The Chemistry of Mental Illness- A Medical Crises of Teens and Young Adults

I was watching PBS news the other day, There was a segment on the current crises of mental illness of teenagers and young adults. Today, it is high time to talk about it. During my teenage years in the Philippines, the subject of mental illness is a taboo subject during family conversations or gathering. A family associated with mental illness is not socially acceptable and a subject of gossips in the community. Today, the attitude has improved, but not as widely discussed as high blood pressure, diabetes, or dermatitis. Mental Illness is a disease that can be treated and should be talked about. Just the other day, I learned that after July 15, a new 3-digit (988) crises line will be available nationally for suicide prevention besides the old 911 for emergency needs. 

Here's a brief and simple summary of the basic chemistry involved when a person is mentally ill. The detail source is listed at the bottom of this page  

" The brain itself depends on chemicals known as neurotransmitters to function properly. In brain chemistry, when there is too much or too little of one or more chemicals on a prolonged basis, this can affect a person’s mental health.

Happiness, sadness, excitement, euphoria, and even fear are emotions that are triggered and maintained by chemicals in the brain known as neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the brain’s way of communicating with the body’s nerve cells. When there isn’t enough or there is too much of one kind of neurotransmitter present, it can lead to what are called ‘bad nerves’.

The chief neurotransmitters produced by the brain are:

Dopamine

• Dopamine is the chemical in the brain that is associated with the pleasure and reward centers of the brain. High amounts of dopamine lead to feelings of pleasure or euphoria.

Serotonin

• Serotonin is the chemical associated with rest and sleep. However, it’s also associated with your moods, sexual arousal and even hunger.

Glutamate

• Glutamate is associated with learning, memory and feelings of excitement.

Norepinephrine

• Norepinephrine acts as both a neurotransmitter as well as a hormone. Norepinephrine is a stress-responsive chemical that creates the “fight or flight” response when we are feeling stressed out. Low levels of it can cause ADHD and depression.

Antidepressant medications help millions of Americans fight depression by correcting the chemical imbalances in their brains to some degree.  

However, these medications don’t work for some people. Sometimes the chemical imbalance might not be severe enough to necessitate prescription medication.

That’s why we might suggest other ways of correcting this chemical imbalance. Exercise can have a profound effect on dopamine levels in the brain when they are performed on a regular basis. The pleasure and reward centers of the brain are stimulated from strenuous exercise, and the effects can be amazing for mental health.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to expedite the brain’s use of chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. When levels of these two chemicals are increased, feelings of depression and fatigue begin to lessen ". Besides Fish Oil supplements these are good sources of omega-3-fatty acids for the Brain and Heart.

• Fish and other seafood (especially cold-water fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines)
• Nuts and seeds (such as flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts)
• Plant oils (such as flaxseed oil, soybean oil, and canola oil)

For details read:

https://southsidemedical.net/how-brain-chemistry-affects-mental-health/

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of my new pets-Batman & Robin

 

 

Continuation of Ditas and Carenna Farewell and Carenna'd Graduation Party

 

Our Party with Patrick Mulvaney,* Head Chef Of Mulvaney B and L 

Last night, Michael**( see linkIn below) and Claudine Bustamante family from Southern California flew purposely to Sacramento to host a Dinner for Ditas & Carenna Farewell and also Carenna's belated graduation party at the famous Mulvaney's restaurant in Downtown Sacramento. I have heard of this highly rated restaurant from Ditas but have never eaten and tasted their delicious and hand-crafted American Dishes. 

Above is the menu for June 24. There is a separate menu for desserts only(below). 

