Just Two Cents - Episode 2

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Podcast Title: Just Two Cents Episode Title: Perception is Reality 

Host: Eric Ebron

Hey everyone, and welcome back to Just Two Cents, where we're all about the funny, surprising, and sometimes downright confusing ways we give, take, and sometimes throw away advice. I'm your host, Eric Ebron. 

First, I want to share that I have exciting news! Go to the site, Justtwocents.com, and click on the upper right, "Send a message". And send me your questions for me to answer, send me your best advice you've ever received, or send me, like Dear Abby, a situation that you would want my "Two Cents" on. I'll read a couple of them on air and we'll go over it! I'm excited for where we are going with this... remember, Justtwocents.com website. 

Ok, today, we're diving back into the wacky world of perception. Because sometimes, our brains decide to take a little detour from reality. And that can lead to some pretty interesting experiences.

Let's start with the classic "seeing is believing" plot twist – hallucinations. Now, I'm not talking about seeing ghosts, but more like sensory experiences that dress up in costumes. You might see, hear, or even smell things that aren't really there.

But hold on, because now we're flipping the script. Sometimes, our brains get a little too good at hide-and-seek. I'm talking about conditions like agnosia, where a sense gets temporarily disconnected from reality. You might stare at your keys, but your brain refuses to acknowledge them. Or someone could be speaking perfect English, but all you hear is gibberish.

As a grad student, I was people affected with aphasia, which is a a language disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate effectively with others. Aphasia can impair a person's ability to speak, understand, read, and write. I saw the therapist pointing to a picture of the client's son and say who is this, and the person would say, "cheeseburger"... they couldn't find the right word AND they were frustrated because they knew that what they were saying was NOT what they were trying to say. 

I compare that to someone who really WANTS to give good advice to someone they love but can never say the right thing or say something the right way. They can't connect what their heart wants to say to what their mind spits out of their mind... chaos, right?! 

When dealing with someone that give terrible advice, but you know their heart is in the right place... it's not BAD advice, per se, it's just a disconnection – but you most likely shouldn't take that advice! 

These are the whispers of our limbic system, the emotional part of our brain, trying to outsmart our logical side. Some impulses are harmless, even fun. But others? Not so much. The trick is understanding why we have these impulses and finding healthy ways to cope.

That's all for today's episode of Just Two Cents. Remember to go to Justtwocents.com and send my a voice message. I'm excited to hear your best advice you've received, or your request for my Two Cents on your scenario. 

Next time your brain throws you a curveball, remember, it's not trying to be malicious. It's just a little quirky sometimes. Embrace the weirdness, seek help if you need it, and don't forget to laugh. After all, a little laughter is good for the brain, even when it's playing tricks on you.

Thanks for tuning in, and remember, it's "Just two cents"!