Activism is something that affects our day to day lives, as well as our entire existence. Whether you partake in it or watch it go by, it will always affect you in some way. It’s important to understand what it is, what each movement represents, what the end goal is for those movements, and what you can do to help.
Activism is the action or policy of using vigorous campaigning to implement either political or societal change. The changes can be issues that have been around for centuries, and although change can be scary, it’s time we do something and fix these issues. Sometimes we become so used to our lives now that we don’t notice the inequalities we may have in either a societal or political climate, which can be one of the saddest things about it. We can be so used to inequality that we don’t notice it. It’s time for that to change. Some major movements can represent racial inequality, LGBTQ+ issues, sexism, misogyny and environmental issues. Some movements include black lives matter, LGBTQ+ rights movement, feminism, me too and the environmental movement. A lot of misinformation goes out about these movements, as well as people who try to stop them from implementing change. It’s important that you do your own research about these movements and derive your own opinion. There’s a lot of misinformation spread, especially amongst the political climate, so please be careful. These movements can bring to light a lot of upsetting realities, so please be kind to yourself when you look into them. Activism is exhausting. It’s physically and mentally draining. It’s important that you look after yourself, that you take a break when you need to, and that you know when to stop. I’m petty, I like having the last word, but through this I’ve learnt when I need to stop and do things for my own safety and sanity, such as private my social media accounts and block everyone I’ve seen either mention me or interact with me in a hostile way. If people threaten to leak private information about you, find your location, threaten you, or send people to your accounts to leave hostile or harmful comments, block them and private your accounts. Your safety is the most important part of this. Look after yourself. There are many ways you can get involved in movements, both on social media and in real life. With social media, know how to block someone and how to private your accounts. In real life, make sure that you’re safe. In any kind of activism, things can get heated fast, so make sure you’re safe. Make sure you look after yourself. Your safety is important. On social media, share useful posts, share links to charities, challenge harmful opinions and posts, and report harmful content. Call out misinformation when you see it. While doing this, make sure you’re safe. If your well-being is affected, take a break. There’s nothing wrong with taking a break. If you get into a debate, don’t get emotionally attached to it. Don’t get hostile. Don’t call people names, don’t get personal. Challenge the opinion, not the person. Treat people with kindness, even if they don’t seem to deserve it. Being nice during a debate will make you the better person. In real life, write to local political officers, volunteer with organisations that help make changes, engage in conversations and go to protests. If you go to protests, please make sure that you’re safe. With certain ones that are taking place now, law enforcements and people against movements are making it hostile and quite often violent. Your safety is the priority. Look after yourself. You can search online who your local political elect is and write to them, but make sure to be polite. Again, be nice. Don’t get emotionally engaged because that’s when the hostility can peak. Don’t get personal. Don’t get violent. Challenge the opinion, not the person. Above all, your safety is the priority. Stay safe. Activism isn’t easy. I don’t think it ever will be, but it’s worth it if we can help change the world for the better. Chances are, the change we’re striving for won’t come around for a long time, and that can be a hard thing to accept, and sometimes it feels pointless even trying, but it’s worth it. If our actions can make the world a safer place for others in the future, I’m happy to do whatever I can to make that happen. The key thing with this is your safety, and I know I’ve repeated that a lot, but it’s important. As I said, it isn’t easy, it’s exhausting, it’s both mentally and physically taxing, so please look after yourself. Know when to take a break. Know when you need to take a step back and recoup. Listen to your mind and body and be safe. ~ En Link to global helplines- https://checkpointorg.com/global/
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Disclaimer: This article is only my experience and uses rather theatrical language. If you came here seeking a realistic portrayal of periods, either refer to the last paragraph or talk to a trusted adult or doctor.
Since the beginning of time, women have had to deal with blood streaming out of their vagina while their hormones wreak havoc on their emotions and their uterus tries to consume them from the inside out; or at least that’s the description I use to terrify my guy friends. In reality, it’s pretty manageable for most. Let’s start with the science behind menstruation: It normally starts between the ages of 8 and 16 and continues its cycle until your 40s or 50s, when menopause begins (Read “Your Menstrual Cycle” on womenshealth.gov for more information). Each cycle lasts approximately 28 days; this includes the start of your period, the end of your period, ovulation, etc. Basically, during the 2-7+ day period, your eggs are maturing, meaning it’s ready to be fertilized. With this, your uterine lining thickens to prepare for the release of the eggs. If you don’t get pregnant during this ovulation period, your uterus realizes there is no use for it and sheds the blood that was making it thick and squishy. The tissue, blood, and nutrients flow out of your vagina – hence the red stained underwear - and you thank goodness you aren’t pregnant (Unless you’re trying to get pregnant, obviously)! This process causes physical symptoms such as cramps, bloating, nausea, breakouts, sore breasts, and fatigue along with emotional symptoms like mood swings. Well, that was more than school will ever teach us about the female body! Now that we have that out of the way, I’ll explain the less gross and more mentally draining portion of periods. Keep in mind that periods are different for everyone. Some may have a short, light, and fairly easy experience while others, like me, book a vacation to hell for over a week. In fact, I’ve been described on many occasions as Satan while on my period, which is fair. I have a love/hate relationship with my menstrual cycle. On one hand, it’s a sign I’m not pregnant; on the other, it pulverizes my physical and emotional being (which is just a bit dramatic). Before my lovely first visit from Aunt Flow, I was a rather stable person (excluding the severe depression, but that’s an article for another day). Then, I became this dramatic, sensitive, malicious blood-spewing ball of negativity. Anything and anyone irritates me, I feel like crying every 5 minutes, and my depression becomes seemingly amplified. If my mood swings weren’t enough, I also undergo truly monstrous cramps, an unnecessarily heavy flow, and extreme nausea. Thankfully, I only endure this side of myself like 2-4 times a year as it’s quite irregular. If you also endure the devil in your uterus, here are some things I have found to be helpful during those times:
For those of you who haven’t experienced your period yet, the depiction mentioned above is a dramatic way of describing my experience. Like I said before, no menstrual cycle is the same. You might not have a terrible cycle – however if you do, refer to the advice above. They also aren’t some nasty, taboo thing that shouldn’t be talked about. They’re something normal that should be talked about more. Always remember your body is a perfectly beautiful and normal thing! -Katelyn We all have hair, whether that’s on our heads, legs, faces, arms, underarms or pubic regions. It’s there, and if you are like me, you may wish it wasn’t. You may struggle to find the time every few days to shave the black stubble that continues to make you insecure when wearing shorts, skirts, or strappy tops. You may have to quickly shave your armpits before going out with friends or to play in a netball match, afraid of what people will think if they see that dreaded dark patch.
