Second Year Indie Magazine Project: TABOO

TABOO Maybe we should talk more?

Social Issues

Lifestyle

Pop Culture

TABOO Issue 1 / April 2017

The purpose of TABOO is to educate our readers on subjects that they’re either scared to talk about or feel aren’t acceptable to bring up in social environments.

By highlighting that these issues need to be talked about, we hope to evoke discussion and create change, one article at a time.

TABOO is a collectively produced magazine, where the content is more important than the individuals. If you would like to find our the author of your favourite article go to www.TABOO.co.uk.

Contact iwanttotalkmore@taboo.co.uk Commissioning Editor Leona Norris Production/Sub-Editor Rhianna Hutchings-Clarke Art Designer Faye Joyce Marketing Manager Amy Barrett

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Contents

Social Issues In this section we give a unique insight into global issues that are happening now. This issue features interviews from two political parties, and asks whether cosmetics are worth the cruel cost.

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Lifestyle We discuss periods in the workplace, body dysmorphia and depression.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are this issues’ invisible illnesses.

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Pop Culture

Š Vecteezy

Books and technology that will challenge your thinking. How does your age affect your opinions on certain topics?

Social Issues

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Democracy, for better or worse Are political parties the only way to gain true democracy in the UK. We talked to the Labour party and the Greens to find out what they think of post-brexit politics and going against the party whip

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Brighton against Trump Q&A with Brighton student, Jayden Mitchell, tells us about the Brighton march against President Trump and why they got involved

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The cruelty of the cosmetics industry Understand how your favourite cosmetic brands test whether their products are safe for consumer use and alternatives to animal testing

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Combatting gender roles in the frontline Chloe Allen and Captain Hannah Winterbourne are two inspiring transgender women who have made history and broken down barriers in the British armed forces

Politics

Democracy, for better or worse

The world of politics is a confusing one, made worse by the conflicting media reports and broken promises in party manifestos. But are political parties the only way to form a democratic government?

©Wikimedia Commons

THE ALTERNATIVE to party politics, which many are now considering, is 650 individual MPs. With no party to pledge allegiance to, voters would have to consider their candidates based on their own traits and campaigns, rather than party-funded ones. It sounds like a nobrainer – wouldn’t it be better to really know who you’re voting for, rather than who is funding them?

But it isn’t that simple.

Can you imagine 650 MPs trying to find common ground? Even arranging the roles of government would take a long time. Would it be necessary?

Chuka Umunna, the Labour MP for Streatham and now a member of the home affairs select committee,

said that political parties allow “those with common values to come together and reach a position on issues that can then be offered up as a choice of programmes for voters”. Despite being a Labour MP, Chuka says she can still agree on certain things with her Conservative peers, and can acknowledge when her Liberal Democrat opposition does something right. And as all large-scale democracies have some parties, we can’t imagine how one would look without them.

Those 650 MPs are likely to only pursue small projects, ones that are easily recognisable and would mean they get re-elected. To tackle country-wide problems without the

help of other party members would be too difficult. As Edmund Burke, a politival theorist, said in a speech to the electorates of Bristol, “parliament is a deliberative assembly of one nation, with one interest, that of the whole; where, not local purposes, not local prejudices, ought to guide, but the general good, resulting from the general reason of the whole.” Having a party means that policy outcomes are more predictable, since candidates can generally be considered in line with their party’s beliefs.

TABOO talked to the Labour party and the Greens to find out if political parties really are the best way to gain representative democracy in the UK.

Ian Boulton, Labour Councilor, Staple Hill, South Gloucestershire How did you get involved with the Labour party?

It started over 20 years ago – I was a member of Save The Children at the time, and the thing that I noticed about a lot of these charities and causes, was that the people who they were trying to influence, the people who made the decisions, were the people in politics.

If you want to have some influence on the direction that we go, then it’s politics that you need to be involved in.

What’s your most significant moment since joining the Labour party?

Well I suppose representing Staple Hill with Shirley Potts is always going to be a big thing for me. Staple Hill has areas of real deprivation – actually the highest level of deprivation of any ward in South Gloucestershire – so there is the challenge of that. But we also have

What do you think about MPs going against their constituency to stay in line with their party?

Well, I’m afraid that I have no problem with MP’s rebelling against the party whip if they can put out a good argument for why they disagree. I think you have to stay true to yourself, and you do have to sleep at night. You have to know that if the decision that you are making is for the greater good, then so be it. It may not be, in the short term, the benefit of your constituency, but if you’re thinking longer term it might have to be done.

If you can’t see any benefit at all for the decision that you’re making, then don’t make it! And if you have to go against your party, or if you have to go against your constituency, you have to be able to sleep at night and know that you’ve made the right decision.

At the end of the day, you have to be able to sleep at night knowing you’ve made the right decision a very changing population. A few years ago we had the eldest population of any ward, and now the dynamics have shifted and we are now about average.

In the last few months we’ve even succeeded in getting a new youth club opened. At a time when there are so many cuts going on, to open a brand new youth club at a cost of hundreds of thousands of pounds, now that’s quite an achievement.

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Why do you believe political parties are a better way to represent democracy than having 650 individual MPs? Political parties help people to get involved. The political campaigns that I’ve been involved in, having been a parliamentary candidate twice, can be in the ranges of £10,000 in the shortterm. Well, for a lot of people they wouldn’t be able to afford that, whereas

a political party can work together to fundraise, to help candidates and give them the resources and financial support that you need. You wouldn’t get that being independent.

