Pittsburg High School's The Booster Redux - January 2020

News Pg. 2 Social media frenzy

In-Depth

Feature Pg. 6

Pgs. 4 & 5

When anxiety attacks students

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The Booster Redux Pittsburg High School

Pittsburg, KS

1978 E. 4th Street

Vol. 102 Issue 3

January, 2020

What lies beneath the screen

Research reports overexposure to blue light causes health issues it is the point during sleep when the parts of the brain that affect Words By | Ashlan Brooks learning are stimulated. By absorbing blue light before sleep, teens sing phones before sleep may are essentially losing this valuable part of the sleep cycle and wake up seem like a good way to wind feeling unrested regardless of the amount of sleep they got. down, but it actually has the Losing REM sleep can also put teens at a higher risk for obesity as opposite effect. A specific well as diabetes and high blood pressure, Alcantar said. wavelength of light that radiates from An article published by the Official Journal of the American phone screens, called blue light, can Academy of Pediatrics claims that between 50% and 90% of schoolhave many negative effects. aged children and adolescents do not get as much sleep as they may The wavelength of blue light is need. The pervasive use of screen-based media is a likely contributor short and produces high amounts to widespread sleep insufficiency. Screen-based media devices are of energy, according to Blue Light present in the bedrooms of 75% of children, and ∼60% of adolescents Exposed, an organization that provides report viewing or interacting with screens in the hour before bedtime. information and awareness online. This Sophomore Abe Alonso is one of the roughly 60 percent of teens energy can have long term effects on the eyes and who use their phones before bed. brain of teens and adults who absorb it.

“I’m used to staying up until 2 or 3 in the morning [on my phone],” “Blue light fools the brain into thinking it’s Alonso said. “[I put off sleeping to be on my phone] usually every daytime,” Tammy Alcantar, a registered nurse at the day.”

Crawford County Health Department said. “When that Alonso knows the effects blue light and phone use can have on happens, the body stops sleep in teens. He spends hours each night releasing a sleep hormone before he goes to bed on social media and called melatonin. [This] YouTube. increases our alertness and resets “Usually it’s not me wanting to stay up, Every once in a while when I stay up until the body’s internal clock to a later it’s just that there are other things that look 5 in the morning, each time I blink it feels schedule.” very entertaining,” Alonso said. “It’s just a like sandpaper rubbing against my eyes.”

Melatonin helps control the wake and wormhole of things I want to watch.”

Abe Alonso, 10 sleep cycles in the body. The sleep cycles Blue light and phone screens, in general, of teens, according to Alcantar, are may also be the underlying cause of dry eyes already naturally unbalanced, causing teens to want to stay and eye soreness in teens. Alcantar was a part of a study conducted up later. When these cycles are interrupted by the lack on people with severely dry eyes and saw the results firsthand. of melatonin, teens can start to feel tired and can “I took a break from my computer,” Alcantar said. “And I went back lose valuable parts of their already unusual sleep to be tested and my eyes had improved. They weren’t as dry.” cycle.

From the use of his phone for hours at night, Alonso has noticed a “[When] staying up and using that similar effect. device, it takes a little bit longer “Every once in a while when I stay up until 5 in the morning,” to get to sleep,” Alcantar said.

Alonso said. “Each time I blink it feels like sandpaper rubbing against “Then whenever [sleep my eyes.” comes], you’re not Aside from staying up late, Alonso also admitted to choosing his getting the sleep that phone over homework. This choice coupled with the lack of sleep you need to teens can have from blue light is a dangerous pair when it comes to feel more being successful in school. mentally “[Blue light] could definitely affect some people [and it] could alert. You definitely get in the way of schoolwork like it does for me,” Alonso tend to said. “Like today, we had a test and it was open notes. Instead of have less of taking notes, I decided to be on my phone so I had to improvise on the REM sleep, my test.” and then you wake Because blue light can be detrimental to teens’ health and up feeling sleepy.” performance in school, Alcantar recommends a curfew to counteract REM, or rapid or eliminate blue light before bed. eye movement sleep, “Two hours before bedtime all devices need to be shut off,” according to the Valley Alcantar said. “That is what is stated by the National Sleep Sleep Center, is crucial, Foundation, is that a two-hour window gives time for that melatonin especially in teens, because to start to be released by the brain.”

U

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465nm - 500nm Beneficial light

Blue light consists of wavelengths between 380nm and 500nm.

Blue violet light is the most harmful to the retina.

Solutions

Harmful light

Blue - Turquoise

415nm - 455nm

Blue - violet

Seeing blue

Info compiled from BluelightExposed.com, UnityPoint.org and SprinkleInvision.com

Monitor hours of exposure.

Use night-mode all the time.

Blue turquoise light benefits the sleep/ wake cycle.

Increase text size.

Use blue light filter on eyewear.

Symptoms of blue light

Art By | Audrey Goode

Blurry vision

Eyestrain

Headaches

Children spend approximately

5-7 HOURS a day in front of a screen.

Neck, back and shoulder pain

Dry eyes

On average, teens spend

The average adult spends

8 HOURS

a day in front of a screen.

in front of a screen daily.

12 HOURS

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NEWS

January 2020

Social media frenzy

Students use apps to show support, start drama Words by | Joy Lee

I

to withdraw from family activities and conversations. The amount of time n the last decade, social media has become more prevalent in society spent on social media away from family and friends correlates with the than ever. With a new generation of youth growing up in a technological increase in depression and anxiety among teenagers in this generation. world, social media reaps positive benefits but holds negative additions However, time spent on social media causing mental health issues is not as well. always the case.

According to Cami Buckley, a student writer and researcher at Brigham Research done by Sarah Coyn, a professor of family life at Brigham Young University, the amount of screentime used among teenagers Young University, shows that rather than the hours of time staring at a increased 62.5 percent since 2012, averaging to about 2.6 hours a day in screen, the way teenagers utilize social media has a more direct correlation 2019. with mental health issues.

Sophomore Cheyanne Hunt says she spends about five hours on her Loveland deals with conflict among her students on social media device daily. Hunt believes she uses her screen time and her time on social platforms every week. She sees new ways of connection and media in a beneficial way. communication as positive benefits of social media, but she has also seen “[Social media] helps me talk to people, negative outcomes of those qualities in her office. get to know people, and help people,” “The thing that always scares me about social media Hunt says. “It’s positive because people is that people can say things and can communicate can talk to other people and reach out.” things that they maybe wouldn’t face to face,” Loveland The International Journal of Computer said. “We see negative implications often of people The thing that always scares me about social Applications in Technology and Research communicating things that are unkind or unnecessary.” media is that people can say things and can reports that social media helps teens stay Studies, such as the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, communicate things that they maybe wouldn’t report that negative uses of social media by teens has connected with each other and allows face to face.” them to find support online that they may been a major cause in the increase of depression and lack in traditional relationships. anxiety.

