How to Develop a Safety Plan for PTSD Symptoms

How to Develop a Safety Plan for PTSD Symptoms PTSD Coping Print How to Develop a Safety Plan for PTSD Symptoms By Matthew Tull, PhD twitter Matthew Tull, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Toledo, specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder. Learn about our editorial policy Matthew Tull, PhD Updated on December 05, 2019 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes & Risk Factors Treatment Living With In Children J.A. Bracchi/Getty Images If you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), then you likely know that your PTSD symptoms can occur at any time and in any place. PTSD triggers are all around, and it may not take much for a trigger to cause intrusive memories and thoughts about a traumatic event, symptoms of hyperarousal and hypervigilance, or emotional distress. Therefore, given that the occurrence of PTSD symptoms can be unpredictable, it is important to create a safety plan for coping with them when they occur. What Is a Safety Plan? As the name implies, a safety plan is designed to keep you safe when you are suddenly confronted with a difficult situation or crisis. It is basically a way of planning ahead for how to cope with problems should they arise. For example, what would you do if you start to experience a flashback while at the grocery store? How would you cope with intrusive thoughts while in a business meeting? Below are some ideas of things to consider including in your personalized safety plan for dealing with your PTSD symptoms when they occur. Think Ahead Before you go out, think about whether or not you might encounter some triggers for your PTSD symptoms. Identify what those triggers may be and how you can avoid them. If you cant avoid your triggers, come up with several methods of coping with them. In other words, learning how to identify and cope with PTSD triggers is an important first step in putting together your PTSD safety plan. Some common external triggers include: Seeing people or who remind you of your traumatic eventSeeing places which remind you of your traumatic eventSeeing a television show which reminds you of your traumaAnniversariesHolidaysSmells (such as the smell of a hospital)Seeing an accident Write Down a List of Emergency Numbers Social support can be an excellent way of coping with PTSD symptoms. However, social support is only useful if you can get in touch with someone when you are in need. Therefore, make a list of supportive people you can call should you be in a situation where you need help. Make sure you put more than one number on the list in case the first person you call is not available. If you have a therapist and you are able to contact him or her outside of the session, you may want his or her name on your list as well. You may want to make sure you have these numbers programmed into your phone in addition to written out in an easy to access location. Make Sure You Have Your Medication With You If you are on medication for PTSD, make sure that you have it available so that you dont run into any risk of missing a dose. Also, if you are on PRN medication (medication taken as needed), make sure that you have it with you in case you are in a situation where you need it to manage your symptoms. Identify Ways of Coping When people are experiencing emotional distress, it can be very difficult to think of ways of coping with that distress. Therefore, it is best to think ahead of how you might cope with emotional distress should it arise. It may be helpful to make coping cards, notecards you can carry with you that take you through a particular coping strategy. To make your own coping cards, get some index cards and write down, step-by-step, what you would need to do to cope with distress using a particular coping strategy, such as deep breathing or grounding. Take these cards with you wherever you go. Then, when you are experiencing distress, take out the card and go through each step. There are also phone apps available that can help you prepare for crises with PTSD. Identify Early Warning Signs Take a time to learn about and write down the early warning signs that a PTSD symptom may be coming on. Most symptoms dont suddenly occur, but are, in fact, preceded by these warning signs. Warning signs may include: Changes in how you thinkChanges in your moodChanges in your behavior Learning to recognize these warning signs is important both when you are coping with PTSD daily and to avoid relapses as you heal. Enlist the Help of Others Finally, if you are going someplace where you know there may be PTSD triggers, have someone you trust contact you several times throughout the day to see how you are doing and whether or not you need any support. Check-ins like these will make sure that help is not far away should you need it. Bottom Line A safety plan is all about being prepared. Even if you feel as though there is hardly any chance that your PTSD will be triggered, it is best to take the time to come up with a plan in case you do encounter a trigger. The amount of time that you spend coming up with a safety plan will be well worth it if a crisis situation is prevented.