If you look at the situation in Bristol, you’ve had George Ferguson as the metro mayor, Sue Mountstevens as Police and Crime Commissioner, and they are fortunate enough to be in a position where they can self-fund a lot of the early seeds of a campaign.

Whereas a lot of people might be worthy candidates, but they wouldn’t have the resources to support their campaign in the way that some can.

In the last election around 65% of 18 to 24 year olds voted – what would you say to young people who haven’t voted?

It’s a worrying trend, because you find that actually that age group is more involved in community issues than any other age group. They’re more involved in charity work, and good causes all round. It’s a shame that the connection hasn’t been made that it’s the politicians who are the decision makers in all this.

I try my best to change that – I’ve been to lots of different schools over the years, got involved in mock elections, and also been to sixth forms where we do voter registrations to get young people on the electoral register.

The opportunities available to young people now are greater than they have ever been for a generation. They may not feel like it, but they are!

Dan Johnston, Press Officer, Green Party, South Gloucestershire How did you get involved with politics, and what drew you to the Greens?

I joined the Green Party in 2013 after seeing the way the coalition government had been running down public services and cutting support for vulnerable people.

The Green Party’s message of equality really spoke to me. As well as being the only party to properly address the looming threat of climate change, the Greens promise a society where wealth and resources are shared more equally, where people don’t face discrimination because of their ethnicity or sexuality.

Imagine the UK without political parties – how would that look to you?

In principle it sounds like a good idea. If every candidate for election was independent, people would be encouraged to learn more about their MPs and wouldn’t vote with traditional party allegiances. It would also make it harder for media and big corporations to influence elections.

With 650 MPs, and no party hierarchy, it would be difficult to know who is allowed to propose laws and how much time to dedicate to each member. MPs would have to rely on each other for expertise in their respective careers even if they didn’t agree on other issues.

I don’t like the way party politics divides voters and encourages

unquestioning party loyalty, but I think it’s probably an unavoidable progression from independent politics.

What are you working on at the moment?

In South Gloucestershire, we’re focusing on local issues and helping our community. Political parties don’t have to win power to make a positive difference, and we’re doing our best to prove it. Over the last few months we’ve organised community litter picks, a Christmas food bank drive and campaigned with local groups to protect our libraries. Hopefully we can inspire more people to get involved and bring back some of the community

and more expensive when we already face huge problems recruiting doctors, teachers and engineers of the future.

But it doesn’t have to be that way – young people have the power to change this. That extra 35% can make all the difference. Your health, your job, your future is up for grabs. Stand up for it, make some noise, seize the day!

How do political parties support democracy, in your opinion?

It depends on the definition of democracy. In my opinion our voting system, the House of Lords and our unelected monarchy are not very democratic at all – yet the most popular party in the UK supports all

The Greens want a society where wealth and resources are shared equally, where people don’t face descrimination spirit that’s been missing from politics in recent years.

In the last election around 65% of 18 to 24 year olds voted – what would you say to young people who haven’t voted?

I fit in this age category myself and so I regularly do try to engage with friends and get them to vote! My main message would just be: look around you. Look what’s happening to your future. The NHS, social care and other public services are all creaking at the seams. Education is becoming more

three of them. I think we, the people, need to uphold the ideas of democracy.

Only by staying politically engaged, and holding our leaders to account, can we truly protect the values we hold dear.

Too many voters go unrepresented, and it’s impossible for ordinary people to hold the House of Lords and the monarchy to account. With our exit from the EU about to shake up the constitutional fabric of the UK, maybe it’s time to take a look at these issues more seriously.

Read the full interviews at www.TABOO.co.uk

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Brighton against Trump In 24 hours a peaceful march against Trump was organised and gained the attention of over 2,000 people. Social media latched onto it as a victory for the UK in sending yet another message to Trump: we are not happy! In less than two months America’s new president has alienated the majority of the younger generation all over the world with his changes to abortion and feminist laws. However, by changing the immigrant laws Trump has not only been labelled as a racist but has prevented Americans from getting home to their families

IT WAS these very acts that motivated the people of Brighton to make their voices known.

Jayden Mitchell (19), student at Brighton University, was one of the many who marched and decided to tell TABOO a little bit more about their experience.

How did you hear about the march?

I heard about the march through a friend who had clicked ‘attending’ on the Facebook event page. A group of three girls had organized the whole event just 24 hours before it happened.

Is there a particular reason you decided to join the march?

I think it’s important to stand up to things you truly believe in.

If you don’t voice your opinions in life, nothing is ever going to change.

What were the atmosphere and the people like?

There was an immense atmosphere of unity and you could tell everyone wanted the same thing out of this. It was truly beautiful to see so many people wanting the same thing and being so lovely and supportive of each other.

How did it feel to be marching for something you believed in so much?

Empowering, liberating, nothing like I’ve ever done. It was an amazing experience.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining a march nearby?

Do it. You won’t regret it.

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The march was labelled a peaceful protest. Was there anything that you saw that may have disagreed with that?

Nothing at all. The march was called a peaceful protest because it was.

What is your personal opinion about Trump and his actions and why?

Like many, many others, I think he is a foul, loathsome and despicable excuse for a human, who revels in causing pain and trouble for others. Why else would someone want to ban an entire race of people? Oh wait, that sounds familiar, I think it had something to do with Germany…

What would you say were the highlights of your day in regards to the march?