Stef Loveland, Counselor Counselor Stef Loveland believes When it comes to mental health, lack of human that social media provides a new way of connection is what Loveland believes is causing such an communication and provides this support among teenagers. impact. Loveland says it is social media that is leaving people feeling less “When somebody [is] in need, you can rally around a person so quickly,” connected because time is less spent face to face.

Loveland said. “People can show up with support, encouragement, prayer, “That’s the biggest impact we see as counselors,” Loveland said. “The whatever it might be for you immediately.” more people tell us our phones can offer, the more we separate from each Although social media has allowed teenagers to reach out and stay other, and that, unfortunately, will always have a significant impact on connected, there are several negative implications that come with hours of mental health.” staring at a screen; especially on social media.

Loveland believes that, despite the negative implications, social media While social media mainly carves a new path of communication for Hunt, can be used for the better. she has also discovered downsides of social networking.

“We have to have these protected spaces in our lives where we say, “I feel like I use it too much and I don’t get enough family time,” Hunt ‘Okay, everybody, put your phones down,’ and just be together as humans said. “I feel like I’m just always on my phone.” and as people, then I think social media will always be able to be a positive According to recover.org, an addiction to social media can cause one thing,” Loveland said. “It’s up to us and if we can make a difference.”

Snapping the hours away

12 hours

What effect do you think social media has on yourself or others?

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Brooke O’Hara, 9 “Social media has positive and negative effects on people. It’s a great way to reach out to others and share ideas but some times we abuse that privilege.”

7.35 hours 5 hours 4 hours 1 hour

Rachael White, 10

Sam Maceli, 11

Sophie Casper, 10

AJ Ortiz, 12

“I feel like it makes a lot of [people] feel like they need to look like this person [who’s] pretty or skinny or has a perfect life. We compare ourselves to people we see on the internet which really just makes us feel bad about ourselves.”

“I feel like if I post a certain thing I could get judged heavily for it just because it’s not the ‘norm’ or it’s kind of different, but I also think it’s really good because it allows you to connect with the rest of the world.”

“I think it allows me to procrastinate my work because I’m on social media a lot, but I think it’s also helpful because I get to know what people are doing and what they’re involved in. Overall it’s a more positive thing to me.”

“I think social media has a negative effect on both myself and others. It’s a mechanism for students or individuals to harass or bully one another. People use social media as a way to try and find acceptance among one another.”

Hello, winter blues Student battles Seasonal Affective Disorder Seasonal Affective Disorder by the numbers Info compiled from Psychiatry.org and psychologytoday.com

SAD is estimated to affect

10 million Americans

40% of the year

10- 20%

of Americans experience mild SAD

SAD typically lasts about

The age of onset is estimated between

18 and 30 SAD is

four times more common in women than men

Words by | Hannah Gray Winter has arrived and with it comes many seasonal treats. Candy canes, holiday parties and gift giving. But, for some, it can also bring the low moods and bad days associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

SAD is a mood disorder, more commonly known as seasonal depression, that affects about 10 million people in the United States.

Typically, symptoms occur at the same time each year either worsening during the fall and winter months or the spring and summer months according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Oftentimes, differentiating between Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and SAD can be very difficult because of the similarities. SAD is also different than what people call the “winter blues”. As a result of this, many people don’t get medically diagnosed with SAD. Although she has never been diagnosed, junior McKinley Cave sees a therapist and SAD has been discussed.

“Normally I do fine, but during this time I just automatically shut down. And when I shut down

I don’t act like me. It’s not that I’m doing it for SAD may be effectively treated by light and attention, I just can’t help it,” Cave said. “I tend cognitive therapy or through supplements to be short with people and I don’t talk much.” including vitamin D and melatonin. Like other Seasonal depression is different than clinical people with this condition, Cave occupies depression, despite common symptoms such as herself to escape from her symptoms. fatigue, insomnia and poor appetite. Seasonal “I like to write a lot. I’ll write stories because it depression follows the season and usually helps me cope,” Cave said. “I also like to read. manifests differently than medically diagnosed Reading and writing just takes some anxiety depression. Although away and I feel so researchers aren’t much better.” certain as to what Cave encourages causes SAD, it is anyone struggling believed that less with their mental help Normally I do fine, but during this time I just exposure to sunlight, automatically shut down. And when I shut down to not only reach out a drop in serotonin for help, but to also I don’t act like me. It’s not that I’m doing it for levels and changes accept it themselves. attention, I just can’t help it.” in melatonin levels “You have to come could all be possible to terms with it first McKinley Cave, 11 contributing factors. before you can let Cave feels that anyone else tell you there is a difference between MDD and SAD. how to feel about it,” Cave said. “You need to “People tell me I’m fine but in the back of think about how it affects everything else and my head I know I’m not,” Cave said. “When it how you are going to approach it. And most comes to seasonal depression it’s different than importantly, you need to know there are people regular depression. You aren’t just sad all the out there that want to help you and will you help time.” you. You just have to ask.”

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Symptoms may include...

• Feelings of hopelessness and sadness • Thoughts of suicide • Hypersomnia or a tendency to oversleep • A change in appetite, especially a craving for

Info compiled from psychologytoday.com

sweet or starchy foods • Weight gain • A heavy feeling in the arms or legs A drop in energy level • Decreased physical activity

• • • •

Fatigue Difficulty concentrating Irritability Increased sensitivity to social rejection • Avoidance of social situations

OPINION

Booster Redux Staff & Policy Editors-in-Chief Joseph Lee McKenna Hodges Elle Burgess

Online Editors Sarah Alcantar Ashlan Brooks

Social Media Manager Abigail Painter

Multimedia Editor Lane Phifer

Business Manager Braden Benson

Strategic Communications Chair Joy Lee

Staff

Adviser

Emily Smith The PHS Student Publications Department and newspaper class produce The Booster Redux. Please call us with comments at 620-2353200. The Booster Redux's purpose is to inform, educate, enlighten and entertain readers fairly and accurately in an open forum. Opinions expressed in editorials or opinion columns do not necessarily reflect views of all members on the Booster staff.

Digital photos have not been altered to manipulate reality.

Photo illustrations are labeled to reflect any technical alternations. Anonymity may be given in the following cases: the information is unable to be presented another way, the information warrants anonymity, the source's privacy and/or reputation requires protection and the source must be protected from damages.

A student or faculty member death during the coverage period will be covered with a short obituary. The Booster Redux is a member of Journalism Education Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Kansas Scholastic Press and International Quill and Scroll. The Booster Redux encourages letters from students, teachers and community members under 300 words and signed with a valid signature only.

The Booster Redux reserves the right to edit contributions if they are libelous, obscene and for length. Any grammatical errors at the fault of the writer will be printed. Corrections of errors printed at the fault of the Booster staff will appear in the appropriate section of the next issue.

