Listen to yourself and take that mental health day

Happy Saturday!

Readers! I realize this post is a day late. I'll get to why that it is in a little bit. Hopefully you all had a good week, or if you had a bad one, I hope you could find something good in each day. Someone (the name escapes me, as I write this) once said, "Every day might not be good, but there's good in every day." Probably messed that up, but you get what I mean. 

Okay. Why this post is a day late: it is spring break for me; I worked 33 hours this week which is more than I usually work in a week; I went to go see my sister and her boyfriend after I got off work yesterday. On Facebook, I see people posting pictures of spending their break down in the southern states or out of the country. Truly I am happy for them because if that's how they want to spend their break, then go them! I, on the other hand, started my break by spending time with family (and four-wheeling!) and playing Cribbage with my parents and grandma, then coming back to school to work because the car repairs can't be paid with smiles (although I wish it could; that would be so easy!), and I topped off my break by spending the night in with my sister and her boyfriend. Was it perfect? Maybe not, but it was ideal for me. 

My most recent Odyssey article link: Not Everyone Grew Up the Way You Did.

My mentor, Ma (Marcia) Powell, has been and continues to be a blessing in my life. She's taught me a lot and helped me understand my anxiety and OCD-like tendencies, which in turn aided my thinking and how it needs to change and adapt to overcome those struggles. She's my rock when I'm in all-out freaking out mode and I need to be calmed down. One of the important things she's taught me: take mental health days, when you need them, not when you can find the time in your busy schedule.   

You might be asking, "what in the world are 'mental health days'??" Please remember that my definition is different from someone else's. To me, they are the days we take for ourselves when we are so overwhelmed and exhausted or feel as if we are running on auto-pilot, and we need a day (or two) to recharge our brains and to give our mental health a chance to catch up. 

Here's another way to look at it. Say you fall and break your leg; what do you do? Common sense tells you to go to the doctor for a cast and so you do. There, your leg can heal. But what do you do when your mental health needs a little T.L.C. (tender, loving care)? Mental health can mean a variety of things: whether you feel like yourself or not, or suddenly you feel so weighed down that you feel like you can't breathe. A doctor can't wrap your head and it would be better. Sure, if it works, you can go see a therapist or counselor to help you decompress ('decompose'...Rachel and Cody should appreciate that) and sort yourself out. 

How we spend those days are important and unique to you and your particular needs, but what's just as important is knowing when you need to take one and understanding  and being okay that it usually never fits perfectly into your schedule. Sometimes we need to get away and escape and recharge. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health is. We, as a society, have a tendency to overlook or ignore our mental health and its need to be taken care of. Why? A couple of likely reasons are that we can't see it like we can see a broken leg needs a cast and we don't know how to best treat our mental health when it's broke.

Until next week,

Thought of the day

Compromise is key (in marriage and) in government

Happy Friday!

Readers. It feels like it's been forever since my last post. That would make sense if I hadn't posted just last Friday... Yeah, it's been a long week. I had three tests/quizzes in three days. Hold up. Not finished quite yet. Also, I have a humanities test on Monday, 9 a.m. At least I have the weekend to study.

Ugh. Sorry for getting side-tracked. Readers, it's Friday. Whatever seems overwhelming now or if there is anything you're worried about, take a break and enjoy it. Unless it's life or death, then of course continue on, but if not, go take a chill pill and relax. 

With the caucuses coming up on Monday, it got me thinking about our government and democracy. This might be an unpopular opinion, but it's something that I believe needs to be said. Democracy in America is hurting, at worst, dying, of infection. A country founded on the idea of a "government of the people, by the people, for the people" (Gettysburg Address; concept originated with John Wycliffe) wasn't thought to last. In American fashion, we didn't give up, and we eventually became an example other countries looked to and proof of democracy can persevere and thrive. But, sometime in the last 239 years, democracy in America seems to be unfavorably changing. 

Today's issue of immigration and border control? New York's Lady Liberty welcomed millions upon millions of immigrants starting in the late 1800's. This country has a past with welcoming people of different countries. I beg the question: what's so different these days that makes us want to force people from coming into the country? They possibly want to come here for a better life, and who are we to deny them that? It seems a little hypocritical to me. 

We elect leaders to represent us, but do they do what they said they would (to get our vote)? Sometimes they do. There are elected leaders in government who try their hardest to get the bills passed they think will benefit or improve the life of this country's citizens. The catch is that there are elected leaders who maybe don't care about the particular issue or don't agree with the proposed plan of action. That's completely fine. It's understandable even, but what's not understandable is fighting over who is right and who is in the wrong and producing nothing. Elected officials seemingly forgot that a key element in running a government (and a good marriage) is compromise. Instead of working together to create a plan that has the promise of helping American citizens, some elected officials forget in order to "win some, you lose some". 

We seem to let our pride or stubbornness blind us and maybe even determine our decisions and actions toward others. Just because you believe something different from the person sitting next to you in class or the person sitting across from you on the bus doesn't determine whether or not you can get along or be friends. If we, as citizens, can learn to accept that people and their beliefs could be different from ours and the elected government officials work together to improve the quality of life of this nation's people, we are definitely on the right track to reviving what the founding fathers's vision of democracy they wanted for this country.

Until next week,

Thought of the day

Stressed is desserts spelled backward

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

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For the day job slave drivers: you made it through another work week. For most college students: you made it through the second week of the semester (only 14 more to go!) For retired folk: you made it through another week of doing whatever the hell you want. 

In my last post, I mentioned a great writing opportunity with the Odyssey @ UNI. Also I mentioned I applied and waited to hear back. And I have heard back.

I am now a published writer with the Odyssey @ UNI!

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That gif does not do justice to my reaction to this news. When I found out, my day was going about as well as a fish's attempt to climb a tree or in other words it was a definite struggle bus day. But when I found out I got the position as writer with UNI's chapter of The Odyssey, it literally made my day. That doesn't mean I didn't have any more struggles or challenges; it meant that when those struggles happened, I remembered "You are a writer for the Odyssey @ UNI." Yay for progress!

Here's the links to the two articles that are published: Dear Freshmen, Sincerely: Someone Who Knows and 5 Reasons to Visit the Rod Library.

But, Melissa, since you are writing for The Odyssey @ UNI, will you still keep writing blog posts?

Answer: have no fear! I will keep blogging. Like I said when I first started this blog in May, this is where I get to writing about my personal life and whatever I want to. I don't feel guilty talking about my personal life.

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Now onto the post topic. Today, there is a growing population of college students (myself included) experiencing anxiety, stress, depression, and the like. In 2014 article from the Iowa Center for Public Affairs, it states from a 2013 survey showed 14.6 percent of UNI students received services, and the national average is 15.6 percent; UNI students ever diagnosed with depression is the same national percentage at 18.6 percent. 

Recently a professor confided in me that many students are experiencing/suffering from anxiety and related topics. This really shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Why? We are putting an extreme amount of pressure on students in this day in age. 

Students are expected to do all the readings, write all the (sometimes) pointless papers, study for that comprehensive final, and participate in that group project where there is only one person doing all the work for (generally) five classes.

Oh! And students are expected to get involved in many organizations which require about three hours a week.* 

Anybody feeling stressed just reading that? I do. 

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*Not including: making the time to hang out with friends, making the time to check in with parents or siblings, if the students want to get A's or their definition of good grades, working to pay what financial aid didn't cover, or if the students are questioning if the major they declared is right for them anymore. 

Um, Melissa, don't they have to learn how to manage their time?

Yes, they do. But when everything is overwhelming to the point of them going back to their dorm room after class and crying because they feel so alone and stressed, there is clearly something else going on. 

And if you don't agree with me, then I guess you are entitled to own opinion, however wrong it is. 

Not only is anxiety and depression is affecting students, but also the faculty including professors, instructors, and so on.

As someone who suffers from anxiety, here are some options for those who are scared out their minds.  

*Talk to a trusted friend, mentor, professor, etc. Let them know what's going (not many people have the ability to read minds).

*Make an appointment with your on-campus health center. Be proactive!

*Let your professors know about your anxiety. Most of the time, the professors are understanding and will likely help you in any way they can.

*Find a cheesy saying or quote to repeat to yourself when you are feeling stressed. (Trust me on this one. It's something I'm working on.)

*Plan out your weeks. Make time to study, eat, shower, got to class, do homework. Set aside an hour or two a week to take a break from life.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

REMEMBER THAT.

Until next Friday,

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Thought of the Day

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