People have called me a gorilla before. Why do I mention this? Am I saying the only reason I decided to wax was due to peer pressure? No. Absolutely not. I mention this to inform you that these comments meant and still mean nothing to me. I decided to wax because I wanted to, for myself and no one else. If you love your body hair but feel pressured by others to remove it, I want you to stop reading this article. You are beautiful. Do not listen to them, they are probably just jealous of how gorgeous and confident you are. Own your body, own how it makes you feel and please, please don’t give in to hate. I’ve been shaving for four years now. Sitting in the shower, the bath, on the bathroom floor, even my bedroom floor (I do not recommend this, the cream stains) and frantically running the razer along my leg was not fun, but it was necessary. It was necessary for my confidence because no matter how many times I’ve been told that no one cares, I would still rather smooth than stubbly arms and legs. Of course, this is just my personal preference and if you prefer to embrace your body hair then I have absolutely nothing against you! Everyone is entitled to do whatever they want with their body, as long as it doesn’t harm them. A few weeks ago I decided that enough was enough. My mum went and bought me two packs of wax strips and last night, I sat on my bathroom floor rereading the instructions for the millionth time, trying to prepare myself for, well… I didn’t really know. Peeling apart the two wax strips, tapping one with my finger and realising just how sticky it was, applying it to my leg, rubbing it in a downward motion to ensure it was attached to every hair possible… these weren’t the scary bits. The scariest part was the fear of not knowing what I was doing and having no one there with me as I sat and stared at the strip on my leg, knowing eventually it would have to come off. I wish I had asked my mum to support me as I did it for the first time and, when you first wax, I would suggest having someone there with you to reassure you. When you wax for the first time, you will be scared and that’s in no way a bad thing. Your brain is screaming that you are being mad, the wax is going to rip your skin, you have a razor and you should just use it instead. Usually, I’d say to listen to this part of your brain (aka listen to your common sense) but in this situation it is actually doing more harm than good. Try to think about something else, maybe focusing more on how the wax looks and feels, rather than letting your brain worry you into oblivion. It isn’t going to help you and will only make you more nervous. That first strip is the worst and, to be honest, once it’s off, your leg will sting a little but, the pain isn’t that bad. At all. Ignore that episode in ‘Friends’ when they scream in pain; it was for comedic purposes, nothing else. I promise. For each new strip I found that counting helped me a lot, otherwise I would’ve sat contemplating it for the entire night. 1...2…PULL! Just like that, it’s over. Well, the first one anyway. What surprised me most was how satisfying I found waxing. If you are into ASMR then it’s honestly just another reason to give it a go. From the slow and incredibly satisfying pulling apart of the two strips, to the patch of hairless skin, if you view it with that mindset, you may even enjoy yourself (I know I did!). There are also a few other small things I am inclined to mention, mainly because the instructions I used didn't explain these parts very well. First, you need to make sure when you pull on the tab, you are pulling AGAINST the way the hairs are growing (so up your leg) and as close to the skin as possible. You want it to be fast, the skin around your leg to be tight (either tense your muscle or just pull your skin taut) and when your legs are covered in little red bumps, don’t be alarmed. This is simply your blood rising and asking your skin what on Earth just happened. It does not mean you’ve done something wrong, it’s just your body’s natural reflex to the sensation of hair being ripped out of your leg. When you look at the strip after shaving you may notice some of the hairs have a darker black bit at the end of them. This is where you’ve pulled up the root of the hair. Once again, this should not alarm you. In fact, it’s a good thing and means those hairs will take longer to grow back! Annoyingly, the wax won’t pull up every last hair. Now, I didn’t know this, and felt thoroughly ripped off when my mum said i would have to wait a few days for those hairs to grow a bit longer, and then try again. So, that was my waxing experience. Was it terrifying? A little bit. But, more importantly, was it worth it? 100%. I believe in you and I know that if I can do this, so can you. Don’t let your body hair define nor dictate how you feel. If you want it gone, get rid of it. If not, I want you to own it and if someone makes any kind of comment towards you, ignore them. You are strong, you are powerful and their comments do not define you. I hope this helped :) Have an absolutely glorious day my beautiful reader xxx
Have you ever watched “Morning routines”? “Night routines”? Maybe a “day in the life” video on youtube, hoping that you are able to wake up that early? Or be as productive during the day like what you’ve watched in those videos? Well, that's why building a routine is actually really good for you! It may even change your life for the better and help you! I personally enjoy watching morning routines, night routines, and day in the life videos because I aspire to wake up that early and be productive as well. Initially, I did try to copy their routines, I used to write down whatever they did and replicate the routines, hoping that I could be as productive and fresh in the morning as they were. That did work out for a couple of days, sometimes some routines did work out for weeks but honestly, never in the long term.
That's when I realized that the only way to actually have the “perfect” or the “most productive” routine, or the routine that your body and mind desires, is to actually slowly build your routine based on you. What I mean by this is, in order to have a “perfect” routine that you, personally do enjoy, you need to understand your needs and what your body and mind are comfortable with. Every single body and mind is different, frankly, it's quite difficult for people to be able to adapt to the exact same things. This means that I may not be an early riser or someone who's able to sleep early, and that's completely fine and normal, but that doesn’t mean that it's impossible to change. When I did try to make a routine for myself, based on what I saw in the videos, I forced myself to wake up early and sleep early, and do yoga in the morning and the night as well, and try to work out during the day, eat healthy, be productive all day, because I went to that extent to try to replicate routines. However, it actually doesn’t work that way. When I realized that I couldn’t cope with this routine for the long term, I assumed that it wasn’t possible to do it at all, but that's where I was wrong for the second time. It took some time to actually realize that building your routine doesn’t happen in one day. I believe that its really important to have a good routine for yourself because, in that way, you’re able to optimize your time better. However, you need to be patient with yourself and take the time to understand what your needs are. If you want to build a routine, you need to make the changes slowly and see if you’re comfortable with it. My sleep schedule was not the best, sleeping at 2-4, waking up at 6-7, and taking afternoon naps, and on weekends, sleeping in till the afternoon, wasn’t really the best choice for my health but I thought that waking up early and sleeping early was impossible. I was wrong. I thought that it was impossible, but it actually wasn’t. The first time I tried, I, of course, failed, because I was trying to force myself to follow the routines I watched online, but, the second time I tried it, I slowly and patiently adapted to a better routine. By this, I mean, I was so used to sleeping at 2-3 that I didn’t jump to 9-10 pm, I slowly started with 1 am, then got into bed by 11 pm, then some days I did relapse back to the late nights, but I didn’t give up just yet. I started again, I got into bed earlier and waited till I fell asleep, and even with the mornings, my main focus was getting enough sleep. So, since I slept early, I also focused on waking up early, thus, I was slowly building on my sleep schedule routine. Similarly, I wanted to see what else I could change in my routine. I saw in the videos how people were able to do yoga in the morning and night, and how they looked so refreshed so I decided why not. I did force myself to do it, and it did take time to realize that it didn’t really help me. I’m not saying that yoga isn’t good for you, but personally, it didn’t really help me, in terms of my mental health, so I decided to stop doing yoga and focus on some breathing techniques which are actually really helpful. I did try and work out, and that actually went really well but didn’t work out in the long term because I did overdo the workouts. I used to watch how people could work out for 2-3 hours straight, but I slowly came to the understanding that my body is comfortable with 30 mins to an hour of working out, and that to, maybe twice or thrice a week. Therefore, I started trying out more things to see what really makes me feel comfortable and what works for me, but at the same time, if something didn’t work out and I wanted to make it happen, I had to be patient with myself and wait for my body and mind to adapt to it. Like, I used to be able to study only at midnight and beyond when it came to school, and it was quite bad considering the fact that I wasn’t able to even prepare for my exams for the whole day because I couldn’t focus unless it was at night. That didn’t mean that I gave up just there though. I decided that since I could wake up early and put a stop to the afternoon naps, I could maybe try and sit down to finish my work in the morning. Honestly, nearly every morning during my summer vacation, I woke up early and sat down on my table. Even if I wasn’t able to focus, I still sat down and waited for my mind to come to terms that I had work to complete. Now, I can proudly say that even if it's 4 AM or 5 AM, I’m able to study without procrastinating too much. I realized that at the end of the day, to only find the perfect routine that you desire, you need to be patient with yourself, your mind, and your body. There’s absolutely no deadline to make a perfect routine, so you just need to work on building your routine every single day, and every single day, try to make small changes and see if they work out for you or not. If some things don’t really turn out the way you want them to, then don’t give up just yet! Keep at it and sooner or later, you’ll be able to achieve it! A routine is like a puzzle. You need to start figuring out which pieces fit and until you do, the puzzle may be incomplete. Be patient with yourself, and sooner or later, when all the pieces seem to fit, the puzzle will be ready. Be patient with yourself, and take time to understand your mind and your body needs. -Ananya It’s fair to say that I’ve had a hectic first term of Sixth Form and my A Level choices alone can show you this much. Starting off, we had a line up of English Literature, Biology, Chemistry and Drama. First, let’s just appreciate that I’ve never done any form of drama before in my life and, two weeks in, when asked to bark like a dog when my teacher took the register… I realised it wasn’t for me. Okay, one down and three left, I should’ve just left it like that, right?