The Booster Redux Pittsburg High School Student Publications 1978 E. 4th St. Pittsburg, KS 66762

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Social media profits on everyday people Words By | Keith Perkins s more young people join social media platforms, I believe that social media outlets are a serious detriment to the mental health of both teens and pre-teens, causing higher rates of depression among users.

Since 2016, Instagram has increased from approximately 600 million active monthly users to over a billion. As social media becomes more massive, it becomes an even more serious threat to its young users’ mental health.

According to a 2018 Pew research center study, 85% of teens say they use Youtube, 72% say they use Instagram, and 69% say they use Snapchat. Between 2010 and 2015, over half a million eighth graders surveyed showed a 33% increase in depressive symptoms.

By 2015, 92% of teens and young adults owned a smartphone and between 2007 and 2015, jumps in depressive symptoms coincided directly with smartphone adoption, according to the Child Mind Institute.

Evidence clearly shows that social media is negatively impacting its users, especially those of a younger age.

On a widespread level, social

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media users look to project their lives as more fun and interesting than they are. This creates tremendous amounts of pressure among users to stack up to their peers, perpetuating unrealistic standards to impressionable users and that pressure leads to anxiety and depression, especially in young users.

Social media is both a useful tool and a harmful business.

Because of its immense popularity, social media has taken a strong cultural stranglehold, has become fully integrated into modern society and it’s here to stay.

This means that companies like Facebook, which reported over $55 billion in revenue in 2018, will continue to make money off of its users and will continue to grow what is a mental health crisis for kids in middle school and high school. There is a mental health epidemic and I place a great amount of blame on social media for exacerbating the issue.

In contrast, social media provides incredible new opportunities to more and more people. In a world that is digitizing, the instant access that social media gives us to communicate all over the world is amazing. Social media allows people to create, edit and post their own videos and photos to

Youtube, Instagram and Snapchat and get millions of views, millions of fans, millions of followers and make millions of dollars, mostly through advertising and sponsorship. People use online resumes and run online businesses both small scale and conglomerate, all using social media to advertise and market to a vast crowd of consumers.

There are pros and cons to social media and there is no easy solution to the problems it presents, but I believe the best thing we can do is continue to spread mental health awareness and to simply be positive on social media. Despite Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter all having an age restriction of 13+, kids lie about their age, or sign up with a parent’s help, consequence free, making age restrictions almost pointless.

I advocate making kids wait before having access to social media until a certain age or point of maturity, but with no means of enforcement, implementing this is up to parents.

We need to continue to educate kids on how to use social media safely. Mental health is an ongoing issue that is not going away, but it’s very important we try and understand it and help improve it in any way we can.

Art By | Lane Phifer

Hannah Gray Alexia Lunday Jacob Mathew Kaley Mussa Keith Perkins Ian Sullivan Mattie Vacca

January 2020

Finishing what you started Quitting is not the same as not returning

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Words By | Elle Burgess I dedicated a lot of time and energy to the school’s dance team my freshman and sophomore years of high school. A couple weeks before auditions came around for my junior year, I began questioning if I wanted to join again.

After two weeks of lots of tears and debating, I finally arrived to a conclusion. Two days before auditions, I decided to not try out.

Dance has been such a big part of my life and everyday routine for so long that it made this decision painfully hard, but being on the high school dance team is not nearly as fulfilling as being on a competitive dance team.

People frequently started asking me, “Why did you quit dance team?”

This question frustrates me because that means I would have left mid-season. Since the

Staff Editorial:

season was over, I wasn’t technically on the team. Therefore, I did not quit, I simply chose not to continue the following year.

Because I am a strong believer in not quitting mid-season, I followed through with my commitment. I persisted by continuing to work hard instead of letting my team down.

Growing up comes with making decisions and this was one of the first big ones that I’ve had to make. At this point, I am happy with my choice, but the process was not easy.

Most people, myself included, wouldn’t think of choosing to be on their high school dance team as such a hard decision.

This was the main way that I was involved in the school. Being on the team gave me a feeling of leadership and I cared about what younger dancers who looked up to me would think if I didn’t do it the following year.

I found the fulfillment of leadership in other places, such as teaching at The Dance Pitt, student council and becoming Co-EIC of The Booster Redux.

I had to make the decision based off of what was going to be best for my health. At the time, I was overwhelmed by school work, overcommitted to too many activities and barely slept. I was physically and mentally drained. I eventually accepted that I needed to put my health, academics and competitive dance team first.

I can confidently say that I made the most beneficial decision for myself and feel better in all aspects. I am doing better in school and have more time to take care of myself along with dedicating hours to my competitive studio.

No matter how unhappy you are in an activity, you should always finish out your commitment. If you feel obligated to continue an activity for all four years, accept that you only commit to one season at a time. Just because you don’t enjoy it the same doesn’t mean you should let the rest of your team down mid-season by slacking off or fully quitting. Persevere through the rest of the season, respect your commitments and if you truly don’t enjoy it, don’t go out for the activity again next year.

At the time this was one of the hardest decisions of my life. Reflecting back on the year so far, I can confidently say that this was the best choice I could’ve made because I am truly thriving. Overall, I feel so much healthier than before and don’t have any regret.

Students need to identify boundaries, place themselves first

For many students, the underlying effects of blue light, various parenting styles and toxic relationships covered in this issue go unrecognized or dismissed.

Additionally, overwhelming classes and overinvolvement in activities are forged paths as a requirement to college. Part-time jobs extracurricular activities continue into the late evening. In our busy, day-to-day lives as students, it is expected that we pile our plates with more than we can handle.

Articles titled “12 Ways to Better Take Care of Yourself”, “Self Care 101” and “25 Best Self Care Tips” litter the internet in support of the “self care” movement. Society encourages people to take time and destress—to alleviate mental health concerns and put their health first. But with the spread of the wellness industry on social media, selfcare has gone from an occasional treat to a necessity.

We believe the issues of stress and mental health covered in this issue should not depend on a push for self-care. Additionally, overinvolvement should not be prioritized over mental well-being. The issues of mental health lie in the fact that students do not have access to mental and emotional health care and that there is an unjustified push for self-care at all. In our September issue, we covered the multitude of services available to students within the building. We encourage our peers to reach out when in need, whether speaking with a trusted adult or contacting their counselor, we hope you take that first step to put your health first.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that close to 14 million adolescents—20 percent—have “mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders”. Out of

these children, only one in five will access help from a medical professional.

Despite these numbers, there is no federally mandated directive in public schools focused on alleviating mental health issues.

Though public schools have counselors, social workers and nurses available for students, it is impractical to expect a nurse or a small number of counselors to singlehandedly care for hundreds of students in need.

According to the Child Mind Institute, adolescents who utilize mental health services in schools are 10 times more likely to seek assistance for mental health or substance abuse outside of a school setting.

We believe schools should be required to expand mental health services to require preventive measures, such as mental health screenings and staff trained to identify problematic symptoms in students. In-school services may also overcome some students’ societal barriers, such as limited access to health care or insurance. PHS is fortunate to offer a variety of services to students, but every school should be providing this type of care as well.

