random meme

1. Reply to this entry and I will write something random about you.
2. I will then tell you what song/movie reminds me of you.
3. I will pick a flavor of jello to wrestle with you in.
4. I will say something that only makes sense to you and me.
5. I will tell you my first memory of you.
6. I will tell you what animal you remind me of.
7. I'll then ask you something that I've always wondered about you.
8. If I do this for you, you must post this on your LJ.

um...so yeah, comment!

and now, for something completely different

...otherwise known as a real update. well, mostly. so as i think everyone knows at this point, i have an awesome job. and if you don't know this, i'm not sure what rock you've been living under, so yeah. i thought i'd describe it to you all, since people keep asking what it is i actually do.

so, my official job title is research assistant II. why 2? i don't really know, but it has something to do with salary, which is good, 'cause it means i get paid more than i would if i were just research assistant, without the 2. the group i'm working with does research on PTSD, which is post-traumatic stress disorder. this is something that happens to people (not evryone, but some people) who have been exposed to some traumatic event, such as combat or rape or being in nyc during 9/11 or even something more common such as a car accident. PTSD can be expressed in a number of different ways...anything from anxiety and panic attacks to paranoia and auditory or visual hallucinations (this happens often to children who have suffered repeated abuse and is somewaht akin to multiple personality disorder). so, it's an area that has a lot of research possibilities, since there's a lot about PTSD that we don't really know.

the specific study i was hired to work on deal with PTSD and its effects on sleep. sleep is a very vulnerable time for things like nightmares, panic attacks, and the like. so, we're trying to see the differences in sleeping patterns in people with PTSD and control subjects who have experienced trauma but didn't develop PTSD. we're going to be look at sleep continuity and such, but also at different hormones and other things that may affect sleep. so yeah, coolness.

so, what am i gonna be doing? i will learn how to set up the sleep equipment and become a sleep tech. i will also help with recruitment and scheduling. i'm also doing whatever tasks need to be done and have no one working on them. it's fun and cool and i love my coworkers. i wish i had a better idea of where the study was going, but that's being figured out now, so i guess i'll know when everyone does.

ok, that's all. later!