Analysis Of The Movie Shiloh - 899 Words

Shiloh is a short story about a middle aged Kentucky Truck Driver named Leroy Moffitt , his wife Norma Jean, and his mother in law Mabel Beasley. Leroy was recently placed on temporary disability due to injuries being sustained when he jackknifed his tractor trailer on the highway. Leroy and Norma were married at 18 and had a son a few months afterward â€Å"Randy† who died from sudden infant death just weeks later, but Norma doesn’t like to talk about it. Leroy now 34 years old was constantly on the road being a truck driver, and has found himself lost, not wanting to be back on the road he sits at home making models or plotting to build a log cabin occasionally smoking a joint. Norma Jean works at a drugstore. Since Leroy’s return she has become irritated with him as she isn’t used to his constant presence. She began working out when Leroy started therapy with the use of weights and pulleys. Now attending adult education classes for body building and composition. Not only does Norma Jean have to put up with her handicapped husband, but it seems like her mother Mable is always checking up on her or giving her unwanted advice. Mable frequently brings up Shiloh saying that Leroy and Norma Jean should take a trip and visit the same places she did so long ago. Mable also catches Norma Jean smoking which causes Norma Jean to break down into tears at one point in the story. Leroy begins to feel that Norma Jean was happier when he was gone. He confides in Mable realizing that she

The, New Jersey City Essay - 905 Words

The artist was born in the Hoboken, New Jersey City in the year 1864. He got his education from Germany as an engineer, returned back to New York in the year 1890 to prove the photography. As the editor of the Camera, Notes explored his scene of the aesthetic potential of medium published work, photography, which was in the conviction of his. In the year 1902, the Alfred broke from the group and focused on the craftsmanship. The Alfred style of work did in its own way. The photographer did his own productive way to photograph the things. Alfred took the car in the printing of his photographs of platinum prints. The process used was yielding an image with a rich subtly varied tonal scale (Hostetler, 2004). He painted the compositional choice and use the natural elements like rain, snow and steam to unify the components of the scene. He edited the Camera work from the year 1902 to 1917. The Edward J Steichen donated the space of studio, which became the gallery for the photo Session of the year 1905. The 291 was the address of the gallery address on the Fifth Avenue. Alfred supported the new style in the photography scenario. Alfred was the era of the Auguste Rodin, Pablo Picasso, Constantin Brancusi and Francis Picabia. His art knowledge is evident of the photography. The cubism is an arrangement of the shapes and tones for the photography. Technical Data The Alfred was interested in the technical boundaries of the photography. The motion picture was the experiment inShow MoreRelatedDescription of a Trip to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey770 Words   |  4 PagesDescription of a Trip to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey When deciding on a place for my science trip, I knew the perfect place would be the Liberty Science Center, located in Jersey City, New Jersey. I went there often as a child, so I already knew that there was a great deal to learn there. What I didn?t realize was how much it had been updated since I was there last. There are so many advances going on in science and technology, it?s all so amazing. What surprisedRead MoreThe City Of Camden, New Jersey1622 Words   |  7 PagesThe city of Camden, New Jersey has been known as one of the greatest Industrial Powerhouses, and was one of the biggest Industrialization in America. Camden created some of the nation s largest warships and helped start up the railroad industry. (City of Camden; Industrialization) These are just a couple of the many things that made Camden one of the most thriving cities in the United States back in the day. But, all things must come to an end as the saying goes, Camden that once was a successfulRead MoreNew York City Of New Jersey849 Words   |  4 PagesThere is a house located thirty-five minutes outside of New York City. In the state of New Jersey, the bricked cap cod lies in the quiet suburban town named Bloomfield. In this town, on Spring Street, residences have blooming front lawns filled with different flowers and plants. With a street named Spring and a town named Bloomfield, it is no coincidence that Spring Street and its town is filled with such an array of color. However, although Spring Street is filled with lively landscapes, most ofRead MoreThe New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition2937 Words   |  12 PagesAs director of the New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition, you work towards the advancement and improvement of option fuel sources, and also option fuel vehicles. Taking into account your non-benefit association s objectives, I feel you will discover my proposal to