The amount of effort and passion everyone had. The fact that we were surrounded by so many people who believe in equality and peace.

What kind of effect would you like for the march to have in the rest of the UK, or even the globe?

To make everyone realise that people have the power to stand up when it comes to things we believe in. We won’t give up, and we will fight.

“ © Jayden Mitchell Photography

If you ever have the chance to do something like this, even if, like me, you find crowds daunting, just do it at least once in your life. There’s no other experience like it

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The cruelty of the cosmetics industry

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COSMETIC TESTING started around 1938 and subsequently many organisations have been set up to try and discourage the use of animals for cosmetic testing. For example, organisations such as PETA, one of the largest animal rights organisations in the world, and PUAV, a London based nonprofit organisation, have been running campaigns against animal testing for many years. So why has this issue still not been resolved?

The amount of animals that suffer animal testing each year is horrific.

According to a press release from Humane Society International (HSI) in January 2017, an estimated 500,00 animals either die or end up in a critical

We have discovered what ingredients are non-harmful so if we only use these ingredients in cosmetics we would no longer need to continue animal tests

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condition due to cruel and outdated cosmetic safety tests.

The most common animals used for cosmetic testing are rabbits, guinea

Š Beverly Lussier, Pixabay

The first documented reference to animal testing happened in the late nineteenth century when Louis Pasteur, a biologist, gave anthrax to sheep to show the importance of vaccines. Since then many tests have been used on animals and one major culprite is the cosmetic industry

pigs, mice and rats. They are subject to having chemicals dropped into their eyes, spread on their shaven skin or even force fed in massive quantities, which on many occasions lead to imminent death. Countries like China, state that these test are a legal requirement for products wanting to be sold in their country meaning such tests are continued as obligation.

The typical tests, stated above, can cause considerable pain and distress to the animals. Exterior physical harm involves blindness, swollen eyes, sore and even bleeding skin as well as many horrible internal issues such as internal bleeding, organ damage, birth defects, brain damage, seizures and death.

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typical tests can cause considerable pain and distress to the animals

These poor defenceless creatures aren’t even admitted any type of pain relief during these experiments. At the end of the testing if they aren’t already dead, they are killed either by suffocation, neck-breaking or decapitation.

So if we know all these horrible side effects why do we continue to test on animals? Companies obviously have a choice on whether they test on animals, however, many still insist on doing so. This is so they can develop new ingredients. These new ingredients do not have existing safety data and so new data has to be created. There are certain regulations that the data must meet and to discover this, unfortunately that means new animal testing.

Why can’t we use non-animal tests?

The question isn’t why can’t we, it’s why don’t we. There are many superior non-animal tests available, however, there aren’t any non-animal test methods available yet for all test areas.

Developing new non-animal methods would take a lot of time, money and resources. However, this doesn’t mean we need to continue to test on animals.

We can eliminate animal testing for cosmetics if we stop wanting to create new ingredients. We have discovered what ingredients are non-harmful to humans and so if we only used these ingredients in cosmetics we would no longer need to continue with animal tests.

Companies could stop animal testing immediately by simply manufacturing products that use the thousands of safe ingredients already established and require no further tests.

These experiments on animals are expensive as well as cruel and inhumane, with this in mind scientists are starting to develop and use methods that replace the use of animals. These modern tests use human cells and tissues, advanced computer-modelling techniques and studies with human volunteers.

Harvard’s Wyss Institute has created a new test called Vitro Testing, whereby they have created “organs-on-chips” that contain human cells grown in an innovative way. They have mimicked the structure and function of human organs and can test on the chip rather than using animals for research.Not only does this mean we can avoid using animals, t the results are more accurate than animal experiments.

There is also a lot of research going on with human volunteers, who are given a very small dose of a drug and are monitored to see how the drug reacts in the body. Micro-dosing can substitute certain tests on animals and help screen out drug compounds that won’t work in humans.

Trying to find out what brands do test on animals can be hard, usually the

ones that don’t, will make a big deal out of this factor. Finding out that your favourite brand does test on animals can be difficult, however, there is information everywhere and there are even apps that have been created such as The CCF app that allows you access to an entire list of cruelty free products.

LUSH is well known for being a cruelty-free beauty company; they make handmade cosmetics that do not use any form of animal testing. They have recently re-launched their best selling shampoo bar to encourage consumers to get behind Humane Society International’s (HSI) campaign to ban cosmetic animal testing.

Hilary Jones, Lush ethics director, comments: “The horror of cosmetics testing will not be over for animals until the whole world switches to more modern non-animal safety testing methods… we all need to keep spreading the message.”

Sign the petition: www.endanimaltesting.org.

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Combatting gender roles on the frontline Until 2000, LGBT people were banned from openly serving for Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. However, now they are allowed to speak openly about their individuality. There are two transgender women who have made a significant impact on how transgender people are treated and viewed in the army

Chloe Allen IN SEPTEMBER 2016, history was made in the UK military as Guardsman Chloe Allen, 24, became the first transgender woman to serve on the frontline; “I had so much at stake” said Allen for The Sun back in September, however, she knew it was worth it to inspire and encourage others to be bold.

Allen joined the army 4 years ago as Ben knowing that she wasn’t comfortable in her own skin, she had felt this way since she was very young.

