FOMO

The fear of missing out (commonly known as FOMO) is a familiar feeling of anxiety that we experience when we are aware of social gatherings without our presence. This summer, I’ll be out of my hometown for 17 consecutive days. As I near half of that time out of town, the amount of FOMO I’ve been feeling has been at an all-time high. 

Gifted Kid Burnout

I’ve seen the words “gifted kid burnout” on various social media platforms for a long time. For example, the “giftedkidburnout” hashtag on Tiktok has almost 200 million views. While the context of the hashtag’s use is typically comedic and results in a good laugh, there is an overwhelming truth behind gifted kid burnout. I have found myself relating to some of the posts online, but what does that term even mean? “Gifted kid burnout” results from long-term stress that originates from the pressure placed on kids that have been labeled “gifted” from a young age or were in the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program. 

Procrastination

Time management has always been something I am rather good at, yet at the same time, I am bad at it.

Procrastination is my worst enemy, when I know I have a final to study for, all of a sudden I have been watching Pretty Little Liars for three hours and then end up cramming at the end of the day. When I am good with my time, however, I start everything as soon as I receive the work so I don’t have to worry about it later. It is an ongoing battle between my brain and me, but I don’t think anybody wins in the end.

Going Back Online

On January 3rd, 2022, the United States reported one million COVID cases and two and a half million cases worldwide daily. With it being almost two years since the start of quarantine, and the addition of extra measures to prevent the spread (vaccines, double-masking), many are ready to shift back to old lifestyles. The holidays lately have connected families, and with the reopening of many services, there is a substantially higher chance of the spread of COVID. Now that travel restrictions have loosened and simply others feeling more comfortable with large crowds of people, COVID has surged, once again — except now, this boom is now affecting schools and universities, extremely similar to the closure of March 13th, 2020.

Seasonal Depression

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), commonly known as seasonal depression, is a form of depression triggered by a change in seasons. As we finally reach November and the temperature continues to drop, it seems as if our lives are slowing down and becoming more dreary. For those living with SAD, it can be an extremely overwhelming time. Symptoms such as changes in appetite and loss of energy typically begin to show as we reach the colder seasons — fall and winter — which can be attributed to the decrease in sunlight. While SAD can occur in the warmer months, it is less common. Here are a few ways to fend off seasonal affective disorder this year:

Confidence and Self-Esteem

I always viewed confidence as a quality I strived to attain, yet I also viewed it as a quality that would be hard to maintain. My self-esteem can be so up and down sometimes. I’ll have one day where I feel like I can take on the world, and the next day I’ll just feel so down and doubtful about my capabilities. It is like a game of tug of war happening daily in my mind. 

Roundtables #36 — National Family Day is this week! What ways have the people in your family supported and influenced your mental health journey? Reflect on what you have learned about mental health through your family’s help.

Jennifer Vu: Typically, families are there to support you — no matter what mishap you go through, no matter the struggles you experience, and no matter the circumstances that cause you to fall apart. I don’t just mean family by blood — I also want to include those who I am not related to, yet who I call my family. We are heavily influenced by the surroundings we grew up in and those around us, therefore our mental health is also influenced by these different areas of our lives as well. 

Highlighting Mental Health in Schools

As 1 in 3 high school students expressed feelings of hopelessness, which was proven by a 2019 study by the Centers of Disease Control of Prevention (CDC), the educational system and schools begin to take on the responsibility of their students’ mental health, which they continuously struggle to do effectively. As mental health is largely regarded as taboo by older generations (and in turn, our educators), critical discussions that must be had with students never happen, leaving them with little help or resources from their schools. As we work to destigmatize the idea that mental health is a taboo subject, the topic must be explored with those who are struggling the most — students.

Roundtables #35 — September is Suicide Prevention Month! Reflect on what you’ve learned about mental health and suicide prevention. Share how you will support others’ mental health, and your own, to continue advocating beyond this month.

Jennifer Vu: As September comes to a close, it’s important for all of us to know how suicide prevention can go a long way when it comes to our mental health and others’ as well. This tragedy affects many people of the world, and we must dive into ways we can support those who are affected to advocate for suicide prevention, even beyond September. 

Acne and Mental Health

I have dealt with acne for about 7 years. It first began when I entered grade 8. That in itself was difficult for me since I was entering high school for the first time. A new beginning was starting it off with a new insecurity. My acne progressively got worse as time went on and so did my self esteem. My acne was something that I always assumed would eventually go away, especially since everyone would tell me that it would only last through my early teen years. By grade 12, it did actually end up going away, but things spiraled down for me once quarantine started. Now, I am almost 19 in my second year of university and it feels like my acne is worse than ever before.