Cupid Says “Love Yourself First!”

— Emmanuel Dolo, Reporter

When Valentine’s and high school mix many can’t help but cringe. Relationships may challenge some while drain the ones brave enough to try them; but there is always hope when one changes their perspective.

Loving yourself before you enter a relationship is more important than one might assume. If one prioritizes their individuality above relationships, their self image won’t be dismayed by negative connotations from a partner, or dramatic circumstances that cause stress to all parties involved.

But more often than not, teenagers settle for toxic relationships that glorify labels rather than connection. This stigma gives high school relationships a toxic aura that affects the way teens view love throughout their lives.

Love comes in many forms; such as parents, friends, or romance. But as a teenager, it can be easy to alienate the latter from the rest. Romantic love can create stress and change the flow of hormones in one’s body. This said ‘flow’ can be disrupted due to the draining effects that come with being in an unhealthy relationship.

According to the article “Love & the Teenage Brain,” researcher/ writer Rita Hitching from Medium.com sheds light on how neuroscience has helped scientists discover the unique, ‘secret mission’ of change that the brain undergoes between the age of 12-19.

“When you fall in love, your brain and your body are in a state of stress and high arousal. The increased release of cortisol and norepinephrine (both stress hormones) causes sweaty palms, a racing heart, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, inability to speak, and a willingness to take risks,” Hitching said.

Hitching gives a thorough explanation of what sort of effects are associated with falling in love. Many individuals may identify these effects as ‘natural,’ but the kind of changes a person undergoes are riddled with anxiety, distress, and can drain a person’s feel-good hormones.

Opinion 18

The experience of falling in love weighs on the teenage brain in unique ways. A toxic relationship is far more destructive for the average teenager than any other high school circumstance. The reason for this is because the brain of a high school student is subjected to an unrealistic cliche that can set students figuratively, in their own world.

When the stress of falling in love or becoming infatuated takes effect, an individual’s natural sense of self can be destroyed. This is why inner connection is so important. Keeping your identity intact throughout any relationship is a necessary form of protection.

Although letting a partner’s characteristics change, mold, or influence your own may not seem like much of a threat, making or setting aside time towards preserving individual energy when in a relationship can be the condition that makes or breaks the stability of one’s lifestyle.

Ultimatley, each person creates their own story; but the healthiest choice anyone can make is choosing themselves.

In high school it can be easy for superficial things to appear dull and dangerous, but by focusing on one’s own wellness beforehand, teenage love looks a lot less like an elusive struggle with a stranger and more like a healthy connection that both individuals can carry with them for years to come, regardless of how things end.

It doesn’t cost a person to be kind, whether it be to others or themselves. Realizing this energy sets an individual on the journey of self love, granting a kaleidoscope of passions and confidence in a person that can stay with them beyond high school.

— Cambry Fyllesvold, Feature Editor

February 2023

Mandan * Yesterday at 11:07:55 AM ...