THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2015
VOLUME 118 ISSUE 39
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | FOR THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE
THE MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUE One in every four college students suffers from mental illness. This issue covers mental illnesses and how they affect the community.
INSIDE 2
More students searching for help at NDSU’s counseling center
6
On the brink of suicide and finding hope: What can be done to help those in need
11
NDSU Athletics maintain plan for strong mental health of its student athletes
2
News
THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2015
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
40%
OF STUDENTS WITH DIAGNOSABLE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS DID NOT SEEK HELP
>80%
of college students felt overwhelmed by all they had to do in the past year
45%
have felt things were hopeless
64% 24%
OF YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE NO LONGER IN COLLEGE ARE NOT ATTENDING COLLEGE BECAUSE OF A MENTAL HEALTH-RELATED REASON OF PEOPLE BETWEEN 18 AND 24 HAVE A DIAGNOSABLE MENTAL ILLNESS
31% of college students have
50%
have felt overwhelming anxiety, making it difficult to succeed academically
felt so depressed in the past year that it was difficult to function
Source: The National Alliance on Mental Illness EMILY BEAMAN | THE SPECTRUM
Counseling Center Sees More Students Searching for Help Free service aids sufferers of anxiety, depression and other disorders
Benjamin Norman Head News Editor
In William Burns’ eight years as director of the North Dakota State Counseling Center, he has seen growth. The center grew professionally, adding two counselors; the center grew physically, now occupying more space in the second floor of Ceres Hall. “And we’ve seen now about a 500 percent growth in the number of students we see,” Burns said. He said multiple factors prompt more and more students to seek help. Firstly, NDSU’s demographics have grown across the boards, with the university serving more students than ever before. Burns said better awareness of the Counseling Center has led to more
students coming through the doors, too. But nationally, more students are seeking counseling centers than ever before. “It’s just the trend across the country,” Burns said. “More and more students are coming to colleges in need of help.” The Center for Collegiate Mental Health concurred with these rising numbers, too. Over the past five years, the rates of students seeking help for disorders have risen for nearly every condition. At the NDSU Counseling Center, Burns said he and his seven-person staff mostly see anxiety, depression, academic distress and relationship issues. He also credited earlier detection and treatment of disorders in primary schools to help students initially get to college.
“We also see a lack of resiliency in today’s students. They’ve not been allowed to fail.” William Burns, NDSU Counseling Center Director “Twenty-five years ago, those students wouldn’t have ever made it to college,” Burns said. Generally speaking, he said today’s students in particular struggle with failure, something he calls distressed intolerance. “We also see a lack of resiliency in today’s students. They’ve not been allowed to fail,” Burns said. “But this generation is the generation, if you read the literature, says they haven’t been allowed to fail.” By being protected from failure in their early lives, students struggle to overcome and cope with obstacles.
“Now when you get to college and start having a failure or two, they don’t know how to deal with it,” Burns said. Stress, naturally, seeps in. Millennials aged 18 – 35, the American Psychological Association reported earlier this year, experience the most stress of any generation. Anxiety is the most reported disorder in America. While dead and final weeks may seem to be the most stressful times for students, the Counseling Center, Burns said, is most busy in the middle of
October through November. “I don’t know if it’s a combination of winter coming on, getting to the really busy time of the semester or firstyear students getting overwhelmed,” he said, noting, however, undergraduate rates are comparable across academic years. “If there’s any group that’s growing, it’s probably graduate students,” Burns said, citing that demographics’ growth and more pressure on students as NDSU becomes more research-oriented. Of the seven professional staff members at the Counseling Center, all are generalists, equating to flexibility in regards to all students’ needs. Depression, as it was reported in 2011 by the American College Health
Association-National College Health Assessment, “found that about 30 percent of college students reported feeling ‘so depressed that it was difficult to function’ at some time in the past year.” Burns said the Counseling Center works with depressed students often, only making referrals to outer resources when students are actively suicidal and need constant supervision. The majority of students, he said, are able to stay throughout their treatment at NDSU. About 8 percent of the student body has used the Counseling Center, Burns said, which is below to near par with the national average. “But if they need it, at least they are coming in to get it,” he said.
‘Love Your Body’ Theme of Eating Disorder Discussion NDSU officials, students spark conversation of body image, disorders Grant Johnson Staff Writer
About 30 million people in the United States have an eating disorder, but the research funds are lacking. In 2011, the National Institutes of Health reported money spent on Alzheimer’s Disease, which more than five million people suffer from, averaged $88 per affected individual. For eating disorders, the average amount of research dollars per affected individual was just $0.93. “It’s a problem in general,” Dr. James Mitchell of the Neuropsychiatric Research Institution said.
“A lot of psychiatric conditions are very grossly underfunded, but it’s particularly true for eating disorders.” Mitchell is the president and scientific director of the Fargo NRI branch. He said in particular, college students are more likely to have anorexia or bulimia. Across the U.S. and at North Dakota State, people are addressing these issues during National Eating Disorders Week. About 60 people were in attendance Monday night during the “I Had No Idea — Did You?” informative seminar. Janet Brown, a dietician at the Wallman Wellness Center, addressed
eating disorders at the Prairie Rose room. Brown said over 20 million females have an eating disorder. Over 10 million males have an eating disorder as well, noting that this number is most likely higher than reported. Another theme stressed was that most eating disorders are not a phase in a person’s life, but a chronic disorder that needs to be dealt with professionally. Brittney Stevenson, a graduate student in the psychology discipline, had a few ways to build a positive self image. “Avoid fat talks with yourself and others,” Stevenson said.
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Body image is of the essence, Mitchell said. “It’s, unfortunately, very common to have this cultural discontent in women in our society,” he said. “It’s very hard to change that. Basically, the emphasis has to be on girls and women having better body acceptance.” He reiterated Brown, saying people should stop comparing themselves to professional models. Media can skew body image negatively. Brown noted the number one reason for eating disorders was a dissatisfied body image. Comparisons were made between an average American female and
professional models. The average American female is 5-foot-4-inches and weighs around 165 pounds. This female also has a healthy Body Mass Index, or BMI of 18-25. The average Miss America contestant had a BMI of 16. “Models’ jobs are to be models,” Brown said. “They are not the standard.” Some tips Brown had were to exercise five to seven times a week for only 30 minutes a day. Eat small and frequent meals about three to four times a day. Make sure that your diet has a variety, and always drink a lot of water. Also noting that to be healthy, women should
not consume under 1,200 calories a day. Men should not consume under 1,500. Once calorie consumption drops too low, the body goes into shutdown mode. Although stigmatized and difficult to handle, Mitchell said treatments for eating disorders have gotten better over the past decade. Eating disorder prevalence, he continued, is leveling. Concerned students can contact the NDSU Student Health Services or NDSU Counseling Center for selfhelp or to assist friends who may be in trouble. Head news editor Benjamin Norman contributed to this article.