At the age of eight, Allen would dress up in her mother’s clothes but convinced herself that she had to control her desire to be a female and get on with her life as a man.

When serving for the Scots Guard, Chloe was still living as Ben and was close to being deployed, when a fellow serviceman commented on her wearing the female uniform. After this had happened, Chloe knew she had to do the right thing for both herself and her battalion and tell them that she wanted to be Chloe, not Ben. At the time, Allen had no idea her battalion would gladly accept and treat her as the comrade they always knew and respected.

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Gender didn’t get in the way of their duty. “I shouldn’t have even worried.

The entire battalion’s been brilliant.” said Allen when she boldly told The Sun about her story.

Transgender people are not uncommon in the services as the army accepts a vast majority of people despite their individuality.

The UK military treats transgender people exactly the same as any other soldier, all they have to do is meet the requirements of the gender they identify with. This means both their mental and physical ability has to meet the standards of any other candidate.

There is also a professional network formed by the military called the LGBT forum, where transgender people can find support and advice that may affect their daily lives.

Allen has become the first woman to serve in combat, which has been banned since the beginning of the military over 350 years ago.

Women have been crucial to the support roles and non-combat roles but were never allowed any further.

However, with the support of General

Sir Nick Carter, the head of the army, last July former Prime Minister David Cameron accepted the rule to allow women to serve on the front line.

General Sir Nick Carter said “The British Army is proving itself as an inclusive organisation where everyone can thrive” Which is exactly what it should be in this modern world we are living in. It is easy to ignore the fact that it has taken centuries to make this happen and it is likely that women will have to wait until 2018 to be allowed to serve in combat; but at least it is a start.

Since speaking out, Allen has began hormone treatment and has said that if she hadn’t spoken up, she would still be living a lie. In making history with her transformation, Allen also found happiness within herself.

Hannah Winterbourne Winterbourne began living her life as an openly gay man however didn’t find satisfaction in the gay community.

Winterbourne just wasn’t living the life she wanted and her unhappiness got so extreme that she thought she couldn’t go on living. After finishing a tour in Afghanistan, she knew she had to change, so Winterbourne began her transition from male to female whilst

I suppressed a lot of feminine characteristics, behaved in a very masculine way – that’s how society had conditioned me to be not long after starting she was picked out and sponsored by the army to study electronic engineering at Newcastle University. This gave Winterbourne a step up into the forces and gave her the opportunity she needed to pursue her chosen career. The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst was next where

working in Germany. Speaking about her transition, she said: “I decided to stop living a lie and be true to the person I am – not the person I thought everyone else wanted me to be.”

After a long struggle with finding herself, Winterbourne is finally comfortable with who she is and is

respected throughout the army for her hard work and bravery throughout her transition. She has not only become the highest ranking transgender woman but also the first transgender officer within the military. Winterbourne is a representative for transgender people in the army services, working alongside headquarters to ensure its policies include all individuals. She has won several awards for speaking openly about her journey, including the ‘Ultimate Trailblazer’ award at the Cosmopolitan Women of the Year Awards in 2015.

Looking back, Winterbourne isn’t ashamed of her past life, she has openly spoke about her transition and hopes that she can be a role model for other military men and women. Her life as a man is in the past but she thinks back on it as a way of proving how much she has grown as an individual and how much she has achieved.

© Alamy

ANOTHER HISTORY MAKER is Captain Hannah Winterbourne who broke the barriers of the military by becoming the most senior transgender officer in the service.

Hannah Winterbourne, 29, faced a long battle with her gender orientation knowing she wasn’t happy being a boy from a young age. At 15, Hannah went to college to join the Armed Forces and

Lifestyle

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What you see is what you get Body dysmorphia is a growing issue, especially in young adults. From statistics to symptoms, we uncover the realities of this disorder and how it affects both men and women

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Let’s talk about sex: Menstruation Bristol-based company Coexist has introduced a ‘period policy’ – giving women the chance to work around their menstrual cycles and achieve a better working environment for all

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No weakness in depression Depression is a word tossed around a lot in this day and age but how can you begin to identify it if you or a close friend has it? This article explores symptoms and steps to take if you think you may be suffering

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Invisible illnesses Destroying the stigma surrounding disability. This issue focuses on Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Body Image

Incredibly 91% of women are unhappy with what they see when they look in the mirror. This statistic is shocking, but unfortunately not hard to believe. If you’re reading this, whether you are a girl or a boy, woman or man just think for a moment what thoughts run through your head when you look in the mirror. With that statistic, it is likely that what you think will primarily be negative.

BODY DYSMORPHIA is an anxiety disorder in which a person has an unrealistic and distorted view on what their body looks like. They are convinced that what they see in the mirror is completely different to what their body looks like.

Commons symptoms for someone suffering with Body Dysmorphia are: • Constant comparison of their looks to other people • Becoming significantly distressed by a certain part of their body • Increased anxiety in social situations So how did we get to this point? There isn’t just one answer for this question, however, the growth in social media and the worship of immaculate celebrities is not helping the cause. Whether it’s

Facebook, Instagram or Tumblr you will almost immediately find uploads from celebrities showing off their size zero figure or their womanly curves.