Wrong. I then decided it would be smart to take up another subject I’d never tried before: Psychology. I would say ‘big mistake’, but it wasn’t. I mean, I hated the subject; I found it boring and dull and time-wasting, but it wasn't a mistake. If I hadn't taken it, I wouldn’t have known I hated it, and I would have spent the rest of my life wondering if I was secretly a Psychology genius. This leads me to my first, and probably most important, point when it comes to choosing your A Level subject. Do not do a subject you hate because you’re good at it. I faced a massive (well, massive relative to me) decision when I was taking Psychology. Grade wise, I was getting full marks in Psychology and Bs in Chemistry, BUT, I enjoyed Chemistry more. And, ultimately, that’s what won the battle: my love for the subject. I knew dropping Psychology would give me the time to focus more on a subject I actually enjoyed so I could boost that grade, rather than sit in misery every single Psychology lesson. Look, I know it’s difficult and feels really naive, but I am so much happier now than I was before, so I would like to stress the importance of doing what you enjoy. Cliche, I know, but this one’s from experience, so at least you know I’m telling the truth. As you can probably tell, I was indecisive about my choices (to say the least) and that’s totally fine! My school gave us an arguably long time before we had to fully commit (until November 2nd, if I remember rightly) which gave all of us ample time to change, switch, go back, and do it all again. It doesn’t matter if you're not feeling comfortable with your subjects; no one will judge or think differently of you if you simply realise that something isn't your cup of tea (in fact, some of my friends are jealous that I made the choice so quickly). Of course, there is ‘the future’ to consider (I know, I know, I don’t want to either but it’s better to be prepared). If you want to go to University, you do need to take a look at what A Level requirements they have (if any). I am hoping to attend Oxford to study English Literature and, surprise surprise, one of their requirements is English A Level. One thing I want to let you know, in case you also are looking at Oxbridge Universities, is that they prefer you to be taking the ‘traditional subjects’ (English, Maths, Science, History, Geography), and they probably won’t consider you if you are only doing one of these. It’s the harsh truth, I’m afraid. So, when choosing A Levels, I would recommend having Uni or whatever you want to do next in the back of your mind. It’s taken me a while (three months, to be exact) to feel comfortable with my A Level choices, but I don’t think this would have happened without the many obstacles I faced on the way. Just remember, A Levels are just another qualification, and it’s also important to do what you love outside of school as well. I hope this helped, Chloë The wistful whispers of the ocean as it glistens in the moonlight
Subdued by the tranquil air and the silence that gently travels, Urge the pebble to edge further into the predictability Of the soft waves, finding safety in its delicate fluctuating motion Unlike the tumultuous waves that possess the angelic Body of water when the sun rises. The blue light is electric, reflecting and revitalizing The gentle splashes provide a promise that they will Guide your thoughts, rather than aggravate them. Slowing them down, focusing on what truly matters. Unlike under the scorching cerulean sky, Where floating in the middle of nowhere Is blinding And being suffocated under the waves Which choke your silence. Here, silence is free, Silence isn’t synonymous with fear. Liberated by the soft waves of freedom, The dynamic blue water is glowing, Illuminating the truth in who you are, The truth that only you know is there. You’re safe here, You’re protected by the breeze that Carries your trepidation away Through the waves of discovery.
Sometimes I wish I could rewind the clocks and go - go back in time, be interested in the things I'm not, play with the toys that collect dust, climb the tree house before it’s all rot, ride my bike before its covered in rust, play games with my brother, just give it another, go - go back in time, and say yes to those scary things, not be as shy, listen to the bird sing, cause the limit is the sky. Oh, the places, I will go - but now I just sit, and cry as they all go by. By Josh
College applications seem to loom in front of you for your entire high school career. They’re always there, waiting to stress you out with the work and time that you have to put into them. But they’re not as scary as one might think, and all it takes to get started is that first click. If you take the applications one step at a time and give yourself enough time to complete them, the stress and anxiety that surrounds the entire process isn’t as bad as you would think.
I’m currently a rising senior and will be graduating in the spring of 2021, so I’m in the midst of applications. However, I’ve been working towards these college applications for what seems like forever since I’ve been going on tours and worrying about my SAT score for over a year. It’s been a lot to keep track of, especially during the middle of a global pandemic, and college research and applications have taken up a lot of my summer. I’ve had a list of colleges that I was interested in for awhile now, but there’s still so much that I’ve had to do and still need to get done. I’ve also struggled with getting started on my writing because I don’t like talking about myself, so thinking about the things I’m going to share about myself in the different essays has been intimidating. I’m lucky enough though to have a great support system behind me, including my parents, my older sisters, and my college counselor. They’ve helped me to slow down and take everything one step at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed with all of it. Now as I’m going into senior year and applications are starting to open, I feel a lot more at ease than I did at the beginning of the summer. I know what I need to get done and I know I can do it, and those are the two most important things to remember. Here are a few things to remember when you start the college process:
The college process can seem overwhelming, but if you take it one step at a time, it doesn’t have to be as stressful. Give yourself time to work through each part of your application, including research, and remind yourself that you can and will get through it. The future may seem scary but remember that you can do anything you set your mind to- including a few pesky college applications! ~Madeline Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut, Booksmart, blends together beautiful cinematography and a perfect soundtrack, with an extremely talented cast and a heartwarming, hilarious plot to create an intricate coming of age film of which you could watch again and again and never grow bored of. Booksmart is truly a unique film as it utilises camerawork and music in its own artistic way but rather than taking away from the plot, it enhances moments and emotions making you feel as if you are in the room with the characters throughout the film. So, now you may be wondering, what is the plot?
Booksmart is a story of two high school seniors, Amy and Molly. With graduation nearing, the best friends look forward in excitement for what the future may bring, both have spent their whole time in high school working hard to get to prestigious colleges with flying colours. However, they reach a dilemma upon realising that their fellow students have also gotten into high-level colleges with good grades, but they spent all of their time in high school going to parties. For this reason, the pair make it their aim the night before graduation to go to the best party ever to make up for all of the lost ones and show that they are smart and fun. This results in a hilarious film packed with moments to make you laugh, cry and anything in between! One of my favourite aspects of Booksmart is the characters, all characters feel like real people complete with strengths and flaws. Despite the focus of the film's plot being the party, you can tell how long Amy and Molly have been best friends through their interactions, this, combined with the performance given by Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein conveys a realistic friendship to the audience. Side characters are also well written, and none are two dimensional, and many characters who could be in danger of falling prey to overdone character tropes avoid them. For example Gigi, who could be classed as the comedy relief character of the film at no point becomes annoying in any way, a common trap for comedic relief characters, but still achieves making you laugh in all of her scenes whilst still remaining relevant to the plot and having depth. Additionally, there is well-executed LGBT representation with the co-lead, Amy, shown as a lesbian with an unrequited crush on another senior, a sub-plot explored throughout the film. As mentioned previously, I also loved the use of music within the film, the soundtrack features songs by Lizzo, M.I.A and many other artists ranging from well known to fairly unknown. The use of music in the film is unique in the way that rather than creating the intended mood of a scene it enhances it and creates further immersion into the moment. In my opinion one of the most powerful scenes in the film is an argument between two characters, this scene is so powerful partially due to the use of music as the argument begins with no music, but the music slowly comes in until the words are being drowned out by the music, for me this was a powerful portrayal of the way people say meaningless things in arguments. This scene is just one of many amazing scenes throughout the film and the use of music is just one aspect of the genius behind this film. Overall, I would recommend Booksmart to anyone, it is a good feel-good comedy, but it can also be a heart wrenching coming of age. For such an amazing film with such thought put into it to create the beautifully intricate masterpiece that was brought to screen it is hard to believe that this is Wilde’s directorial debut and I can only anticipate with excitement what we will see from her soon. Jasmine Failure. It’s something that we all actively try to avoid. However, it still plays a significant part in our lives. Having to overcome and learn from it, when it continuously shows up unannounced, is something we all need to learn how to do. But this is no small feat. Failure is often accompanied by negative thoughts and emotions, making it even harder to try to get back on our feet.
The definition of failure is the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and it happens quite often. It follows us in our school grades, our relationships, our jobs, and some blows hit harder than others. We can feel drained and lost, confused about what step to take next, burned out, and burdened. I’ve had to deal with failure in many aspects of my life. But something that’s been riddled with it is my academics. Recently, I’ve been studying for the SATs (the college admission test for The US) for months, and each time I took a practice test, I kept getting lower and lower scores. I started to get scared, terrified of the fact that I’d get a horrible score on the actual exam. So I began to push myself harder. I’d spend more time practicing, take more practice tests, but I just kept getting worse. Even though these bad scores weren’t my actual results, it made me fearful of what the final score would be, which pushed me down even further. I thought the rest of my future was riding on this score. These results shut me down. I was reluctant to keep going. The fear and anxiety started to spill over into many other parts of my life, bringing them to a screeching halt. I wasn’t able to focus on school or study for exams. I wasn't able to keep up with my extracurriculars. All because of a stupid test score. After going through this experience, spiraling downward multiple times, I’ve been able to piece together a sort of routine to pull myself out. First, take a step back. When failure pops up again and again, our first impulse may be to immediately make up for it, trying to work harder. But many times, it can lead to burnout or feeling even more defeated than before, which could make the process of moving forward even harder. Let go of the thing that's causing you some trouble for a bit and try to focus on other things going on in life. This could be working on learning dance or a new song or even what's happening in a TV show that you're currently watching. Maybe try something that's the polar opposite of what you're having trouble with. After recuperating for a bit, try to find out why you're not getting your desired outcome. Analyze your mistakes to find out their source. Try to sit down with a mentor, by yourself, or even with a friend and discuss the mistakes you’ve made to see what could've gone better. From this, you can focus on the aspects that need more work. It may even help to start off from square one again, re-learning everything. But most importantly and the hardest: have faith in yourself. One reason we have trouble continuing in the face of failure is that we don’t believe we can go on anymore. We are scared that we may not get to where we want to be. It often helps to surround yourself with as much positivity as possible. Listen to upbeat music, dance like a maniac from time to time, read positive affirmations, and try to always tell yourself, ‘you can do it!’ The positivity will rub off on you, which can give you an extra boost in motivation and just make you feel better in general. Failure will never stop popping by, but it’s up to us whether we want to battle it or use it. It's always a hard journey, but keep pushing. For every little step you take, give yourself a pat on the back. Make sure you know that everything you are doing right now is what matters. Shine the limelight on the next step instead of the result. And always remember, even if something that you are doing or did is something you’d call a failure, you are never a failure. Keep pushing, and you’ll soon be in the stars. Jahannavi :) At some point in your life, you will want to go out and get a job for yourself. Sometimes it’ll be for money, to increase productivity, to get experience, or anything else really! One of the most requested items employers will ask for is a resume. So, what exactly is a resume?
