My Development Across the Lifespan

By AnneH
  • Period: to

    prenatal development & birth

    My mom was very sick during her pregnancy. Had to receive intravenous fluids and medications. Birth was uncomplicated, other than aspirating meconium. Happy Birthday to Me!
  • Period: to

    Infancy to Toddler years-

  • Infancy-2 years (Physical)

    PHYSICAL: I was a busy kid. I liked to play outside with balls and chase the dog. Went from crawing to running (falling a lot too).

  • Infancy-2 years (Social/emotional)

    SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL: This area was disrupted for me. I was sick a lot, had to be hospitalized for a few days. I do think that this was significant in my separation anxiety, which was traumatizing throughout my childhood and is still somewhat problematic for me today. I was an anxious kid. I was ok as long as I was with my mom. My dad could go to work and it was fine. I did not like to see my mom disappointed or sad. I was stubborn with my dad, liked to do things my way.

  • Infancy to 2 years-Cognitive

    COGNITIVE: I became very aware of difference between parents and others. (I wasn't so excited to see "others"). I liked to watch my older sister and play what she played (baby dolls). I could figure out how things worked quickly (even things I was not supposed to).
  • Period: to

    Early Childhood (ages 3-6)

  • Early Childhood (ages 3-10 years)-Cognitive

    COGNITIVE: I went to preschool. I loved to ask why, I needed to know reasons behind things. I learned quickly. I did not like nap time-especially at preschool. I could scare myself about anything because my mind would take the real and spin it into tv or what I heard adults talking about.

  • Early Childhood-ages 2-6years (BioSocial)

    I was a very picky eater, which my father was determined that I would eat what was on the table no matter how long I had to sit there. I was busy, I liked to play outside, build things. I was busy.

  • Early childhood 2-6 years (psychosocial)

    I was anxious-A LOT. I did not want to be away from my mom. I was ok with my dad going to work but not my mom. I was cautious with new experiences, I wasn't happy go lucky. I was afraid of sleeping in my bed (even though my sister was on the bunk above me). I liked routine and structure, predictability.
  • Period: to

    Middle Childhood (ages 6-11 years)-Cognitive

  • Middle Childhood-6-11(cognitive)

    I was smart! I had an excellent memory. I was good at spelling because I could memorize it. I was also good at phonics and having strategy for sounding out words and putting words together for greater meaning. I was advanced academically. I could have been promoted 2 grades (but was nowhere near emotionally ready for that. I was logical, I could get the gist.

  • Middle Childhood (6-11)-Biosocial

    I was a tomboy. I preferred to play with the boys, riding bikes, building ramps. I liked to play sports. When I was 7 I tripped in the snow and broke my 2 front teeth 1/2 off (they were just coming in), I had 12 teeth pulled so that I could get braces early. I was still sick a lot, had to give myself allergy shots daily for awhile. I was active and clumsy.

  • Middle childhood (6-11 years)-PsychoSocial

    I was still Anxious! I cried for my mom everyday in second grade until they let me talk to her on the phone or go home for lunch (if she was home). I didn't feel close to classmates, I sat with my sister at lunch because I was anxious. At home I played with other kids. I had chores, did not get allowance. My mom was going to school at night after working in the day, my crying and anxiety made her chooses to quit which made me feel guilty.
  • Period: to

    Adolescence (ages 11-18)

  • Adolescence (ages 11-18) -Cognitive

    In middle school I had to work harder to get the really good grades. Algebra was difficult, understanding that letters meant numbers and vice versa took me forever to get. In high school I did well. I got a mediocre score on my ACT but it was good enough for me to go away to school.