Additionally, the ever-growing popularity of trends such as the Kylie Jenner Challenge are influencing the young generation making them take drastic actions to look ‘perfect’. But what is perfect? With the constant reminder of what people perceive as perfect it is hard to branch out and find your own way, particularly at the time in your life when you are the most subservient to your peers. It isn’t something that should disappear, as the lesson here is primarily to love your body, however, the adored celebrities need to be promoting themselves in a way that doesn’t put their fans at risk.

As you’re reading this it is likely that you are solely thinking of how this affects women, however, this disorder is equally found in both genders. The symptoms are exactly the same and they have motives that are possibly more dangerous than women.

Muscle Dysmorphia is an issue for

© Jesse W Byrd, LMT

What you see is what you get

men of all ages. It is where a man will become obsessive with the muscle that they have and have a distorted perception of what they look like.

Symptoms include: Significant distress if they cannot attend the gym, over-training and steroid abuse.

This has turned something that is encouraged as it makes you healthy into something that is dangerous both mentally and physically. It was found that the most common age for men to suffer with muscle dysmorphia was as young as 19. Similar to women, this is where young people are at their highest level of vulnerability and where actions need to be taken to support these young sufferers.

Although negative body image is a growing issue there are people out their aiming to break barriers and encourage body positivity. There are blogs, vlogs, Instagrams and more, if you need a slice of body positivity the internet has as much positivity as it does negativity.

Be sure to watch the TED Talk on page 29.

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© Emma Arvida Bystrom, Vice

Lets talk about sex

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Menstruation

One period policy is not enough Last year the Bristol-based company Coexist started Pioneering Period Policy: a way for women to work to their best around their natural cycles. But we still have a way to go before menstruation is no-longer TABOO

IMAGINE YOU ARE driving to work one day when a sharp pain shoots through your abdomen. You have to pull over where the pain is so strong, and you clutch your sides for an hour before the agony subsides enough for you to sit up and drive again. Perhaps you are late for work, and when your boss asks you why, you tell them about the mysterious discomfort. Or you keep this unexplainable event a secret.

Now imagine it happens every.

Single. Month. Your boss starts to get irritated with your mumbled excuses, your co-workers start to complain that you’re getting away with it. And yet you still keep silent – that’s better than admitting to everyone that you’re getting your period, right?

Coexist has created an official period policy that allows women to take time off during their periods without being stigmatised. The Pioneering Period Policy was equally not just about menstrual leave though, according to a post on the company’s blog. It was also “about destroying the patriarchal taboos surrounding menstruation,

and challenging society’s negative conceptions of vulnerability in-and-out of the workplace.”

“There is a misconception that taking time off makes a business unproductive,” says Bex Baxter, the director of Coexist, “actually it is about synchronising work with the natural

evolutionary disgust of blood and other bodily fluids. The revulsion response isn’t just specific to periods.

“If it’s inside you it’s fine, if it’s on your finger it’s okay but if it’s outside of your body, for example if you find a plaster on the floor, that’s disgusting, because you’re identifying that it might not be your blood,” Curtis says. “That’s the same for menstrual blood.”

But with half the population undergoing this natural process for around half of their lifetime, why should there be such revulsion? Menstruation, for our species, is key to our survival and propagation. And yet, we feel awkward discussing it.

“For too long there’s been a taboo surrounding periods – I have women

I want us to break down that shame and replace the negativity with positivity cycles of the body. For women, one of these is their menstrual cycles.

Naturally, when women are having their periods they are in a winter state, when they need to regroup, keep warm and nourish their bodies.”

So why is there such a stigma around periods?

Dr Valerie Curtis, author of Don’t Look, Don’t Touch: the science behind revulsion researched why men, and women, are uncomfortable talking about menstruation. The reason, she says, is that humans have an

staff telling me they’re ashamed to admit they’re in pain.” Baxter admits.

This move is obviously a positive one, but it needs other companies to follow suit to be the start of a big change.

Baxter believes that having a period policy is the most efficient way to run a workforce. “It’s not just about taking time off if you feel unwell but about empowering people to be their optimum selves... if you work with your natural rhythms, your creativity and intelligence is more fulfilled. And that’s got to be good for business.”

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No weakness in depression

©Gratisography, Pexels

Depression is a serious disorder that can often be overlooked or mistaken for “sadness.” It is important to be able to distinguish between depression and grief.

Many websites state that you should lookout for certain symptoms and if you experience any of them for longer than two weeks you should seek advice from your gp, or at least a friend

ACCORDING TO the National Health Service (NHS) a person experiencing grief or sadness is still able to enjoy life and be optimistic about the future, whereas a person with depression is unable to feel enjoyment of activities they used to find pleasurable.

There are three different categories of symptoms to be aware of: psychological, physical and social.

The symptoms below have been found on the NHS website, Psychcentral and Psyweb which are websites that specialise in the psychology behind depression and how to spot it. Spotting it sooner means solving it sooner.

Psychological symptoms are the hardest to identify as there are no physical signs. You look for things out of the ordinary such as constant intolerance of others or irritability.

Anything that feels out of character or 18

abnormal could be a possible symptom.

Do you know anyone who finds it hard to make decisions? Like whether to leave the house that day. Has anyone you know been feeling anxious or experiencing feelings of self hate?

changes can lead to other problems such as anorexia or obesity. Other symptoms can include change in your period or a lower sex drive.

Be careful not to jump to any conclusions though. Physical symptoms are easy to spot but that doesn’t mean the cause is definitely depression. Take a look at other aspects of your life first and see if they may be the cause.

