The Pack - Vol. 21, Issue 3

the pack The Student Voice of Monarch High School

Breaking the Ice

A guide to navigating mental health 329 Campus Dr.│Louisville, Colorado│ 80027 Volume 21 Issue 3 November 2018

Flipping the Iceberg

How mental health can affect a person’s life

By Sebastian Manzanares You have a test in math class. A fellow student is complaining from across the

of sadness for more than six

unless it’s completely perfect,”

months,” Van Steenburg said.

she said. Anxiety occasionally

not remember their actions

causes her to skip classes, too.

when they go through a cycle,

People who have depression

he said. Both bipolar disorders

Social worker Mr. Mike

It is possible for a person to

room about how stressed

Davidoff helps special

they are and how close they

education students who are

tend to have difficulties

have psychotic components

are to, “like, a total mental

part of the IEP team and

relating to people who don’t.

involved.

breakdown.” Meanwhile, you

assesses their abilities. He also

are on the verge of a real one.

helps some students work to

Realistically, this math test will not severely impact anyone’s life. However, you

achieve their goals.

He said

feel as though your entire

that many

future depends on doing well

people

on this test. You’re sweating.

suffering

You’re shaking. You’re

from mental

nauseous and dizzy.

illnesses

“Anxieties can be debilitating

won’t

to the point where you

openly share

can’t breathe. Your body

about them

can blackout as a defense

because it’s

mechanism to protect you,”

a personal

Mark Van Steenberg, the

matter.

director of clinical services at

Someone’s

an Addiction Treatment agency

life may

called Choice House, said.

seem

“People don’t tend to think

“

it’s as bad as it is or ‘You’re

I could be sad right now and still do my job and drive my car. Depression really starts to impede itself in your daily activities of life.”

-Mark Van Steenberg, Director of Choice House

“You’ll be normal and functioning, and then, all of a

doing it for

sudden, you have psychosis.

attention,’ or

You’re hearing things. You

to get out of

become really paranoid,” Van

something,”

Steenberg said.

Padilla said.

Padilla has advice for those

According

who don’t have a mental illness

to Van

and want to help a friend who

Steenberg,

has one.

there are

“Just be more aware,” she

other

said. “Learn a little more about

serious

it, so that if someone does

illnesses

come to you with problems,

that

you have some knowledge of

teenagers

what they’re going through.”

experience,

Although life may seem dark

such as

now, it doesn’t mean that it

bipolar

will remain this way forever.

“flawless” in the eyes of others,

disorders. These can cause a

have anxiety. There is an entire

but they may potentially be

person to cycle much more

this is my life right now, and

list of possible mental illnesses

hiding their authentic feelings.

frequently and with many

I don’t know any other way

more emotions.

out,’” Van Steenberg said.

However, students don’t only

that teenagers deal with.

“People can be doing well

For example, everyone

in life, but they might not be

occasionally feels a sense of sorrow. It is a normal emotion

showing it,” Davidoff said.

Leandra Padilla ‘21, suffers

“With Bipolar 1, you have

school, you can change your

brain will turn off. Bipolar 2

social structure, where you go, how you go.

from both depression and

is when you have hypomania,

span of time. Despite this,

anxiety.

which lasts longer and the

after someone has a feeling

“With my anxiety, it makes me usually not turn in work

“Once you get out of high

mania, pressure, pacing. Your

and can go away over a “clinical depression comes

“A lot of it is based on, ‘Wow,

“So, I think a lot of kids see

severity goes up,” Van

high school as a grand finale.

Steenberg said.

And it’s not that,” he said.

Melting misconceptions

Avoid these words that are commonly interchanged What not to say...

Instead use...

“This test is so hard it’s giving me anxiety.”

“Sad”

“I’m so depressed. I didn’t get an invite to that party this weekend.”

“Moody”

“Are you bipolar or something? Make up your mind.”

“Stress”

“Counseling, especially if you don’t want to talk to your family, is a really good thing to do. I do recommend getting a therapist because they can help a lot more than a counselor can. It’s not for everyone, but it’s good to at least try. A psychiatrist is great to have for getting medicine.”

-Leandra Padilla ’21

Need help?

5 options for people who may be struggling

1.)

School counselors are available and free to talk about any questions or concerns about mental health. You can find your counselor, organized by last names, or talk to the counselor on duty if it is urgent. Go to www.mohicounseling.com.

2.)

Talking or informing your parents or guardians about any symptoms of mental illnesses and/or any struggles you have is greatly encouraged.

3.)

If you or your parents feel professional help is needed, a therapist can help by providing emotional support as well as methods for handling mental illnesses.

HOTLINES

4.)

pain medicine. If recommended by another professional or by a trusted psychiatrist,

Colorado Crisis Services-844-493-8255 or text TALK to 38255

Eating disorder hotline- 844-228-2962 Depression hotline- 888-640-5174 Self Harm hotline- 877-455-0628

tor who specializes in physical medicine, rehabilitation, and

Suicide hotline- 1-800-273-8255

Addiction hotline- 877-226-3111

A psychiatrist is a medical doc-

medicines can help with your mental health.

5.)

The Monarch counseling department provides financial aid and support to students who need outside help and cannot afford it.