work effectively in correlation with your system. The burning of fossil fuels for energy is gradually destroying all of mankind with carbon dioxide, and the unavoidable issue of environmental change is approaching over every one of us. CDCRead MoreEllis Island: The Gateway to America1136 Words   |  5 PagesPeople from all over the world view America as the land of opportunity. They saw new beginnings and a better life for themselves and their families. The process of coming to the United States was never easy, because immigrants had to go through long and hard processes at the Immigration Center, known as Ellis Island. Ellis Island is located on the Hudson River off the New York City Harbor and in between Governor’s Island and the Statue of Liberty. Before receiving the name, â€Å"Ellis Island,† he NativeRead MoreNewark, New Jersey: The Most Unfriendly City in the World...or Not?1029 Words   |  4 PagesDespite all the bad publicity such as the survey which names Newark, New Jersey as the most unfriendliness city in the world, more than places like Islamabad, Pakistan; Oakland, CA; Luanda, Angola; and Kuwait City, Kuwait. In my opinion, Newark is a great place to live for many reasons that I will discuss later in this paper. However, the forty- six thousand readers of Conde Nast Travelers magazine who participated in the survey probably named Newark as the most unfriendliness place on the planetRead MorePublic High School Graduation Rates: Newark City and the State of New Jersey2894 Words   |  12 PagesRates: Newark City and the State of New Jersey Public high school graduation rates can be used as a tool to measure the effectiveness of a particular education program. However, choosing a formula that accurately reflects the strength and weaknesses of a high school has proven to be quite difficult and even controversial. In 2010, the Newark Public School district reported a 55 percent graduation rate among Newark City high schools (Newark Public Schools, pg 4). However, New Jersey Governor ChrisRead MoreK J, Chicago, York City, New Jersey, Washington, D.c, And Detroit Essay935 Words   |  4 Pages K J Name: KJ Location: Philadelphia-based, with locations in New York City, New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and Detroit Description of Services: KJ, based in Philadelphia, was founded by John and Khalifa in 2010. ?KJ ?produces and supplies hardware and building supplies. We provide and sell a wide range of hardware products and home improvement appliances such as tools, home decor, electrical appliances, lumber, plumbing and more. John and Khalifa completed their undergraduate ?in theRead MoreClimate Change ´s Impact on the NY-NJ-PA Part of the US1088 Words   |  4 Pagesmore and more serious. The increasing of greenhouse gas emission and pollutions lead to many environment problems related to climate change. The climate change impact our urban life in many aspects. As the biggest metropolitan area in US, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population about 19,831,858 by year 2012 (U.S. Department of Commerce, US Census Bureau, 2012) The population has been increased by 1.35% since 2010. The increase of population again increaseRead MoreNewark, New Jersey Neighborhoods, Real Estate An d Rental Markets766 Words   |  4 PagesNewark, New Jersey Neighborhoods, Real Estate and Rental Markets Newark is the most populous city in the state of New Jersey, and one of the nation’s largest shipping hubs. It is the sixty-seventh most populous city in the country and has just over two hundred seventy-five thousand residents. This makes it the second most populated city in the New York metropolitan region, after New York City. It is the largest port on the Eastern Seaboard, location of several corporate headquarters, and several

Salvage the Bones Free Essays

1. Compare the portrayal of Katrina in Salvage the Bones to what you saw of the hurricane in the news. Which aspect of the storm’s devastation does this novel bring to life? What does Esch’s perspective add to your understanding of Katrina’s impact? When Hurricane Katrina occurred, I was an eleven year-old child with little to no concern about the current events happening around me. We will write a custom essay sample on Salvage the Bones or any similar topic only for you Order Now Nevertheless, I was still saddened by the hurricane that killed almost 2,000 people and left thousands homeless. The news reported daily about the damages done, and showed all of the people that were in need of help. But through the novel, you really get vivid details of what it was like for people who actually had to sit and wait for the storm to be over. You get to imagine and see the struggle that people had to go through to survive. The Batiste family struggling to get out of their flooded house, getting hurt in the process of getting to safety , and Skeetah losing China to save Esch are displays of the sacrifice and strength it took to overcome this brutal natural disaster. Although this novel is fictional, real people had to endure these things when Hurricane Katrina hit. Esch’s perspective of the storm brought me to the realization of how powerful Katrina