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First Impressions
What I Expected
The interview between Andrews and I began at 12:54 on September 17 and lasted around 30 minutes. I came into the interview wanting clear-cut answers to all my questions. No doubt about it, the answers I was given were very helpful and contributed to my research, but I had one slight misconception: I thought that situational depression is generalizable, that it’s the same for everybody. I quickly realized that is simply not the case. Since everybody’s triggers are different, the way that person responds to their emotional needs are different also.
I had the pleasure of interviewing a counselor named Madison Andrews from a therapy program in Roseville called TEAM. Andrews currently works as a counselor for labor workers at TEAM and willingly reached out to help me tackle my wicked problem. At the beginning of this journey, my mentor of interest was TEAM specifically because I participated in some therapy sessions and the counselor I met with was incredibly helpful. It is because of this experience that I felt TEAM was a good match. With the information I was given during my private sessions, I was able to effectively manage my feelings. I want to know more information about situational depression and all of the different ways to cope with it. I also want to educate my community on what situational depression is. This mental issue doesn’t get the awareness that other ones do even though it is equally as important.
Pictured above is a screenshot of one of the pages of notes I took digitally on OneNote. On the far left is a list of all the questions I had for the interview. Every page of notes I wrote was filled completely when the interview was done. Thank you Miss Andrews!
There is not one single tactic that solves the problem for everybody. Everyone is diverse in how they effectively manage their emotions. Another misconception I had was that situational depression can be cured. Truth is, situational depression can occur again and again, depending on how many times a person reunites with their trigger. One important thing Andrews told me was that situational depression is something that can be managed, if not cured, and healthy coping mechanisms are an effective management strategy. These mechanisms will look different from person to person depending on the trigger.
How I Will Move Forward
I plan to apply the very useful information I gained from the interview to my expanding research in order to educate my classmates and my community on this unnoticed mental issue. I want to help my fellow students get in touch with themselves and help them realize that sometimes it’s okay to feel the way they do. I hope that all the information I gathered from the interview, as well as credible sources, helps people identify situational depression and if it is present in their life. I would like to formally thank TEAM for opening their doors, and Madison Andrews, for reaching out to me and being willing to help me work to educate people on this mental issue. I look forward to staying in touch with the organization in the future.
Making Headway
In the last few weeks, I’ve been making significant progress with my project and lots of ideas have been surfacing. I’ve brainstormed different ways to give support to people who are seeking it. Providing support is my number one priority and I want to make sure that I’m projecting this to my audience. I will continue to think about the people that this project will support when generating creative ideas.
Padlet
One of the new thoughts I’m excited about is the creation of a Padlet that will be available for the student body to use to their advantage. Unfortunately, the school’s plan to grant unlimited Padlets for the student body was not able to be carried out, however, if the first few Padlets prove useful to people, I will accept donations to continue this mental health activity. Until then, I will only be able to make 3 at a time, so I will be keeping each Padlet live for 2-3 weeks. After that time has passed, I will have to delete it. This isn’t ideal, however, I’m hoping that the Padlets gain enough support for me to move forward with donations. In a perfect world, I will release a new Padlet to the public each Monday. I really want to stress that the Padlets will not be open solely to high school students; everyone and anyone is welcome to use them! There will be links within the website for Growing Good Feelings and will be soon available to the public! I’m very excited for this plan to take root and grow into something useful for anybody who is struggling!
These are the Padlets that are created as of 11/16/20 and are completely open to the public. The Padlets above can be considered “ice breakers” and are sort of an introduction to the kinds of things we will be talking about. As time goes on, Padlets about deeper mental health issues will be addressed. Feel free to contact me if you have a specific topic you would like to have a discussion about; your opinion is welcome! If you are interested in contributing to the discussions above, please feel free to click here.
Fundraising
I have recently decided to do a fundraiser to contribute to a mental health facility. I am choosing to raise money for the Amery Behavioral Health Center, located right in Amery, WI, partially because they were a crucial piece in getting my project up and running. I want to show my gratitude and raise money for the mental health center to be able to use as they please. I have several ideas for fundraising, such as selling things such as stickers and small succulents. I want what I am selling to reflect the act of growing mentally, which is why I came up with the ideas that I did. My fundraising goal is currently $1,000. I hope to assist a fellow mental health advocate and donate ALL proceeds to the Amery Behavioral Health Center. The original plan to sell at the Osceola PTA Craft Fair unfortunately fell through, however I do have a backup plan! Peggy Johnson holds a craft boutique out of her very own home in Osceola with her own creations and has invited me to set up my sales in her facility! Stay tuned with more fundraising information by following growinggoodfeelings on Instagram! The sale has already taken place, however, I may be developing means of sales in the future for everyone who wants to purchase.
Stickers
As mentioned earlier, I want to sell stickers with various designs revolving around growth. The stickers will be various watercolor designs of flowers. 3” stickers will be available for purchase for $1 and 1” stickers will be priced at $0.50. These stickers have been printed with a Cricut Explore Air 2 on white, matte vinyl paper and will be cut to sticker shape (die-cut).
