Newsletter MADD Teen Influencer August 2022: National Wellness Month
Join Danielle and Alfie Gonzalez as they talk about the importance of teen mental health and the way we can take care of it! Healthy Teen Talks This article features a type of meditation with a myriad of benefits called mindfulness. Join us as we explore the surprising ways this can help you! Mindfulness Matters 1 Deepak, Deep Thoughts, & De-Stress: How Mindfulness Matters By Arianna S., MADD Teen Influencer In, and out. In, and out.
Believe it or not, this isn’t referring to a fast food chain. We’re talking about the very thing your body is doing right now: breathing. Just hearing this word has probably got you zoned in on your breathing, focusing on something so minute but
so important for the first time in, well, a long time. This is the start of practicing mindfulness, which is a type of meditation where the focus is on being intensely aware of what you're sensing and feeling in the moment. There is no judging, no opinions, simply senses and emotions. Today, we live in a world where teenagers are more stressed than ever, with 1 in 3 teens suffering from an anxiety disorder. College admissions are also at their most competitive rate, causing many teens to feel overwhelming pressure when they enter high school. (continued on page 2)
MADD Teen Influencer
August 2022
In a world teeming with thoughts...
Unfortunately, peer pressure is still a thing, and it’s causing young adults to be coerced into trying substances such as alcohol and drugs, even if it’s against their will. Similarly, the more social media time a teen has, the higher chance they have of developing ADHD-like symptoms. These factors are stressing teens out, and when teenagers are stressed, they often turn to substance abuse. All of these issues that adolescents are facing up against have one common thread: teenagers spend most of their free time on social media sites like Tik Tok, Instagram, or Snapchat, and less time engaging in activities that are beneficial to the human body. As much as experts recommend taking five minutes each day for mindfulness, only a small percentage of teenagers actually follow this advice.
Schools in the Spotlight...
Take a deep breath with us! In, and out...
However, on one school campus, several educators are working hard to inflict waves of change in their student body. At Sage Creek High School in
Carlsbad, the school counselors are raising awareness about the importance of mindfulness and the role it plays in relaxation. One of the school counselors, Mrs. Stephanie Gray, notes that, “A lot of students were coming in with anxiety, and the more that I looked at the psychological research behind it, I realized that mindfulness could be a good solution.” Inside the classroom, high school math teacher Mrs. Allison Stock has incorporated mindfulness into the daily class routine. In the wake of the pandemic, she said that, “I realized that if I can gain this focus and ease in daily life, my students could really benefit from practicing mindfulness.” When asked why Mrs. Stock teaches students the practice of mindfulness, she replied that this routine helps students, “put themselves in the present moment, avoid the distraction of stress they have with their courses, and really be able to focus inside the classroom.” (continued on page 4)
MADD Teen Influencer
August 2022
MADD Teen Influencer
August 2022
Standpoints on Stress
Mrs. Gray has a similar standpoint, acknowledging that implementing mindfulness in the classroom is helpful to students because it helps them focus on the current learning at the present moment. She agrees that, “mindfulness in class is a great idea because it takes the student’s attention away from their grades, college applications, or building their resume, whatever the source for their school-related anxiety may be.” All of this stress that students are holding on to eventually builds up, and results in a phenomenon called “burnout,” which most high school students experience at some point over their four years. Adolescents entering high school often cut into their share of downtime, or replace it with screen time, therefore minimizing the chances of being aware of their mental health. When asked whether mindfulness can help a student become more aware of this feeling of burnout, Mrs. Gray said that “it can absolutely, 100 percent be a beneficial tool in withstanding the feeling of burnout.” An important message that the counselors believe should be conveyed is that burnout is natural, and most times, it simply means you are not setting aside enough time for yourself. For students who are starting to notice that sense of stress creeping up on them, Mrs. Gray recommends doing your mindful practices for just five minutes each day, and there are a myriad of resources available for use. (continued on page 5)
ONE MINUTE MINDFULNESS
1) Just sit and breathe. 2) Take a walk around the house, away from distractions like phones. 3) Write down three things that went well today, and one that could have gone better.
MADD Teen Influencer
August 2022
Body, Mind, & Soul for Life
Mindfulness can also help reduce the chances of developing substance abuse as well. Teenagers come into contact with an array of illegal substances throughout their tenure in high school, and with the use of vape pens and alcohol becoming more common in high school, stressed students are more likely to become addicted. Despite being surrounded by stressors that require attention, we often forget that our body and mind need time too - time to destress, unplug, and maybe even time to do nothing at all. So, next time you’re feeling mentally exhausted or overwhelmed, let go of your phone and dedicate a little bit of time to yourself. Just a few deep breaths truly can make a difference. In, and out.
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MADD Teen Influencer
August 2022
2 Healthy Teen Talks YouTube Series: Mental Health Awareness Month By Danielle G., MADD Teen Influencer
Video Summary By Suzie M., MADD Teen Influencer MADD Teen Influencer Danielle and her mother Alfie provide a fleeting glimpse into the many aspects of stress, including but not limited to what causes it, its effects on the body, and how to tackle it. They offer methods on eliminating stress without relying on alcohol and other drugs that carry critical repercussions on one's mental, physical, and social health.
Nominate an Influencer of the Month!
MADD's mission is to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking. The purpose of the Teen Influencer Group is to provide leadership development for teens by training them to be peer-to-peer educators. These teens provide MADD with the youth perspective and use their voice to educate the public. By reducing and then eliminating underage drinking, these teens will help MADD end drunk driving.
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