Have you been pulling away from your friends or know someone that has? Depression can make you distance yourselves from others. Leading to failure at work and difficulty at home.

One way to help this is to encourage yourself to spend time with people; take time to see your family and engage with your friends. You don’t have to talk about how you’re feeling, just being around people can help. This may in the long term lift your spirits and help to focus your mind into more positive acts.

If you feel you are experiencing any of these symptoms, take a look at your

Depression can leave you feeling alone and often disinterested in people or hobbies you once liked These are common symptoms and should be discussed with a friend, or therapist.

Physical symptoms are the easiest to notice. Changes in your sleep cycle- sleeping too much or insomnia can leave a person in constant fatigue.

Diet changes; are you eating more to feel better or even not eating? This is important to keep an eye on as diet

life and see whether you can change certain habits that are making you feel or act a way. If then you still feel the same see your local gp and you will be able to get the help that is specific to your needs. Depression is a serious illness that often is misunderstood but this shouldn’t be the case, so use this article to educate, understand and spread the word.

Imagine living with an illness that doctors can barely identify, let alone treat. In each issue we will be taking a look at two invisible illnesses and how they present themselves, with the hopes of raising awareness and destroying the stigma

Invisible

Irritable Bowel Syndrome What is it and how does it affect your body?

Irritable bowel syndrome, commonly known as IBS, is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Up to 1 in 5 people in the UK develop IBS at some stage in their life. IBS can affect anyone, but it commonly first develops in young adults and is slightly more common in women.

Symptoms can vary and include abdominal pain, bloating, and sometimes bouts of diarrhoea and/ or constipation. Although there is no cure for What can be done about it?

Firstly, the best thing to do is to keep a food diary.

This will allow you to pinpoint what foods are causing you to get symptoms of IBS, and then cutout or minimize the consumption of these foods.

Current national guidelines about IBS include dietary advice (right), which may help to minimise your symptoms.

Secondly, make sure that you always carry some form of indigestion or IBS relief with you. The symptoms can occur randomly even if you haven’t recently eaten. Relief such as Renie and Gavasone can be bought at any pharmacy and specific IBS relief Buscopan can be purchased over the counter.

IBS, you can easily figure out what causes your own case and then ease the symptoms, with over the counter treatment. Unfortunately, many people ignore the signs of IBS and shrug it off as being indigestion. Less common symptoms include: nausea, headache, belching, poor appetite, tiredness, backache, muscle pains, feeling immediately full after eating, heartburn and bladder abnormalities.

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Have regular meals and eat slowly Avoid missing meals or leaving long gaps between eating Drink at least eight cups of fluids per day, especially water Restrict tea/coffee to three cups a day.

Try to avoid fizzy drinks Don’t drink too much alcohol Limit fresh fruit to three portions a day.

If you have diarrhoea, avoid sorbitol (an artificial sweeter) If you have a lot of wind and bloating, consider increasing your intake of oats and linseeds

Additional help.

If you feel that you may be suffering from IBS go to the following website for further information and advice. http://patient.info/health/irritable-bowel-syndrome-leaflet

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illnesses

Is there an invisible illness that you would like to see featured in the next issue of TABOO? Email us at iwanttotalkmore@taboo.co.uk

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome What is it and how does it affect your body?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a longterm illness that can range from mild to extreme, often causing extreme exhaustion and significant disability. It’s not currently known what exactly causes CFS, though there are many theories such as a problem with the immune system, and imbalance of hormones and onset following a viral or bacterial infection. At the moment, much more research is needed to confirm what it is that causes the condition.

Symptoms will depend on whether someone has mild, moderate or severe CFS, but most people will look well on the outside but be in a lot of pain either after exertion or constant throughout the day.

What can be done about it?

As the symptoms and severity of CFS can vary, there are several different treatments that will be trialled, with each working differently depending on the person.

Some people with CFS will never make a full recovery, but most improve over time and can regain a similar life to that of before they had CFS.

Symptoms can include: • Flu-like symptoms/general malaise • Aching muscles or joints • Nerve pains or pins and needles • Headache or migraine • Sleep disturbance, such as

unrefreshing or very heavy sleep • Difficulty getting off to sleep • Hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) • Problems with concentration,

thinking and memory • Dizziness on standing or sitting up • Hypersensitivity to light and sound • Poor circulation.

Some common treatments include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which aims to manage symptoms by changing the way someone thinks and behaves. Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) involves an exercise plan tailored to the patient’s own abilities.

Finally, medication can be given to control pain, nausea and sleeping problems

Additional help.

As with any new symptoms, always consult your doctor before making any drastic lifestyle changes. For more information on CFS, also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), please go to www.meassociation.co.uk

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Pop Culture

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Books worth a look This section explores controversial books with a common theme. This issue look at two books tackling the tough TABOO of suicide

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What a difference a generation makes In this Q&A we ask people of different ages questions that explore whether our birth date defines the way we look at the world

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Technology take-over: but at what cost?

Are you guilty of spending too much time on your smartphone? We investigate how technology is taking over our lives and how to minimise your daily tech intake

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Must-see TED talks Three TED Talks from three inspiring people, speaking of their experiences and opinions on the topics we have discussed in this issue of TABOO

Books worth a look

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY ©Barnes & Noble Books

This book follows Clay Jensen, a wellliked teenager in high school, who comes home one day to discover tapes on his doorstep. There are 13 tapes, one for each of the 13 reasons why Hannah Baker, Clay’s crush, decided to commite suicide.