was. By going into detail of houses being completely taken off their foundations, and trees being uprooted and blown away, you can imagine how devastating it was for the people. Esch’s perspective also made me realize how the impact of Katrina caused the people to unite and help each other get resources and food. Through the novel, I was able to get a better understanding of the severity of Katrina and imagine the way it affected people by seeing it through someone else’s eyes. . The figure of the black teen mother continues to loom large in our public consciousness. Chart Esch’s attitude toward her pregnancy through the twelve days of the novel, and how she first realizes she might be pregnant. How do Skeetah and Daddy respond when they discover Esch’s pregnancy? Esch realizes she might be pregnant after witnessing China give birth. She realizes that she is two months irregular, has been vomiting a lot, and her stomach feels weird. When she comes to the realization that she is pregnant, of course, she is as scared as any 15 year-old pregnant child would be. She often refers to the baby as â€Å"the secret†, because she is so frighten and she’s keeping it hidden. Esch contemplates on what options she has, like abortion or non-conventional methods that she has overheard from girls. The child in her brings her shame and she wishes for it to go away. She’s trying to decide rather aborting the child will make Manny want her or will keeping the child change his mind about her. She is basically deciding her child’s fate on the acceptance of Manny, and of course she doesn’t think of the well-being of the child because she is nothing but a child herself. Skeetah and Daddy have different, but somewhat similar reactions to finding out about Esch’s pregnancy. Skeetah figures out Esch is pregnant before she even tells anyone. He’s not at all mad or ashamed of her, but he knows what’s going on with Manny and he hates him for treating Esch poorly. He actually subliminally gives her encouragement when he says, â€Å"Everything need a chance.. †. When Daddy finds out, he’s not upset but is hurt and sorry. More than likely he blames himself because of his lack of parenting. He focuses on what can be done to ensure that Esch and the baby is safe, rather than interrogating her about how it happened. Since they reacted so calm and rationally, Esch never really had to keep it a secret. 3. Explain how Daddy seems to know that a storm is coming before anyone else? How do his children and neighbors react to his early preparations? Why do Daddy’s precautions fail in the face of Katrina’s destruction? Daddy knows that a storm is coming because he relies on what the news is saying, even though most of the people around him say that the news is wrong. He backs up his claim by saying, â€Å"I can feel them coming.. †. He might also be sure of it because he has witnessed very powerful hurricanes in his life as a child. Still, everyone around him takes what he is saying lightly. The people around him don’t take him serious, and it may be because he is drunk 99. 9% of the time. The neighbors swear that he is wrong and that the news get facts twisted all of the time. While trying to prepare, his children do everything to try to avoid helping because they don’t think it is as serious as it actually turns out to be. But after he is hurt they have no choice but to carry on with the preparations without him. Daddy’s precautions fail when Katrina hits because of a few particular reasons. The wood that they had was mismatched and didn’t cover the windows completely. Most of all they were prepared rain and wind, but they weren’t ready for everything to be flooded. So, all of the preparation was useless because the flood caused them to have to evacuate their house with no food or supplies. Daddy tried to be ready but no one, not even him, knew just how strong and destructive Katrina would be. How to cite Salvage the Bones, Essay examples

Info About Pregnancy Essay Example

Info About Pregnancy Essay Teenage pregnancy is pregnancy in human females under the age of 20. A pregnancy can take place in a pubertal female before menarche (the first menstrual period), which signals the possibility of fertility, but usually occurs after menarche. In well-nourished girls, menarche usually takes place around the age of 12 or 13. Pregnant teenagers face many of the same obstetrics issues as women in their 20s and 30s. There are, however, additional medical concerns for mothers aged under 15. [1] For mothers aged 15–19, risks are associated more with socioeconomic factors than with the biological effects of age. 2] However, research has shown that the risk of low birth weight is connected to the biological age itself, as it was observed in teen births even after controlling for other risk factors (such as utilization of antenatal care etc. ). [3][4] In developed countries, teenage pregnancies are often associated with social issues, including lower educational levels, higher rates of p overty, and other poorer life outcomes in children of teenage mothers. Teenage pregnancy in developed countries is usually outside of marriage, and carries a social stigma in many communities and cultures. The prevalence of teenage pregnancy depends on a number of personal and societal factors, varying between countries because of cultural differences in attitude, levels of sexual activity, marriage among teenagers, general sex education provided and contraceptive options. Many studies and campaigns have attempted to uncover the causes and limit the numbers of teenage pregnancies. [5] Worldwide, teenage pregnancy rates range from 143 per 1000 in some sub-Saharan African countries to 2. 