Questões de Inglês

Mania and “hyper-religiosity”

(1^st §) Just this past week, I traveled with my wife and our seven-month old son to Winona, Minnesota, La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Viroqua, Wisconsin to share my experiences of living with bipolar disorder with four different audiences. At the end of two of the presentations, I was asked a question that I am often asked when I present my story. The question was “Why is it so common for hyper-religiosity to be part of mania?” This question often comes up because I speak to people about my manic and psychotic episodes which have all included feelings of understanding and knowing God and noticing an unquestionable faith, a faith that is more difficult to maintain when I am stable. At the most extreme of these experiences was the time that I actually thought that I was Jesus, followed by my manic and psychotic mind taking the delusion even further into believing that I was God. An enormous amount of information flooded my brain as I seemed to take on super-natural powers, acquiring knowledge that I believed was flowing from other dimensions that “normal” people are unable to detect. However, now experiencing stability, I don’t have all of that false information, nor do I have the answer to the question “Why is it so common for hyper-religiosity to be part of mania?”

(2^nd §) Not only have I been asked this question at public speaking events, but also over the phone by a man who stumbled upon my website and read my book. He was curious about why so many manic episodes revolve around religion, and he asked me if I knew of any studies done on this subject. I know of no such study, but maybe someone else does. If you do, please send me an email.

(3^rd §) This man spoke on the phone of similar religious experiences with his manic episodes. I know of many others who can also tell similar stories. Maybe it all revolves around the common and basic struggle of defining one’s faith and religion, and part of a person’s process in defining their belief system. I don’t expect that I will understand why these experiences are common, at least not anytime soon, but maybe someday someone will be able to explain it to me. For now, I have to acknowledge that these experiences stem from my personal experience with religion and from unconscious thoughts that may only surface during a manic episode.

Available at: Source: https://ibpf.org/mania-and-%C2%93hyper-religiosity%C2%94/. Accessed in: 1st apr. 2025.

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    Travelling through Brazil and not taking in the variety of local dishes and tastes of the country’s different regions definitely makes for an incomplete experience. In the northern region, for example, strongly influenced by the larger indigenous presence mixed with European immigration, local food has evolved to be quite differentiated from that of other regions. In Brazil, the mixing of several different peoples over 500 years of history has produced a great mix of traditions, ingredients and dishes introduced by native and immigrant populations alike. Brazil’s northern region consists of the states of Amazonas, Roraima, Amapá, Pará, Tocantins, Rondônia and Acre. It is also influenced by Portuguese and African immigrants who arrived in the country since the beginning of colonisation. However, according to Joseny Juvito, a chef specialized in northern cuisine, the region is predominantly indigenous and, therefore, has specific peculiarities influenced by the fact.

(https://gestaoconteudo.presidencia.gov.br)

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    Travelling through Brazil and not taking in the variety of local dishes and tastes of the country’s different regions definitely makes for an incomplete experience. In the northern region, for example, strongly influenced by the larger indigenous presence mixed with European immigration, local food has evolved to be quite differentiated from that of other regions. In Brazil, the mixing of several different peoples over 500 years of history has produced a great mix of traditions, ingredients and dishes introduced by native and immigrant populations alike. Brazil’s northern region consists of the states of Amazonas, Roraima, Amapá, Pará, Tocantins, Rondônia and Acre. It is also influenced by Portuguese and African immigrants who arrived in the country since the beginning of colonisation. However, according to Joseny Juvito, a chef specialized in northern cuisine, the region is predominantly indigenous and, therefore, has specific peculiarities influenced by the fact.

(https://gestaoconteudo.presidencia.gov.br)

Leia o texto para responder à questão.

    Travelling through Brazil and not taking in the variety of local dishes and tastes of the country’s different regions definitely makes for an incomplete experience. In the northern region, for example, strongly influenced by the larger indigenous presence mixed with European immigration, local food has evolved to be quite differentiated from that of other regions. In Brazil, the mixing of several different peoples over 500 years of history has produced a great mix of traditions, ingredients and dishes introduced by native and immigrant populations alike. Brazil’s northern region consists of the states of Amazonas, Roraima, Amapá, Pará, Tocantins, Rondônia and Acre. It is also influenced by Portuguese and African immigrants who arrived in the country since the beginning of colonisation. However, according to Joseny Juvito, a chef specialized in northern cuisine, the region is predominantly indigenous and, therefore, has specific peculiarities influenced by the fact.

(https://gestaoconteudo.presidencia.gov.br)

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    Fake news typically refers to news stories or headlines that are deliberately fabricated to mislead¹ or manipulate readers. These stories often look like real news articles but are entirely made-up or twisted versions of true events, created with the intention to deceive². Fake news is a type of disinformation: false information that is created with the intention to mislead. Disinformation includes not only fake news, but also other types of claims, such as those put out as government propaganda, or by social media accounts or brands in order to sell a product or service. Misinformation, on the other hand, is any kind of false or inaccurate information — whether it’s shared intentionally or not. People often spread misinformation because they genuinely believe it’s true and don’t realize they’re sharing something incorrect.

(www.unicef.org, 10.02.2025. Adaptado.)

¹ mislead: ludibriar.
² deceive: enganar.

ONYCHOPHAGIA

    Onychophagia, or nail-biting, can be a temporary, relatively non-destructive behavior that is merely a cosmetic concern, but it can also develop into a severe, long-term problem. Onychophagia, or Onychophagy, is considered a pathological oral habit and grooming disorder characterized by chronic, seemingly uncontrollable nail-biting that is destructive to fingernails and their surrounding tissue. It is a relatively common problem, but the line between “normal” and pathological nailbiting is not always clear.

    According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), diagnosable “body-focused repetitive behavior disorder” (a category that includes Onychophagia) triggers clinically significant distress, interferes with functioning in at least one important life domain, and is characterized by repeated, failed attempts to stop the behaviors. Thus, those who feel intense shame, guilt, or anxiety about their nail-biting, feel unable to stop, and find that it interferes with one or more areas of their life may benefit from seeking treatment.

    Possible physical side effects of nail-biting include damaged or disfigured nails and skin, skin infections, fungal infections, and mouth pain or tooth damage. Individuals who swallow the bitten nails may be at risk for stomach or intestinal infections as well. Nails and fingers often carry bacteria or viruses, so, biting them may transmit pathogens into the body, potentially increasing the risk of internal infections or gastrointestinal problems.

    There may be a genetic link to Onychophagia, as some people appear to have an inherited tendency toward developing BFRB (Body-focused Repetitive Behavior), as well as higher-than-average rates of mood and anxiety disorders in immediate family members. This condition is, however, very frequently associated with anxiety, because the act of chewing on nails reportedly relieves stress, tension, or boredom. People who habitually bite their nails often report that they do so when they feel nervous, bored, lonely, or even hungry. It can be a habit transferred from earlier thumb or finger sucking as well and can occur without symptoms of another psychiatric condition. It can also be associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder, separation anxiety, enuresis, tic disorder, and other mental health issues.

    Hiding one’s nails or making them unpleasant to bite – by cutting them short, painting them with bitter-tasting polish, or wearing gloves or mittens – can make it more difficult to engage in the behavior. It’s also helpful to identify one’s “trigger” – the emotion or situation that makes someone most prone to biting – and develop coping mechanisms to replace nail-biting with a healthier alternative. For example, someone who bites while bored could play with a fidget toy in situations where they’re likely to be bored and someone who bites when anxious could squeeze a stress ball or engage in a brief relaxation exercise instead of biting.

Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/onychophagia-nail-biting. Accessed on: 8th apr. 2025. (Adapted).