After its release, this book churned up some mixed reactions. Not only does it delve deeply into the effects for others after a loved one’s suicide, it also focuses on the descent into the decision simultaneously.

Many see 13 Reasons Why as a call to action to make readers seriously think about their behaviour towards their peers. It is a story that mirrors the struggles of so many that go unnoticed, highlighting the main five things to look for in a suicidal person and how to help.

This book is not one to be taken lightly, it is an eye opening story that unlocks the repercussions of a suicide.

It gives you an interesting perspective about yourself and how your actions, no matter how small, can affect others.

Similarly, this book follows the aftermath of suicide and its long term effects. Our narrator, Cody, is struggling to deal with her best friend Meg’s death. She’s failing college, suffering from anger issues and pushing people away. She discovers a few odd things about her friend’s death and begins to investigate with the aid of a guitarist called Ben who had a history with Meg. This book is also a coming of age novel that follows the growing romance between Ben and Cody. They’re both very different people connected by horrible circumstances and they

©Gayle Forman, Facebook

I WAS HERE struggle with their emotions and connections to Meg. One thing that struck me about this novel is how it manages to pack so much into such a short storyline. It highlights how we can glaze over things that should be given another look, how subtle hints can lead to things a lot bigger, and how one person can make all the difference, whether it is for the better or worse. In many ways I Was Here teaches you the same lesson that 13 Reasons Why does, words have the power to either save or destroy us, we don’t know how others can be affected.

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©Hannah Pirnie, Pixabay

What a difference a generation makes Have you ever thought about how much has really changed over the course of a few life times? We decided to ask a few different people to answer our questions about the world they grew up in and how it has changed today

When you feel the need, do you swear or would you find a back up word, like fudge or sugar?

How do you spend most of your time?

Doreen, 80: I wouldn’t say I swear very often, but I do swear.

Jamie, 25: I don’t use ‘back up words’ – if I want to swear I’ll just do it, in the right place obviously. I think I’d be more agitated using a ‘back up word’ and not being able to swear!

Andy, 57: I do try to use ‘back up words’ if I’m at home and I want to swear – sugar, or something like that. I will swear at work, occasionally, because that’s what you do in a work-shop environment. I don’t like men swearing in front of women, at all. I try not to swear at home, only if I’m really annoyed, and I’d do it as quietly as possible!

Janice, 58: Working, unfortunately. I work five days a week, and then I have a second job on a weekend, and even when I’m at home I’m doing work! I don’t have a lot of free time.

Doreen, 80: Since I’ve retired it seems like I’m doing twice as much than what I was doing before! My days are hard work at the moment as I’m helping out a lot of friends who are unwell.

Now that I have more time I seem to be more involved with everyone else’s life than my own!

Jamie, 25: Work. Outside of work I go to the gym, see my girlfriend, go camping.

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Family 30-64

65+

What is your proudest achievement in your life so far?

16-29 under 16

Doreen, 80: My granddaughters! (she laughs, seeing as one is interviewing her) No, my whole family. I have lovely children, and they’ve made their own lovely families.

Jamie, 25: Probably the time I was a lifeguard, over the course of about 3 years I must have saved at least four people from drowning. One of them was a young boy who’d jumped in the deep end, with no swimming ability whatsoever.

Did/do you contribute to the family income?

Can you describe the community you grew up in?

Dennis, 83: It was a poor community, but everybody was near enough the same. In the summer we’d all go out on the field to play football, cricket. In the 1950’s nobody had a phone really, you’d have to go up the road to make a call on a payphone. And televisions were completely different too. But now things have exploded – technology is everywhere now, and it’s everything.

Janice, 58: Well, it was a generic British community, full of families and young children, where mothers stayed at home or had part-time, small jobs, and the fathers went to work. And we knew our neighbours. We don’t really know them now. Society is much more multicultural now. People stay inside their homes a lot more, not venturing past their front doors. We used to have all sorts of street parties – new year, christmas, any excuse really! But those community celebrations don’t seem to happen anymore.

Dennis, 83: My dad took all my wages, he’d take the 1 pound 50 I earned and give me half a crown in return. When I was married we both had to work, although I was unfortunate enough to be made redundant three times. I was a clicker in the shoe trade, cutting out all the pieces for the shoes and then we’d take them up to the ladies in the shoe room who’d sew them all together – that’s where I met Doreen.

Jamie, 25: As soon as I started working I was giving my mum money, and I do other stuff around the house to help out too.

I think it’s important to all chip in in a family, ‘many hands make light work’ as they say.

Janice, 58: Oh, just a little! (she laughs). I think it’s important for everyone in the family to contribute. It means people understand how much everything costs, and how to value things in the future.

If you could change one thing about society what would it be and why?

Janice, 58: Manners. I do like people to have good manners, and I’m not sure that they do anymore. Or maybe manners are different now, maybe they don’t mean as much.

Jamie, 25: The amount of driving people do for short distances… the impact it has overall is huge, and it’s just not necessary. Not only is it bad for the Earth, it’s also bad for people’s health. But we’re too lazy to change.

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Technology take-over: but at what cost?