First we have starters and the small plates on the menu-River Dog Red Leaf Lettuce with Ceasar Dressings, Twin Peaks Peaches with Hand-Pulled Mozzarella and the Hand Cut Pappardelle-Porcini Mushrooms etc.... We had it family style. The dishes were delicious specially the pasta Pappardelle. I will rate it 5 out of 5. I could rate it higher, but I can not. The Pasta was my favorite dish of the Night. Its a dish worthy of visiting Mulvaney's in the future. For a non-pasta enthusiast, I was surprised I love the dish so much. It must be the lemony sauce, and the Fromage Blanc and perhaps the Porcini mushrooms.

After the starter the five of us ordered a different dish from the Large Plate Menu. I ordered the Seared Sea Scallops. It was not as tasty as I expected and the Fiddlehead Ferns was hard to my 87-year old teeth. I will rate it 3 out of 5. Carenna ordered the Roasted Chicken. Ditas ordered the Wagyu Zabuton Steak, Michael the Pork Chop and I did not remember what Claudine ordered. Mathew- the Bustamante's 11-year old son had 3 Servings of Pasta for the Night. Looking at Mathew's face I could see he was enjoying the Pasta Dish very much. It was a delight looking at an 11-year old boy enjoying his dinner.

After our main dish we ordered Desserts from the Menu and Shared it Family Style. We have the Honey Blackberry Cheesecake, the Fig & Raspberry Crostada and the Dessert the named as Ding Dong and another dessert that Carenna ordered. 

With our meals, Ditas brought with her 6 bottles of White and Red Navarro Wines from her collection. Here more photos during our dinner.

In case you have not heard of Mulvaney's here a brief summary from their website.   https://mulvaneysbl.com/about/           

"Mulvaney’s B&L is many things. We’re a restaurant that specializes in hand-crafted New American cuisine, a farm-to-table devotee that celebrates the efforts of the growers, ranchers, brewers and winemakers who are our neighbors, purveyors and friends.

Set in a historic 1893 firehouse, with its original brick walls and soaring ceilings, Mulvaney’s B&L is also a nexus of Sacramento: a place where we serve up impeccable and creative fare (our menu changes daily in step with the local growing seasons), and facilitate the connections of the guests we love to host.

Our “wonderful old B&L” is the brainchild – no, the passion – of owners Patrick and Bobbin Mulvaney, who bring more than a half century and six time zones’ worth of experience to their mission. We strive to provide our guests with the best our region has to offer and a place to have their own culinary experience".

* Patrick Mulvaney is the head chef of Mulvaney’s B&L, a farm-to-table restaurant in Sacramento that focuses on local, fresh, and organic ingredients. Mulvaney began his culinary career in 1985 as a European apprentice, cooking under some of Europe’s most renowned chefs. Since then, he has worked in numerous restaurants throughout the country before settling in Sacramento and becoming a leading figure in the city’s farm-to-fork movement. 

For Michael Bustamante LinkIn read:

**https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-bustamante-86556b157/ 

Again, Thank you Michael and Claudine for the delicious dinner at Mulvaney last night.  What a gastronomic delight!! The Bustamante's were Carenna's Godparents ( sponsors) during her Baptism.

 

How Popular is Classical Music in the US Today?

I just finished watching a Prime Video movie-Nocturne. The film stars Sweeney as Juliet Lowe, a pianist in her last year of high school who is jealous because she is constantly overshadowed by her twin sister. In this movie there were discussions /dialogs on the relevance of classical music and also the declining popularity of this genre of music. This aroused my interest and here's what I learned from the Internet. 

 

How popular is classical music in the U.S. today? Here's the answer according to the site listed below dated Feb 10, 2021.

According to billboard/Nielsen, classical music had an overall 1% share of the market in 2019, or 12th out of 12 genres. This is the least popular music genre well behind the top four genres: R&B/hip-hop, rock & roll, pop, country, and even behind children’s music.

The top genres account for around 69% of the music with R&B/hip-hop by itself taking over a quarter of the share (27.7%). After the top four, Latin, dance/electronic, Christian/gospel, world music, holiday/seasonal, children, jazz and classical make up the other 18% of the market (the total does not equal 100%).

