Hyper Independance

As humans, we require connection and vulnerability. This is deeply fabricated in our DNA and evolutionary background, giving yield to the communities and groups that we are part of today. These types of communities are all around us. As a student, you are part of the community of Michigan State University. There are your student organizations, ethnic background, religion, personal interests and much more. Such forms of human connection have been maintained for hundreds of years because they promote survival. So what happens when someone strays from this protective measure and what might cause them to do so?

Even if you rely on the communities around you for support, building personal independence is still a healthy trait. We are encouraged to feel secure in being alone. However, at one extreme, this can lead to traits of hyper-independence. As defined by clinical psychologist Amy Marschall, hyper-independence “refers to individual attempts to be fully independent in all things, even when it is not helpful to do so or when they truly need help or support from others.” This kind of response can be maladaptive in many situations, ranging from dealing with intense emotions to physical

threats. It also may vary in seriousness based on the individual. Oftentimes, hyper-independent individuals are overachievers. They take on multiple big tasks and create a workload that is not sustainable for them alone. Similarly, they may find it difficult to delegate tasks and believe that they must complete everything on their own. This may stem from a subconscious belief that their worth comes from how much they can accomplish. On the other hand, the need to complete tasks alone may be due to a lack of trust in others. Hyper-independent individuals do not believe that others will be able to meet their needs. In a group project, someone with hyper-independent traits may do the majority of the work because they feel that their partners will do it incorrectly. In relationships, they can be hesitant to be vulnerable with others and share their emotions because they fear that their emotional needs will not be met.

These patterns can be isolating and damaging for people with hyper-independent traits. However,

the best part of the human experience is that there is always room for change and growth. It is liberating to understand that the only thing we have control over in this life is ourselves. Identifying hyperindependence and working to heal these traits brings more balance into our lives so that we don’t leave behind the communities around us. First, therapy can be a great option to understand what is causing hyper-independence and to build healthy trust and relationships. There are many things an individual can do on their own too. Journaling can help challenge any negative or fearful thoughts that trap an individual in hyperindependent behaviors. In working to build trust in others, hyper-independent individuals can identify tasks that they would normally be inclined to complete alone and delegate them elsewhere. This could be in a group academic setting or in their personal life. Take a step back and understand that not everything can be under your control. In the same vein, practice recognizing when you need help and asking for it. This may require exercising self-compassion and realizing that it is normal to ask for help and place boundaries. The truth is that no happy, successful person ever did it all without help. In the words of poet John Donne, “No man is an island.” There is no one with the capacity to go through life by themselves, and becoming overwhelmed with an intense workload is not a failure. Rather, it is a signal that changes need to be made.

The communities around us can both foster human connections and give us places to look for support, especially when we are feeling resistant to accepting it. Hyper-independence worsens this resistance, turning a useful trait like self-reliance into something that does more harm than good. By practicing these different steps, however, an individual can strengthen their ability to trust others and be vulnerable. The key is creating a balance between being confident alone and in emotional connections with others. Ultimately, life is too complicated to go through alone. Remember to be patient with yourself as you understand that independence should not negate all support that you have in your life. Instead, traits of independence should complement the areas in which you cannot find support and allow you to feel confident both in your relationships and in solitude.

Style: Navya Kalia Writer: Navya Kalia Model: Helena Thomas Glam: Ev Campau and Andie Bahm Photo: Annie Barker and Graham Lightle

In this shoot, we explore the three pillars of extravagance in elegance, femininity, and couture. Elegance, the first pillar, is a quality often shown in a graceful appearance. Elegance comes in the form of costume jewelry. The big, clear jewels sparkle against the sheer black dress and help catch the eye when you walk into the room. This look is achieved through hand-sewn crystals in uneven rows on the clothing, making it look as though they are dripping off the model’s body. The crystals in different sizes spread out on the model’s chest and body help to catch the light. It gives a shimmering effect to her appearance. This look personifies elegance, suggesting that diamonds truly are a girl’s best friend, reminiscent of old Hollywood icons like Marilyn Monroe.

Femininity stands as the second pillar in the House of Extravagance. Femininity presents itself in this shoot through a sheer, body-hugging black dress and red fuzzy heels. Using a tight, sheer material for the dress, stylists can better accentuate the model’s silhouette and focus on the hips, waist and bust. Heels have always stood as one of femininity’s greatest allies. They help to physically lift a woman, giving her power and strength and highlighting the beauty of the female figure.

The last pillar in understanding extravagance is couture. For this shoot, couture was achieved by the stylists as personally manipulated and reworked the outfits to help bring extravagance to life. Handsewing on the crystals helps to ensure seamlessness and fantasy for the viewer and hand-cutting the outfits to fit the model’s proportions is another excellent example of couture techniques used within this shoot. By utilizing these centuries-old techniques, these outfits are altered to perfection. While couture follows specific measurements, it ensures that each outfit is unique and allows for even more creativity in the fashion process.

Glam: Ev Campau, Izzy Parker and Ateeyah Abdul-Wasi Photo: Maddie Dibley Style: Brandon Roberts and Anna Webber Models: Maura Shine, Devin Crawford Graphics: Lauren Slawin