When the 20-Somethings Have a Bad Day at Work, They Reach for Their “Anxiety Bags”

Everybody has a bad day at work now and then. Some people head for the bar and have a stiff drink, while others choose exercise to relieve the tension. Apparently the 20-somethings — otherwise known as Gen Z — reach for their anxiety bags. Therapists who cater to the young and senseless are charged with helping the little darlings gather some self-regulation tools and keep them within reach for moments of high stress and sensory overload. “It’s a way of distracting and soothing,” explained Dr. Kyra Bobinet. Every anxiety bag differs, depending on what each person needs to calm their nerves. Some use ice packs, some suck on hard candies, others even sniff an aromatherapy wipe. Not every tool works for everyone. Some use noise-cancelling headphones, others listen to soothing music, and yet others fidget with objects that provide a strong sensory touch. The goal is to gradually reduce the number of items you carry, until you eventually reach the point where you can handle ordinary stress without needing the anxiety bag. Who knows, maybe airlines in the future will allow you to bring your “emotional support bag" with you.

 

 

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The Latest Absurd Trend on TikTok

The latest trend taking over TikTok might leave you scratching your head — or picking dirt out of your teeth. Viral videos show users filling miniature clay pots with lime juice, dusting them in Tajin (a popular Mexican seasoning), and eating them whole like a crunchy snack. The trend was sparked by content creator Janeth Herrera, who began craving dirt during her recent pregnancy. Her videos, which have racked up millions of views, have divided the Internet, with a number of viewers seriously intrigued and sharing new cravings of their own. Some have even been inspired to test it themselves, but not everyone is sold on the idea. “Craving non-food substances like clay is known as pica, which is sometimes associated with iron deficiency or other nutrient gaps, especially during pregnancy,” explained Amy Shapiro, a registered dietician and nutritionist. “There is ‘food grade’ clay that has been processed, purified and tested to be safe for human consumption, unlike other forms of clay. However, even if labeled as food grade, it doesn’t mean it’s FDA regulated,” cautioned Dr. Lauren Shawn, a medical toxicologist and emergency medicine physician at Northwell’s Phelps Hospital. Many of these products are classified as vitamins or supplements, she explained, so federal regulators don’t have to vet their safety or effectiveness before they reach consumers. “Bottom line: You are relying on individual manufacturers to confirm the clay is free of harmful contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, spores, et cetera,” Shawn said. In addition to potential toxicity from contamination, eating clay can lead to nutrient deficiencies from impaired absorption and even make medications less effective. There’s also the risk of chipped teeth from munching on ceramics. Fortunately, for many pregnant women with pica, cravings for non-food substances often subside after giving birth and once nutrient levels return to normal.

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The Selective Service’s Dirty Little Secret

In 1977, Eric and Greg Hentzel cheated ice cream chain Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor when they offered free sundaes on birthdays by making up a boy, Johnny Klomberg. In 1984, the Hentzel family received a Selective Services reminder that it was almost time for little Johnny to register for the draft. The problem was, there was no Johnny Klomberg living at that address, or anywhere else. The Hentzel boys’ dad didn't think it was right that a kids' "free ice cream" list should be turned into a Selective Service name harvesting opportunity. At the time, young men were required to register with the Selective Service within 30 days of turning 18, with failure to register punishable by a $250,000 fine or up to 5 years in jail. Selective Service didn't see anything wrong with what they were doing. Nonetheless, news of the ice cream parlor's birthday club mailing list being used to enforce registration struck a number of people as just plain wrong. After public pressure, Selective Service was forced to acknowledge that in 1983 it paid a mailing list broker $5,687 for 167,000 names of other birthday club boys who would be turning 18 that year so that it could remind them to register. Farrell’s was outraged to discover its list had been passed to the government without permission. The list broker, George Mann Associates of New Jersey, acknowledged that it had allowed Selective Service to buy the list without first checking with Farrell's. When this transaction came to light, Selective Service threw out the names it had harvested. The moral of this story is: Be careful what you sign your child up for.

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How Obituaries Use Shorthand to Mask Causes of Death

Obituaries have long employed a secret code, a shorthand to mask causes of death survivors might find embarrassing. It’s not openly discussed, but it’s easy to find. When HIV/AIDS began claiming lives in the 1980s, young men were said to have simply succumbed to “pneumonia.” Today, the codes — “died at home,” “died suddenly,” or simply “passed away” — come out when there’s a drug overdose or a suicide. There’s also a code for gay men that says they were “unmarried” or “a confirmed bachelor.” For many years, families used these phrases to manage privacy during painful times, avoiding the stigma attached to certain causes of death. However, some families are moving away from this, intentionally detailing the cause of death to raise awareness.

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