In 2009, classical music physical album sales had a 3% market share. So in the span of 10 years classical music, for the most part, lost 2% market share. This is not bad compared to rock, which in 2009, along with metal and alternative, had around 50% of the market share compared to 19.8% in 2019.

One item to note is that when it comes to digital album sales in 2019, classical music is ranked sixth out of twelve. Typically, people buy classical albums rather than individual songs because an album will have up to an hour of music and contain a few major works making it a good value. Example: if you purchase the album that contains Mieczysław Weinberg’s “Symphony No. 2” and “Symphony No. 21,” it has around 90 minutes of music and costs $10.

When it comes to money, classical music does make a little money comparatively. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the total revenue for the U.S. music industry in 2019 was $11.1 billion (not including concerts). This is nothing to laugh at and from RIAA data, most of the revenue in 2019 came from streaming and digital downloads.

If classical music in the U.S. had a 1 percent market share then classical music revenue for 2019 would be around $111 million. Of course, classical music does not rely on revenue alone to survive.

From a 2014 League of American Orchestras report, the average orchestra relied on only 40% of its revenue as earned income (mostly ticket sales), with 43% coming from contributed income (donations), and 17% from investment income. Overall, only a small percentage of revenue for classical music comes from music or album sales (streaming or physical).

In looking at the data from billboard/Nielsen and the RIAA, it seems that classical music in the U.S. is not popular nor does it make that much money, but for most people who listen to classical music, that is not why they listen. Classical music has always been the “art” music of Western culture and has always been monetarily supported by the patronage of the rich and of governments.

There was no mystical time in the past when classical music was the music of the masses; it has always been the music that tries to communicate a people’s culture, national identity, interesting and entertaining stories through long-form music, while also being an artistic form of entertainment. There have been a few exceptions when classical music had a wider audience such as classical popular theater (singspiel), the advent of radio when classical music provided a lot of the early musical content (and filler music), and the most exciting thing to ever happen to classical music in the contemporary world, providing music scores for films.

Reference: https://medium.com/@AmericanPublicU/popular-classical-music-how-popular-is-classical-music-part-ii-4040456752db

 

1.However, Classical music still matters because it holds within it the core elements of the natural human being, and raw emotions unaffected by human interference and illogical concepts of society in any period of history. Oct 2, 2018

2. Why Classical Music Still Matters - iClassical Academy

Why is classical music considered better? In at least one respect, classical music is superior to popular music. ... The greater potential for expressiveness in classical music is due, in large part, to it greater harmonic resources. The harmonies in classical music are more likely to be functional, more contrary motion is employed, and modulation is more common.Aug 30, 2016

3.How Classical Music is Better than Popular Music | Philosophy

Is classical music still relevant in today's world? So is classical music still alive today? The answer is definitely yes. It's amazing that pieces written 300 years ago are still relevant today, but it seems like this is simply proof of the timeless quality of classical music in the emotional and intellectual expression that classical pieces capture.

What is special about classical music?Whereas most popular styles are usually written in song form, classical music is noted for its development of highly sophisticated instrumental musical forms, like the concerto, symphony and sonata. Classical music is also noted for its use of sophisticated vocal/instrumental forms, such as opera.

5. The Effects of Relaxing Classical Music on the Body and Brain

Why does classical music make me cry? Classical music in particular steers a mysterious path through our senses, triggering unexpected and powerful emotional responses, which sometimes result in tears – and not just tears of sadness. Tears flow spontaneously in response to a release of tension, perhaps at the end of a particularly engrossing performance.

Personal Note: I have cried listening to several violin concertos and some piano concertos. How about you? I had numerous collections of old records during my college years that I have discarded in favor of tapes then disc then videos and now only on YouTube/TV. Here's Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez that touched my heart.

https://lifeinus1960present.blogspot.com/2022/05/music-appreciation-day-personal-stories.html

 

 

What A Beast!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Here's the 2022 Winner of the Cliburn Piano Competition, Forth Worth, TX, Yunchan Lin.