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3
THE SPECTRUM | NEWS | THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2015
A military branch breakdown of all PTSD cases reported in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars ARMY
67%
AIR 9%
MARINES
13%
FORCE
Source: Congressional Research Service, Sept. 2010 EMILY BEAMAN | THE SPECTRUM
NDSU Services Offer Help for Veterans Returning to School
ASIST program hosted by Military and Veterans Services
Camille Forlano Staff Writer
Last fall, 462 veterans enrolled at North Dakota State. While not exclusive to those who have served, nor do all vets suffer from it, post-traumatic stress disorder affects people exposed to traumatic or lifethreatening events. Some side effects include increased paranoia, trouble sleeping and repeated thoughts of the event, ultimately causing distress on the afflicted. The Best Picture-nominated “American Sniper” focuses its lenses on PTSD and its consequences. But there’s hope. The NDSU Military and Veterans Services hosted a suicide prevention training through an Applied Suicide Intervention Skill Training seminar put on by
Living Works. Nearly 50 participants attended the training last weekend in the Memorial Union. Participants took part in small group discussions and skills practice. Videos on suicide intervention were shown, participants learned about suicide first aid and received an ASIST certificate upon completion of the full two-day training. Kaarin Remmich, NDSU Military and Veteran’s Services Coordinator, said the event went well and looks forward to the event again in the future. “This group of people strive at being leaders, and this event gives them the opportunity to use their leadership skills in our community,” Remmich said. Anyone who goes through an extreme event can suffer from PTSD, including, for example, rape and abuse victims.
The issue is most commonly found in veterans and military who return from war. However, it varies for those who develop symptoms. According to the Veteran Administration website, it is unclear why some develop PTSD and others do not. One reason may be the intensity of the trauma and how long it lasted, if the person lost someone during the event and how much support the person received after the event. Calie Craddock, NDSU student senate member and ND Army National Guard Member wants students to know that the person sitting next to them could have PTSD, but you would never know. “It’s something that happened to them but they function very well,” Craddock said. “These are students with very diverse experiences, and I
encourage students to be open and non-judgmental but to not ask them uncomfortable questions. A lot aren’t comfortable being asked questions about their experience, they just want to be supported.” The VA suggests psychotherapy or counseling for PTSD, along with the use of prescribed medications. The policies at the VA, however, have been scrutinized after it was discovered many veterans wait months for counseling and become dependent on the medications they are given. The VA estimated 22 veterans commit suicide every day in a 2012 report. Many also face unemployment, social isolation, homelessness or addiction as they struggle to live with what they experienced as soldiers and the difficulty of adjusting to life back at home. Often,
problems are connected to PTSD. “A lot of these veterans returning to school are older, have families and may even have physical disabilities from the war,” Craddock said. “Their unique experiences make them a unique community in our school.” On Feb. 3, Obama signed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, a bill named after a Marine Corps veteran who killed himself in 2011 after he struggled with PTSD following his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He, too, had reportedly waited months to see a psychiatrist, according to an USNews article. The bill requires independent reviews of the VA and Department of Defense programs aimed at prevention, creates peer support and community outreach programs and
forms a program to repay loan debt for psychiatry students to encourage them to work in the VA health system. Remmich wants the community to know about an upcoming opportunity titled VALOR, or the veteran alliance organization. Students, faculty and staff will be educated about the unique needs for veterans. The program will begin this semester at the end of March into April. PTSD has four common symptoms including: experiencing bad memories or nightmares, also known as night-terrors, causing flashbacks to the event; avoiding situations that remind them of the event — for example, many veterans struggle to watch fireworks displays after deployment; feelings of negativity from guilt or fear; and becoming more alert and on the lookout for danger.
Bringing Light to Seasonal Affective Disorder and the Winter Blues
Disorder common in those between the ages 15-55
Pace Maier
Co-News Editor
Frigid weather, wind that blows in your face from every direction and snow is what you can expect when you come to Fargo. Seasonal Affective Disorder is commonly seen in people who live in the most northern states of the United States. North Dakota is one of those states. SAD is a mental health condition characterized by a seasonal onset of depression-like symptoms and is more prevalent in northern latitudes. However, the effect of the actual latitude is small, Jon Ulven, the department chair of adult psychology at Sanford
of depression is actually really hard to know, especially a college-age student. They could be going through having just a difficult semester, it could be triggered by other circumstances than the seasonal component,” Ulven said. “You need to have a pattern that actually takes a couple years to know that’s your pattern.” Ulven said he was recently sent a study estimating up to 9.7 percent of the population is experiencing SAD. One of the best solutions is light therapy, which works on the serotonin and melatonin in the body and trigger stimulation to parts of the brain. Anti-depression
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medication and therapy are also possible solutions. “Psychotherapy tends to be pretty effective as well,” Ulven said. “A talkbased therapy, it’s called a cognitive behavioral therapy.” Tanning, however, is not an effective means of treating seasonal depression. “There is absolutely no evidence to support the use of tanning beds to assist with SAD,” Ulven said. “If there is any benefit from it whatsoever, it’s because sometimes people feel better about themselves when they tan, but that of course can carry so many other risks that go along with sitting in a tanning bed that certainly outweigh the benefits.” Especially during the
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Health, said. There are two types of SAD: the fall onset and the less common spring onset. “What folks will notice is that their symptoms will usually start to come on in the September or October time-frame,” Ulven said, “and then what they notice is that there is also a time on the other end in the spring when their symptoms tend to decrease significantly or sometimes remit all together.” Symptoms include increased sleep and appetite, weight loss or gain, feelings of irritability and leaden — meaning limbs tend to have a heavier, oppressed-type of feeling. “The first time you go through having symptoms
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winter months, North Dakota State students may feel the winter blues, but NDSU student Cole Johnson said he uses the wintertime to improve himself. “Winter is a good time to make improvements to one’s self — whether it be using the extra time inside to hit the books, or go to the wellness and get a few extra workouts in,” Johnson said. “Less time for fun leaves more time for work.” Ulven said working out can be just as beneficial as any other solution to SAD. “There is some pretty good research out there as well that demonstrates regularly working out at the gym can be as effective as an anti-depression medication,” Ulven said.
GABBY HARTZE | THE SPECTRUM
Light boxes can help combat Seasonal Affective Disorder.
For students who use the NDSU Counseling Center’s services, light boxes are available for trial use.
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4 THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2015
Features
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
The stigmatization of eating disorders can only be eliminated though open discussion.
MICHAL MACKU | PHOTO COURTESY
FARGO FASHION
Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphia
Amber Zolondek Staff Writer
As an incoming freshman, I had reoccurring nightmares about how I was going to make it through my first year of college without gaining the treacherous “freshman fifteen” I had heard so much about. Throughout high school and still to this day, my body image is a problem with which I continuously struggle. I am not alone. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (NAANAD), 91 percent of college-aged women were reported to use dieting to monitor or control their weight, while 22 percent revealed they dieted “often”
or “always.” While dieting or watching your food intake isn’t concerning, it becomes just that once it starts becoming obsessive. Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder that many do not realize is also a mental illness. In fact, it has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. The Mayo Clinic defines anorexia nervosa as, “An eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of body weight.” Most consider eating disorders as illnesses that apply only to women, but that is far from true. An estimated 10-15 percent of those that suffer from anorexia or bulimia are actually men. The Huffington Post even uncovered one study that found 20 percent
‘Manarexics’: Tessa Beck
Features Editor
Of every mental illness, eating disorders carry the highest mortality rate according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. What many fail to consider is that this dangerous affliction is not gender biased. Because men account for only 15 percent of eating disorder sufferers, the factors that drive their behavior are often overlooked. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder are all most commonly viewed as “women’s disorders,” resulting in a gendered stigmatization. As with most psychological disorders, discussing, or especially reaching out for help, is still unfortunately considered taboo in many cases. Gender roles and the conflict involved with masculinity in eating disorders leave most men reeling in silence. This is not to undermine the prevalence, challenges or the severity of eating disorders within women but more so to address the ramifications for both genders. The onset of any variation of an eating disorder, like all mental illnesses, is a hugely obscure combination of internal and external factors. The National Eating Disorders Association indicated that nearly 50 percent of eating disorder victims meet the criteria for depression. Other common personal traits include perfectionism, neuroticism and other addictive tendencies
of some of the most “elite” male athletes have shown more signs of having an eating disorder than their control group of females. While some may consider it silly to starve themselves for the purpose of losing weight, it’s the solution for others. It is a serious issue to confront eating disorders as a mental illness because it is body dysmorphia on turbo. When someone is struggling with body image, they are seeing their reflection as something that it actually is not. On the other end of the spectrum, there is binge-eating disorder, where one consumes an unnaturally large amount of food in one sitting. It can be from depression, stress or other personal reasons and symptoms. A few ways you can battle poor body image issues, and even tackle the scary
battle of an eating disorder, is to make an appointment with the NDSU Counseling Center. It is a free service to students and is completely confidential. Make the call to better your mental health and face the demon head on. You can also monitor you eating habits with the help of our dietician, Janet Brown, located in the Wallman Wellness Center. She can teach you about portions, healthy snacking and other tips and facts that will help you understand what’s going to fuel your body. By tackling poor eating habits, whether it’s under-eating or overeating, there are several outlets you can go to for help and guidance.