9 per 1000 in South Korea. 6][7] In the United States, 82% of pregnancies in those between 15 and 19 are unplanned. [8] Among OECD developed countries, the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand have the highest level of teenage pregnancy, while Japan and South Korea have the lowest in 2001. [9] The latest data from the United States shows that the states with the highest teenage birthrate are Mississippi, New Mexico and Arkansas while the states with the lowest teenage birthrate are New Hampshire , Massachusetts and Vermon II. We will write a custom essay sample on Info About Pregnancy specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Info About Pregnancy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Info About Pregnancy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer TEENAGE pregnancy continues to be a societal problem not only in Cordillera but in the Philippines. Commission on Population (PopCom) Planning Officer IV May Cerezo said based on their observation, most of the mothers in the region nowadays are unwed teenagers. She said the youngest mother recorded in Ifugao is eight years old while Baguio City also has a nine-year-old mother. In the country, there were 195,662 live births by teenage mothers and 1,113 of these are delivered by mothers under 15 years old in 2009. In 2010, the number increased to 207,898 where 1,324 are under 15 years old. Teenage pregnancy is one of the major factors that contribute to the rapid growth of population in the country. Since 1995, around 24 million Filipinos were added to the countrys population. The Philippines population grows at 1. 9 percent rate annually. Cerezo said the fast growth of population has several adverse effects on economic development, poverty situation, education, food supply, labor force and environmental development. Meanwhile, the country records a 22. percent in poverty incidence in 2012. The Cordillera poverty incidence went beyond the national average. The region has 22. 6 percent poverty incidence in 2012. The province of Apayao and Ifugao had the highest poverty incidence with 59. 8 and 47. 5 percent, respectively. Health and population officials urge parents to teach their children the attitude toward sex, marriage and sexuality in order to minimize teenage pregnancy. On the other hand, PopCom revealed more couples are now aware and are practicing the different methods of family planning. Cerezo cited an increasing trend in contraceptive use for modern family planning methods with 45. 9 percent compared to 2008s 39 percent. She said the 45. 9 percent is based on the family health survey (FHS) of 2011. Cerezo added that based on the survey, pills remain to be the most popular method with 19. 3 percent usage in Cordillera, followed by female sterilization at 16. 8 percent, and injectables at 6. 4 percent. City Health Office Family Planning coordinator Gloria Dimalanta said the injectable, which is the depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), is being widely used. The demand for the injectable is high, leading to shortage of supplies. To address the shortage, health officials are encouraging the couples to use other modern methods. In the country, the FHS shows 48. 9 percent of the couples use any method while 36. 9 percent use modern method, and 12 percent use traditional method. In Cordillera, 54. 3 percent use any method while 45. 9 percent use modern methods. III. 1. 3 in 10 teen American girls will get pregnant at least once before age 20. That’s nearly 750,000 teen pregnancies every year. . Parenthood is the leading reason that teen girls drop out of school. More than half of teen mothers never graduate from high school. 3. Less than 2 percent of teen moms earn a college degree by age 30. 4. About a quarter of teen moms have a second child within 24 months of their first baby. 5. The United States has one of  the highest teen pregnancy rates  in the western industrialized world. 6. From 1990 to 2008, the teen pregnancy rate de creased 42 percent (from 117 to 68 pregnancies per 1,000 teen girls). 7. In 2008 the teen pregnancy rate among African-American and Hispanic teen girls, age 15 to 19, was over two and a half times higher than the teen pregnancy rate among white teen girls of the same age group. 8. 8 out of 10 teen dads don’t marry the mother of their child. 9. A sexually active teen who doesn’t use contraceptives has a 90 percent chance of becoming pregnant within a year. 10. Almost 50 percent of teens have never considered how a pregnancy would affect their lives. 