Because such resources are unavailable, it seems that society puts the responsibilities of care on the individual. But rather than relying on self-care, an effective prevention method is to not overwhelm yourself in the first place.

Because enrollment for next year is right around the corner, we encourage students to be thoughtful in course selection and consider next year’s schedule incorporated with your schedule of extracurricular activities and responsibilities.

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IN DE

January 2020

Breaking b

How to identify symptoms of a toxic relation The signs of a toxic relationship are often overlooked or even ignored. Relationships between friends, family and significant others are sometimes difficult to identify as toxic or harmful. According to research conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited (TRU), with American teenagers ages 13 to 18, only 33 percent of teens who were in a violent relationship ever told anyone about the abuse. Below are the stories of two junior girls who have experienced being in a toxic or abusive relationship.

These stories describe the negative effects of an unhealthy relationship between family, friends and dating partners.

Editor’s note: The content featured below contains sensitive material that may not be suitable for all readers. Due to the sensitivity of the subjects mentioned, the names of the students featured have been changed in respect of their privacy.

Frenemy or foe? When to draw the line or bad about [themselves], leave [them] feeling drained and unhappy, place pressure on [them] to change something [that] may even be physically and emotionally harmful.” he tardy bell rings for math class as Elizabeth and her friend sit down to start their bell work. When Forbes says that toxic relationships can also have a physical impact. the time is up, Elizabeth’s hand shoots up just before a friend’s and the teacher calls on her to answer “One study found that being in a negative relationship puts people at a higher risk of developing heart the question. The friend acts annoyed as she waits for Elizabeth to speak and when she answers problems…,” Forbes said. “In another study, researchers found that women with high levels of conflict in incorrectly, the friend smirks, insulting Elizabeth under her breath. their relationships tend to have similarly high blood sugar levels, high blood pressure and high rates of Friendships, romantic relationships and relationships between friends can all develop negative traits that obesity. Research has even found that hostile relationships can even slow wound healing.” have tremendous effects on physical and emotional well-being.

In a 2018 study by Yale University, psychologists from Yale, University of Oxford, and University College Time Magazine references communications and psychology expert Dr. Lillian Glass who is accredited as London observed that people are naturally inclined to forgive others, increasing the odds of remaining in a the person to coin the term “toxic relationship”. toxic relationship.

Glass defines a toxic relationship as “any relationship [between people who] don’t support each other, The study conducted 1,500 participants to observe two strangers (the independent variables). The “bad” where there’s conflict and one seeks to undermine the other, where there’s competition, where there’s stranger sent electric shocks to another person for money and the “good” stranger abstained. disrespect and a lack of cohesiveness.”

While the participants were found to confidently form positive opinions on the “good” stranger, In 2019, Business Insider reported that a person in a toxic relationship is constantly participants formed weaker negative opinions on the “bad” stranger put down. and their opinions became more positive as the “bad” stranger had an According to Elizabeth, her friendship with a peer became toxic after entering high occasional good deed. school. This lasted in on-and-off increments for two years. Elizabeth says her friend was “We think our findings reveal a basic predisposition towards Sometimes we let behaviors happen frequently condescending in the classroom and attempted to assert dominance over giving others, even strangers, the benefit of the doubt. The human because we don’t think they bother us and her. mind is built for maintaining social relationships, even when it takes self-reflection to be like, ‘Okay, “I don’t like jokes about [my intelligence]. It’s a thing for me where I don’t want to be partners sometimes behave badly,” said Molly Crockett, Yale this actually does bother me. What do I do dumb. I also don’t like to be told I’m annoying because I’ve been told that my entire life psychologist and leading researcher in the study.” about that?’” so it really hurts [to be insulted by] someone I care about,” Elizabeth said. “[I dislike] Time Magazine says that Glass encourages people in abrasiveness. And it would happen continuously and I don’t like to be called [those toxic relationships to consider two options.

Elizabeth, 11 things]. [I thought] this person should know that.”

“I really am a firm believer that you have to try to Business Insider cites a violation of boundaries as another signal of a toxic relationship. work everything out and understand why the person is toxic. You may be able “One time [at practice] I gave the last [extra] water bottle I had to another player on the team and she to live with it—but on the other hand, you may not,” Glass says. “[If you can’t], thought I didn’t have water and so she slapped my arm and was like, ‘why would you do that’,” Elizabeth you’ve got to get out of it. We have to not put ourselves in that position.” said. “I don’t like to be hit or touched and it just made me really uncomfortable.”

According to Elizabeth, she distanced herself from the relationship when Business Insider also says that a toxic person does not like to see their friend succeed. she experienced toxicity. Elizabeth recently confronted her friend about “I try not to beat myself up over things, and so one time we were [doing a drill] and she said, ‘well maybe the ill-treatment. you should just quit.’ It’s really hard to give up something you love doing,” Elizabeth said. “I do sometimes “Sometimes we let behaviors happen because we don’t think they think about quitting things because I’m not good at them and that’s not how you should approach life. I bother us and it takes self-reflection to be like, ‘Okay, this actually don’t think telling people to quit things because they’re bad at them is something a supportive friend should does bother me. What do I do about that?’” Elizabeth said. “[After do.” confronting my friend], she grew to understand my boundaries. She’s According to Forbes, toxic relationships can promote high-stress levels, cause individuals to feel “insecure been more respectful about things that make me upset now.”

Words by | Joseph Lee

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Cutting family t Words by | McKenna Hodges

Tears stream down junior Amy’s face as she gathers all of her clothes into a black trash the door. Her stepmother screams curse words behind her. Amy’s stepmother forces he sit on the porch in her nightgown for hours. Other times she would have to go to a gran Amy and her stepmother argued frequently, which oftentimes resulted in Amy tempo overnight with her grandparents.

“It got to the point where every time there was an argument, I would have to leave,” didn’t care who was there, she would scream at me and it made me feel unwanted.”

According to The National Children’s Alliance, nearly 700,000 children are abused which includes physical, verbal and emotional abuse. In addition, almost 40 percent w caregiver of the child victim.

Amy’s father traveled for work for weeks at a time, leaving her alone with her stepm children. According to Amy, her relationship with her dad was good until he got remarried.

“When my dad was there, he would just watch her throw things at me and scream at me,” Amy said. “It was worse whenever he was gone, it gave her “ more of a chance to be violent because no one was watching.”

One day before school Amy’s stepmother became angry with her and a verbal fight quickly escalated to a physical altercation.

“She would tell me that she was going to take me to a foster home, I would never see my dad and my siblings again,” Amy said. “That day, she got so mad that she [dragged me] into the hallway and started throwing metal hangers at me.”

The phenomenon in which a child is the only child to rec singled out amongst other family members is referred or the Cinderella effect.

“It’s hard to tell what turns on the switch, but o that child becomes the scapegoat for all the an said Daphne Young, vice president of commu prevention education at Childhelp.

