Category: Feature

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.

Spring is here, which means the flowers are blooming causing the air to fill up with the air with the smells of new plants and leaving us with a breathtaking scenery of flowers and trees. However, this also means time change. On March 10, 2019, all clocks in California changed as they sprung forward an hour, and as a result of this, many people lost an hour of sleep.

Even so, this doesn’t necessarily mean that all outcomes HAVE to be negative. Catching up on sleep might be a struggle but it is not completely impossible; you can give yourself the opportunity to sleep an hour earlier than the time you usually sleep at. If school work is an obstacle to this solution, attempt to do this during your weekend. Generally speaking, taking care of yourself and making sure all your other needs are met is also key to staying healthy and keeping from getting sick.

Aside from that, there are also some other things you can enjoy about this time change. For instance, the sun starts going down later than 6pm! It seems safer to walk the streets and be outdoors than it did during the winter, so you can hang out into the late evening.

As we transition into spring, it’s time to start opening up the windows and packing up the blankets. I do not consider myself to be a pity person at all, I’m convinced that a small family of raccoons are actually living in my dirty clothes pile. However once a year I am able to function as normal person in society and clean my house. Here are a few steps that keep me from becoming a full-time slob.

Organizing Clothes

I often find myself repeating the same outfits because they are in the front of my closet. Moving all the frequently worn clothes, or items from last season into a bin that takes up less space. If those clothes are especially tiring, donate them. This benefits people on a budget and offers more space for whatever needs storage. Pull up items with a new color scheme, or clothes you forgot you had, but will fall in love with all over again.

What to Toss and What to Keep

There are many techniques used to decide what stays and goes. Find what works best, a new trend is Marie Kondo’s “Spark Joy” method: “Only keep what truly sparks joy into your life,” while removing what doesn’t. I admit that I am a hoarder and keep everything I touch throughout the day. So I think about my day-to-day life, and if I’m not using that object at least three times a day, I toss it. There are millions of people who swear to have found the cure to clutter, but to each his own, as long as it’s tidy enough to fit your own needs.

Set a Deadline

Whether it’s the entire house or just one room, nobody is in a hurry to clean, setting a deadline for yourself can help get the job done. Giving yourself 15 minutes per corner will have an entire room done in a little over an hour. Putting aside a full day will help you stay in the zone to give your home the tender loving care it deserves.

National Dyas in April

1 – April Fools Day

2 – National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

2 – World Autism Awareness Day

4 – National Burrito Day

5 – National Go For Broke Day

6 – New Beer’s Eve

7 –  National Beer Day

10 – National Siblings Day

10 – National Hug Your Dog Day

14 – National Gardening Day

18 – National High Five Day

19 – National Hanging Out Day

28 – National Superhero Day

29 – National Peace Rose Day

30 – National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day

Retrieved from nationaldaycalendar.com

Spring Bucket List

Fly a kite

Plant a garden

Make a flower crown

Clean out your room

Go biking

Run in a flower field

See the sunset at the beach

Read a book

Tie-dye a shirt

Have a picnic with your best friend

Draw with sidewalk chalk

Drink lemonade

Wash your car

Get a new haircut

Post an Instagram Picture

Ingredients:

1 gallon cold water

1 sliced lemon

Ice

2 cups sugar

2 cups water

2 cups fresh lemon juice

Directions: 

1. Boil on low, the sugar and water into a saucepan until the sugar has dissolved. Then, let in cool.

2. Into a large pitcher, add some slices of lemon, a gallon of cold water along with the simple syrup and ice.

3. Stir well. Carefully pour the drink into a tall glass and add lemon wedges to the rim. Then, enjoy!

Spring is here and that means looking and feeling your best. There are little adjustments and new things that could improve your mentality on the new season. Spring is full of new life and the rebirth of our winter, warm bodies. Winter is the time to relax and cover up but if you are looking to prepare for the warm weather and have the confidence to shed some clothes this season, you will need a new mindset.