 

The ESIA, George Washington University, Washington DC

I am proud to announce that my youngest grand daughter, Carenna Katague Thompson has been accepted and will start her freshman year this Fall at the Elliot School of International Affairs, George Washington University in Washington DC. I did not know much about the university and its prestige, so I did some search and here's what I learn from Wikipedia. 

The Elliott School of International Affairs (known as the Elliott School or ESIA) is the professional school of international relations, foreign policy, and international development of the George Washington University, in Washington, D.C. It is highly ranked in international affairs and is the largest school of international relations in the United States.

The Elliott School is located across from the U.S. State Department and the Organization of American States, and closely to the White House, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. The Carnegie Corporation of New York ranks the Elliott School as one of the world's foremost, leading research institutions in the fields of public and foreign policy, hosting numerous research centers, institutes, and policy programs, such as the Institute for International Economic Policy and The Project on Forward Engagement.

Elliott School alumni and faculty have included ambassadors, diplomats, politicians, and public figures, including heads of state and government, U.S. senators, prominent politicians, NATO officials, U.N. ambassadors, and foreign ministers. From 2015 to 2020, the Dean of the Elliott School was Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety II, former U.S. Ambassador to the African Union and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. In January 2021, Alyssa Ayres was appointed as dean, the first woman to hold the post. 

For a List of some of its Notable and Distinguished Alumni and Faculty visit the 2 sites:

   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Elliott_School_of_International_Affairs_people

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of my recent purchase from Shef.com

A Fried Pompano prepared South Indian Style and our recent Father's Day simple lunch

 

Carenna, May your college life be challenging but rewarding, Lolo! Incidentally, Carenna was also accepted at UC Irvine for their Science Program.

 

Musings of A Happy Father on Father's Day

My 4D's-From left to Right: Ditas, Dodie, ME, David E(RIP) and Dinah

The Katague clan is planning to celebrate Father's Day this year with just a simple lunch tomorrow (June 19). The event is a 3-Event Celebration, Father's Day, Ditas & Carenna Farewell and David's E 90-Day Death Anniversary.

https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-posthumous-awards-for-david-e.html

On this occasion, allow me to talk again on the accomplishments of my three living children as well as David E ( RIP) whose 90-Day death anniversary we are celebrating also today.  My apology to those who have already read on my previous postings on the subject of my children accomplishments.

https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2021/09/my-four-children-accomplishments-in.html

1. Dodie-my oldest son

Dodie, my oldest son was born in the Philippines, but immigrated to US when he was only 18 months old. He has a law degree from University of California, Davis and had been a successful prosecuting attorney in Northern California for several years. He early retired last year to devote more time writing his 3rd novel.  He is married to his former classmate, Ruth Carver, also a lawyer and they have 3 children, Philip, Alix and Marina.  

Dodie Katague lived at Cloyne Court Coop from 1977-79 while he attended the University of California, Berkeley.  He graduated in 1981 with a degree in Geography. He graduated from the University of California, Davis, King Hall School of Law in 1985. Since then, he is a prosecutor in Martinez, California. Dodie is working on his second novel, "Rock Star Planet", a Young Adult science fiction adventure. He is now retired and finishing his third novel, "Devil Mountain DA", a fictional account of life in a dysfunctional district attorney's office. He early retired  to devote more time on his writing and travel with his wife Ruth( also a lawyer).