After Amy’s stepmother became a const the family dynamic towards her became t allowed to leave the house other than to

EPTH

bonds

nship with family, friends

January 2020

5

Are you in a toxic relationship?

If you answer yes to the majority of these questions, you may consider calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233.

Significant Other YES NO

NO

Where are you?

Hello?!

YES

YES

YES

NO

My significant other always feels the need to know where I am at all times.

NO

My significant other puts me down and makes me feel bad about myself.

YES

My significant other YES makes me believe they are always the victim and NO I’m in the wrong.

My significant other threatens to hurt themselves.

My significant other doesn’t respect that I’m involved in many activities.

My significant other gets jealous or possessive when I hang out with other friends.

My significant other cares equally about my happiness as theirs.

NO

My significant other tries to control what I wear/look like.

YES

NO

My significant other threatens to hurt me or my friends and family.

YES NO

YES

NO

NO YES

My friend criticizes me but not constructively.

Friendship My friend thinks everything should go their way or the highway.

YES

YES

NO My friend does not celebrate my success but expects me to be there for theirs.

My friend does not communicate when there is a problem, they just make passive-aggressive comments.

My friend doesn’t listen to my problems and believes their issues are far worse than mine.

YES

What’s wrong?

YES

Nothing...

NO YES

NO

My friend insults/ is mean to me.

NO

YES

NO

My friend manipulates me to believe NO they’re the victim by using guilt.

Family My family overreacts and creates scenes.

YES NO

My family YES often makes NO unreasonable demands.

YES NO

YES

NO

My family puts a lot of pressure on me to meet their expectations.

My family tries to control me.

“

NO

YES

My family doesn’t take responsibility and apologize.

My family uses emotional blackmail.

YES NO

several weeks. During these times, she also was not allowed to visit her mother. h bag and heads for “I felt isolated,” Amy said. “It felt like she was trying to get me to lose my friends and the relationship with my er out into the cold to mom.” ndparents’ house.

During times when the family traveled on over night trips, she was left alone for days. orarily staying “My family would go out of town and I had to stay home,” Amy said. “While I was at home, I had to clean the entire house and if I didn’t do it by the time they got back, I would be in more trouble.” ” Amy said. “She Toxic relationships between parents and children aren’t typically covered by mainstream media but show the same effects as any other unhealthy relationship. “Just as there are ordinary good-enough parents who in the U.S annually, mysteriously produce a difficult child, there are some decent people who have the misfortune of having a truly were a parent or toxic parent,” Dr. Richard Friedman wrote in an article published in the New York Times.

When Amy and her stepmother had arguments, her stepmother would share anecdotes with her friends to mother and her mock Amy. “So many times, she would bring up something that I did, or she would make up a lie and say that I did something stupid or crazy,” Amy said. “They would laugh about it with each other and I couldn’t say anything about it because she would scream at me right in front of them.”

“She would tell me that she was going to In the National Survey of Midlife Development, a study conducted by the American take me to a foster home, I would never Psychological Association, 2,905 adults, ages 25-74, were surveyed. The results see my dad and my siblings again.” indicated that children with consistent parental support reported fewer psychological and physical problems later on in life than those who didn’t receive the same amount of Amy, 11 support.

“Early parental support appears to shape people’s sense of personal control, selfesteem and family relationships,” said Dr. Benjamin Shaw, Associate Dean for Research at the School of Public ceive any abuse or is Health at the University at Albany. “This in turn affects adult depressive symptoms and physical health.” to as scapegoating Amy says that she has never felt support from her step-mother and hasn’t felt support since before her parents’ divorce. once it’s on, it seems Since her parents’ divorce, Amy hasn’t feel like a part of the family. nxieties in the family,” “I felt like all I ever got was a cold shoulder, she was a bully,” Amy said. “My dad never intervened, he was so unications and wrapped around her finger and I feel like he’s scared of losing her after [losing] my mom.”

After nearly six years of moving back and forth from her parents’ to her grandparents’ house, Amy now tant figure in her life, permanently lives with her grandparents. According to Amy, this was the best option for her. toxic. Amy wasn’t “I finally feel free and I feel like my own person,” Amy said. “Before I was trapped and it felt like a prison, now o go to school for I’m free.”

NO

My friend is not interested in the details and important things in my life.

My friend is jealous of my other friendships.

ties: When enough is enough

YES

My family competes with me.

2 YES NO

My family disregards my feelings and needs.

1

YES 3

NO

My family uses me for my success.

YES NO YES

$

NO

6

FEATURE

January 2020

The best solution: How kids combat stress Words by | Abby Painter

I

t’s 6 p.m. on a Friday night in the fall. Varsity football players are preparing for the game, but junior Christopher Saman is finishing his homework for precalculus. At 7, he’ll go on the field to play and, at halftime, he’ll join the band for a performance and then finish the other half of the football game.

“The fall semester is always the busiest for me,” Saman said. “I’ve felt like I was in a constant state of stress since the start of high school, but more so since sophomore year began.”

Throughout the year, Saman is involved in theater, football, band, National Honor Society, after school-weights, SAFE, president of Key Club, vice president of Math Club, webmaster for Drama Club and an officer for HOSA. “Dealing with a heavy workload can be quite challenging at times,” Saman said. “It takes a lot of time management and talking with my teachers and coaches about how to balance it all with the activities that I am in.”

Saman cites the main source of his stress as pressure he puts on himself to do his best in all activities and classes, as well as his mission to be accepted into an elite university.

“In my everyday life, I try not to let my stress control me, but it is constantly something that I think about,” Saman said.

Saman manages his stress by making time for things he enjoys.

“Some of my outlets are taking time to read, playing or watching sports, playing the drums, acting, and watching TV,” Saman said.

Despite staying involved in extracurriculars, Saman says he feels in control of his stress. “[One of my teachers] knows how busy I am and has said that it’s difficult to tell because on the outside I have a very calm demeanor

Positive ways to destress

and because I’m very optimistic,” Saman said. “I always love to tell According to Fischer, her stress is from taking AP U.S. History, jokes to try and brighten another person’s day.”

AP Language and Composition, honors chemistry and precalculus While Saman says he is able to manage his stress along with all of and participating in choir, jazz band, pit band for school musicals, his activities, others struggle to do the same.

Scholars Bowl, archery and National Honor Society.

Oftentimes, freshman Elli DeGruson finds herself in the beginning “I’m always working hard on my assignments,” Fischer said. “So, stages of a panic attack due to too much work. She says it starts it’s a lot of pressure that I put on myself to get really good grades.” with tears streaming down her face, her chest gets tight and she has Fischer’s stress started at the beginning of her freshman year and difficulty breathing. Her arms go numb. The only thing she can do is has increased throughout her high-school career. drink water and wait for it to pass.

“The stress controls me,” Fischer said. “But I’m not having a mental DeGruson, diagnosed with anxiety, is unable to keep working breakdown every night. It’s just like I’m stressed kind of all the time.” when she gets stressed.

