Sharing Your Scars, Voter Turnout and VA Support

🫶 Welcome to Field Report, a brief, digestible, consumable examination of what’s happening in psych culture from Reel Therapy.

This study found that 39% of youths hide or avoid showing visible scars, birthmarks, or skin conditions online, while 61% shared them openly. The group that shared openly felt comfortable in how they looked and in their bodies. They did not worry as much about being judged. There were more girls in the study, but there were no major age or gender differences in the results. One conclusion is that social media may help some people with visible skin conditions feel represented in some way and reduce their feelings of stigmatization.

SHOWING SCARS IS POPULAR ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SEE BELOW👇

Apparently, the phrase “Just Relax” escalates arguments in relationships. Dr. Deborah Vinall and Dr. Sanam Hafeez say this phrase can feel emotionally invalidating and lack empathy. It is a trigger phrase that can quickly escalate an argument. Instructing someone who is upset to calm down can feel condescending and controlling, so next time, instead of saying “Relax,” try saying, “Tell me more. Take your time. I am listening.”

SEE THE “I AM CALM” SCENE FROM ANGER MANAGEMENT👇

When people think about their future, they may consider broader social issues that influence whether they vote. Parents and homeowners (older adults who worry about property taxes, schools, etc.) tend to think more about social issues and are more likely to vote. This is one of the first studies to show a connection among a person’s age, personal thinking about social issues, and voting. The researchers believe that people's belief in their future is linked to society's future, and that by better understanding this connection, we can encourage higher voter turnout.

WATCH MATTHEW BRODERICK RECRUIT THE POPULAR KID FOR STUDENT COUNCIL IN THIS SCENE FROM ELECTION👇

In looking at over 800,000 veterans, the study found that LGBT veterans are more likely to die by suicide or drug overdose than non-LGBT veterans. The highest risk age group is 40-69 years old. The research also found that the stress that LGBT veterans feel does not stem as much from their identity as it does from the stigmatization and discrimination they face due to their identity. This study reinforces the theory that all people need safe relationships to feel mentally and physically healthy. Many LGBT veterans lack safe relationships due to the “Don't Ask Don't Tell” culture and must hide who they are for safety. The researchers recommend expanding VA support programs and whole-person care approaches, which is a holistic healthcare approach that treats the individual as a whole system rather than a collection of separate symptoms - with more attention in future research being paid to LGBT veterans of color.

THE INSPECTION (2022) is a film about a young, gay Black man with few options for his future who decides to join the Marines, willing to do whatever it takes to prove himself to his estranged mother and triumph in a system that would otherwise cast him aside.

TRAILER BELOW FROM A24 STUDIOS 👇