Love is...

From the TTO classes at CSW we wish you all a happy Valentine's Day! Read below our definitions of love.

Love is:

• feeling safe.
• respecting each other.
• surprising each other.
• the best emotion you have.
• forgiving.
• to give a hug when someone needs it.
• caring about a person even though they have flaws.
• mother and father.
• a happy feeling.
• repairing the car for free.
• cute little black Labrador pups.
• finding the person you want to spend your life with.
• having a crush on somebody.
• sharing your life with your crush.
• being happy with your family.
• pancakes.
• the feeling you get when you are with your family or with the boy or girl that makes you feel happy.
• a special feeling.
• being with someone you love.
• is in everyone.
• is music
• my saxophone.
• accepting each other.
• a thing you can't live without.
• saving sharks together.
• having the feeling that you can fly.
• the most important thing in life.

Phobias

For two sessions we discussed the topic of Phobias, and have pondered such questions as, "What is a phobia?" "What are the most common phobias?" "Are there phobias that occur more often in younger children? Adults?" As a culminating lesson the students of TTO created their own "exam" on phobias. Below is a sample of their questions. Test your knowledge!

1. What does the word phobia mean?

2. What are the most common phobias?

3. Are phobias treatable?

4.  How do phobias arise?

5. What is glossophobia?

6. Is there a fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth?

7. What is the fear of spiders called?

8. What is zoophobia?

9. What are the common reactions to phobias?

10. Can alligators have phobias?

(Answers)

1. Phobia comes from the Greek word meaning "fear." It means the irrational fear of an object or circumstance.
2. Most common phobias are claustrophobia (fear of closed spaces) and aviophobia (fear of flying).

3. Yes, phobias are treatable. Sometimes professional help is required.
4. Phobias are a learned response that often arise through trauma.
5. Glossophobia is fear of public speaking. It comes from the Greek meaning "tongue."
6. Yes, it's called arachibutyrophobia.
7. Arachnophobia
8. Fear of animals
9. Symptoms can range from intense anxiety, feeling of uneasiness, or a sense of foreboding, sweating, crying, or stomach upset.
10. Not that we know of.