11. Teens had  fewer  babies in 2010 than in any year since the mid-1940s. IV. Teenage pregnancy on the rise FROM THE STANDS By Domini M. Torrevillas  (The Philippine Star) | Updated July 11, 2013 12:00am There is evidence supporting the Reproductive Health law   that   calls for   sexuality education   among young students. I am not for teaching the kids to engage in â€Å"safe† sex, but rather, for telling them why they should not engage in early sex, and yes, before marriage. With regulated sexuality education, the young are informed about sex, pregnancy, unplanned and planned, instead of through the internet or pornographic magazines that somehow manage to reach them. Peep into their rooms   and you’ll see copies of Playboy and   Penthouse and other sexy publications tucked between the bed sheets, and   for-adults-only videos in the internet. Figures made available to us show that globally, 14-16 million adolescent girls between 15 and 19 years old give birth every year and pregnancy-related deaths are the leading cause of death for girls   at such young ages. Honing   home,   we have copies of the 2011 annual report of the UNFPA-Philippines office   which report that teen pregnancies in the country rose by 70 percent in a span of 10 years from 114,205 in 1999 to 195,662 in 2009. These statistics were revealed at a press conference the other day by officials of the National Youth Commission, the UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund),   Commission on Population, the National Statistics Office and civil society organizations. At the end of the conference the call was made for collective actions to address the issue. Benjamin de Leon, president of the Forum for Family Planning and Development, an NGO working on adolescent health issues, expressed alarm that almost 10 percent of all Filipino women aged 15-19 have already given birth. â€Å"This is a reality that we must address, he said. There is an urgency for all sectors â€Å"to work together to help address adolescent reproductive health issues and teen pregnancy because of the health and economic implications to the country,† he said. â€Å"A high rate of teen pregnancy also means a high risk for maternal deaths among our young girls. † V. How to avoid a teenage pregnancy VI. How to avoid Bookmarked VII. Philippine teenage pregnancy up 65% in the last decade Data from the National Statistics Office revealed that from 2000-2010, teenage pregnancy in the Philippines has increased by 65 percent, despite an almost 14-percent decline in teenage marriage in the same period. The increase was most notable among girls aged 15 to 19, among which live births rose 38 percent from 2006 to 2011. Researchers from the Family Health Survey disclosed that the primary reasons for teenage pregnancy are insufficient access to information about sexual health and reproductive health services specifically targeted at teens. Teenage pregnancy also puts young mothers at risk of health complications because of poor nutrition and their age, according to Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST). The most significant risk in this age group is undernutrition, as 36 percent of pregnant women below 20 are undernourished, compared with 23 percent for older mothers. This also puts their babies at risk due to low birth weight, short lactation time, and premature birth. To address access to both information and services, Filipinay provided free reproductive health and family planning consultations at select LRT stations nationwide in March. The advocacy is part of DKT Reproductive Health Inc. , the country’s leading provider of reproductive health and family planning products.

Word Choice Cent, Scent or Sent

Word Choice Cent, Scent or Sent Word Choice: Cent, Scent or Sent? It can be tricky to know which word to use, especially when using homophones (words that sound the same as one another). Understandably, some people mix up the words cent, scent and sent. Today, we explain what each one means and when you should use them. Cent (A Penny) The word cent is pronounced with a soft c that sounds like an s. It comes from the Latin word centum, meaning one hundred. It first started being used as a noun for currency in 1786. Since then, it has always referred to a coin worth one hundredth of a dollar: I’m really struggling for money. I’m down to my last cent. Scent (A Smell) The c in this word is silent. It comes from the Latin sentire, meaning sense. It is a noun meaning odor and is almost always applied to pleasant smells, such as perfume or flowers: The roses had such a lovely scent that she fell in love at once. Scent can also be used as a verb, especially when referring to an animals sense of smell. For example: The shark scented the blood in the water. Sent (Dispatched) Sent is the past tense of the verb send, which means dispatch. This word comes from the Old English sendam, which means send forth, throw or impel: I sent my Great-Aunt a chocolate cake through the mail. Cent, Scent or Sent? Hopefully this has cleared up the meanings of these terms a bit! Remember: Cent is a term for currency (one hundredth of a dollar) Scent  is to do with smells and the sense of smell Sent is the past tense of send and means dispatched Happy writing!