A resume is a document that you will submit to your employer. It is a summary of your experience, contact information, skills, awards, references, and your goals for the job. The paper can usually be sent digitally or handed face to face, prior to interview or during the interview. In some situations, your employer may say that a resume is optional to turn in on the application you’re filling out. But should you still put a resume in? You probably should, as it shows you are prepared and they get to know your work ethic better. Next though, let’s go over more on what a resume includes. Please keep in mind this article will be going over a chronological resume, the most common and most preferred. Here are the four common things a resume consists of: Basic Profile – This is a big part of the resume, showing who you are and what you hope to achieve. Contact Information – How should people contact you? You can list your email, phone numbers, LinkedIn, and any other contacts you can think of. This is very important so that employers, managers, and fellow employees can contact you easily and don’t need to guess. Experience – What job or volunteer experience do you have behind you? This can be from your online moderation experience, any type of jobs, or anything that shows your responsibility. If you have extensive job history, put down the ones that are most related to the job you’re applying to. Skills – What can you do? This can be soft or hard skills, soft skills being skills like customer service, communication, teamwork, and more. Hard skills are skills like your typing speed, languages, and more. Just think of hard skills being able to be measured and soft skills being your character as an employee. AVOID using the linear points for this. Linear points are the items that say “3/10 with Microsoft Word”, and “1/5 with driving a truck” on resumes. Don’t use these as it doesn’t actually show how good you are at this skill and the employer doesn’t know how to measure it by. Are as an employee to increase the chances of getting the job, so contact your teachers and past co-workers (if you have any) to get a reference. So, a chronological resume will be mainly all of the key components up above, but how should you be writing this? 1) Don’t use bright colors but soft dim colors. You want your resume to be pleasant to the eye and not something that can make the eyes go sore. It’s more common to do a black and white essay, but you can use pops of colors as well (as long as they’re saturated). You can also do fully colored resumes, but make sure they’re saturated and balanced. 2) Be accurate and honest with your information. Make sure to put the dates of when you started and left past jobs, know what you did there and be truthful about what skills you have. If an employer finds out you’ve been lying, it can get you in trouble. 3) Be updated. Most likely you will use your resume multiple times, so make sure to update your information depending on the job, time period, and for your updated experience, education, and skills. This will show you’re on top of your responsibilities. 4) Don’t rush; make it neat. Make sure to not use Comic Sans but perhaps Time News Roman as a font. Use black or white text depending on your colors only and make sure it’s readable. Use columns to organize the resume to be more appealing and accurately name each section. Don’t forget to proofread it as well! 5) Be confident! Be confident in your experience and skills. Confidence is a huge plus because it shows how ready you are for the job and your overall mood about the job. If you act sluggish, they will get the wrong impression that you don’t want to be there. Show them that you do! Always feel free to look into resumes more and build on it by yourself. Try to make your own form of resume by testing out Word or Google Docs. Both programs are great for building them. You can also ask those around you such as teachers, parents, and friends. Now you know how to effectively write a resume, what’s included in a resume, and what to expect. Good luck out there! Emi Love. Trust. Respect. Attention. Communication.
These five points have been revisited again and again by psychologists and unofficially claimed as the five bases of a good relationship. Without these it can be almost impossible to build a strong one (either platonic or romantic) which will last. However, many relationships turn sour and bitter, and abusive or broken relationships can lead to extreme mental upheaval, in some cases leading to depression, anxiety and trust issues. Usually, when a relationship turns negative it can feel sudden or surprising, and we may not even notice a change at all until it takes a toll on our own mental state. Regularly we can feel like asking “how did I not notice this sooner?” and even blaming ourselves. The true question is, what makes a good relationship? And how can we tell the difference between a positive and a negative one? Psychologists believe that humans need seven things to stay mentally healthy. These seven things are known as The Seven Human Basic Needs. One of these is connection and love. You’d think that we would all follow these basic guidelines as they’re the equivalent to a fast-track pass to happiness, however, in this day and age many of these needs aren’t met, and can seem almost impossible to reach - especially for teenagers. In the modern world it can be easy to feel lonely, unnoticed and unloved. In fact, all of these feelings are extremely common in people with severe depression and loneliness, highlighting further the importance of connection and love to the human psyche. Upon hearing the word “relationship” our minds probably travel to the idea of a life partner, however, close friendships are just as important as a significant other. Close relationships can be formed within your family, or with school, college, uni or work friends - you may even form them online! Having people who you can rely on to be there for you - even when you don’t even want to be there for yourself - can be the most relieving thing, and even help you to manage and understand yourself better. I’ve been through my own fair share of bad friendships, but one has always stood out to me as a primary example of a problematic one, riddled with ‘red flags’ that I can now recognise as ‘Problem Points’, and have used to recognise bad friendships ever since. These Problem Points started off small at first, little things such as questionable compliments - “well, you look... nice?” - or ‘constructive’ criticism - such as “I mean this in the best way possible, but I don’t think that shirt was a good idea” . These are harmless enough, but a bad friendship will progress past this point, moving into the ‘negative comments’ phase - with “You talk a lot, could you just be quiet?” or “Your shoes look like a pair my dad used to own.” - which on their own are easily ignored, but when repeated can slowly chip away at your self-confidence, and lead you to rely on their praise to make you feel better, leading into the next Problem Point. The next is recommending their own ‘fixes’ to your ‘less desirable’ traits or aspects, such as changing your style through “oh, but this would look so much better on you” or “smile with your mouth closed, it looks better on you”, and after going through the negative comments you’ll end up craving their praise, so slowly your style, traits and even your personality may shift to accommodate them. I didn’t even notice that I was really changing, it was only my mum’s comments on how ‘different’ I looked and ‘odd’ I was acting that made me aware of the changes I was putting myself through. After this phase of ‘praise’, the negative comments come back in force, and this is normally the stage where family and friends start saying things such as “why are you letting them treat you like that?” ect. These negative comments can be things such as “are you TRYING to embarrass me? Is that your aim?” or “be quiet, I’m speaking now” or “what did we say about smiling?” If the friendship reaches this point, then either the ‘friend’ moves on and leaves you, or a family member or friend may intervene. However, very rarely will family or friends intervene if you don’t reach out first. When I went through this I ended up extremely depressed, anxious and socially withdrawn. Whilst being friends with this person a lot of family issues had also kicked off, so when I came out the end of it, everything hit me like a tonne of bricks, and I was in a very dangerous state. However, I’d been lucky enough to have one of my closest friends stand by me through the whole situation, and she helped manage to carry me through. I was also lucky to have a mum and dad I could confide in, so even though I felt alone I wasn’t. The best thing for you after coming out of a friendship like that, or even when trying to get out of a bad friendship, is to lean on your family and friends who are concerned for you. They care. And even though you’ll feel like you can’t trust anyone, they’ll be there for you. If you’re still stuck and want more advice, here’s a few websites I recommend you have a look at: For identifying an abusive friendship - https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/how-to-recognize-abusive-friendships#2 For getting out of one - https://www.canadianliving.com/life-and-relationships/relationships/article/6-steps-to-ending-a-toxic-friendship Esme The cushions on the couch provide a comfortable place to rest -
the dog curls up beneath my feet to doze, the rug is her place of vacation its soft strands intertwined with her fur, like warm sand underfoot. The picture frames on the wall catch my eye as I examine the memories they hold, As the books on the shelf call out to me, they long to be read, the blanket wraps around me - hugging me tight as I read, travelling to a distant world from my living room, whilst the vinyl spins round and round, dancing as it sings, the candle joins in the dance - gently, flickering, as it bathes the room in a soft, warm light, the warmth protects me from the cold outside, the storm that rages on can’t reach me, here. By Josh In the modern world, social anxiety, loneliness and depression are scarily common. In teenagers, poor mental health is especially concentrated, approximately 4.5 million people below the age of 18 suffer from diagnosed anxiety, and around 2 million suffer from diagnosed depression.
