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My Experience With Anxiety And Depression In High School
Prom is meant to be one of the biggest events of your life. For many young people, however, it can be difficult to get excited when you are battling anxiety and depression near the big event. I felt this struggle myself, and although I did attend, it certainly wasn’t my ideal experience. My life outside of school was a strong contributor to my anxiety and depression near prom Before grade 12, I was always a nervous person, but I seemed to manage myself just fine. Everything seemed to be changing so drastically once my final year of high school rolled around. I suddenly had a lot more trouble coping with…
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An Unforgettable Prom Horror Story
As a once in a lifetime occasion, prom is undeniably stressful as it involves intense prepping – from finding the perfect dress to the perfect date. For some, it can even become a complete nightmare due either improper planning or unforeseen circumstances. An acquaintance of mine was inclined to share her story. The hunt for a date It all started in the month of February. In Marin’s case, her closest friends had graduated the year before and she hadn’t been able to attend prom with them. With her own prom coming up, she wondered whether she should bother going or not. Because her close friends graduated and her older boyfriend…
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How Social Media Could Be Causing Your Anxiety
Social media and the internet and have completely changed our lives. We share everything – from our thoughts, outfits, experiences and even our meals. It gives us a community where we can share our problems with people who are going through similar situations. Sadly, the popularity of social media has also increased the number of teens affected with anxiety, depression and mental health issues over the past decade. Experts believe that social networking may be the cause. Unrealistic expectations We spend so much time looking at beautiful pictures that celebrities and influencers post that it can subconsciously make us compare ourselves and become unhappy with our own lives. It is…
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How To Deal With A Friend Who Has Borderline Personality Disorder
Another day, another rant from your friend about class, prom, family, or peer drama. You do your best to support them through rough times and volatile mood changes. It’s hard watching someone you care about having such a tough time and you feel helpless. When you hear that your friend has been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD, it is both a panic of the unknown and relief that your friend is finally going to get the professional help you could not give. What is BPD? According to the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), BPD is when an individual has difficulty regulating their emotions and impulses. They…
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Two Corsages: The Best Friend I Should Have Gone to Prom with and the Boy Who Actually Asked Me
Marco was one of my best friends in high school. We had bonded during the 10th grade drama class that he didn’t even want to take. We talked about his racist parents, my over-protective father. He was a farm boy; tall, green-eyed, on the football team. I was the eccentric yearbook committee editor who wore Chuck Taylors all year around. Several of my friends thought he was cute; said I could do worse. I wasn’t interested. A year later, as I watched my friends get wrapped up in elaborate promposals, I automatically assumed that I was going with Marco. It was late April when he asked me to describe my…
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Supporting A Loved One With Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a biological illness that affects the brain. In the book Schizophrenia, Ming Tsuang, Stephen Faraone, and Stephen Glatt write that those affected by schizophrenia have altered emotions, perceptions, behaviours and thoughts. For many people with schizophrenia, it can disrupt their family and social relationships. Schizophrenia is a mental health affliction that receives little sympathy because, as Edwin Fuller Torrey mentions in his book, Surviving Schizophrenia, “It is difficult to put oneself in the place of the sufferer. The whole disease process is mysterious, foreign and frightening to most people.” Still, the disorder is a major public health concern and many parents, siblings, relatives and friends may encounter this…
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Bipolar Disorder In Teenagers
Bipolar disorder is a common condition amongst teenagers in which their mood cycles between episodes of “Mania” and “Depression”. Teenagers usually undergo a depressive episode first followed by the episode of “Mania”. Therefore, people with bipolar disorder are usually diagnosed with depression. Teens who have a family history of mood turmoil and psychiatric snags are more vulnerable to this condition. Symptoms Symptoms of this condition are typically visible in people between the ages of 15 and 30. A few instances of Mania include excitement, aggression, impatience, and high sex drive. On the other hand, when a teen experiences Depression, they become somber and anxious, which could lead to suicidal thoughts.…