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?authorid=108890

2. Dinah-my oldest daughter

Dinah started her career in BSA/AML in 2011 at Bank of the West. Within three years she was managing a team of 27 contractors to clear the FDIC items of the previous year’s audit. She was instrumental in growing the new department of 5 to 42. In 2017, Dinah joined Umpqua Bank as the CDD/EDD Manager. She managed two departments of EDD Analysts and CDD Specialists. Living in the “heart of cannabis growing country”, Dinah navigated her teams through the intricacies of the current political climate regarding marijuana, hemp and CBD, to become the subject matter experts for the bank. In June of 2020, Dinah joined Technology Credit Union as the Compliance Officer/Manager of the High Risk Member Unit. Her main responsibility is to help create, cultivate, develop, maintain and monitor the marijuana businesses direct and indirect program for the credit union. Dinah has been accused by some of creating a “Dynahsty” where ever she goes and they would be correct!

 

Experienced Financial Services Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the banking industry. Skilled in Analytical Skills, Software Documentation, Leadership, Financial Risk, and Risk Management. Strong finance professional with a Bachelor of Arts focused in Liberal Studies from California State University-Sacramento.

Through the course of my 15+ years’ experience, I’ve enjoyed the chance to manage and motivate teams toward consistent success. Colleagues will tell you I have a deep and intuitive grasp of business and team capabilities, and use this instinctive approach to expertly allocate staff and resources. A focus of my work has been employee engagement: by promoting an engaged and collaborative work culture, I’ve been able to develop staff members and deliver key gains to the bottom line. I also pride myself on adapting readily to new work challenges and environments.Compliance Manager, High Risk Member Unit at Technology Credit Union (Tech CU) Technology Credit Union (Tech CU)

California State University-Sacramento

***

3. David E (RIP)- my youngest son 

David is single and currently works for the Federal Government (TSA) in Sacramento. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from UC Davis and a Masters of Science degree in Public Management and Policy with concentration on Information Systems from Carnegie Mellon University. He used to work for the Office of Management and Budget(OMB) in Washington DC during the Clinton and Gore Administration. During the time of his employment with OMB we received annual Christmas cards from the White House as well as special invitations to special events such as the Easter Egg Hunting in the lawn of the White House and Parties for OMB employees. David E is learning how to speak Tagalog. During our 50th wedding anniversary party in 2007, he addressed the guests in Tagalog and made a good impression. His Tagalog is improving but still has the American accent. Macrine and I are proud of his desire to learn the language of his ancestry. Without David's help, we will never be able to enjoy staying in our island paradise in the Philippines for as long as we desire. Today, he keeps me company in this big house and talks to me about his plans to retire in the Philippines. David E joined his creator March 17, 2022.

I received David's III life insurance proceeds the other day. Part of it will be allocated in establishing an endowment scholarship fund for deserving students at the University of the Philippines in Iloilo- my Alma Mater. This will be a good deed to honor David III memory.  I have initiated contact in the Philippines Office of Alumni Relations UPV on the details of this donation.

4. Ditas- my youngest daughter 

Associate Director for Communications, US Census Bureau *Civic Engagement & Community Outreach Expert * Chief of Staff * Energy, Water-Regulatory Advisor * 🧘🏾‍♀️Yoga/Meditation Teacher. For details visit her linkedin page as follows: 

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ditas-katague/

This party is also a Farewell for Ditas and Carenna on their move to Washington DC soon. Ditas was appointed as Associate Director for Communications, Bureau of Census, Department of Commerce last April.

 https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/ditas-katague-appointed-associate-director-communications.html  

Ditas and Carenna relocation to Alexandria, VA reminds me of our 12 moves in 42 years here in the US as follows: 

https://livinginmarinduquephilippines.blogspot.com/2019/07/our-twelve-moves-in-forty-two-years-in.html

Meanwhile enjoy these 2 photos:

 

These red mangoes are huge, luscious but not too sweet compared to the Philippine Guimaras mangoes. However it is very juicy, I almost choked with delight. The brown fruit are the kiwis and looks like Philippine Chicos except it is hairy. There are two varieties of oranges in the bowl-Navel and Valencia. The small green apples are from my neighbor orchard.

Fried Pompano( cooked South Indian style), I ordered from Shef.com for Father's Day Lunch