The Silent Sufferers
– all non-gender specific. Outside factors are what mildly separates the experience for men and women. Generally with women, body dysmorphia manifests in the singular goal for thinness and control. In men, it varies between thinness or muscularity. There are two types of unattainable bodies being thrown at boys today. NEDA indicated the overtly muscular build of a man’s body has increased greatly since the ‘70s in media culture, throwing some into an over-exercising, under-feeding crash routine. The other is a more recent trend, influenced by the bone-thin boys of the fashion world. Specifically, the male model lineup for Saint Laurent in recent seasons has sparked discussion about “Manarexia” and body expectations for men. Of the 10 million males who will at some point suffer from an eating disorder, 42 percent identify as homosexual and are most commonly diagnosed with an Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified or EDNOS. EDNOS sufferers typically aren’t at a dangerous body weight but carry elements of every disordered eating behavior. Sexuality is a major aspect in understanding eating disorders. Particularly with gay men, thinness is often considered the ideal. Pulling from a personal narrative, I’ve heard of scenarios that included the consumption of orange juice-dipped cotton balls for sustenance. This anecdote came from a gay man slimming down to be
It is equally as hard to be Ken as it is to be Barbie in a world of beautyobsessed culture.
attractive for potential suitors. The same effect can transpire in women, as some media and societal pressures will associate beauty and self-worth with thinness. But often, it is driven in an opposite direction where victims of sexual assault will cope with their trauma through an eating disorder, as it provides a sense of control. Due to the highly polarized nature of these specific instances, most rehab centers
ETSY.COM | PHOTO COURTESY
don’t allow coed environments to exist. Understandably, yet norm-defying, men seeking help have even further obstacles to overcome. What’s most important to remember is that no sufferer is more or less important based on gender, class or previous life experiences. All discussion surrounding mental illness is progress, so long as it’s done in a kosher manner. When doing so, being all-inclusive is imperative.
5
THE SPECTRUM | FEATURES | THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2015
APPS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH 4G
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In our technologically driven world, we’ve found that technology can become a source of stress and anxiety in our lives. Text messaging and social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram keep us constantly interconnected with what everyone is doing, which tends to make it difficult for us to put our phones down, separate ourselves from our stressors and relax. What I have come to discover, however, with the help of Pinterest, is that some apps can actually turn your phone into a tool that can help to improve mental health rather than threaten it. There are many components to strong mental health, but while researching, I found four major components that stood out: good nutrition, adequate sleep, exercise
acts as your own personal trainer. The 5 star app allows you to choose both the duration of your workout and what part of your body you’d like to focus on. The over 90 exercises come with instructions and video tutorials and can be done in the comfort of your own home. 4. Meditation Daily Yoga is an app that encompasses both fitness and meditation. According to the App Store, this free app with a rating of 4.5 stars has a database of over 400 yoga poses and a collection of soothing music to aide in meditation. As students and young adults, we are, for the most part, on our phones on a fairly constant basis and have nearly unlimited possibilities to improve our mental health at our fingertips. These are just a few of the thousands of apps like these can act as accessible tools to help keep both your mind and body healthy.
EMILY
Madison Schill
Contributing Writer
and meditation. For each of these categories, a number of free apps make monitoring these aspects of your life simple and convenient. 1. Nutrition Fooducate is a free app with a 4.5 star rating that not only helps you keep track of your food intake, but shows the nutritional value of the food you eat, too. There’s also a discussion form where you can ask questions and learn about nutrition from other users. 2. Sleep Sleep Cycle is a $0.99 app that doubles as both an alarm clock and a sleep tracker. According to its description, the 4.5 star app analyzes your sleep and wakes you up during the lightest phase of your sleep in order to help you wake up feeling more refreshed. Sleep Cycle also keeps track of your sleep quality over a period of time. 3. Exercise Daily Workouts is another free app that
Discussing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Sexual Assault
Victimization, safe places and breaking the silence
Contributing Writer
How do victims of sexual assault rationalize and overcome the experience of being raped? This question was asked of a Minnesota State University Moorhead student and rape victim, who has elected to remain anonymous. “By not letting people manipulate you into believing something that didn’t happen,â€? she said. “A lot of repeating, ‘I was raped. It wasn’t my fault. I deserve to be validated.’ And removing oneself from the presence of people who don’t validate you and try to change what you believe is the truth.â€? The Anita Bender Women’s Center on MSUM’s campus has served as a resource and respite for her. She said the university is trying to merge this center with others around campus to create a safe place called the Mosaic Center. “It is the only space on campus I feel free from the judgment and do not experience symptoms of PTSD,â€? she said. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition triggered by exposure to trauma, like sexual assault, warfare, serious injury or threats of imminent death. PTSD symptoms can occur in one, or more, of four forms: reliving the event, avoiding similar situations, experience negative changes in beliefs and feelings or feeling anxious. The experience of being raped and all of its after-effects has changed her life. “I think people don’t understand how easily manipulated the victims of sexual assault are,â€? she said, “ ‌ since their mental health is affected.â€? She struggles to tell people because she is afraid of being taken seriously. “I feel like it takes a lot more to get to know new people than it used to,â€? she said. “Like if I can’t predict their reaction, I can’t connect with them.â€? She has since become a women’s rights activist. “I didn’t know that if I didn’t stand up and implicitly vocalize that I was against something, I was implicitly supporting that thing,â€? she said.
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER 60% 50% OF WOMEN
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50% of those with
20% of women
8% of men
Will develop PTSD
3.5%
PTSD
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Of U.S. Adults
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Source: Psychological Care & Healing Treatment Center & Carrington College
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Opinion
THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2015
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
WARNING
The Brink of Suicide
Finding the most hope in the most dire
SIGNS OF
SUICIDE • Talking about wanting to die • Looking for a way to kill oneself • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain • Talking about being a burden to others • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs • Acting anxious, agitated or recklessly • Sleeping too little or too much • Withdrawing or feeling isolated • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge • Displaying extreme mood swings The more of these signs a person shows, the greater the risk. Warning signs are associated with suicide but may not be what causes a suicide.
WHAT TO DO
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: • Do not leave the person alone • Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt • Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) • Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional
THE NATIONAL SUICIDE
PREVENTION LIFELINE 800-273-TALK (8255) A free, 24/7 service that can provide suicidal persons or those around them with support, information and local resources.
Information provided by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
“…way too many people start the conversation and retract back into the crowd of faces. No one wants judgment, and neither do I, but it’s more than worth it if I can help one person or if I can spark a discussion.”