Some tips to achieve your personal goals are: going outside more, working out, eating healthy, and just simply taking risks. The sun will be setting in the evening therefore, the weather will be perfect to go out for a walk with a couple of friends or just  to receive fresh air to let stress go while getting your steps in, at the beach or to the hilltop. Maybe while you are at the park or beach think about going for a jog just to increase heart rate and endorphins.

There is no need to kill yourself working out but if just the simple change in movement can speed up metabolism and help you feel better. If you are in search for new workout, switch it up by planning a new workout plan or finding a new workout buddy, even try getting a gym membership, at “24 Hour Fitness” that only costs $29.99.

Eating healthy is an important part to feeling and looking your best. Your body is like a machine and what you put into it is how it runs so think about eating healthy alternatives. Everything is in moderation so don’t give up all hope because you can still eat that dessert.

Finally, you are beautiful inside and out and these tips are for you to feel your best even though you already are 🙂

If you feel like putting effort into your Valentine’s gift to someone, follow this simple recipe for chocolate covered strawberries!

Ingredients

A basket of strawberries

2 cups of dark chocolate chips/ chopped chocolate

Sprinkles, nuts, white chocolate is optional for decorations

Materials

Heat proof bowl (for melting chocolate)

Saucepan

Spatula

Baking sheet

Small plastic bag

Instructions

Wash and dry the strawberries

Melt the chocolate by making a double boiler. You make a double boiler by filling a saucepan with roughly 2 inches of water and set on medium-high heat until it simmers. Then place the dark chocolate on a heatproof bowl, place it on top of the saucepan using medium heat and let the chocolate melt. You can occasionally mix the chocolate until it is completely melted.

If you don’t have a heat proof bowl you can also microwave the chocolate for a couple minutes. Make sure to take out the chocolate between minutes to stir it.

Once your chocolate is completely melted, place a baking sheet down and start dipping the strawberries into the down until it is coated.

Repeat the process with the rest of your strawberries and add sprinkles or nuts if you want. If you want to add white chocolate drizzle, wait for the dark chocolate to set before adding it on top. Melt it the same way you melted the dark chocolate then place into a plastic bag. Cut the tip of the bag to use as a piping bag and drizzle the white chocolate on top.

Tip 1: Make sure they know who you are. At least talk to them once before you ask

Tip 2: If possible tell them how you feel beforehand especially if they are out of your league

Tip 3: Be funny and cute, so they can’t say no because you’re just perfect

Tip 4: Shower and put your best fit on so at least you look fly

Tip 5: Stalk them or get to know them so you’re not a homewrecker

Tip 6: Ask them in private so it’s personal or spend $400 on a “Will You Be My Valentine?” airplane banner

Tip 7: Have plan A ready, if not try plan B, and if all fails try plan C

Tip 8: Be confident and well prepared for all possibilities

Tip 9: Make sure you actually really like them before going all in

Tip 10: Finally go up to them and ask away!!

Good Luck <3

When February 14 comes around the corner, the typical thing you hear and see is couples buying and giving things to their significant other. However, there are a lot of people who don’t have a significant other to give any goodies to, but is that what Valentine’s Day is really about? In reality, Valentine’s Day is an appreciation day to show your close friends, family and lover you care about them.

What is love? There is always many different responses to that question. There is always love going around and there is not a specific definition of the understanding of love but this date is the day to celebrate the feeling of love in general.

Palentine’s is when both genders get the chance to celebrate their love for their friends on February 13. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to buy them a box of chocolates, roses, or a giant teddy bear. You can get together with your friends and do something fun to make them feel loved.

Make this year be the best Palentine’s by having a coffee date with your friends, or going for karaoke. If you want to avoid seeing couples on every corner you turn on Valentine’s Day, go to a bowling alley with your gals or pals, go to Home Depot and start a new DIY project, or go feed homeless people downtown – you’ll feel good about yourself and forget that you’re all alone.

Treat your friends this Valentine’s Day, spending time with them, or buy yourselves matching shirts and let them know you appreciate their friendship. Even the smallest gestures can be enough to bring a smile on their face and make them feel loved.