Having a therapy pet can lower loneliness through animal companionship, they also keep you to a routine and give you something to wake up for - helping with depression - and even release endorphins which make you feel happier and calmer in yourself. As well as this, therapy pets are proven to lower blood pressure, improve cardiovascular health, and diminishes overall physical pain. Also, the act of petting an animal produces an automatic relaxation response, reducing the amount of medication some people need. A couple years ago my family got a kitten, and since then our mental health has gotten steadily better, and even brought us closer together as a family unit. Without my cat, I don’t think my family would be at the point it’s at today. Some good animals as therapy pets: Dogs
Of course there are many other animals which are suited to the role of a ‘therapy pet’, these six categories are just the most common. Scientists, psychologists, doctors and animal specialists are constantly discovering new information on the positive effects of therapy pets, so even now we may not yet know the depths to which pets can help us, both mentally and physically. But, we do know that they can greatly help, and definitely have a positive effect on health. However, don’t purchase a therapy pet without first making sure you have the space and money to look after it. Don’t go rushing in to later realise you can’t afford to buy all the equipment needed and the food. Don’t compromise on the animal’s happiness just because you didn’t think the decision through. But, in the end, animals do have a great impact on health, and if you have the means to take care of one, I highly recommend you do. Esme I am currently facetiming one of my closest friends who just so happens to be a guy. I know, shock horror.
Yes, these relationships do exist! And no, I have no feelings of any kind towards this guy sitting eating edible paper in front of me. This is a friend who I can laugh with about inappropriate subjects and act goofy around without any fear of judgement. We understand each other and constantly make fun of each other. This is why our friendship is so strong. I know, however, that these relationships can be ridiculed and judged by others. In the past, I have been ‘shipped’ with my ‘guy friends’. People made fun of how close we were and said we should date. I naively thought that they were being genuine, instead of just ‘funny’, and dated these boys. Shockingly enough, none of these relationships lasted too long. This was simply because we just weren’t meant to be any more than friends. The worse thing was that, after the relationships fell apart, so did our friendships. You need to understand what you are risking before you get into a relationship with someone. However, sometimes it is difficult to tell whether you like someone as more than friends or not. You don’t want to ruin your friendship, but they seem to make you happier than anyone else and you can’t wait to see them. There are a few ‘tells’ which help me when deciding whether or not I like someone as more than a friend. Firstly, do you find them attractive? I know this sounds shallow, but it actually isn’t. A relationship is largely based on physical attraction. Of course, you have to like their personality, but if that’s all you like, then they may be more suited as a friend. Second, are they easy to talk to? This doesn’t mean you can talk for hours and hours on end, because that’s practically impossible. However, if you feel awkward or uncomfortable around them, this might be a sign that they aren’t right for you. Also, please remember that people can behave very differently over text, so make sure you have talked to someone face-to-face to truly know if your personalities are compatible. Thirdly, do they show any signs of wanting more. It would be pretty disappointing if you work yourself up about whether you want to be in a relationship with someone when they aren’t thinking the same thing. If you catch them staring at you or making an effort to spend more time with you (preferably alone), then it is possible they do, which means you may be more suited for a relationship. If none of these apply to your ‘guy friend’, then you probably aren’t ‘meant to be’. Remember, this isn’t a bad thing! In fact, being friends with people of the opposite gender can be very rewarding. They can give you insight into life on the ‘other side’ and you can talk about things that might not be appropriate in a relationship. They may even help you find ‘the one’! Chloë At the start of lockdown, I had found myself listening to the same songs over and over again. However, I have recently found a musician that I absolutely adore. Michael Aldag. Not only is his music great to listen to and very thought provoking, but he also has amazing hair.
His recent song (I say recent but it came out 4 weeks ago) is a beautiful, captivating song about the current pandemic. Despite this, I have only seen it today (23//06//20) as he has just released a lyric video to the song. I have already listened to it five or six times! It is so catchy with such an important message. It talks about how those in power have been absent or, as Aldag says: “It’s a town from which the sinners hide”. He then goes on to talk (or should I say sing) about how there has been lots of questionable advice being shared during this already confusing time. An example from his song is where Aldag is calling out Donald Trump due to the fact he told people to inject themselves with cleaning chemicals. Aldag does this in the lyric “That chlorine looks good so inject it in my soul”. Another impactful lyric is, “It seems the virus does discriminate”, highlighting the fact that it is the working class who are affected most by the pandemic. This is because Aldag is trying to get people to donate to The Trussell Trust, a charity that is working towards the end of needing food banks in the UK, although many people are currently in need of support. Aldag also has many other great songs like Entitled and BEDBOUND. BEDBOUND is another song about being in lockdown, which he has made a music video for from his bed in lockdown. Whilst Entitled is about how everyone is trying to compete over this idea that their life is worse than others, he also does so many covers of songs that are so beautiful. I can’t stress how much I love Aldag’s songs (and hair), so please go and show him some support. As even a little like or follow goes a long way to helping new musicians. It will aid Aldag in being able to create more music with such deep and meaningful messages. Josh When one is walking around, enjoying their family’s company there will always be a follower. The first thought that may come to your mind is one’s shadow- well you’re not wrong there. But in this case it’s depression, a mental illness that might just suddenly drop your mood. Today was one of those situations which I wanted to enjoy as I was visiting my brother who had moved out a few years back. He now lives in Newcastle, England. He met this beautiful girl called Autumn and then they made it official that they were boyfriend and girlfriend. When myself and my parents picked up my brother and his girlfriend, we all went to the Metro Centre which is a big shopping centre. Straight away me and Autumn headed to the Disney store. Autumn decided to buy a Stitch teddy whilst I went for the wee pig from Moana known as Pua. After that, we walked around the shopping centre just looking what shops there were. I could feel my mood slowly dropping like water going down the drain. I began to get negative thoughts about being the odd one out as there were five of us, myself being the youngest. We walked into spoons for some lunch, the place was packed so it was hard to find a table for five. So we got a table for four and then a two seated table too. They all sat on the four seated table but myself was left to sit on the other, so for me it was hard to hear everyone and trying to join in with the conversations I felt like I was invisible. After lunch, we headed onto more shops to find some Christmas presents. I could just feel myself slowly tagging along like a lost puppy. The four of them went into a shop and I just waited outside as I didn’t feel up to going into the shop with them. I stood there looking over the balcony just thinking, ‘Why am I even here’ or other thoughts like, ‘I hate myself so much, no one cares’. It’s thoughts like these that ruin such grand situations, making you feel worthless. But I know I’m not the only one out there who gets these kind of thoughts. There are other people who feel like no one else cares about them, sometimes just thinking about that gives me a wee bit of hope because I’m not alone if that makes sense. Depression is a killer but you’re not the only one who suffers. Reach out and do what I do, tell people about it! Share your experiences even if it’s just as simple as my situation. It just shows others that they can relate to you and reach out for help. Here’s some tips and tricks on how I deal with depression; Crafts: Distracting yourself with creative thinking is a huge advantage for me! Joining Zumba Classes: Since I found my courage to join a Zumba class, I've enjoyed going every week! Mindful Photography: Take up photography with a focus on mindfulness. Capture the beauty around you, paying attention to the details and living in the moment. Build a Sensory Kit: Create a kit with items that engage your senses (e.g., scented candles, textured objects, soothing music). Use it when you need comfort or distraction. Mel Over the summer I read the wonderful ‘This Is Not Propaganda’. As you might have guessed by the title, the book was all about controlling the media and political messages. In part one, ‘Cities of Trolls’, the author talks about freedom of speech, and how powerful people can use masses of information to hide messages posted by people disagreeing with them. In this part, a particular section called ‘#ArrestMariaRessa!’ really stuck with me. Maria was the head of a news website in the Philippines during President Duterte’s rise to power. Maria and her online news website would report about Duterte’s vulgar language and eventually his unauthorised killings. Despite producing factually correct articles, Maria was facing online threats. However, after some time she started to notice some patterns and found fake online accounts that would repeat the same messages - eventually, she could even predict when fake stories were about to be posted and created an alarm system for readers of the Rappler. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, and what do I see on the news? Maria Ressa won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. After looking into it even further I found that she’s also won the Golden Pen of Freedom in 2018, and the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize in 2021 - all for her work on democracy and freedom of speech. This got me thinking about freedom of speech, and just how important it is. So, if you’re still with me after this ridiculously long introduction, I’m going to tell you all about freedom of speech, what it is, and why you should care about it! Freedom of speech is any one person's right to put across their ideas and opinions without having to worry about retaliation, punishment or censorship. Let's unpack this a little bit more. Retaliation can come from anywhere, whether that be other ‘normal’ people or the government. Punishment could also come from other people or the government, in the form of abuse or fines and imprisonment. Finally, censorship happens when what you’ve said has been suppressed. So in essence, if you can say what you want when you want and not be worried about receiving serious consequences from this, you have the luxury of freedom of speech! But you might be thinking, ‘surely there are some cases where suppressing opinions is a good thing, right?’ - for example, anti-LGBTQ or racist viewpoints that are being spread to intentionally spread hate. Whilst I agree that nobody should be expressing such thoughts, if you were to take away that person’s right to do so you would be taking away the opportunity for them to learn and educate themselves, not to mention challenging democracy itself. From my own experiences, these people should be able to express their views so that I can challenge them and help them see things from a different perspective. If they’re forced to keep such ideas to themselves, how will they learn that it’s not okay? There’s also the idea that if someone can’t say harmful things, they’re more likely to do harmful things. You might also be thinking, ‘what’s a teenager like me going to be able to do about freedom of speech?’. If that is what you’re thinking, you might be surprised to find out that Gen Z (people born after 1996) is the most progressive age group within society and see things like racial and ethnic diversity as a good thing. And it’s true. Since moving to university I’ve been involved in Climate Protests (Greta Thunberg visited my university city!), something I never would’ve considered at home. Concerning freedom of speech, the majority of students do not support free speech restrictions . So there you have it, young people have the power, if we stand up for the things that we believe in, we really can create a better future for everyone! So that’s just about everything I wanted to say! If you’ve stuck with me this whole time, thank you! This is such an important topic, especially when you look at cheating claims against Putin after he was reelected this year, or in less economically developed countries where the government has much more control of the media than in richer democratic countries. I hope you understand what freedom of speech is and why it’s so important. I also hope you understand that, whilst hate speech is wrong, so is taking away someone’s right to be educated. Think about it - if we couldn’t learn from our mistakes we’d spend our whole lives doing something the wrong way, whereas if we’re told we’re wrong we can change for the better! Now that you know your rights - I hope you’re inspired! Be who you want to be, challenge people, even challenge yourself! Protest, make change, be a leader! You have a voice, use it! If there’s something you’re passionate about, let everyone know about it, you only get one life. Be the change you want to see. Keeley. 1: Pomerantsev, P. (2019). This Is Not Propaganda. Faber & Faber Limited, London. https://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Not-Propaganda-Adventures-Against/dp/0571338631 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Ressa#Awards_and_recognition Keeley Before my 18th birthday, I had seen 3 therapists, 4 psychologists, and 9 doctors. I had 3 procedures and tried more medicines than I can remember. I can recall the exact day my chronic pain began. It was November 2nd, 2016, and I thought I was having a heart attack. I remember almost passing out in my bed, waiting for an eternity in the emergency room, and all of my tests coming back with no answers. In the end, it was a simple blood test that shined some light on what was going on inside of my body. The test showed that I had an abnormally high level of C-reactive protein, which meant I was fighting inflammation somewhere internally. When this test result came in, my doctors finally gave me a diagnosis of costochondritis. Costochondritis is essentially chest pain with no apparent cause. It usually occurs in children and teenagers and most grow out of it within a few weeks, but there are the unlucky few whose pain stays. My costochondritis diagnosis lasted for three years. I had just turned 15 when my inflammation went away, but I was still experiencing the pain. Even though my body was physically better, my brain was not on the same page. It kept sending out pain signals because after three years it had gotten so used to doing so. Because there is no longer a physical cause, the pain has now linked itself to my mood and anxiety. When I’m stressed or anxious or depressed, the pain gets worse, which isn’t good when my genetics make it so I can’t make enough serotonin, the chemical that is in charge of depression. My brain had become my own worst enemy. Finding out that the inflammation was gone was heartbreaking. For three years, I had lived on anti-inflammatory medicines and diets, and I had been told that when the inflammation went away, so would the pain. There are no words to express how broken and depressed I felt when that was no longer the case. I got angry at myself and the world. I refused any new medicines or treatments because I had wasted so much of my life bouncing from doctor to doctor, just trying to feel normal again. Eventually, I started trying new medicines again, but these were aimed towards improving my mental state. My doctors thought that if I could get my anxiety and depression - the two things that worsened the pain the most - under control then maybe my pain would get more manageable or even disappear entirely. It took 8 months to find the right medicine and then COVID-19 hit. The pandemic hasn’t changed much for me. My pain had already kept me housebound, the only difference was that now my friends were stuck in their homes too. They finally got to see a sliver of what the previous four years had been like for me. It might seem weird, but I was happy they had to stay home because it meant they weren’t out having fun without me like in previous years. Last summer, I tried a new procedure. Its goal was to burn the nerves in my ribs that were transmitting the pain signals and force my brain to reboot. It was temporarily successful, but eventually, the nerves healed and the pain was back, but at a lower intensity. I still have the pain, but there are fewer intolerable days. I still can’t wear a bra regularly, and I need to take more time for myself to make sure my anxiety doesn’t reach extreme levels since it could trigger a pain flare-up, but I’m doing better. I wish I could say there was some magical cure that made my chronic pain disappear, but there wasn’t and there still isn’t. I still struggle with it and some days are worse than others. But managing my depression and anxiety has helped tremendously, and learning to not overwork myself and get too stressed has been key. In the last year, my battle with my pain has moved to the neurological side of things. The pain is no longer caused by my body, but by my brain. I’ve had to learn to take care of my brain to keep my pain in control. It’s been a long and slow journey, but I’m just taking it day by day, and maybe someday, I will have a pain-free life again. Links for people who want to learn more about inflammation and costochondritis: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=c_reactive_protein_serum#:~:text=The%20C%2Dreactive%20protein%20(CRP,of%20CRP%20in%20your%20blood. https://www.webmd.com/arthritis/about-inflammation https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/costochondritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20371175 https://www.healthline.com/health/costochondritis I hope you all enjoyed reading this article! Sydney SydneyDepression is known as the “common cold” of the mental health world. However, depression takes the form of various depressive disorders/illnesses do you know that there is more than one type of depression? Well, there are. Different types of depression are chemical imbalances that are caused by either an event that happened in your life or genetic inheritance. The stigmatisation and miseducation surrounding mental health have unfortunately made many people unaware of different types of depressive/mental disorders. This is why it is important to differentiate between them to understand mental health. Major Depression: Clinical depression involves loss of interest and pleasure in activities and/or loss of interest. As well as trouble sleeping, weight loss or gain, feeling agitated and slowed down mentally and physically. The symptoms are experienced most days and last for at least two weeks and interfere in all areas of a person’s life. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A lot of women experience moderate to severe premenstrual symptoms (PMS). Although at least 8% of these experience symptoms that prevent them from living their normal day-to-day life. This is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The difference between PMS and PMDD is that PMDD involves a set of physical and psychological symptoms that would harm the individual’s mental well-being. Common symptoms of PMDD are; severe fatigue, crying and emotional sensitivity, mood changes and difficulty concentrating. Postpartum Depression: The birth of a child can trigger an array of emotions, from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. But it can also trigger depression. Women who have depression in the weeks and months after childbirth may have postpartum depression. Common symptoms include; mood swings, crying spells, anxiety and difficulty sleeping. Seasonal Affective Disorder: This is a period of depression that mostly happens during the winter months when the days grow short and you get less and less sunlight. It usually goes away in the spring and summer. SAD is diagnosed after the person has had the same symptoms during winter for a couple of years. People with SAD are more likely to experience a lack of energy, sleep too much and crave carbohydrates. Bipolar Disorder: Someone with bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, has mood episodes that range from extremes of high energy with an up mood to love depressive periods. When you’re in a low phase, you’ll have the symptoms of major depression. Prior to my diagnosis of clinical depression, I began noticing how I would distance myself from others, sleepless or more and was constantly overthinking. Because I was never taught about mental health and because of stigma, I didn’t know that there was a chance I had depression. People would say that I was “lazy” or was “seeking attention.” That couldn’t be far from the truth. It wasn’t until I started educating myself that I understood mental health. Ways to cope with depression include: Therapy: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that converts common patterns of negative thinking to control your depression. These strategies include gaining a better understanding of the behaviour and motivation of others, using problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations and learning to develop a greater sense of confidence in one's abilities. Diet: Research shows a connection between diet and mental health. Many studies show that improving your diet can treat mental illnesses. By no means do I suggest you completely stop eating your favourite dessert but surely reduce the number of times you eat it. If you are planning on making any major changes to your diet then talk to a doctor. Sleep: If you have trouble sleeping or might sleep too much, you’ll struggle to get out of bed because regardless you’ll feel exhausted all the time. For improving your sleep try; turning off your electronics an hour before you go to bed. If you want to read a book or do another activity, do so. And only your bed for sleep. Working in bed or even your bedroom can cause you to link your bed with stress. Light therapy: This type of therapy is especially for those suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This involves sitting by a special lamp called a lightbox. This produces the light that’s missing during the winter months. By sitting in front of a lightbox for 30 minutes to an hour each day you can increase the serotonin chemical in your body. Serotonin is a hormone that affects your mood. Also known as the “happy chemical.” They come in the form of a desk lamp, alarm clock or wall-mounted fixtures. Wellness toolbox: A wellness toolbox can help you relax when you are feeling down. It can be anything that will make you happy e.g. listening to music, hanging out with loved ones or playing with your pet. When you are feeling bad then choose an activity that will bring you joy. There are many forms of depression which means there are many forms of coping mechanisms. Unless diagnosed, you won’t know which one you’ll have. Just know that you aren’t alone. I know how you feel. Not wanting to get out of bed or eat or having these constant dark, loud thoughts. But let me tell you this - It will pass. I know it's a horrible feeling at the moment but just remember that it will pass. It will get better, I promise. You are so strong. Some people do care for you, whether you believe it or not. You will get through this and if you need help along the way, then get help. There is no shame. Down below is a link to get in contact with your local helplines regardless of what country you are from. :) Get in contact with your local helplines visit: https://checkpointorg.com/global/ Indie Sahota IndieFeeling empty has got to be one of the weirdest things in the world. It’s not an emotion, so you don’t feel sad or angry or upset, but there’s still something that’s just not quite… right. The word itself means there’s nothing, so why, as I write this, do I feel as though a weight is dragging me down at my chest? I like to pretend I’m on top of everything by making schedules, picking up hobbies, and setting myself challenges and goals. I’m not, though, and that gives me an empty feeling. It’s as though no matter what I do I can’t seem to fill this void of… something… which constantly weighs me down, filling me with absolutely nothing at all. The concept itself is ridiculous, add that to the actual ‘feeling’ and you have a recipe for disaster. When I feel this way, it’s as though my life goes almost hazy, or foggy, like I’m watching everything happen, without actually being involved. So, what do I think you should do when you feel empty? - Talk to friends or people you are comfortable around. This doesn’t mean you have to unload all of your emotions on them, because you may not even really understand how you’re feeling (hence, the emptiness). When I’m down, I like to joke around with my mates until, hopefully, I forget I was ever feeling iffy in the first place. - Binge watch TV. As I said before, I love setting schedules for myself to keep busy, but I always optionally forget to give myself any downtime. There’s this saying I know that always stops me (I know this isn’t very smart, but that’s my mind): ‘You regret the things you don’t do in life more than the things you do.’ For some reason, this stops me from remembering that I need to care for myself because I don’t see self-care as something that will help me in the future. This is not the case! And, when I’m feeling empty, I remember that. I turn on my laptop, open Netflix, and start watching whatever show is next (right now, that’s Big Bang Theory; Sheldon is a legend). - Write. Now, I know this is more of a personal one to me, but my advice would be to do something you find therapeutic, calming, and stress-free which, for me, is writing! I also love journaling because it is so fun therapeutic, and completely personal to you; you can do whatever you want with it. - Eat something. I’m not saying go and down a whole bag of crisps (although I wouldn’t blame you, they are very scrummy), instead just think about when you last had a nutritious meal. If you feel the way I do, it was probably a while ago, which is why you are now lacking in energy (I know, I’m practically a scientist). - Drink water! If you’re like me, you have a beautiful Chilly’s water bottle filled to the brim right next to you on your desk. Yet, for some reason, you still don’t drink a drop. Why? If you are reading this right now, drink something. We both know you should. - Listen to sad music and cry. This might sound ridiculous but, from my own experience, there’s nothing like a good cry to let out all those confused emotions. Plus, your eyes will be all shiny afterwards (just ignore the redness) and you will feel all refreshed and ready to leave whatever the heck that emptiness was way behind. So, we can all agree that feeling empty, well, isn’t the best (put lightly) but I hope that the above tips can help a little when you are feeling this way. It is also key to remember that, although things are bad now, they will get better. Trust me, I know. I hope this helped :) Have a brill day xx
ChloëDepression is classed as a mood disorder which affects over more than 264 million people of all ages worldwide! One of the side effects of depression is mood swings. I’ve been experiencing mood swings from a very young age and there have been some hard times. My mood could just drop in an instant from being so happy to feel like I have no meaning in life. When I first started to have mood swings I didn’t know what was going on as there is no education about mental health and stuff like mood swings. I felt like I was losing my mind every time my mood changed! My mind became a dark hole where I would isolate myself when I had one of these mood swings. I felt like there was no way out of these cycles of feeling happy but then suddenly depressed. “What caused these mood swings”, I asked myself as a child but now being a young adult I understand I was experiencing depressive thoughts. But, what I didn’t realise was that others around me had these negative thoughts too. One situation I experienced was when I came home from high school and I went straight to my bedroom for 5 days. I didn’t talk to anyone, I just slept, watched movies and slept more. Looking back on that time, it scares me how my behaviour can change. Sometimes, I don’t even recognise myself at all, it’s like I’m a different person These days I try to make a plan of what I can do to cheer myself up. Some of those plans are;
Lists can be so helpful, especially for me! It keeps me feeling in control and this has helped with my mood swings because having them can make you feel controlless. Asking yourself questions can be good as well because then you can explore inside your mind and see what caused that mood swing.
