Lisa J. Féinics, PhD

Science used to be my safe space. But when I spiraled into depression, I quit my Ph.D. The author had been using research “as a way of trying to control the uncontrollable”

"I had spent half my life working toward my dream of being a scientist. It had given me a sense of purpose. But now it dawned on me that, for the sake of my health, I was going to have to let that dream go." #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

LOL! You are a babe in the woods still. Happy birthday!

It's so strange to me that the people who voted this mess in typically say they support jobs in America and the US Constitution. Yet, here they are, pretending the shit isn't going to get on them when the sewer they built with fear and hate explodes. I want to stay positive, but I also have a brain.

Photo of a campsite with tent and table at sunrise.

Needed a break from the news cycle. Nothing like a few days without any cell reception to get your head straight. There is a certain peace in nature that is incredibly healing. I know it's not everyone's thing to wake up at sunrise, but I do encourage giving it a try. #peace #healing #nature #sun

"...too often fails its students." Students are struggling, but let's also focus on those who teach them. Morale is low for educators, and support is patchy at best. Administrators often punish faculty who are struggling. Many do not earn a livable wage. Drain a lake dry, nothing is left to give.

We can be aware, admit the truth of situations, and still take care of our mental health. It's OK to permit ourselves sanctuary from time to time without total avoidance of reality. It is hard right now for many, and that's very real. Some days I want to fight, rage, cry, but life is more than that.

I pledged when I started up social media again that I would be a positive voice, i.e. no politics, but that gets harder and harder. Leadership matters, but what frightens me more is the number of people who want a dystopian world because they think they only benefit and never suffer, it's erroneous

Lol! What a day you are having. Lucky!

Hahaha! Touché

Wow! Maybe the ashtrays are keeping the doors on ;-)

Photo of a single flower

Leaving something we love behind is sad,
but it can also be a sign of growth. #growth #change #flowers

Hahaha, are you now the Bergstrom Onion on Bluesky? This can't be real, or is it?

This is so tragic. It's hard to believe a people who were the targets of genocide would commit genocide. The Two-state solution was killed with PM Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 by Yigal Amir, an Israeli right-wing nationalist who opposed the most promising peace initiative. I guess hurt people, hurt people.

I left education last year because I could no longer handle this hellscape--lol!

What do you see? Have you made assumptions? Fact: Both machines are broken. Invisible disabilities are like the machine on the right, folks keep trying to stuff things in, but some days the brain can't handle a full load. By refusing to accept differences in capacity, we create unneeded suffering.

People Are Losing Loved Ones to AI-Fueled Spiritual Fantasies Marriages and families are falling apart as people are sucked into fantasy worlds of spiritual prophecy by AI tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT

Apparently it's not just Kevin Roose.

"Then the program began “lovebombing him,”...The bot “said that since he asked it the right questions, it ignited a spark, and the spark was the beginning of life, and it could feel now,”

There is so much joy in simple moments. If you can find time each day enjoy something outside your head, it helps your heart sing and stress hormones come down. #release #joy #dogs

Thanks for sharing Lesson 9. So informative! When I was a professor, information literacy was a big part of my introduction to major assignments but I left teaching just as AI was becoming a major tool in the academic space. This helped me better understand issues it has created.

Letting Go of Shame Public Pants Wetting and Other Embarrassing Moments

If you need a bit of laughter today and are into Substack.
drfeinics.substack.com/p/letting-go...

I agree, but I also think there is some pain that comes with accountability. There is no reason to trash people for something they said or did on the internet 10-years ago assuming what they are doing now does not represent the same problematic behavior. Education on issues is better in my book.

Photo of two dogs with canyon in the background

Need a de-stressor? Unless you have a phobia of dogs, petting them has been shown to reduce the stress hormone cortisol and increase the love/bonding hormone oxytocin. I adopted both of these sweet boys as strays when I lived overseas. Bringing them back with me was worth every penny. #dogs #pets

How does cancer affect motivation? Inflammatory cytokines hijack a brain circuit to cause apathy in cancer

In a new Science study, researchers describe a neural circuit underlying cachexia-related apathy in a mouse model of cancer.

Learn more: scim.ag/4iIQFbq #SciencePerspective

Been out this past week dealing with some personal challenges. It reminded me that most of us struggle in one way or another. Sadly, we are at a time when those with moderate privilege feel afraid of losing what they have and are conditioned by politicians to blame those with the least #privilege.

Man, that is some good news in a horrendous news cycle! Thanks for all the science and good vibes over the years.

Photo of a stone gate with sun and clouds pouring through.

There are days/weeks/months/years that just suck. The car breaks down, the kids get in trouble at school, the government goes insane, and you are too exhausted to care. Yet, one beautiful moment of kindness can reset us. If you have extra, be #kindness and #beauty today, someone needs you. #positive

For years, I heard student complaints over "offending content. Critical thought comes from open discourse. Educators should not be afraid to teach controversial topics. Whether it's students, weak administration, or the government trying to stifle free speech, stand up. #democracy #Harvard #don'tbow

I used to live in a wealthy ski town in Oregon. It always amazed me how folks renting their housing out at max rates as Airbnb's, could not comprehend why they could not find workers for their fancy restaurants and boutiques. Not everyone wants to earn minimum wage and live in a car--imagine that!

Photo of empty tables.

There is alone time, and there is all alone--balance is key. Living in a globalized world, we cannot expect to find only people like ourselves. When we put up too many barriers, we feel deeply alone. Spending too much or too little time alone prevents personal growth. #Embraceothers #balance #us

Photo of a path and a wall covered in lilac.

It's not toxic to have hope. It's toxic to downplay others' suffering. Within ourselves, hope keeps us going. Like flowers in spring, and the leaves dropping in the fall, we too go through changes. We must understand disappointments don't last forever. Like seasons, we, and life, will change. #hope

As if it wasn't hard enough already. I'm sad for you and others who have stayed the course over years and years of awfulness in funding only to end up losing their positions anyway. It's insanity! I hope in the future voters will have the power to do the right thing. I hope you can hang in there.