Colton Pool Spectrum Staff
I had two explicitly simple choices before me: life or death. To the left is my apartment front door, which would lead me to more problems, chaos and emotional turmoil. To the right was the only way I saw out of it all. A rough plan for me to end my life. Stop the pain and end it.
One.
The thought seemed so exciting. Any way I could find to erase my regrets and constant pain and anxiety.
Two.
I looked to my left, and I couldn’t think of any reason to keep going. To the right was my way out. Some might see it as trudging on vs. giving up.
Three.
Others might see suicide as simply being a coward or quitting. And those who say that clearly haven’t been sick like you and me. By the way, did you know suicide rates in Minnesota between 2003 and 2011 increased by 29 percent?
Four. People need to stop pushing others off the edge to make
room for themselves. I’m writing to those who know exactly what I’m talking about and can relate to every word so far. I knew what I was supposed to do and what I wanted to do were two different things. My family and a few friends would be sad for a little bit, but they would move on, right?
Five.
In my months of recovery, I haven’t really learned too much about myself or the world around me. But I have felt. In fact, I’ve felt every single emotion possible fiftyfold. I’ve hated myself for being the way I am. I’ve felt embarrassed for thinking such drastic ideas. I’ve felt relieved to make it one more day.
Six.
Most of all, I’ve felt blank. Motivation is a far-off memory. Getting pushed around, whether for better or for worse, has become pretty normal. So why not go to the right?
Seven. I’ve always been such a “good guy.” But they don’t
know this side. This darkness has been alive and well since I was little. Self-loathing is such an ironic emotion, yet it couldn’t feel more right. Caring less and less every day.
Eight.
And the absolute-most impossible thing you could do is look yourself in the mirror and say, “You’re worth it.” I’ve tried to bring myself to say it too many times before coming to tears. If you’ve ever thought about going right, listen to me very closely: You are not alone.
Nine.
My journey, as I’m quickly finding out, seems like it will never end. But I’ve come to realize that life is never about the end; it’s about waking up every day and spending time with loved ones and doing the things you have a passion for. You need to believe me when I say it’s not your fault.
Ten.
It upsets me when people like NFL star Warren Sapp say depression is just an emotional state, not a health condition. Thank God for NFL players like Brandon Marshall to speak out about the issue so others can relate and recover. Sapp, by the way, got busted for alleged prostitution and
Marshall continues to be a spokesperson for mental health. So here I am, trying to help you recover. Not saying I’m better, but I’m getting there day by day. Because when I turned right, all I could think was that I’m not done yet. There’s more for me than an end like this.
Eleven.
And there’s so much there for you. College is one of the best triggers for anxiety. Hours upon hours of work. Beer bellies only get bigger. Futures are in the balance. But you have to remember that’s why you got to this point: You believed there was a future for you. And you owe it to yourself — not family, friends, bosses, co-workers, boyfriends, girlfriends, fiancees, wives or husbands — to find that future. In the end, only you will know all of your actions and intents, and only you can control your journey’s destiny.
Twelve.
What would really help my journey would be to nudge you in yours. I thought about not writing this. I thought about publishing this anonymously. Hardly anyone in my life knew this inner evil. But way too many people start the conversation and retract back into the crowd of faces. No one wants judgment, and neither do I, but it’s more than worth it if I can help one person or if I can spark a discussion.
Thirteen.
So I’m on my figurative knees right now, begging for you to help yourself and become better. I’ve gone to both therapy and the clinic here at NDSU, and the free (yes, I said free) services have been absolutely pivotal in my recovery. I cannot stress this enough. Go up to the third floor of Ceres Hall and make an appointment. The worst that happens is you say you’ve been to a therapist before, and it was weird (which I found to be much more relaxed and less formal than I ever imagined.)
Fourteen.
I still have a long way to go, but there’s a peak to this dark mountain. The first time I ever told anyone about this, I couldn’t stop crying. But my best friend, also trying to find meaning to his life, put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Well, now I know why I’m here.”
Fifteen.
That’s not something I can keep if I turn right. What will keep you alive is telling people — the people who care. Stop making everyone around you your enemy in your mind. This isn’t a competition. You’re only racing against yourself, and God I hope you can win. Seek help. Heck, come find me at The Spectrum office or message my student email. I’m here for everyone who’s felt the same way I have because I know it’s impossible to make it alone. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.”
Sixteen.
Statistics tell us that in the time you read this, roughly sixteen people across the world, from all different backgrounds, have taken their own lives. Because they were alone. Because they suffered mental illness. It’s time to talk about it because that’s unacceptable. Find the light in your life, and I promise you’ll turn left. I know I did.
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THE SPECTRUM | OPINION | THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2015
Don’t Allow Yourself to Be Embarrassed NDSU’s Counseling Center offers peace of mind to students
Amber Zolondek Staff Writer
“NDSU Counseling Center, could you please hold?” “Y-Yes,” I stammered, as I sat at my kitchen counter with my roommate and boyfriend at the time. My knees were shaking, and I still had no idea what I was going to tell the receptionist. “Yeah, could I book one therapist, please?” How does one even say they need to talk to someone who will professionally and properly handle mental dilemmas that need attention? My roommate had
known I was struggling with a few things like depression, anxiety, body image issues and other topics that needed discussing. However, I was still skeptical if I was willing to disclose that kind of information with a complete stranger. “Thank you for holding. How can I help you?” the receptionist brightly asked me. “Uh, can I, is it possible for me to schedule an appointment?” I nervously asked. “Do you mean with a counselor?” she slowly responded. “Yes, yes one of those, please,” I awkwardly rebounded. My face was hot and I could feel tears welling up in my eyes, but I knew this was something I should have done years ago but was always caught up in
other things. The thing with seeing a counselor or therapist and asking for help is that some are afraid. Others don’t think they need someone else’s help to figure out their problems and thoughts. While it’s alright to think you can do it alone, don’t ever mistake the idea of a counselor as only for someone who is severely sick or suffering for a mental illness. It’s good to sit down with someone who can translate your concerns and channel whatever you’re struggling with into something beneficial. When I finally went, after making my train-wreck of an appointment, I’ll admit, I had a hard time disclosing information with Kate, my
Ceres Hall is where NDSU students can find help in the counseling center.
assigned counselor. She got to the root of many of my problems, which I quickly realized were very much connected. Kate questioned my personal thoughts, relationships, reactions and even aspirations to help me reach my full potential. She pushed me to think of
things differently and how to approach them. To this day, she’s helped me make decisions that I could not have on my own. If you have ever or are actively considering seeing a counselor, don’t even question it. It is free to students and totally confidential. They cover
GABBY HARTZE | THE SPECTRUM
counseling topics from careers, relationships, body image, depression, anxiety and are a LGBT safety zone. The NDSU Counseling Center is located in 212 Ceres Hall and is open during the school year as well as the summer.
Lessons Learned From a Quarter-Life Crisis Some tidbits of truths that got me through a rough patch Caleb Werness Opinion Editor
Last month, I was in a rut. I felt like my world and everything I knew was collapsing around me; I was drowning in a sea of problems. So I responded like a typical male in his early twenties: I locked myself in my room and binged on video games. I had lost all drive. In my mind, I felt hopeless. I worried because I don’t know what I want to do when I “grow up.”
