Feb 26 Blue Devil Bulletin: Advice for All

Hello readers! This month we wanted to focus on an important topic: mental health. Mental health awareness is a crucial part of life and needs awareness, especially in this stage of our lives. We are going to discuss some popular questions from teenagers about managing/dealing with these obstacles.

How can I take better care of my mental health?

Taking care of your mental health is extremely important, and largely determines how you function as a person and the kind of emotions that you feel in your daily life. If you are someone who is feeling lost, confused, depressed, or anything else, talking to someone is important. Having someone in your life that you are able to discuss your feelings with is very valuable, whether they can provide you with guidance or even just listen with a supportive energy. This can be family, friends, teachers, coaches, therapists, or anyone else in your life that you trust. Holding in negative thoughts can not only cause you to feel lonely, but it can also affect you physically and put a lot of stress on your body. If you are someone who wants to work through their feelings in a deeper and more meaningful way, using resources such as therapy can be helpful to understand yourself better and the root of any negative emotions that you may have. On a more independent level, keeping a journal or writing down thoughts for solitary viewing can release stress for many and allows you to track how you are feeling and possibly make connections.

• Leocadia ☆

Why do I often feel sad/angry, and I don’t know why?

As a teenager, you are naturally going through a lot of changes mentally, some of which you have little control over. In this period of our lives, we are experiencing rapid brain development, specifically in areas such as the prefrontal cortex which is responsible for our reasoning, impulse control, and emotional regulation. This means that teenagers rely more heavily on emotions – more specifically, the amygdala – than logic, resulting in a higher probability of mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. These natural processes, along with hormonal shifts, can naturally make teens feel more irritable. I’ve also noticed personally that social media has had a significant effect on my daily mood. When there is a day that I spend a lot of time scrolling, I tend to feel more negative because of the effect that it has on sleep, distracting me from daily life, and a lack of intellectual thinking. Being conscious of the time that you spend online is a crucial part of improving your mood. 

• Leocadia ☆

How can I figure out who I am as a person?

Figuring out who you are as a person is something that almost every teenager goes through. My biggest suggestion would just be to try absolutely anything that seems even just a little bit interesting to you. You will never know whether or not you truly like something unless you give it a go. This applies to relationships as well, both romantic and platonic ones. You never know who you are compatible with. Meeting new people can happen in many different ways, but, from a self-discovery standpoint, meeting new people can happen through trying new things. This is a double whammy. You have just made a new friend and gotten a new hobby. What you surround yourself with can help define who you are as a person. Learning who and what makes you happy can help you to better understand yourself.

• Aislyn シ

How can I deal with my parents having different views about life than mine?

We are at a time where it is very common to disagree with your parents’ viewpoints on many things, including but not limited to politics, house rules, and societal norms. My biggest piece of advice is not to butt heads. It is an unfortunate truth that most parents are set in their viewpoints, and arguing with them about certain things probably won’t get you anywhere. Instead of arguing, try to have peaceful discussions and conversations to try to better understand why your parents think what they do. Like your parents, I am old, and I have been through the struggles of life. I can say now that I do understand why some adults say the things that they do. However, if peaceful discussion doesn’t work, try spending more time with your friends and other like-minded people.

• Aislyn シ