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Useful information

If you are looking for some help you can find it here:

- ChildLine - 0800 1111

- The Samaritans - 116 723

- E-motion - www.e-motion.org.uk

- Mind - www.mind.org.uk

- NHS - www.nhs.uk

- i-Rock -www.sussexpartnership. nhs.uk/irock

Breathing Exercises:

This is called Box Breathing: Exhale to a count of four.

Hold your lungs empty for a four- count. Inhale to a count of four. Hold the air in your lungs for a count of four. Exhale and begin the pattern again.

This one is called the 4-7-8 breathing exercise, also called the relaxing breath. At first, it is best to perform the exercise seated with your back straight. Place and keep the tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue behind your upper front teeth for the duration of this exercise. Completely exhale through your mouth, making a “Whoosh” sound. Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four. Hold your breath for a count of seven. Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to count of eight.

Where to get help

Manyof us spend a lot of time on the internet but some may be considered ‘chronically online’. Do you wonder if you’ve ever been labelled as this? We’ll be talking about what this term means, and why it has become so popular. We’ll also talk to someone about their experiences when it comes to social media and the internet.

The phrase ‘chronically online’, defined by Urban Dictionary, means: “Someone who is so absorbed into online life and discourse that they become unfamiliar with things off the internet.” When it comes to the online usage of the term, it has only gained traction towards the end of 2022, but that doesn’t mean that the concept hasn’t always been around. The most obvious characteristic of someone who is ‘chronically online’ is having a skewed sense of reality, calling out the behaviour of another person online that they might think is offensive, but isn’t really. A well known case of this is when a TikTok user posted the comment: “Why is it so normalised to stop drinking when pregnant? Isn’t not wanting your baby to have disabilities kinda ableist?” Many thought this was an example of someone being disconnected from reality!

Tag spoke to 15 year old Olivia Cunningham about the topic. Talking about the term itself, she comments, “All the weird stuff online kinda just infects their brain ... they assume you’re a bigot if you’re not 100% for your cause.” When asked if she thinks she’s ever been chronically online, she said: “I don’t think I’ve done or said anything [debatable]. If I have said anything though, that would be so, so, so embarrassing.”

Now that this kind of behaviour has turned out to be somewhat infamous, it seems that we are becoming self-aware about what we say online. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the act of being chronically online will be wiped out forever. Social media adverts and algorithms will still be encouraging it, but the act of calling people out on their behaviour will hopefully do something about the situation.

Amy Middleton’s Story

Tag spooke to an ESCG student, Amy Middleton (not her real name). She felt overwhelmed by her situation and told us a little about her story. She spoke to us about her stresses, namely family. Her dad suffers from drug addiction, and this started to affect her, “[I was paranoid that] someone who he owes money to will find me.”.

She sought help from the ESCG Wellbeing team to move forward. Amy also decided to get help from a therapist and her friends. You, as Amy has, should seek advice from those around you. It is common to feel like a burden, but those who care for you will want you to feel better and move forward.

Reaching out is the best way to make a change. It is normal to feel down, but if you want help take it! Your GP is used to teenagers coming to them for help, so that’s a good option. Talking to charities or helplines is another path to start feeling better. ChildLine and the Samaritans are known for being good outlets. We have included information for many different organisations on this page for all our readers.

Journalist: Rebecca Walters

Designer: Oscar Cardno

Photographer: Rebecca Walters