How, then, am I ever going to pay off student loans? I don’t know where I am living next year. To top it off, friends are getting engaged right and left and I don’t even have a prospective girlfriend. “My life is pathetic.” I believed this to the fullest degree. Fear of the future was distorting my perception of reality. After a week of wallowing, the help from friends and a change in attitude pulled me up from my circumstantial hole. As I look back at the whole thing, it seems so ridiculous, as does any lie once it is exposed. Here is what I learned: Deal with today first
Today is what is in front of you right now with its own problems that need handling. So with that being said, why try and take on tomorrow’s problems as well? When you think about it, we never actually experience “tomorrow.” We have to wait for the future to come to us. Life is a step-by-step journey. Take each thing as it comes. Biting off more than you can chew will only bring about stress and anxiety. Mature, but never “grow up” Essentially, I mean to never stop having fun. With age comes more and more responsibility. That does not mean we have to become
boring people. Who says what being an adult entails? For me, is involves going t0 school and holding down a job. But it also entails staying up late with my friends, ordering pizza and jamming our minds out on Rockband just because we can. Adulthood is not a synonym for giving up what you love to do. Some things are always out of your control It is a fact. Sometimes life just hands you lemons. What you do with those lemons is then up to you. You could freak out and stress because you don’t know what to do with said lemons or you could take a breath, acknowledge your
plethora of citrus fruit and do your best to manage them. This was something I struggled with for a while. I wanted to be in control of everything, and it was stressing me out. I finally just had to give it up and face the truth. Some issues are going to be out of our control. Worrying about these types of problems is like grasping at the wind. Plenty of life is ahead of us When you think about it, we are still pretty young in terms of a full life expectancy. Granted, there are no guarantees, but many of us will likely live into our eighties. I remember looking
back to middle school as a spritely 14-year-old and thinking I had it all figured out. I’m sure I was not the only one. Looking back now, I see how much I didn’t know. I’m sure years from now I will look back at the current me and think the same thing. Don’t get so hung up on stuff you haven’t done yet. There is lots of time to see the world and meet that special someone if you haven’t yet already. The world is still wide-open ahead of us. If you are in a rough patch in your life, talk about it to someone. Friends care. They will help and reinforce the age old saying, “this too shall pass.”
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8 THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2015
Arts & Entertainment
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
Austin Koenig and Keanna Berezowsi take up the roles of Henry and Natalie in “Next to Normal” (above, right.)
GABBY HARTZE | THE SPECTRUM
Cody Gerszewski and Lexi Wedll portray Dan and Diana Goodman in Theatre NDSU’s production of “Next to Normal.”
GABBY HARTZE | THE SPECTRUM
Lexi Wedll, Keanna Berezowski and Cody Gerszewski portray the Goodmans along with Alec Selnes in “Next to Normal.”
NDSU PERFORMING ARTS | PHOTO COURTESY
GABBY HARTZE | THE SPECTRUM
Daniel Damico, Crystal Cossette and Kathy Hanson’s characters share a scary moment in MTFM’s “Into the Woods.”
Editor’s Choice: Aspects of Mental Health in Local Entertainment Jack Dura A&E Editor
Thursday: “Still Alice” at the Fargo Theatre Julianne Moore takes up the role of Alice Howland, a linguistics professor diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease in “Still Alice,” in a drama running at 5 and 7:15 p.m. Thursday at the Fargo Theatre. Concerned about her and her family’s future, Alice goes to great lengths to fight the effects of the disease, going so far as to set up an instructional video for suicide should her condition worsen to a certain degree. Meanwhile, increasing family strain and large changes in life take their toll on Alice, and by the film’s end, her family has gone their separate ways, leaving a declining Alice with one caring daughter. Tickets are $6.25 for the 5 p.m. showing and $8 for students at the 7:15 p.m. showing at the Fargo Theatre at 314 Broadway N. Friday: MSUM Theatre’s “Romi/EO & Juliet” William Shakespeare’s renowned love story takes a modern spin in MSUM Theatre’s production of “Romi/EO & Juliet.” This updated telling relates the story of Romi, a transgender boy born into a girl’s body and cast out by his family. As he searches for his identity and clings to a band of friends he calls family, Romeo finds love in Juliet, hoping for acceptance and reciprocation when she realizes who he is. Tickets are $10 for students and can purchased over the phone at 218-4772271. The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. at MSUM’s Gaede Stage. (Disclaimer: Although defining one’s gender identity can cause dysphoria leading to a potential mental disorder, The Spectrum recognizes that identifying as transgender in and of itself is not a mental disorder. This play examines stresses and difficulties one may experience when defining a gender identity that is different than society’s expectations based upon biological sex.) Saturday: Theatre NDSU’s “Next to Normal” A six-person cast takes on a story examining the effects of mental illness within a family in Theatre NDSU’s “Next to Normal.” For further coverage on this rock musical, read the preview on page ##. Tickets are free for NDSU students and can be bought at the glass box performing arts office at Reineke 107. Sunday: MTFM’s “Into the Woods” Stephen Sondheim’s fairytale musical takes to The Stage at Island Park for a final performance at 2 p.m. Sunday. With everyone’s favorite fantasy characters included, this show looks at what happens after their wishes come true and the repercussions of future-based desires. It’s also a time to think about one’s fears, as each character endures their walk in the symbolic woods, faced with the unknown. As cast member, Kathy Hanson said that “Into the Woods” tells us not to be afraid of the ugly side of life, and to look at all the wonderful possibilities the world presents, confronting fears and weakness in the process. Tickets are $10 for students and can be purchased by phone at 701-235-6778.
GABBY HARTZE | THE SPECTRUM
‘There Will Be Light’
Theatre NDSU’s ‘Next to Normal’ examines mental illness, family issues in modern rock musical Jack Dura A&E Editor
With the spotlight of the stage, Theatre NDSU will shine light on the issues of mental illness with “Next to Normal,” the rock musical running the next two weekends. Concerning the story of a mother’s mental illness and its effects on her family, this rock musical allows a space for discussion as the show follows Dan and Diana Goodman, their two children and the crisis they find themselves in. For those involved with the show, its music and sometimes difficult storyline have presented a few challenges, but the messages in the musical are what are important for its audiences. Director Lori Koenig, who has met with people with experiences similar to this show’s, knows mental illness is a contemporary topic with an entry point for everybody. “My hope is that this musical will begin a conversation about how it is that people live with mental illness,” she said in an email, “and that the illness is as real as any other chronic illness, such as diabetes, or hypertension.” Bringing mental illness to light Afflicted with bipolar disorder stemming from a childhood incident, Diana’s struggle with the disorder offers a look into a family’s life that is not readily available, or as cast member Cody Gerszewski said, discussed openly. “Next to Normal,” he said, addresses issues that are quite often swept under the rug. “It tackles a lot of things that, for something reason or another, are still kind of tabooed in our society,” he said. “I don’t really know why, but mental illness seems like ... there’s a lack of proudness behind it, and there’s fear and shame for mental illness, and I think that this musical is really good at bringing to light the issues that people otherwise wouldn’t be comfortable talking about.” With themes of strength and hope at its core, “Next to Normal” gives an insight to all in its audience, whether attendees have experienced the situations themselves or not, Gerszewski said, adding that Brian Yorkie and Tom Kitt (the musical’s writers) did a good job of making the show accessible to everyone. The ups and downs of the story and Diana’s illness are parts many can connect
TICKET TICKET INFO INFO
“I think that this musical is really good at bringing to light the issues that people otherwise wouldn’t be comfortable talking about.” – Cody Gerszewski, cast member with, as well as lighter moments and a dark humor that punctuate the plot. “I think there’s definitely a journey that W people who have struggled with it maybe will be able to identify with,” Gerszewski said. A recurring assurance that “there will be light” further stylizes the story and adds to the musical’s message that hope remains for all those affected by mental illness. A final musical number establishes this, tapping into the main sentiments of strength and hope. “There will be light if you keep on keeping on,” Gerszewski said. Small stage The decision to do this specific show was born out of the theater department’s desire to stage a small-scale musical. Plopped in the black box settings of the Walsh Studio Theatre in Askanase Hall, “Next to Normal” offers an intimate setting and unique seating for audiences. With two walls of seating facing each other on opposite sides of the theater, the performers will present the musical in front of 88 audience members each night. Just two women and four men make up the musical’s cast, comprising the four family members, two doctors and a love interest for the Goodman daughter. Performing as Dan, Diana’s husband and the dad of the family, Gerszewski has enjoyed the character, but recognizes what comes with the role. “Just as every character in the show, he has so many positives to him and so many negatives to him,” he said. “As an actor, I really enjoy finding both the things that he wants and the things that he fears because that helps me bring out ... an honest performance. At the end of the day, I just want to give an honest performance to my audiences.” With a cast of six, Gerszewski has enjoyed the intimacy and level of trust that comes with such a small group, as well as the
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Walsh Studio Theatre
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cast’s decision-making and onstage abilities with this show. “Everybody is so sharp in what they’re doing,” Gerszewski said. “People are getting the lines down, their musicality is great, which is something you need to have when it’s one person to a part, vocally.” Koenig said in an email that the music has been challenging but is fantastic, and though “Next to Normal’s” plot has been tough to tackle in spots, Theatre NDSU has “worked hard to create a safe space for people to work.” Joining Gerszewski in the cast are Lexi Wedll as Diana, Keanna Berezowski as daughter Natalie, Alec Selnes as son Henry, Austin Koenig as Natalie’s boyfriend Henry and Joseph Brauer as two doctors. “We’ve just been very tight-knit,” Gerszewski said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better cast to work with on a show like this.” Seeing the show With just 88 seats available for seven performances, students are advised to obtain tickets before performances. Beyond that, Lori Koenig said the issues are important and thought-provoking. “Everyone should see this musical,” she said. “But, NDSU students should see it because they will enjoy the music and they will enjoy that the story line gives them something to think about.” Koenig also added a disclaimer: “(I)t must be emphasized that this is an artistic piece and isn’t meant to mirror the exact experiences or lifestyle of a person who suffers from these diseases. All mental illnesses are unique in how they manifest themselves.”