MELA dynamic truth! A fair judgment to be done! And just another level of stupidity! In fact, it's an indirect one… The time we spend on things we love is way too little than the time we spend on social media. Oooh no! Let me check what Peter has posted this week on Instagram. Or perhaps, it will be so cool and so nice to check on what Mary posted on Tik Tok… But, time still counts, “Tick tock tick tock" And death comes like Boom! We then become addicted to our so-called social life partners. Old days seem more astonishing than the current days… Just to be more precise, the difficulties in doing things made people intelligent and hardworking. But, right now right here, you light up a house with one click on the switch then on it goes! The lights! Such a thing, demanded several trials on a log rubbed smoothly but roughly just to create fire. Sounds interesting right? But, what do we learn from the many trial and errors that gave us a lesson every single time? It actually gave our elders the ability not to give up. It actually made them understand that the world was full of trial and errors which later led to better infrastructures like The Egyptian Pyramids. But come on… wait first! What was Elon Musk's latest post on his newly bought-possession Twitter? Ooh no! Why am I still obsessed with what I am just criticizing? I don't know for real… To be honest, I have had this experience where we are just bonded or perhaps married to a wife or husband named “Social Media” with a full-amazing-gold ring. This might sound harsh but it's actually a truth we have to tolerate. The life principle, which I actually don't know about, tells us that the only people we will be bonded to a lot are our life partners. Ha ha, just kidding! The depth of its effect is far higher than the depth of its advantages which leaves us with an understanding that probably we might be expecting divorces from our life partners. That is what will happen when social media platforms get banished due to the effects it will have caused. We might find ourselves in a drastic confusion of what to do after getting the divorce from these social media platforms. A question just popped up in my mind, actually it's a question I have seen before, which says "What would you do when the internet gets off to replace the time you spend on it?" Huh? Is this a stupid joke or just a mere example of how the crazy people prank the intelligent people? You know, it's actually a thought from someone who might be crazy or just insane enough to speak such bullshit. But, the reality remains that these kinds of people are the most intelligent ones because they realize the depth of the disadvantage. They realize that these platforms which tend to connect people are the same platforms which destroy the role of humanity on earth. Just a simple question, how many people feel absolutely comfortable speaking with people physically than online? Probably very few… But why? It's mainly due to the drastic push we get from our so-called "Life Partners" or let's just say "Destructive Life Partners" named Social Media. Boom! So this is what I have learnt from the Social Media platforms: Well, like lightning it strikes and brings terrifying effects on earth through the breaking rumors it gives out. Like sun rays it gives us the pretendence-like heat unless the ozone layer is tempered through fake-true news it offers. We still survive knowing that we have more to face but unlikely knowing its effects. We live, we survive and we still spend time with our so-called-partners named Social Media. Did I just say something about time? Ooooh no! Wooohooo! Here comes the worst part! Just relax ok? I took time and spared some to check my screen time. I was puzzled and actually surprised with what I saw. Like seriously!!! Did I just spend 6 hours only on Instagram? Ooh come one! Was I stupid to spend 7 hours on ticktock? Mmmh! This sounds fun but how come more than half of my day is just spent on social media? It's magic right? Huh? Still sounds sarcastic… Anyway, let me check what Elon has posted on Twitter this time. Ladies and gents, or let's say online-addicted ladies and gents, I have learnt that the physical contact we spend with our physical friends is far too little than the enormous-high-quality-comfortable time we spend on social media. And actually, my imagination leads me to thinking that we might make a movement on Heaven just to be spared some minutes to check out on our friends in hell and at least check their progress. Just kidding though, the reality is, we really need to look at the future we are destined to go through and at least think if our so-called-life-partners will be advantageous to that destiny. Are we really ready to sacrifice our futures just to waste time on our so-called Life partners or will we be ready to sacrifice the social media and spend more time to nourish our physical world. I am having a feeling that probably Prince EA has posted something today on Instagram. But, do I really have to check it out? You know, this thing is quite tempting and at times it's apparently impossible to just quit it out of the blues and get outdated. Who wants to be outdated? Who? Actually it's fairly no one. It's just not that easy to forget everything and have no information about the world out there. It's quite depressing at times and far away beyond impossible. But, I do have a feeling that there is a way to change and get back to the old days when physical life was much more interesting that the online life. I have this feeling that probably we could have learnt less than what we learn today but actually accurate, true and educative knowledge. We would actively gain knowledge rather than the drastic mixture of lies and truths we get now leading us to an awesome confusion. And who knows, probably we might be able to live a life we all enjoy, live in peace and love and get the natural beauty of our beautiful planet earth. A lot has been happening to the online-addicted ladies and gents. I have been wondering how social media has made us not see the beautiful environment around us. It sounds even awkward that people selfie themselves at funerals these days. But, how long are we going to be torturing our eyes with contents from social media and still get nothing from it? This sounds ridiculous! I cannot stop writing because I feel like the devil we always speak of is actually our so-called life partners named Social Media. They come as a sheep but it's just a skin and when removed there comes a tiger and actually a Mongolian Tiger. It's fierce enough to strike the moment we fully believe it's a sheep. And yes! We have done that already and now we only have to wait for the ambush. Down within the narrow paths towards our destinies, we will be snatched like a chicken. With no one to hear our cries, we will be tortured like a roasted fish. And finally, with none to blame, we will be enslaved and killed mercilessly and Boom! Deal done! Oooh my social media, what have you done to me? - Andreaa Helpline: Be cautious with your social media platforms. Make good use of them and don’t let them exploit you more than how you exploit them. Be cautious! https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-quit-social-media/ AndreaaLots of people like to talk about ‘self-care’ when it comes to mental health and recovery. You might have seen suggestions for lighting candles, taking a long bubble bath, or reading a favourite book. These are all great suggestions when it comes to taking care of yourself at your lowest points. However, no one likes to talk about the uglier side to this because it’s, well, ugly! I am 21, at university, and I like to think I have experience with bad mental health, particularly with trying what feels like hundreds of methods of “self-care”. For me, they were a replacement for going to the doctor (which you definitely should do) because I was absolutely terrified of giving a name to things like depression and anxiety. I have spent many nights listening to Hozier turned all the way up, trying yoga, painting, playing an instrument, eating healthily, and even journaling. Writing down things I like about myself, things I’m good at, reminding myself that pain and sadness are temporary, leaving countless Post-Its across my old bedroom. There are lots of ‘pretty’ ways to look after yourself. Candles and bubble baths (as I mentioned before) aromatherapy, clean sheets, and a long walk through the park. Instagram, in particular, is a place where these things are shown, with accounts and hashtags dedicated to pictures of fluffy dogs and colourful flowers, peaceful landscapes, and extensive skincare routines. I vividly remember trawling through these images, feeling all the more broken because none of them made me feel better. None of them fixed me. My self-care on some days involved just getting out of bed. Making a start on an essay, even if that was only writing out the title. Just having breakfast felt like an accomplishment. I would come home from sixth form on a Friday, exhausted, and not shower until Monday morning when I had to go back again. Moisturising my arms, throwing my uniform in the wash, and even brushing my teeth and hair felt impossible. When you feel like this, and I’m sure most people have had an experience like this at least once, self-care seems so far from reach. Being okay can feel so far from reach. Sometimes self-care isn’t flowers and being clean and having perfect skin. Yes, these things can make you feel better, but they should never be seen as a substitute for professional help, which a lot of people like to portray. Not many people like to show this side to themselves, surprisingly enough, and this is a HUGE problem. There is a stigma towards symptoms of mental illness and the knee-jerk reaction to coping with them that is just never talked about. The point is, both methods of self-care and recovery are FINE! Whether you use ‘pretty’ or ‘ugly’ ways, it doesn’t matter! But both need to be talked about. It is always okay to struggle and reach out to someone, I know I felt so much better when I did to my best friend. It is always okay to not conform to whatever Instagram tells you to do. Find what’s best for you and you alone. - Kaitlyn KaitlynIn recent years, there has been a surge of acceptance and support for the LGBTQ+ community, almost as if it were a trend. However, it seems as though those who identify as bisexual are sorely underrepresented and often regarded as not a part of the community. The stigma around bisexuals correlates with the idea that they can’t choose between being gay or straight, or the worry that they’re making a pitstop on the road to identifying as gay. Needless to say, neither is ever the case. Bisexuality means being able to enjoy both males and females and certainly doesn’t mean being part gay and part straight... I’ve heard that one too many times. Personally, I have never known what sexual orientation I belong to. I have had experiences with both genders, but am still stuck. From a young age, I had my curiosity, as all kids do. I would see lesbians on television shows or my friends would call each other gay while trying to be funny and I would end up searching it up online (which, you might’ve guessed, couldn’t have gone well). Since I’m in high school, at this point I’ve experimented a bit. In fact, my first sexual encounter was with a girl. I’ve played Spin the bottle, seven minutes in heaven, and anything horny or bored teenagers play when they’re with each other. I always doubted liking anything, though. “She’s just a good kisser,” I would say. “I was probably imagining a guy doing it.” “It’s my puberty talking. Anything would feel good right now.” The excuses I would make up for myself were endless. Sadly, I still kind of believe there might be some truth to them. I was also coerced into only liking guys at school. God forbid anyone tell kids it’s okay to be gay (sarcasm if you can’t tell). My entire family on either side is straight, with the exception of maybe 2 or 3 cousins. Taking into account how massive my family is, that’s about 5% or less. On top of that, being that we’re Hispanic, most of us grew up in homophobic households. I recall an instance where I tried to hint at the likelihood of me not being straight, and my father tried convincing me that people aren’t actually gay; that it’s just the hormones from the processed food they consume confusing them. He then proceeded to ask, “You’re not gay, are you,” as if it would be such a tragedy. The lack of support from society obviously doesn’t help, either. The LGBTQ+ community is not exactly portrayed as something you want to be a part of. Members are twice as likely to be bullied and more than twice as likely to stay home or skip school to avoid violent abuse from other students. Additionally, they’re 4 times as likely to attempt suicide than straight kids. The community is also highly fetishized in such a way that it almost looks as though it’s not possible to actually be gay. For example, straight guys think it’s “hot” to see two girls kissing. Or how being gay is sometimes depicted as wrong; taboo, if you will, making it appear, so to speak, that gay sex is something you aren’t supposed to do. In other words, making it as if it were sexy for the sole reason of it being a forbidden act, which brings it back to it being fetishized. With that being said, I still don’t know if I’m straight or bisexual. I feel like I might never know. I don’t understand why others make it look so easy to just know what they like. If you are in the same boat as me, here is the advice I’ve been giving myself: Don’t go off of labels. It shouldn’t even matter if you’re gay, straight, bisexual, pansexual, etc. Just go with the flow. Do what makes you happy. If being with a certain female that makes you feel amazing helps you be happy, then go for it (and vice versa). If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. However, if talking to someone about it would make you feel better, here are some helplines:
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