Elizabeth Keckley, Mary Lincolns Dressmaker and Friend

Elizabeth Keckley, Mary Lincolns Dressmaker and Friend Elizabeth Keckley was a former slave who became the dressmaker and friend of Mary Todd Lincoln and a frequent visitor to the White House during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Her memoir, which was ghost-written (and spelled her surname as Keckley though she seemed to have written it as Keckly) and published in 1868, provided an eyewitness account to life with the Lincolns. The book appeared under controversial circumstances, and was apparently suppressed at the direction of Lincolns son, Robert Todd Lincoln. But despite the controversy surrounding the book, Keckleys accounts of Abraham Lincolns personal work habits, observations on the everyday circumstances of the Lincoln family, and a moving account of the death of young Willie Lincoln, have been considered reliable. Fast Facts: Elizabeth Keckley Born: About 1818, Virginia.Died: May 1907, Washington, D.C.Known for: Former slave who opened a dressmaking business in Washington, D.C., before the Civil War and became a trusted friend of Mary Todd Lincoln.Publication: Wrote a memoir of life in the White House during the Lincoln administration which provided unique insight into the Lincoln family. Her friendship with Mary Todd Lincoln, though unlikely, was genuine. Keckleys role as a frequent companion of the first lady was depicted in the Steven Spielberg film Lincoln, in which Keckley was portrayed by actress Gloria Rueben. Early Life of Elizabeth Keckley Elizabeth Keckley was born in Virginia in 1818 and spent the first years of her life living on the grounds of Hampden-Sydney College. Her owner, Col. Armistead Burwell, worked for the college. Lizzie was assigned work, which would have been typical for slave children. According to her memoir, she was beaten and whipped when she failed at tasks. She learned to sew growing up, as her mother, also a slave, was a seamstress. But young Lizzie resented not being able to receive an education. When Lizzie was a child, she believed a slave named George Hobbs, who belonged to the owner of a another Virginia farm, was her father. Hobbs was allowed to visit Lizzie and her mother on holidays, but during Lizzies childhood the owner of Hobbs moved to Tennessee, taking his slaves with him. Lizzie had memories of saying goodbye to her father. She never saw George Hobbs again. Lizzie later learned that her father was actually Col. Burwell, the man who had owned her mother. Slave owners fathering children with female slaves was not uncommon in the South, and at the age of 20 Lizzie herself had a child with a plantation owner who lived nearby. She raised the child, whom she named George. When she was in her mid-twenties, a member of the family who owned her moved to St. Louis to begin a law practice, taking Lizzie and her son along. In St. Louis she resolved to eventually buy her freedom, and with the help of white sponsors, she was eventually able to obtain legal papers declaring herself and her son free. She had been married to another slave, and thus acquired the last name Keckley, but the marriage did not last. With some letters of introduction, she traveled to Baltimore, seeking to start a business making dresses. She found little opportunity in Baltimore, and moved to Washington, D.C., where she was able to set herself up in business. Washington Career Keckleys dressmaking business began to flourish in Washington. The wives of politicians and military officers often needed fancy gowns to attend events, and a talented seamstress, as Keckley was, could obtain a number of clients. According to Keckleys memoir, she was contracted by the wife of Senator Jefferson Davis to sew dresses and work in the Davis household in Washington. She thus met Davis a year before he would become president of the Confederate States of America. Keckley also recalled sewing a dress for the wife of Robert E. Lee at the time when he was still an officer in the U.S. Army. Following the election of 1860, which brought Abraham Lincoln to the White House, the slave states began to secede and Washington society changed. Some of Keckleys customers traveled southward, but new clients arrived in town. Keckley's Role In the Lincoln White House In the spring of 1860 Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary, and their sons moved to