Fischer attempts to subside her stress “[My panic attacks] just depend on what’s through positive outlets when she can. happening in my life,” DeGruson said. “If I just “I journal sometimes before I go to bed, so had a bad day it’s usually not bad, but if there’s I’m not thinking about all the things I have to “In my everyday life, I try not to let my stress a series of bad events over the course of a few do and I can put it on paper,” Fischer said. “But control me, but it is constantly something that days, I sort of break down every time I think mainly I just do my work and I don’t put it off.”

I think about.” about it.”

According to counselor Stef Loveland, Christopher Saman, 11 DeGruson’s panic attacks may come students at PHS are learning to deal with their from the work she has to do or an event she stress. witnessed.

“I think a lot of our [students should] come and check-in when they “[They can be caused by] people just being mean,” DeGruson said. need to,” Loveland said. “I [also] think a lot of students will hopefully “It doesn’t even have to be me that’s the target, I just don’t like mean check in with their parents and people at home and just keep an open people.” line of communication so that when they start to get overwhelmed, Despite not feeling in control of her anxiety, there are ways she tries they can kind of have those conversations.” to ease her symptoms and prevent emotional breakdowns.

Loveland also recommends having healthy sleep, diet and “I just ration out my time to undertake this time for this and this time hydration habits. for that,” Degruson said. “I usually just relax and watch TV.” “You have to learn how to practice self care, but that’s really hard Junior Emma Fischer recalls hearing other students at PHS talking no matter how old you are,” Loveland said. “[I recommend] reaching about stress and anxiety regularly. She often feels stressed, but knows out to your counselor, teachers, friends or whoever that might be and she’s not the only case. just saying, ‘Hey, I’m a little overwhelmed.’”

“

Putting together a puzzle

Taking a bath

Paying to play:

Reading a book

Underage substance abuse can lead to lifelong struggle

Multiple factors may influence an individual’s addiction, and McNally believes that it may involve heredity.

Some teens may use their $20 to buy dinner or go to the movies, but Tom, a “I would say that usually there is a genetic component, there’s an environmental junior boy who drinks alcohol and smokes marijuana recreationally, decides to component and there’s a certain type of person that is definitely more likely to spend his money differently. develop a substance use or an alcohol use disorder,” McNally said.

Tom has requested to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the subject.

McNally believes that addiction can come down to human nature.

“Usually I get it from older friends but sometimes I get it from adults, not my “As humans, we’re all driven to things that bring us pleasure, and we run from parents. things that are painful. With drugs, you get you get a very euphoric pleasurable I have a job so I just use my own money. Usually a $20 bottle,” Tom said. “I like feeling, and it also makes your pain go away,” McNally said. “The problem is that it’s the feeling, everything’s funnier when you’re drunk. I also sometimes end up having very short lived and temporary so the body ends up just wanting more and more to deep conversations with friends while I’m drunk.” maintain it. So at a certain point, somebody may begin to use because they have to A study from the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2013 revealed that and not because they enjoy it.” somewhere around 30 percent of 10th graders and 40 percent of 12th graders have In McNally’s experience, often times there is a link between violence in homes used drugs in the last year. and early drug usage.

Dan McNally, a licensed psychologist at Spring River Mental Health & Wellness “A lot of times, when you have a lot of drugs in the homes, you do have some in Riverton, works with people with drug and alcohol violence, and then you have your kids that are exposed to addiction. traumatic things that begin using drugs and alcohol just to McNally is responsible for assessing his patients’ cope with some of the traumas that they’ve been exposed needs, creating a therapy plan and referring them to a to as kids,” McNally said. professional who can prescribe medication if needed.

Drug and alcohol dependence not only affects the I think that for a lot of people it is “I think that for a lot of people it is trying to make some user, but also affects the relationships of their friends and trying to make some type of emotional type of emotional pain go away. Some kids get involved families. pain go away.” in it just because it’s often widely accepted by the “When somebody is solely focused on feeding or, Dan McNally, Licensed Psycologist culture,” McNally said. you know, being being run by their addiction, then that According to McNally, most of the patients he works becomes their top priority and their actions are totally with used substances in high school. driven by that urge and then everything else becomes “out of the patients that I work with probably somewhere in the 50 percent to 70 second,” McNally said. percent range were using drugs and alcohol by the time they were 16 years old,” Tom is no stranger to the effects that substance abuse can have on a family, yet he McNally said. still decides to drink.

Even though there is no good time to start using, McNally believes that starting as “My uncle passed away because he was an alcoholic. He got jaundice and his a teen is especially harmful to the user. liver failed, all he ever did was drink. He was in his early forties, so he was young. I “I see a lot of younger kids that are exposed to drugs at a very young age. That’s keep doing it because It’s just something fun to do. I don’t do it all the time so I feel an especially dangerous time to start using because the brain is not fully developed like it’s okay,” Tom said. and is a lot more susceptible to either drug or alcohol dependence,” McNally said.

Often times, the absence or decrease in effort due to a drug or alcohol addiction According to McNally, most of his patients use substances to self medicate and distances the user and his family. deal with an emotional struggle.

“You just get a different person. You’re dealing with a different individual who “I think that there’s a lot of people that turn to it because it’s available, and they is not totally committing their time and energy into those relationships,” McNally try it and like the way that it makes them feel,” McNally said. “It allows them to self said. “And so, the time from acquiring and using is taken away from the focus of medicate for some type of internal emotional pain that they’re struggling with.” solidifying that relationship, which creates a fracture in the relationship.”

Words by | Ian Sullivan

“

About 7% of adults struggle with an alcohol addiction.

16% of americans are addicted to nicotine.

About 6% of women and 5.5% of men are compulsive shoppers.

2-3% of the U.S. population has some type of gambling addiction.

50% of teenagers reported that they are addicted to their phones.

Playing a sport

Addiction quick facts Information compiled from Drugabuse.com, Addiction.lovetoknow.com, Online.king.edu, Addictioncenter.com, Consumer.healthday. com, Americanaddictioncenters.org, ndbi.nlm. nih.gov and Engadget.com

8.5% of Americans ages of 8 - 18 are addicted to playing video games.

80-90% of adults and children consume caffeine regularly.

Nearly 38% of americans have some type of drug addiction.

FEATURE Constant surveillance:

7

January 2020

Parents utilize technology to monitor teenagers at all times

Words by | Mattie Vacca

R

ecent studies have shown that childrens’ behavior is influenced by the parenting style they grew up with. While helicopter parenting is the most well-known style, there are four distinct parenting types—authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and uninvolved.

Diana Baumrind, a clinical and developmental psychologist, conducted a research project on preschoolers and is accredited as the first to notice that behavior was based on styles of parenting.

According to parentingforbrain.com, she found that each one has various effects on children.

Authoritative parenting is a mix between nurturing and strict.