Succulents
The succulents will be sold in a 3”, painted clay pot and have colored, decorative rocks on the topsoil. There will also be a chalkboard sticker on the front with a positive saying or quote. Not all succulents will be the same, just as people struggling with mental health are not going through the exact same thing and not all require the same kind of support. Succulents will be available for purchase for $10, and succulent sprouts (courtesy of Beth Freidrichsen) will be available for $5. Succulents will be ordered in an assortment, so there will be many breeds of succulents to choose from!
Mind Over Mood
Sadly, I have not been making the progress I’ve been hoping for with using information from the book by Dennis Greenberger. My hope was to use some of the ideas and mental betterment activities from the book. However, issues regarding permissions and copyright troubles have temporarily slowed down my process. I’ve sent an email to whomever it may concern requesting permissions to be able to use ideas/pages directly from the book. I’m still waiting on the email back; I’m not giving up yet! Even if permissions become an issue and I cannot use ideas from the book, I will continue to read the book and gain information, but I will put together my own mind activities for people to use. When released, these activities will be posted on the Growing Good Feelings webpage under “Mental Betterment Activities.”
I am very excited to share these new developments with you and eager to begin the processes mentioned above. Let’s grow together!
8 Ways to Make Asking for Help Easier
Sometimes, asking for help isn’t always easy. The thought of asking for help could frighten you, discourage you, or even give you feelings of anxiety. You should never have to feel ashamed if you feel like you cannot handle your emotions on your own. Everybody needs help from time to time! Below is a list of 8 ways that can make it easier to ask for help when you feel it is necessary!
1. Accept. Sometimes it can be very hard to seek help when you either don’t think you need it or don’t want it. Experiencing symptoms of depression can be physically and mentally draining; don’t put yourself through more fatigue than you need to! If there is help available for the way you are feeling, go for it! Don’t let the negative stigma dictate your worth. Just because you feel that help would be beneficial doesn’t mean you’re worth any less than the people around you :)
2. Rehearse. This may seem tedious, but rehearsing what you would want to say to someone can be a great confidence booster! Rehearsing also gives you time to think about the most effective way to get your point across and allows for you to pick out important things you would want someone to know for sure. You could do this looking at yourself in the mirror, staring at the ceiling, or even telling your pet about it. Do whatever gives you the most reassurance and confidence!
Talking to your pet can be part of the rehearsal process and is beneficial for giving you the confidence to speak up. I can guarantee you that your pet will listen and keep whatever you say between you and them :)
3. Tell someone you trust. The first person you tell doesn’t have to be a parent or therapist. If you prefer to talk to a friend first, by all means, do! Sometimes talking to a trusted friend or loved one first can be more calming than confiding in a therapist you’ve never met before. This does NOT mean you shouldn’t go to a therapist if you feel you need to. Telling someone you trust can be a part of the rehearsing process and can make it easier for telling a therapist how you truly feel.
4. Consider your environment. If the thought of asking for help gives you feelings of anxiety, taking note of your environment can be effective. When you are planning on talking about your emotions with someone, think about places that relieve those anxious feelings. This could be your backyard, your bedroom, or your favorite park in town. Set yourself up for success and make this seemingly scary situation as easy on you as possible!
5. Allow yourself to feel. A common misconception surrounding depression is that you don’t really feel anything; everything just feels numb. This can be true for some people who experience depression, however the most common feeling with situational depression is stress, so there is a good chance that if you’re a victim of this type of depression, you experience anxiety-like feelings and can be overwhelmed at times. When you go to seek help, you want to allow yourself to feel these things, that way you can understand what exactly it is you’re feeling. Pushing those feelings deep down will only bottle them up inside, making you feel worse. Allowing yourself to feel what you truly feel can also help your mentor come up with strategies to calm those feelings as well.
6. Generate “I feel… when… ” statements. It is easier to ask for help when you know what you’re requesting help for. Sometimes it can be very hard to pinpoint one specific emotion, but taking some time and really analyzing your emotions can make a big difference in how you view them. You can do this by creating “I feel… when…” statements. An example could be “I feel anxious when I go to school.” This can also be used as a confidence booster, and can be considered part of the rehearsal process. When you use “I feel...when…” statements, you can know what you’re going to say, as well as be able to be specific about what you think you’ll need help with.
7. Relax. So simple, yet so challenging for some people. Take some time to gather your thoughts and relax your mind and body. You will be able to get your point across easier when you’re calm and collected. Try your best to take a breather before asking for help, especially if asking someone for help gives you feelings of high anxiety. The best thing you can do is try. Make this process as easy for yourself as possible!
8. Ask someone to make the first move for you. I’ve learned that there are many people who are hindering their recovery because they can’t get themselves to do things like call to schedule an appointment with a therapist. If you’re fixated on getting help, but making the phone call seems too scary, it’s perfectly okay to ask someone to do it for you. Find someone you trust and politely ask them if they would help you schedule an appointment. After the appointment is scheduled, breathe! You did it! You’re taking more steps toward benefiting your own mental health!