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Sports
THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2015
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
Ryan Napoli (right) is an assistant strength and conditioning coach at NDSU. Working with the wrestling team, Napoli knows the challenges of maintaining weight and educates Bison wrestlers on healthy methods of weight loss or gain.
CONNOR SCHUMACHER | THE SPECTRUM
Whatever It Takes Stress from athletics, school can be triggers for dangerous symptoms
Colton Pool Sports Editor
Ryan Napoli, as a freshman at Simpson (Iowa) College, needed to make weight for one of his first collegiate wrestling matches. Coaches, teammates and fans were depending on him, and he needed to reach that number somehow. Napoli did what he thought he needed to — make himself vomit. It was the first time he ever purged to make weight, and it was the one of the only times he’s ever come across it as a wrestler or coach. “It was just a certain situation back in the day when I didn’t do things the right way,” Napoli said. “You dig yourself into a little bit of a hole. Then you talk to people and find help … I turned out just fine and had a pretty successful career. Sometimes the stress of the first year gets tough.” Now serving as the strength and conditioning coach for North Dakota State Athletics, Napoli has made sure his wrestlers don’t need to go to those ends. “In my personal
journey,” Napoli said, “it was about me getting the help I needed in the right way through my friends and family and talking to my athletic trainer.” Napoli, a graduate assistant with the Bison for four years, said he hasn’t come across many purging issues from a coaching perspective. “As a whole strength and conditioning department at NDSU, we do a pretty good job of educating our kids,” Napoli said. “We educate them based on what we know and what works.” Napoli said he sits down with head wrestling coach Roger Kish at the end of every season to find out what weight they want every wrestler to be. Different things work for different people, so the coaching staff observes the incoming freshman to find a suitable plan for weight maintenance. Between seasons, coaches set a weight cap during the summer, then set out a plan for cutting down in September. Napoli said getting the athletes educated is by far the most important component when dealing with wrestlers — or any athletes — who
“This isn’t just wrestling-related; this is athleterelated. If you see someone having issues where that’s happening, you’ve got to speak up. You’ve got to put your pride away, ask for help and recognize there’s a problem.” - North Dakota State Athletics strength and conditioning coach Ryan Napoli
purge for the sake of sports. “It’s just like any other eating disorder,” Napoli said. “It can happen to any athlete in any sport, from football, to track and field, to wrestling, to soccer or to anything.” Napoli said wrestling from Division III to the Olympics, competing at a high level comes with bigger stresses. The demands of a student athlete can be strenuous, redshirt freshman Grant Nehring said, especially for first-year athletes. “Everything was a lot more stressful coming in,” Nehring said. “It’s the same thing in high school, but everything is way more
intense with academics and athletics.” Though he’s thought about making himself puke to make weight, Nehring said it’s just unhealthy. “Throwing up before a weigh-in doesn’t even benefit you because you’re losing energy you need for later on,” Nehring said. “It’s better to burn energy by running or something that can help your physical status.” Fellow redshirt freshman Tommy Peterson said the coaches measure body fat and run hydration tests to make sure no one on the team loses weight at a dangerous rate. “Some people who don’t prepare right and don’t
get ready for a long time,” Peterson said, “they have to suffer a lot more than the guys who do it the right way.” Napoli found he hasn’t needed to share his story too much. He stresses proper weight loss in his own way. The first thing to come out of his mouth when talking to wrestlers, Napoli said, is how to maintain weight in college. “You’ve got to have the kids with the good work ethic, and it takes great education,” Napoli said. “And that’s part of being a coach is getting your kids to do what they need to do, educate them on how to properly manage their weight. If you’ve got a good and knowledgeable coaching staff and we do our jobs, we won’t have those issues.” For successful training, wrestlers have to manage their weight, school, practices and performance pressures all while taking care of their bodies. But if thoughts of purging ever come up, Napoli said he wants his athletes to find help and offer help when they see it. “It’s just like any other
thing when someone is going through a tough time,” Napoli said. “You turn to your friends and ask for help, pray to God for strength and you get through it.” Napoli said some people may not see it as a big problem, but he knows it can be an issue if not dealt with properly. “I’m sure some people will say it’s a big problem, others will say they don’t know about it and it is not a problem,” Napoli said. “I say it is a problem. You’ve just got to know what to look for. You’ve just got to educate your athletes, and I think we do a good job of doing that here.” Aside from the rules and regulations by the NCAA, Napoli said good leadership from upperclassmen is a key to getting everyone bought into the program and getting a proper weight-loss plan in place. “This isn’t just wrestling-related; this is athlete-related,” Napoli said. “If you see someone having issues where that’s happening, you’ve got to speak up. You’ve got to put your pride away, ask for help and recognize there’s a problem.”