As a society we have allowed technology to control our lives, social skills and decisions

Everyone has been exposed to an overdose of technology, and if you stop and put your smartphone down for just a minute this becomes very clear. We are all absorbed in our own technology-saturated world. Anyone who owns a smartphone uses it every day for all sorts of things: browsing the internet, checking emails, listening to music, playing games, taking photos, reading the news, and every now and then for it original purpose: to make a call. It’s remarkable to see that these daily activities can be executed by using one single device.

In an interview with Inside Quest (IQ), Simon Sinek (an American/British motivational speaker and marketing consultant and “ a visionary thinker with a rare intellect”) states that the millennial generation (born between 1981-97) are so used to putting filters on their media posts that this behaviour transfers onto their daily life. We are so good at showing what we want people to see on our Facebook or Instagram that we have started to hide what we don’t want people to see.

In stressful times, we turn to social media for a temporary release rather than a real person. Sinek says this is because engagement with social media and our smartphones releases a chemical called Dopamine. This chemical is accountable for the good 26

feeling you get when you receive a text, a like or a comment. It is also the same chemical that is released when a person smokes, drinks or gambles.

It’s addictive. Sinek identifies that we are allowing adolescents to have easy access to an addictive, numbing chemical from their smartphones.

Smartphones have made everything instantaneously accessible for us, and this affects how we have come to behave in society. Think; if you want to see what’s happening in the news, one click opens your BBC News app, and there, literally at your fingertips, is the news. Need a new phone cable? One click opens your Amazon app, two, three more, and there it is the next day at your front door.

According to Sinek, this instant gratification takes a hard-hitting toll on millennial’s within the workplace. Many new graduates are dropping out of their entry level jobs because they feel within the first eight months that they haven’t made an immediate impact, or they haven’t yet been praised for their work.

We are so used to having everything we need right there in front of us, that when it isn’t, the easiest thing to do is give up on it.

We tend to use devices that make our lives easier and more convenient, and due to this the mobile industry went on to develop one device that

made all others obsolete. Sales dropped for landline phones, desktop computers, digital cameras, mp3 players and SATNAV’s, etc. Not too long ago there was a time when you needed to carry all these things with you. Desktop computers used to be the

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter: a chemical responsible for sending signals between nerve cells in the brain most irreplaceable and valued piece of technology in our lives. However, since the release of smartphones we only use our desktop computers to handle practical tasks, while we prefer to use our smartphones for emotional tasks.

Now that smartphones have erased our use of all other technologies, they are also beginning to erase our capability to socially interact with one another – physically, that is. We seem to be professionals when it comes to social media interaction but do we now lack the ability to communicate on a face-to-face level?

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5 simple tips to spend less time on your smartphone:

Find out how much you are using your phone If you’d like to shock yourself into reducing phone time, maybe some hard-hitting figures would help.

There are various apps, such as QualityTime (Android) and Moment (iOS) that monitor your phone usage and identify just how many hours a day you spend looking at your phone.

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Don’t use your phone as an alarm clock Many of us check our phones just before we go to sleep or even after setting our alarm and then again in the morning when we have turned it off. By using a normal alarm clock instead of your phone you can remove this temptation.

Set up daily phone-free periods You don’t need your phone at the dinner table, in the bathroom, or while you’re watching a movie, so try to set up phone-free periods during the day. Schedule them when you’re busy doing something else, in order to make the separation from your device easier.

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Turn off your notifications It’s too easy to get drawn into social media through one alert. Checking a single notification tends to turn into at least half an hour of phone browsing.

Make a list of things you want/need to do in the day and then reward yourself with phone use Create a to-do list and make the rule that you don’t check Facebook or browse social media until you’ve accomplished something (or multiple things) from that list. This will help you prioritise what you actually want/ need to do with your day.

There’s nothing wrong with social media and smartphones, it’s the imbalance

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Must-See Talks These talks follow on from articles that are featured within this issue. From body image to invisible illnesses to animal rights; there is a TED Talk for almost everything.

Meredith Leston: Believing is seeing: a new perspective on body dysmorphia Meredith Leston gives a personal insight into the issues surrounding body dysmorphia in the UK. Her own story of anorexia has allowed her to grow as a young adult and within this Ted Talk she passionately delivers a plea to motivate people to recognise the ever-growing issue of body image.

Jennifer Brea: What happens when you have a disease doctors can’t diagnose Jennifer Brea suffers from ME making this Ted Talk a heartbreaking and overwhelming one. Brea takes the audience through her own story alongside the implications of having an ‘Invisible Illness’ on her life as a young adult.

Simone Reyes: Animal Rights, birth of an activist Animal Rights Activist Simone Reyes recalls the moments in her career that shaped her as an activist and highlights the importance of standing up for the rights of animals as well as humans. She discusses how her passion for animals has helped her develop as a person and encourages more people to become aware of the torture animals go through for humans.

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We explore the difference between being ‘anxious’ and actually having an anxiety disorder.

Contraception From condoms to the pill, we discuss the ins-andouts of birth control and find out what men and women really think.

Understanding Abortion An close up interview with two individuals with very different opinions on the topic.

Books Worth a Look We will be looking a books on depression in young people and how fiction can raise awareness of the dangers of this mental illness.

The Next Issue

Is anxiety a trend?

Have you got something to say? Let us know and your story could be featured in the next issue of TABOO. Just email iwanttotalkmore@taboo.co.uk to help take a stand on the stuff that society can’t talk about.

Issue 1 / April 2017 / £6.99