Washington to take up residence in the White House. Mary Lincoln, who was already gaining a reputation for acquiring fine dresses, was looking for a new dressmaker in Washington. The wife of an Army officer recommended Keckley to Mary Lincoln. And after a meeting at the White House on the morning after Lincolns inauguration in 1861, Keckley was hired by Mary Lincoln to create dresses and dress the first lady for important functions. There is no question that Keckleys placement in the Lincoln White House made her a witness to how the Lincoln family lived. And while Keckleys memoir was obviously ghost-written, and is no doubt embellished, her observations have been considered credible. One of the most moving passages in Keckleys memoir is the account of the illness of young Willie Lincoln in early 1862. The boy, who was 11, became sick, perhaps from polluted water in the White House. He died in the executive mansion on February 20, 1862. Keckley recounted the sorrowful state of the Lincolns when Willie died and described how she helped prepare his body for the funeral. She vividly described how Mary Lincoln had descended into a period of deep mourning. It was Keckley who told the story of how Abraham Lincoln had pointed out the window to an insane asylum, and said to his wife, Try to control your grief or it will drive you mad, and we may have to send you there. Historians have noted that the incident could not have happened as described, as there was no asylum within view of the White House. But her account of Mary Lincolns emotional problems still seem generally credible. Keckley's Memoir Caused Controversy Elizabeth Keckley became more than an employee of Mary Lincoln, and the women seemed to develop a close friendship which spanned the entire time the Lincoln family lived in the White House. On the night Lincoln was assassinated, Mary Lincoln sent for Keckley, though she did not receive the message until the following morning. Arriving at the White House on the day of Lincolns death, Keckley found Mary Lincoln nearly irrational with grief. According to Keckleys memoir, she remained with Mary Lincoln during the weeks when Mary Lincoln would not leave the White House as Abraham Lincolns body was returned to Illinois during a two-week funeral which traveled by train. The women stayed in touch after Mary Lincoln moved to Illinois, and in 1867 Keckley became involved in a scheme in which Mary Lincoln tried to sell some valuable dresses and furs in New York City. The plan was to have Keckley act as an intermediary so buyers would not know the items belonged to Mary Lincoln, but the plan fell through. Mary Lincoln returned to Illinois, and Keckley, left in New York City, found work which coincidentally put her in touch with a family connected to a publishing business. According to a newspaper interview she gave when she was nearly 90 years old, Keckley was essentially duped into writing her memoir with the help of a ghost writer. When her book was published in 1868, it attracted attention as it presented facts about the Lincoln family which no one could have known. At the time it was considered very scandalous, and Mary Lincoln resolved to have nothing more to do with Elizabeth Keckley. The book became hard to obtain, and it was widely rumored that Lincolns oldest son, Robert Todd Lincoln, had been buying up all available copies to prevent it from achieving wide circulation. Despite the peculiar circumstances behind the book, it has survived as a fascinating document of life in the Lincoln White House. And it established that one of the closest confidantes of Mary Lincoln was indeed a dressmaker who had once been a slave. Sources: Keckley, Elizabeth. Behind the Scenes, Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years In the White House. New York City, G.W. Carleton Company, 1868. Russell, Thaddeus. Keckley, Elizabeth.  Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History, edited by Colin A. Palmer, 2nd ed., vol. 3, Macmillan Reference USA, 2006, pp. 1229-1230.  Gale Virtual Reference Library. Keckley, Elizabeth Hobbs.  Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed., vol. 28, Gale, 2008, pp. 196-199.  Gale Virtual Reference Library. Brennan, Carol. Keckley, Elizabeth 1818–1907.  Contemporary Black Biography, edited by Margaret Mazurkiewicz, vol. 90, Gale, 2011, pp. 101-104.  Gale Virtual Reference Library.