According to psychologyinaction.org these parents can result in children being more independent and more successful. Studies have shown that while authoritative parenting takes more time and effort, is the most effective style.

Uninvolved parenting is when parents do not provide much care or attention to their child. This style is most likely to cause mental illnesses in children and teenagers. This can cause behavioral and mental health concerns in the kids.

Authoritarian parents have high expectations from their children and have little to no negotiation. Parents often use forms of punishment and make children more likely to develop a mental illness.

Permissive parents are more concerned about being their child’s friend than a parent figure. Since these parents don’t enforce as many rules, it can lead to children having trouble with commitments and following rules.

Licensed clinical professional counselor Ashley Neely explains

More than helicopter & hovering: Modern parenting

how kids react to some of the parenting methods.

“If you have a very authoritarian parent that is extremely strict, you can see an increase in anxiety,” Neely said.

“Going to the other extreme with the not involved, a child can be really self reliant because they’ve had to take care of themselves, but then you can also see an increase of depression because there is still that need for approval.”

According to the Oxford Dictionary, a helicopter parent is “a parent who takes an overprotective or excessive interest in the life of their children.”

Licensed specialist clinical social worker Ali Bishop points out that there are both positives and negatives to this type of parenting.

“Those are the parents that typically hover over and make sure that everything has a lot of follow through.

A positive would be those kids are typically more organized, more aware of how their behavior affects others, but the flip side of that is that those kids often have higher anxiety and they are more concerned with how people feel about them,” Bishop said. “Instead of doing what’s good for them, they’re worried about what their neighbor wants.”

Helicopter parenting has advantages and disadvantages. Junior Tianna Bauder sees some negatives. “[My parents use Life 360] and my mom gets a notification every time I arrive somewhere and it [tells her] the fastest speed I was going,” Bauder said. “Sometimes it makes me feel like my parents

don’t trust me because they have to know every single little thing I’m doing.”

Neely says that parents can’t always see the harm they may be doing to their child and that they just want what is best for their kids. “[Children aren’t] learning how to cope with normal disappointment or failure because they’re waiting on that person to jump in and rescue them.” Neely said. “[The parents] want to rescue.

They have good intentions and they just want [their kids] to be ok and for them to be safe.”

Lawnmower Parent

Dolphin Parent

Tiger Parent

Elephant Parent

“Lawnmower parents go to whatever lengths necessary to prevent their child from having to face adversity, struggle, or failure. Instead of preparing children for challenges, they mow obstacles down so kids won’t experience them in the first place.”

“Dolphin parents have rules and expectations but also value creativity and independence. They are collaborative and use guiding and role modeling to raise their kids. A firm but flexible approach that strikes a balance for parents.”

“The tiger parent is an authoritarian parent. Some tiger parents are authoritarian “directive” meaning pushing and directing their children.

Other tiger parents are authoritarian “protective” meaning hovering and micromanaging their children.”

“Elephant parents allow their children more flexibility and choices rather than definitive and strict guidelines that need to be followed. They may not require kids to stick out challenging situations, and they encourage them to be whoever they want to be.”

According to WeAreTeachers.com

According to PsychologyToday.com

According to PsychologyToday.com

According to Care.com

When anxiety attacks

Counselors teach coping skills, students utilize medication There is no specific age where anxiety peaks. Problems change with age.

According to nurse practitioner Amber Hunziker, the most “[We all have anxiety.] Everybody has to work through something in life common mental health concern in Pittsburg High that they don’t like, or that they don’t prefer,” Ulbrich said. school is anxiety.

According to licensed clinical professional counselor Ashley Neely, “I would say depression is high, anxiety is way and Hunziker, there are certain medications that can be directed toward worse,” Hunziker said. “I think today’s teens have so people who struggle with anxiety. When medication is prescribed, this much more on them than anybody else ever did. means a person’s anxiety is too severe for non-medical solutions.

Anxiety symptoms vary from person to person. Not “[Students need medication] when it becomes a problem in their daily everyone is in the same situation, a different situation life,” Hunziker said. “So if they are unable to walk in the school building, may cause a different reaction. because they’re so anxious about going., [that’s when we prescribe According to counselor medication.]”

Gina Ulbrich, the With medication being given to a counselors see multiple student, risks are involved. students every day who are “[Anxiety medications] do have risk dealing with anxiety. of suicide [related thoughts,]” Hunziker One person may need to relax, [one person “Anxiety affects said. “Klonopin, Xanax, they’re so abused may need to] vent about what’s going on everybody very because they give you that relaxing feeling and some people may need ground work, differently,” Ulbrich almost immediately.” where we help them focus on getting back said. “You can’t According to Hunziker, when a patient to their normal breathing.” put one symptom takes these specific medications, it actually with every person helps with serotonin in their brain.

Gina Ulbrich, Counselor because everybody “Drugs affecting serotonergic neurons experiences different and their receptors are used to treat kinds of anxiety and diseases such as depression, anxiety everybody deals with their anxiety in different ways.” disorders and schizophrenia,” National Institution of Health (NIH) said.

In Pittsburg High School, counselors work to help According to the Oxford dictionary, serotonin is “a compound present students learn how to manage their anxiety so they are in blood platelets and serum, which constricts the blood vessels and acts able to remain calm when anxiety occurs. as a neurotransmitter.” It is known as a chemical substance that keeps “We have to find what helps that person get through people happy. When these specific medications are given to someone that anxiety for that particular issue,” Ulbrich said. who struggles with anxiety, it helps the serotonin in their brain, and keeps Counselors work to provide coping skills so students can handle them happy. situations, even if they aren’t comfortable in them.

After taking certain medications, over a period of time, there can be Coping mechanisms vary from person to person. certain factors that come up.

“One person may need to relax, [one person may need to] vent about “People can develop a tolerance to that after several years of taking it,” what’s going on and some people may need ground work, where we Hunziker said. “That’s when we think about increasing the dose, or we help them focus on getting back to their normal breathing,” Ulbrich said. see how people are doing.”

Words by | Braden Benson

s

My a sthm Pan Pressure St a ress d e m l S tr e u ggle Overwh Sad Nervousness ck a t t ic a

hts

Rapid thoug

Nervous

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8

SPORTS

January 2020

In the spotlight

How students battle stage fright, performance anxiety

Words By | Lane Phifer Despite the pressure that comes from being involved in sports, a heavy workload s junior Emily McGown approaches the tennis court, her palms start to can add levels of stress to student athletes. sweat and her heart begins to pound in her chest, causing her to freeze “While we do expect our students to learn and participate as much as possible, before serving the ball to her opponent. there are studies that show students that are involved do better in school,” activities Like McGown, there are athletes at PHS who deal with morning and director Jeff Staley said. “Being involved is a learning process and our job as afternoon practices, games, competitions, along with school on top of it. These administration is to help our students learn to deal with the workload along with the things can cause students to feel anxious, stressed and overwhelmed. stress.”