Student Athletes Live in a Completely Different College World Young adults face pressure, time constraints Sam Herder Spectrum Staff
College athletes are superhumans to the Av e r a g e Joe. They perform in front of thousands of people, a made or missed play away from adoration or disappointment. Kids wear their jerseys, teenagers watch their highlight videos on YouTube and adults discuss their performance around the water cooler. Fans are fascinated, but one thing lost in the fascination is half the players they see on the field or on the television can’t even legally walk into a bar. These athletes are fresh out of their parent’s basement and newly introduced to the real world on their own. And that’s the most intriguing part. Power 5 conference
rosters are typically stacked with underclassmen because many standouts declare early for the pros. But even mid-major schools like North Dakota State are getting unreal performances from freshmen. Look no further than the two money-making sports for the Bison. True freshman Paul Miller and redshirt freshman AJ Jacobson have adjusted quickly to the Division I level for the men’s basketball team. RJ Urzendowski had blood colder than a crocodile on Jan. 10 when the true freshman receiver hauled in three passes within a minute in NDSU’s legendary gamewinning drive in the FCS national title game. The players make it look so easy. But fans only see them in uniform. In reality, the toughest part for student athletes may not be the athletic part. The student part, the managing-the-hours-in-a-
“The stress of college is real. You see it walking through the library during midterms and finals week. You see it in the Memorial Union, in class and on social media. College isn’t easy for anyone. Throw in the pressures and time constraints of being an athlete, college only gets tougher — full-ride scholarship or not.”
day part, probably presents the biggest challenge. A busy week for a normal college student includes classes, homework, studying, papers, exams and a job. A busy week for a student athlete, along with the things listed above, include weights and conditioning, practices, film sessions, more weights and conditioning and traveling to away games. Kids and adults admire
the on-field performances. Fellow college students should also admire how ridiculous the schedule of an athlete on campus is. The stress of college is real. You see it walking through the library during midterms and finals week. You see it in the Memorial Union, in class and on social media. College isn’t easy for anyone. Throw in the pressures and time constraints of being
an athlete, college only gets tougher — full-ride scholarship or not. High school commits get the experience before they even graduate. Fans are crazy, they always have been. But social media has allowed fans to not only follow the social life of players, but to interact and express their thoughts with them. Big-time recruits get praised or thrashed on Twitter when they announce their commitment. Search a player’s name on Twitter after they make a costly mistake to lose a game and you’ll find tweets to the athlete that make Comedy Central Roast shows look tame. Such occurrences rarely happen at a school like NDSU, but the pressure to perform at a high level is still there. Heck, all of North Dakota was calling for the benching of quarterback Nick Mertens in 2009. Even Brock Jensen, the three-time national champion and all-
time wins leader in FCS, was on some fans’ hot seats in 2012. Athletes will say they aren’t concerned with the opinions of fans. But they hear what’s being said, and a 19-year-old may not handle it like a 23-year-old senior can. NDSU has the resources in place to guide young athletes through their college years. Tutors are available and sports medicine professionals are present to ensure strong physical and mental health. Maybe student athletes are just as mentally tough as physically tough. Or maybe they do suffer breakdowns from the stress and the nerves. Fans will never know. But fans should realize, and appreciate, what all goes into being a successful student athlete.
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THE SPECTRUM | SPORTS | THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2015
Student Athletes, Stress Might Go Hand-In-Hand
Demand for better performance in sports, school doesn’t make life easy
Taylor Kurth Staff Writer
Who wouldn’t want to be big man on campus? You get all of the attention, the looks and the invites. But maybe it isn’t all its cracked up to be. A study done in 2003 by Kimball and Freysinger showed athletic participation can be an additional stressor that traditional college students do not experience. Those of us in college understand the rigorous amount of work put on each of our plates. However,
while some of us are working part-time or fulltime jobs outside of class, student athletes are not able to hold a compensating job due to the time in and out of practice. A typical schedule can run from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Then they go to sleep, wake up and do it all over again. Fourteen-hour days, five days a week, without any means of income. At night, the athlete finally makes it home. They may want to just hang out and relax, but they have homework to do. They may want to play XBox with friends but they have a test to study for. They may want to sleep, but they have to patch up relationship issues. Now that the daily grind
“Maybe the student athlete wasn’t ready for all of this at once. Maybe they just signed on for the love of the game rather than working a 24/7 job with no compensation. Student athletes may have a lot of perks, but lack of stress is not one of them.”
is over, student athletes still need to hone their skills and continue to progress with their physical talents. Excellence is demanded. Consistency is expected. Progression is imperative. If the athletes are failing to meet their expectations or obligations with “on the field/court” performance, that is bound to cause them
Freshman Athletes
Cope With Stress
Teammates, coaches help freshman student athletes handle new stressors
Pace Maier
Spectrum Staff
Think about this: A minute left in the biggest game of your career, you run down the field, shake loose of your defender, look up into the sky through your green face mask and snag down the catch of your life. How did North Dakota State wide receiver RJ Urzendowski manage to do that? Bison fans were thinking that same question. After all, it’s a lot of stress for a freshman. Urzendowski is a poised, focused man — that’s how. “Everything (was) going so fast, it’s pretty easy to stay calm and just focus on what you (have) to do,” Urzendowski said. And remember, he’s just a freshman. After practice and games, he has to walk back to his dorm room on campus. He graduated high school from Creighton (Neb.) Preparatory School, over six hours away from Fargo. And he does get home sick once in awhile, to say the least. Last year, when he arrived for fall camp, he had long days, and when he would get back to his dorm, he would miss his family. But he knew he was always going to see them again soon. “It’s definitely different going from being with your parents everyday and siblings to just being on your own all of a sudden and being able to do what you want and make your own decisions,” Urzendowski said. “So it’s a transition.”
For Bison student athletes, getting to see your parents even twice a semester can be a treat. Urzendowski was able to see his parents over Christmas break and a few days during Thanksgiving. For NDSU softball player Joei Samper, she almost didn’t want to come back to North Dakota after going back to California over holiday breaks. “The beginning of the school year, I had second thoughts about why did I ever come to North Dakota,” the freshman infielder/outfielder said. “But I know just the people I’m around made it easier, softball distracted me, school distracted me and it just made time go a lot faster.” Her freshman teammate Tabby Heinz didn’t miss her family as much at the beginning of the school year, but once she went home for Christmas, it hit her. “I didn’t go home for Thanksgiving, so it was like going home and seeing all my friends, it made me miss it,” the California native infielder said. “Then when I came back, everyone was there for me. They’ve all been through it ... you can talk to the coaches about those things, and they are understanding about it so it made it a lot easier.” NDSU wrestler Tommy Petersen knew attending college while playing a Division I sport was going to be a grind, but it’s what he chose to do. “It’s a struggle,” the redshirt freshman said. “That’s just what we signed up for.” Student athletes at NDSU thank their teammates and
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coaches for being there for them when they are getting down about being miles away from family. “Just focus on yourself and your teammates, don’t get caught up in all the extra stuff or all the attention,” Urzendowski said. “You just do what you have to do and practice hard, handle your school work and don’t focus on the outside stuff that doesn’t really deal with the team.” Heinz and Samper said that student athletes have to remember to talk to teammates and coaches about being away from home because they care about everyone. “Just hearing that (teammates) have been through everything that we are going through right now makes it a lot easier,” Samper said. “I’m actually glad we have an older team because it’s like they have most of the answers to the questions I have. And a lot of them are from California, so they know what we go through, so I know it’s not going to be impossible.” All in all, Heinz said NDSU is a family within a family and everyone is willing to help everyone else — athlete, student or both. “When I first decided I wanted to come here, it was because I felt like more of a family, more together than I did at any another school I went to,” Heinz said. “They were always with each other when I came on visits, and they made you feel kind of like at home, it’s like your home away from home.”
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to try and overcompensate to fix it. Instead of sleeping, they may dedicate more time in the weight room. Then they can get that starting position. But bypassing sleep is far from healthy. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, adults should be getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night.
