Author: adviser

Eating disorders and body image issues are rising issues that many people are not recognizing. Over 70 million people worldwide suffer from eating disorders and over 70 percent of the world suffers with body image issues.

“I’m too fat” or “I need to lose weight” are common negative comments that are viewed as normal for those who suffer from personal image issues. These basic and “normal” thoughts are having huge repercussions on the mental health and livelihood of victims. Many victims will later suffer from anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder to compensate for body image insecurities and lose weight.

Healthy weight loss, is a gradual process that invokes a balance of eating a healthier diet and working out. Mental illnesses allow eating disorders to affect more than just your diet and open the door to more severe issues such as suicide. Each body’s shape and size is specific to every individual and comparing yourself to others is a harmful path that 7 out of 10 people take.

Awareness and acceptance of these issues are the key to recovery. The desire to feel and look your best is 100% okay and encouraged, but looking and feeling your best starts from the inside.

Not only is having a balanced diet and working out beneficial for our health physically but also mentally.

Physically, working out is good for you because it reduces the risk of receiving a heart attack, it manages your weight, helps the recovery process when you feel sick and gets you filled with energy.

Mentally, when working out it blocks negative thoughts or distract you from your worries, if you exercise with a group it create a sense of community and promotes you in being social, it as well lifts your mood and can make improvement in your sleeping.

When it comes to eating good, it goes hand in hand with exercising, especially when it comes to risks in your health such as: Type II Diabetes, Heart Health, and Strong bones and teeth. Doing both healthy eating and working out on a daily basis will give a balanced lifestyle. Even if you start working out 5 minutes then 30 minutes each day, you’ll still be doing your health a favor in the long run.

It’s a struggle trying to steer away from junk food, like chips and fast food, but to start on the right path try replacing convenience food with a healthier choice.

Little by little you’ll start replacing more foods and by the end of it, your body will get used to healthier choices compared to the unhealthy ones. When exercising start small and create milestones and goals. Eating good and working out daily is a huge commitment for many but don’t lose motivation because you’ll go back to your old habits.

Try this out with a friend or have someone motivate you to continue on your journey to becoming a healthier person.

Depression is a major depressive/mood disorder that negatively affects how you feel, act and the way you think. Depression is caused by a number of reasons such as the loss of a loved one or physical health problems.

It’s estimated that more than 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression. In which 3.1 million people are between the ages of 12 and 17. The amount of young people diagnosed with depression has been rising over the years and only a small percent of them are getting help.

Depression is a battle that at least 16.2 million of Americans have experienced with. And if you think that only “lonely” teenagers suffer from a depressive episode consider famous celebrities that have once felt depressive like Kristen Bell, Jim Carrey, Ellen Degeneres, Lady Gaga, along Michael Phelps and many more.

If you are are worried that someone you love or a “friend” is suffering from depression, be aware that symptoms like being sad during the day, lacking concentration, losing interest in favorite activities, feeling guilty, fatigue, having suicidal thoughts, seeing a change in appetite and weight, as well as a constant pain for no reason are red flags of this disorder.

Since there is no guide on how to deal with depression because every struggle is different, one should seek advice from a health professional, try therapy and alternative plans like exercise, meditation or mindfulness strategies.

With Wellness Week happening March 4 through March 8 at Poly High School, I think it is a good time to talk about something that should be talked about more: mental illness and suicide. It is important that we take care of ourselves physically but our mental care is also very important for our overall well-being.

There is a wide variety of mental illnesses and many of them cannot be cured. Mental illnesses is defined as behavioral and mental patterns that cause significant distress and/or impairment of personal functioning. They can occur from the time a person in born to the time that they die. There is a wide range of mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, multiple personality disorders, etc. The list goes on and on and the effects of these mental illnesses can seriously change the lives of the people with the disorder and the those who care for them.

Mental illnesses can be inherited, they are often caused because of one’s environmental factors, and brain chemistry. It is important that we notice when our loved ones or people in general show symptoms of mental illness. They are not easy to live with and many people just don’t understand the effects that can have.

Suicide can be a result of untreated mental illness. Suicide rates are becoming higher and higher because many people don’t take the time to speak up or take action when they or someone they know, begins demonstrating symptoms of mental illness. According to a significant report by the World Health Organization (WHO), every 40 second, someone takes their own life.

If you or somebody you know possesses any sort mental illness, it is important that you seek professional help before it gets any worse. There are many resources that one can utilize to prevent any condition from getting too bad. People love you and people care about! Take some time to get to know who you are take care of your mental state! Have a great Wellness Week!

We have heard this word since the first week we started high school, “ Anxiety.” Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress but According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), 40 million Americans over the age of 18 are affected by anxiety, Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States.

The most common anxiety disorder is Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), an excessive and exaggerated anxiety where people worry about everyday life events with no obvious reasons for worry. However, anxiety is an umbrella term for conditions like Generalized anxiety disorder, Panic disorder, and Social anxiety disorder (social phobia).

Anxiety is caused by more than just genetics, it develops from a complex set of risk factors including brain chemistry, personality, and life events. 80 percent of kids with a diagnosable anxiety disorder are not getting treatment, according to the 2015 Child Mind Institute Children’s Mental Health Report.

Sweating a lot, second guessing yourself, having muscle tension, having trouble sleeping, often chest pain, overthinking everything, an increase in your heart rate, and your body and mind refusing to cooperate for simple everyday activities without a rational is how anxiety actually feels. Try exercising to burn off anxious energy, meditating to relax, writing/journaling to express how you feel, talking to friends who might fee the same way yo do, Aromatherapy so the calm smelling sooth you, or try spending time with cute animals because they offer love and support. And if you live In areas where medical marijuana is legal, doctors may also be able to prescribe Cannabidiol oil.

Anxiety is Usually self-diagnosable and Treatable by a medical professional, when feeling anxious try breathing in and out, taking Deep breaths to help you calm down, follow the 3-3-3 rule, and look around you and name three things you see, just do something.

Spring is the perfect time to garden. The weather is slightly cold but warm enough to grow vegetables and flowers in your own backyard. If you’re looking for a Spring project, you should definitely build your own garden! Eco-Friendly gardens help maintain fresh greens, vegetables and fruits, exotic flowers and tropical fruits can grow, and it is a nice place to take pictures.

If you feel like starting a healthy lifestyle, what’s better than growing your own produce? It’s the perfect time to grow vegetables like lettuce, radish, spinach and so much more. But if you want more of a challenge, it is also the perfect season to grow avocados and oranges. The process is a bit easier if you go to your local Home Depot and buy the trees of these fruits at an early age, just transfer the tree into your garden and hope for some fresh fruits to start showing up.

Although, if you aren’t up for the work but still want beautiful bright flowers, pansies and d7/affodils will love the cool weather, as much as you will love your garden.