  • Adolescence (ages 11-18)-Psychosocial

    Throughout middle school and high school I had a core group of friends. In high school we would be considered as part of the "in crowd." I dressed as they dressed. Even though I had a clique, I still felt on the outside. I was very into doing what I wanted to do (outside of school, sports and work). I felt that my parents couldn't say anything to me because I gave them the grades they wanted. I was arrogant and thought certain rules didn't apply to me

  • Adolescence (11-18) Biosocial

    I started my period and cried because I did not want to. I was an athlete which prevented me from becoming obese, but I was still about 10-12 lbs overweight. Like most adolescents, I pushed limits. My friends and I "partied like rockstars." We drank a lot, I never got into smoking pot. We drove too fast. I didn't become sexually active until my junior year of high school (most of my friends had already been sexually active)
  • Period: to

    Emerging Adulthood Ages 18-25

  • Emerging Adulthood(18-25)-Biosocial

    I put on the "freshman 15", I had non-commital sex. I recognized and accepted my physical/sexual and emotional attraction to women. Sex became more of an attached experience than a detached one. My sex drive increased significantly. I experimented more with substances but did much less partying overall compared to high school. I continued to get sick often, required surgery my second semester freshman year, resulting in me returning home to school for 2nd year.

  • Emerging Adulthood (18-25)-Cognitive

    I finally decided what degree I was going to obain. I took the easy road, not thinking of future limitations of my choice (ie income). I focused my grades to meet graduate school expectations. I worried more about how my sexual orientation would impact my life choices. I became more interested in right and wrong as it applied to relationships with others but still remained concerned about myself and what was right and wrong for me depended on the benefit to me.

  • Emerging Adulthood (18-25) PsychoSocial

    My acceptance of my sexual orientation provided stability in my life. I was in a relationship (that I would be in for 11 years), we lived together. She worked and I went to school. Finances were blended. My friends from middle school and high school continued to be in my life. Weddings began to occur regularly. I began to think about still wanting to have children, planning how long my partner and I would need in order to be financially stable and situated in life. I was content!
  • Period: to

    Adulthood (ages 25-65)

  • Period: to

    EPILOGUE

    I want to have my funeral arrangements completely chosen and paid for. I have a will established. Life insurance policies are designated. I have a durable power of attorney, it does need updated, but the essentials are handled. I need to establish advanced directives again. I had done so when I had cancer. These "details" of crisis care and death are difficult to plan for but very essential to spare loved ones some of the stress.

  • Adulthood (25-65)-Biosocial

    I had cancer at 26, stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma. My health has yet to stabilize for more than maybe 4-5 years at a time. I've had many surgeries. My most recent was a complete hysterectomy which has put me into menopause (and it is no joke). I have creeks and cracks in bones. I am forgetful, I get tired easily. I am obese. I see wrinkles and things sag that never did before. My sex drive is nearly non existent. I either take a nap after getting home from work or have to be in bed by 8:30p

  • Adulthood (25-65)-Cognitive

    My decline has already begun, thanks to menopause. I forget easier, my memory recall is slower. As life gets more stressful not less, my ability to think quickly on my feet has declined. The space in my life where I feel most competent is at work,and I'm getting ready to try to change careers. My mom has been diagnosed w/ secondary parkinsonism and now I worry about that loss of memory and function. It seems as if thinking has become tunneled.

  • Adulthood (25-65)-PsychoSocial

    My parents becoming older is becoming a concern. It also makes me think of how am I (and my partner) going to remain independent and productive for as long as possible. I am grateful for being able to do therapy with people for as long as my mind remains able. I have already thought about who am I going to take care of when my son is grown. I don't like to plan far ahead b/c of my cancer hx, it makes me anxious and I feel ungrateful, yet age is creeping up and is requiring forethought

  • Late adulthood (after 65 years)-BioSocial

    I hope to be active and involved in social activities. My eyes have already begun to decline. I hope my senses remain sharp enough to maintain as much independence as possible. Optimizing my health now as much as possible will be crucial to continue to be active.

  • Late Adulthood (after 65 years)-Cognitive

    People in my family have historically been very healthy, cognitivelly, well into their 90s. However, my mom was recently diagnosed with secondary parkinsonism. I see her struggle to remember the words to complete a sentence and wonder if it will happen to me. I plan to work as long as possible so that my brain will be actively engaged for as long as possible.

  • Late Adulthood (after 65)-Psychosocial

    Working for as long as I can to be actively involved in caring for others is my plan. If I don't work as long as I hope, I would like to volunteer. I do worry about being the one that "is left" (as in my partner dies first). I don't think I would do well. She is the outgoing one of us. I hope to live close to my son and siblings so that I have those relationships to keep me active. Mostly, I worry about loss.