“I have a lot of expectations from my coaches and when I’m alone on the court, In order to benefit students who experience immense amounts of pressure, there it’s a lot more intimidating compared to having a whole team weighing on you,” are three counselors and as of this year, a school psychologist to help.

McGown said. “It’s a very black and white situation because you’re either good “The nice thing about Pittsburg High School is that, unlike other schools I’ve been enough or you’re not.” at, resources are available for all students,” Staley said. “I think what we can do as According to sports psychologist Dr. Michelle Cleere, who is based in Oakland, an activities department is to do a better job of making our athletes aware that those California, approximately 90 percent of athletes are affected by performance resources are available.” anxiety (PA). PA is defined as a feeling of anxiousness or stress before or during a Despite the resources offered at PHS, athletic students like junior Shamarrae sporting event that can be caused by the amount of Hardrick have a difficult time to ask for help. pressure athletes experience.

“Anyone should be able to show how they feel and “At a young age, athletes are given high should be able to get help for it. The leading cause expectations, which causes them to put themselves of death amongst teens and young adults is suicide,” As an athlete, there are times where I feel like I into this cycle of perfectionism,” Cleere said. “Due Hardrick said. “As an athlete, there are times where can’t be who I am or show that I need mental help to this, it not only pulls them out of their ability to I feel like I can’t be who I am or show that I need because of the stigma surrounding athletes with play, but they also lose range and motion before mental help because of the stigma surrounding mental health.” competing.” athletes with mental health.”

However, athletes aren’t the only ones affected In the Ted Talk video, “Mental Health Issues in Shamarrae Hardrick, 11 by this. According to Cleere, a majority of students Athletes: The Hidden Opponent,” Victoria Garrick face performance anxiety while taking a test, public displays a survey where thirty-eight percent of speaking or performing on stage. athletes claimed to have struggled with depression, thirty-six percent were Sophomore Mallory Womeldorff is involved in dance, theater and track. Even challenged with anxiety, and eighteen percent claimed to have history with eating though she performs on stage often, Womeldorff says she struggles with anxiety on disorders. and off stage.

“No matter who you are. Your race, age, sex, or hobbies, you can experience “While I do deal with performance anxiety in dance and track, I also deal with hard things. You can go through tough stuff. You can struggle and push through. it in the classroom and when I perform on stage,” Womeldorff said. “When that Depression and anxiety is something in your brain. Not a choice,” Womeldorff said. happens, my breathing will speed up, it gets really hot and my heart races. But I’m “Treat everyone kindly. You don’t know what battles they’re fighting, whether they able to pull myself together by remembering that that moment won’t last forever.” show you or not.”

A

“

What advice would you give to students who struggle with performance anxiety?

Symptoms: • Racing pulse and rapid breathing • Dry mouth and tight throat • Trembling hands, knees, lips, voice • Sweaty and cold hands • Nausea and an uneasy feeling in your stomach • Vision changes

Ways to overcome performance anxiety: • Practice, practice, practice • Limit caffeine and sugar intake • Think about the joy you are bringing to your audience rather than the fear you are feeling

Julie Laflen Speech, Debate & Forensics “During the second week of school I do a lesson over speech anxiety and how to overcome it. We go through some breathing techniques that we do before every speech throughout the semester. I also try to remind them that your audience only remembers seven percent of what you’re saying, so if you mess up they’re probably not going to catch on.”

Cooper Neil Instrumental music “Performing is something that we learn. If you mentally approach performance from the standpoint of, ‘This is different than what I do in rehearsal. I need to understand what I’m going to feel like on stage and that I only have one chance to do these things.’ I think people get that mixed up with this broad term of performance anxiety.”

Susan Laushman Vocal music “I try to provide a safe setting. I will play for or with them and make sure they’re very well prepared before they perform in public. What I try not to do is let someone really talented just not perform, because if you don’t help them overcome their anxiousness than chances are it might stay with them for a long time.”

• Focus on the positive, not what could go wrong • Practice breathing exercises • Live a healthy lifestyle Info compiled from WebMD.com

Bouncing back: Athletes’ physical injuries tied to mental health Association concussions can also be very challenging Words By | Sarah Alcantar because recovery and return to play is unknown.

Physical injuries are common for those who are Student athletes who receive a concussion look active participants or followers of sports. What is not “normal”, unlike a person who is on crutches, which always known is the mental and emotional impacts makes it even more challenging for the athlete to that come with getting an injury. accept that they are injured.

According to the National Collegiate Athletic In addition to concussions, other injuries can also Association, some student athletes can develop affect student-athletes’ mental health and confidence. mental health disorders like depression, anxiety or Sophomore Andrew O’Doherty has experienced first substance use and/or abuse triggered by their injury. hand the effects an injury can have on mental health, In an article by The Atlantic, Marshall Mintz, a such as low confidence, when he received a lower certified consultant by the Association for Applied back and knee injury.

Sport Psychology, said that anxiety and depression “It made me a little disappointed because I had to among school athletes have increased over the past give up wrestling because of my injuries,” O’Doherty 10 to 15 years. Mintz also said that student athletes said. “It has kind of killed my motivation just to know report a higher risk of having that I’m still limited at what I can a negative emotional state do.” than non-student-athletes.

Not only can an athlete’s The correlation between injury affect their mental health It has kind of killed my motivation mental health disorders and but it can also limit future just to know that I’m still limited at injuries can also be tied to experiences. what I can do.” the number of concussions as “[My injury] is worrying me well as other physical injuries. because I may not be able to be Andrew O’Doherty, 10 “[There are] newer studies at my full potential. It is going that have [shown there is a] to affect my other sports and link between mental health disorders and a significant maybe potential opportunities that come with that.” amount of concussions,” Nurse Practitioner Amber There are different ways to prevent emotional Hunziker said. “That’s why most of the time if you’ve effects like anger, lack of sleep, sadness; and lack of had three concussions, you’re out. If [players] don’t appetite from happening as well as mental effects report a concussion or they’re not diagnosed with from an injury. the concussion, [and] they get a second concussion, “Knowing that injuries can take time to heal is a big that’s when we start to see a lot more long-term effects part of being mentally resilient after you’ve had an because the brain never had time to heal.” injury,” said Physical therapist Erin Knox, who has her According to the National Collegiate Athletic doctor of physical therapy, works at Pinamonti Physical

“

Therapy and Wellness Center. “Setting short-term goals and celebrating when you accomplish them can be helpful for your mental health. Practicing good self-care such as eating well, staying hydrated, getting good sleep and surrounding yourself with a positive support system can also help.”

According to Knox and Hunziker, it is important for students to talk to family, friends, coaches, doctors or the school’s psychiatrist for help.

“Definitely reach out to your support system if you’re having a difficult time after an injury,” Knox said.

“Oftentimes, finding someone who’s gone through a similar experience can be helpful too. Don’t be afraid to seek help from a medical provider if you’re struggling.”

Art

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