However, sitting on the bench isn’t desirable either. Something has to give, and more often than not, it’s the athlete giving up sleep. Outside of athletic purposes, student athletes are also confined to school. A lot of students are taking trips to visit high school friends at other campuses, going out of town for concerts or simply going back home. Those options just are not that realistic for student athletes. They don’t get to see their parents whenever they would like. It’s hard for them to keep in contact with people they grew up with, as they don’t get to see them nearly as much as they would like. So let’s not pretend
sports do not demand this. Somebody is always trying to get better, doing anything to gain a competitive advantage. If a team slacks off and does not enforce strict regulations and practice times, then their success is hindered. Maybe the student athlete wasn’t ready for all of this at once. Maybe they just signed on for the love of the game rather than working a 24/7 job with no compensation. Student athletes may have a lot of perks, but lack of stress is not one of them. Maybe some students think a student athlete has it easy, and maybe the student athlete looks at them the same way.
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THE SPECTRUM | SPORTS | THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2015
NDSU Administration Keeps Prepared for Student-Athlete Mental Illness Bison sports medicine department maintains plan to help out Colton Pool Sports Editor
North Dakota State Athletics doesn’t have a specific policy in place for dealing with the mental health of student athletes. But there sure is a strategy. Scott Woken, NDSU’s director of sports medicine, said the mental health of student athletes has been a concern since he came into his job in 1989. In fact, he said the athletes go through a multitude of mental health issues on a daily basis. “First of all, they’re a student, so they’ve got to keep their studies and grades up,” Woken said. “Second of all, they’ve got to perform at a peak level on a daily basis to keep their spot on a team, keep the scholarship or help the team win.” The mental health concerns Woken has come across in his 26 years varies greatly, including depression, mood disorders, anxiety, eating disorders and substance abuse disorders. Usually, coaches or trainers pick up on signs of mental struggles, like if a player is usually on time and suddenly starts being late to practices or team meetings, if they’re energetic in practice and then they make a 180 turn or if they begin to not shower or shave. Director of women’s athletics Lynn Dorn said pointing athletes to the right resources, like the counseling center in Ceres Hall or the clinic at the Wallman Wellness Center, goes a long way. “We believe mental health is a component for all students,” Dorn said. “We want the athletes to have a really positive experience when they’re here and make
sure we’re assisting that.” Woken said some student athletes don’t want to be even seen by their peers going to the counseling center on campus. These athletes can go to Sanford Health, which NDSU has an official partnership with, for problems including mental illness. If that doesn’t work, student athletes may even be set up with independent councilors. NDSU athletic director Matt Larsen said by time spending time with the student athletes, coaches, trainers and even administrators can pick up when a certain athlete is not mentally well. “We get to know their personality and their body language,” Larsen said. “At that point we can say a certain athlete has been acting different lately and we’ll see what’s going on.” There are certain sports that are tied to specific mental illnesses, Woken said. Golfers are prone to yips, or involuntary wrist spasms when trying to focus on putting. One of the biggest mental roadblocks, Woken said, is when athletes are dealing with physical injuries that keep them from playing. “If you see someone get a knee injury, you think well ‘Why don’t you just put on a knee brace?’” Woken said. “What people don’t see is that person dealing with long-term rehab and recovery.” Woken said coaches need to keep injured players involved with the team as much as possible. When these players lose their normal environment is when it’s most tough. “That breaks their routine,” Woken said. “That’s when it becomes a
mental stressor for them. We’re trained to recognize the signs and symptoms when something is going on.” Long-term rehab, Woken said, is toughest, as everything in life becomes more difficult for the student athlete to cope. “When you’ve got somebody on crutches in the middle of winter,” Woken said, “it gets harder to get to class, drive your car, get to rehab or get to the dining center because now you’re on crutches and you’ve only got one leg. It becomes a stressor not only physically, but mentally.” Woken said concussions aren’t the biggest concern for football, but it becomes a mental issue when healing for getting back to playing. “Athletes have to also return to learn because of the symptoms,” he said. “They can have disfunction in memory, reading, concentration, writing when trying to take notes in class or even reading a book. They can have all of those issues on top of the actual physical issues of dizziness, headaches, unsteadiness or lack of balance.” Staying on top of the injuries, school work or whatever mental struggles come up is Woken’s biggest tip. “If you’re a student athletes and you’re taking four or five classes and you’ve got to do a quiz, test, paper or project before they leave,” Woken said, “it’s a big stressor.” But finding the time to do everything, Larsen said, isn’t easy. “It’s all about trying to get ahead of things,” Larsen said. “Being a student athlete is tough today because there’s a lot of pressures and demands, academically,
THE PRESSURE TO WIN MAKING UP ASSIGNMENTS
AND TESTS BECAUSE OF
TEAM TRAVEL
KEEPING A
SCHOLARSHIP
RIGOROUS SPORTS ACTIVITIES Keeping Up With Grades Tests
Paying For College
Attending Classes Working
Eating CorrectlyStudying
A Social Life Peer Pressure Homework Getting The Necessary Amount Of Sleep
STRESSED OUT
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EMILY BEAMAN | THE SPECTRUM
in their personal life or athletically.” Sometimes student athletes may try going without sleep, which is a
vital factor for not only mental, but physical ability as well. Woken said he recommends student
athletes get at least six or seven hours of sleep a day.
To read the full article, visit ndsuspectrum.com
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THE SPECTRUM | NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2015
STUDENT RESOURCES Free NDSU Counseling programs: The Fortitude Project: LGBTQA Support Group
3:30 – 4:50 p.m. Thursdays. A confidential support group for LGBT students. Provides opportunities for students to discuss and connect with fellow Bison about self-identification.
Meditation for Stress Management and Improved Focus
3 – 4 p.m. Mondays. Since 2001, this group of students, faculty and staff practices mindful meditation. All are welcome; weekly attendance is not mandatory.
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Support Group
2 – 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Open for any NDSU student concerned with substance abuse or dependence.
Graduate Student Support Group
12 – 1:30 p.m. Friday. Provides a setting for graduate students to meet and connect with their peers.
Mental health institutions in North Dakota:
North Dakota State Counseling Center: 212 Ceres Hall.
(701) 231-7671. ndsu.edu/counseling “(P)rovides a confidential setting in which students may explore concerns of a personal, academic or career-related nature; makes referrals; and serves as consultants,” NDSU Counseling Center website reads. The service is included in student fees. Prairie St. John’s: 510 Fourth St. S. (877) 333-9565. prairiestjohns.com Since 1997, Prairie St. John’s has served the Fargo-Moorhead community. The fully licensed and accredited facility serves all patients suffering from mental health issues, chemical dependency addition or co-occurring disorders. Sanford Behavioral Health: 100 Fourth St. S. (701) 2342000. sanfordhealth.org Offering behavioral health, counseling, psychiatry and psychology, Sanford Health provides varieties of “therapeutic strategies to reduce symptoms, improve life skills and help people regain control of their lives,” its website reads. North Dakota Suicide Prevention Program: 600 East Blvd. Ave., Dept. 301, Bismarck. (800) 273-8255. ndhealth.gov/ suicideprevention Suicide is the eighth-leading cause of death in North Dakota. The hotline listed above is available at any time for those thinking of committing suicide. Neuropsychiatric Research Institute:700 First Ave. S. (701) 293-1335. nrifargo.com NRI is home to the Eating Disorders Institute, which “offers state-of-the-art therapies to treat anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and obesity,” its website reads.
Dacotah Foundation:
112 N. University Dr. Suite 230. (701) 364-0743 The non-profit organization’s mission statement reads, “To provide a system of care that enhances the quality of life for children and adults with mental illness and/or chemical dependency.”
Further resources:
freedomfromfear.org: A national non-profit mental illness
advocacy organization for anxiety and depression iocdf.org: The International OCD Foundation helps individuals overcome their disorder mhand.org: The Mental Health America of North Dakota website ulifeline.org: An online resource for college-related mental health questions