§  Vietnam

§  New Zealand (bicyclehealth.com, 2024).

As with most substances like this, the FDA does not approve of it. And unlike cannabis, there are no safety measures that have been set in place for regulation. There is no testing of the product to identify pesticides, molds or any cutting substances. Therefore, you have absolutely no idea what has been mixed in with this plant. And for this reason, I agree that that testing should be required prior to the sale. 

The DEA currently has Kratom listed as a “drug of concern.” And it will be scheduled under the Substance Abuse Act. The DEA also stated that they will seek to list Kratom as a Schedule 1 drug which has a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. And a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision (dea.gov, 2016) Currently, individual states have launched their own legislation regarding this substance.

The Six states that have already banned kratom are: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. Other states have enacted legislation about minimum age requirements like nicotine and alcohol. The safest thing to do is to read about the risks involved and make your own decision. And check current legislation in your state for its legal status. Be careful if you have a history of addiction.

If you have minor teens or children, do not let them take this substance. This should only be allowed for adults. Enjoy it while you can. Because this is another substance that will eventually be banned throughout the country. Where it might have been initially used legitimately for years, the substance has proven to be deadly on all  fronts. Thanks for reading! Take what you can and leave the rest.

Affirmation: You are stronger than your temptation.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife