June 04, 2014

For Brown Girls

I’ve recently begun blogging and the story of Karyn Washington the creator of ‘For Brown Girls’ caught my eye and captured my heart. Washington reportedly committed suicide at the tender age of 22 after suffering from depression stemming from the loss of her mother. This hit my heart for two reasons. 1. She’s only a year older than me…a college student and 2. She’s a blogger that was interested in empowering and encouraging women to love themselves. These two things are practically I. I’m amazed at the fact that as she still desired to help others and while doing so, she was dealing with her own things.

Mental health is something serious. Did you know that depression is a mental illness? Let me make something really clear: you, we, she, he is not exempt. College students are not exempt. We (the black community) always seem to think that some things “aren’t what black people do”. Mental issues, mental health and stability have no face, color, socioeconomic status or background. Depression and suicide are things we deal with right in our own backyards…our own living rooms. We have to know and understand that there is nothing wrong with seeking help. You aren’t crazy for seeking help with coping with the loss of a parent or dealing with suicidal thoughts or even for being sad. Those sad thoughts may be more serious than you think if not tackled. To me and I don’t know how much my opinion counts to you but I truly admire those that are out to better themselves and are worried about their own well-being; self-love. I’ve noticed that the black community…it’s of our culture to believe that what happens in our home, stays in our home and that our issues will not be talked about and ridiculed among complete strangers or the Joneses’. Seeking help is saying I know I’m dealing with some things and recognizing the fact that all things aren’t able to be solved in the comfort of your own home but better on someone’s couch. We, yes WE must kill the stigma placed around seeking help. Did we think that these resources were put into place to hinder? We must kill our prides.

I’m sure committing suicide was the last thing on Karyn Washington’s mind at some point; let’s be real here her purpose was to help, promote self-love and seeing the beauty in which we are. I think it’s fair to say everyone can put on a façade but a façade can only be put on for so long. You never know what people are dealing with. Take the time to say something nice. Take the time to check on someone that you haven’t talked to in awhile. You never know what someone is going through and how much of a positive effect your nice words and thoughtful actions can be of help. Know that it is ok to seek help. Do not allow someone to talk you out of taking care of you.

See @myhealthimpact on Twitter, the web at myhealthimpactnetwork.org and on Tumblr for more information on mental health.

Gone too soon….

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May 25, 2014

Summer Fun

Summer is all about having FUN, and leaving behind all the worries. It’s the season when most people take the time to refocus, reenergize, and find what truly makes them happy again. With that said, I plan on going into summer with a clear heart, mind, and of course, the perfect summer playlist. The songs below provide me with a sense of happiness, a relief from stress, and most importantly, they never seem to get old to me.  Whether you are riding around town with your windows down, or jamming out solo in the room, these songs will have you wishing summer would never end.

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April 17, 2014

Studying for the MCAT: The Road the Medical School

Since graduating in December, I find myself transitioning into the next phase of my academic career—Medical School. Though easier said than done, “I want to be doctor”, I find myself trying to find the balance between working and studying for the MCAT.  It was just a month ago I was blessed with the opportunity to be hired as a clerical/medical assistant.  Being able to gain a hand on experience as well as learning how healthcare is facilitated has been one of my best opportunities. Which in turns only motivates me more.  With that said, my road to Medical School continues to become easier and shorter, knowing that I possessed all the support and resources available to make my dream come true.  Whether I am going through my MCAT Flashcards or spending countless hours staring at MCAT books, I can’t help to think that every new concept or equation I learn, the closer I get to acing my MCAT in July.  In the meantime, I’m learning how to manage my time wisely and become more productive.  Every now and then, I make sure to take a personal day to reset and get rid of some stress.

This way I can maintain a healthy lifestyle as I prepare effectively. Overall, I feel like I am making improvements in my study habits and identifying things I need to work on.  With three more months to go, I have no time to waste or get behind.  At the end of the day, everything I am doing to prepare for this test is worth it. I can’t help to think, that one day “I” could be working as a physician. And it is that thought, that everyday I leave work I find the hidden strength to study. The road to Medical School can be hard and discouraging if you allow it to. However, I will not. As long as I have faith in my ability, I can do all things.

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January 23, 2014

10 Ways to Impact Your Health from @myHealthImpact

1) Find a medical doctor who cares and you feel comfortable with sharing your medical history.
2) See your doctor once a year.
3) Get the appropriate medical tests and screenings done (e.g., HIV, blood pressure, bone density).
4) Document your medical history.
5) Know your family medical history; talk to family members about your and their health.
6) Consider using technology to track your health goals (calorie intake, exercise times, types of exercises, weight loss, calories burned, etc.).
7) Get a good night’s sleep.
8) Estimate portion sizes for what you eat.
9) Check condoms for expiration date which is provided on the packaging. 
10) Keep a positive spirit.

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January 16, 2014

5 Ways to Create a Healthy Lifestyle

With the New Year, I wanted to create a healthy lifestyle I could maintain throughout the year. It is important to set yourself up for success with a clear mind and body. With that said, I developed 5 easy ways to create a healthy lifestyle.

1. Exercise Daily
If you want to live well and live longer, you must exercise! Try to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Whether it’s going to a gym class on campus or going on a jog at your local park, there are plenty of ways to incorporate exercise in our daily routines. Try walking to class instead of taking the bus, or joining an intramural sport team. Studies show that just 10 minutes of exercise makes a difference—so do something!

2. Be a picky eater!
Set yourself up for success! Think about planning a healthy diet as a number of small, manageable steps rather than one big drastic change. 
Focus on finding foods you love and easy recipes that incorporate a few fresh ingredients.

Eat in moderation. Moderation means eating less than we do now.  It doesn’t mean you eliminate the things that you love.  Just try to eat more healthy things than unhealthy ones.  Also think smaller portions. For example, when dining out, choose a starter instead of an entree, split a dish with a friend, and don’t supersize anything.  When at home, use smaller plates, think about serving sizes and start small.

Eat breakfast! Eating fruits and whole grains in the morning can help jumpstart your metabolism and energy for the day.
Avoid eating at night! Try to set a time where don’t eat after. Eating late at during a time when you are less active, can cause weight gain and create unhealthy habits. Studies show that after-dinner snacks tend to be high in fat and calories. So avoid them! 

3. Get a good night’s sleep
Keep a regular sleep schedule. Set a regular bedtime and wake up at the same time every day.  Nap to make up for lost sleep, but make sure to be smart about napping. While napping can help you recharge, it can also create bad habits when it comes to your sleep cycles. Lastly, create a relaxing sleep environment.  Make your room more sleep friendly. Keep the noise down, keep your room cool, and make sure that your bed is comfortable! 

4. Keep Healthy Relationships
The healthiest people are those who have relationships with other healthy people. Healthy relationships reduce stress, unhealthy habits, and help motivate you to succeed and do better. Surround yourself with people who are going to uplift you and make you feel better about yourself.  Having a strong foundation is essential to life.

5. Give yourself a break!
Find fun activities for you to do to relieve stress! Go to the movies or go shopping. Create new hobbies.  Hang out with your friends. Do anything that makes you feel happy. It’s important for you to take a break from life’s stresses and create awesome memories.

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October 06, 2013

Think before you say, act, and do!

I recently attended a program on my campus, which focused on discussing various “hot topics” that affect college students. The topics discussed including: Sex, Relationships, Voting, Religion, and Social Media.

    What age is it appropriate to start having sex?

Though many of the topics discussed were interesting, one particular topic stood out to me—What age is it appropriate to start having sex? At first I was appalled. I never knew there was an appropriate age for sex. And if there was, what made that age, the right age?

    The answers included: 13, before you go to college, when you’re married, and when you are ready to deal with the consequences.

As I sat in my seat, I began to listen to what others had to say. The answers included: 13, before you go to college, when you’re married, and when you are ready to deal with the consequences. For a moment, I felt embarrassed and hurt that peers thought this was an acceptable topic to discuss. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

Whether I agreed with some of the answers or not, I didn’t want to participate in a discussion that could potentially affect how another individual could make a decision when it comes to sex. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in educating my community about safe sex, but I think it’s important for people to know how much influence they could have on a person.

Whether or not I had an opinion on the topic, I made sure to keep it to myself. I didn’t want my opinion to influence someone else to make an irrational decision about sex.  With that said, I think people should realize that we live in a society that most learn by example. And by that topic being discussed, we are saying its okay to assign sex to an age. And if you see nothing wrong with that, than maybe we as people need to evaluate ourselves.  From this one experience I learned a valuable lesson: Think before you say, act, and do!

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September 07, 2013

College Life

The first full week of class just concluded for students who attend NC State. Bombarded with syllabuses and numerous homework assignments, just the mere though of school can become overwhelming. While schoolwork is the premiere focus, it’s important to find a balance between school life and your own personal life. As a current senior, these are three things things I would recommend to any college student:

1. Plan ahead- Calendars are extremely important. It is good to map out all of your homework assignments and exams ahead of time. By doing this, you can plan your studying accordingly.
2. Prioritize what is important- As a student, you can be eager to join many clubs and organizations on campus. Though this may be a good thought, it is important to keep in mind your schoolwork, which ultimately comes first. Don’t over obligate yourself and think that you have to join every organization there is. Joining a few organizations and obtaining leadership roles is more important than just being a member in many organizations.
3. Do not stress- College is supposed to be an enjoyable time. As many people say, this is the best time of your life! This is also a time that you can never get back. At this point, many college students don’t have bills to worry about. We have the chance to travel and experience the world while we don’t have any more obligations besides school.

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August 11, 2013

Stress LESS

As humans, we tend to let our busy lives take over and we sometimes forget about our health. Taking care of ourselves physically and mentally is vital so we can live longer and stronger! Here are a few tips on how you can stress down:

SLEEP
Caring for children, a household, work, marriage, etc may leave you very little consideration for sleep. We may think we are super heroes and are able to keep busy off of no sleep; however your body thinks otherwise. It is extremely crucial that adults to get AT LEAST 6 hours of rest (preferably 8 hours). An energized adrenaline system goes a long way when it comes to stressing less.

EAT
As you know, you need nutrients at all times in order to regulate your brain and satisfy your body. Experiencing stress may lead you to over eat or not eat at all, both negatively impacting your health.  Make sure you remember to eat smaller sized portions throughout the day and make healthy choices!

RELAX IN SILENCE

You may or may not have thought about it but too much noise may stress you out. Chaos and loudness commonly confuses the brain and often moves you to “shut down”.  Take time(s) out of your day to have ME time: no external voices, outside noise or physical activity.

HAVE FUN
Do not let work or unfortunate life situations be the end of the world! Be blessed that you are here to see another day and realize someone else always has it worse than you. Understanding that you may want to be there for others, but you have to remember yourself and your health FIRST! Every once in a while go out and enjoy whatever activity makes you happy and do it with the people that you love most.

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September 10, 2012

“You Ain’t Crazy: It’s Your Mental Health!”

On Thursday, August 30th, Dr. Payton gave a presentation on campus titled ‘You Ain’t Crazy: It’s Your Mental Health’ where she discussed mental health issues in the African-American community. What stuck out to me the most was the video she showed featuring Terrie Williams where she talks about her book “Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting”. Williams talks about how people think they are the only one who is going through something so they keep things bottled in and suffer from depression, hyper tension, and heart disease; or it will come out through self-medicating, gambling, sex, risk behaviors, etc. Risk behaviors can only increase the chance of being exposed to HIV.

For some strange reason, in our community, when we are suffering from something such as depression, we don’t go and get help. Instead, we turn to a friend who ends up giving us bad advice or just decide to seek a spiritual source to resolve our problems. While I am not knocking the latter, sometimes it is good to keep mental and spiritual health issues separate. Unfortunately, I am speaking from experience.

Last semester I had things going on with my family that I had never experienced before and I didn’t have time to react properly. I used my school and extra-curricular activities as a way to block everything out until one day it caught up with me. I literally woke up crying. I didn’t go to class that morning (which added to my stress) and I reached out to one of my sorority sisters who I am close with. Having experienced depression before, she forced me to go to the University Health Center to seek counseling. I was skeptical at first, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to talk to someone who was a professional. I went to the Health Center and was told that I needed to set up an appointment. I was upset because I didn’t want to wait to talk to someone in seven days; I needed someone at that moment. I was afraid that my natural habit of pushing things away would hinder me from receiving proper help. In any case, I set the appointment and returned a week later. Unfortunately, the counselor was not helpful, but I was proud of myself for taking the initial step.

When I told certain people in my family that I went to see a counselor their response was ‘what do you need to do that for?’. I responded ‘to make sure I don’t go crazy!’. I also told them that I wanted to find another counselor and begin seeing them regularly, again they asked ‘what do you need to do that for?’. I believe that counseling can help you receive an unbiased opinion on how you should move forward. A counselor does not give you advice based on experience. They give you advice based on clinical research that can help you control your reaction to events that you can’t control. Can you control risk behaviors?

If you’re reading this and you have something that you are dealing with, seek help. More than likely you are not alone in the matter. If you need motivation, watch the video below featuring Terry Williams who also gives her personal testimony about battling with depression.

For up-to-date information, follow @myhealthimpact on Twitter! 

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