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Ava West | Sports Editor Joshua Krob | Staff Reporter
e all sit through presentations on anxiety, depression and ADHD during mandated mental health training, but most of us dismiss it, thinking it does not really apply to us. The truth is that many of our students are struggling with the labels and diagnoses we hear about but do not truly understand and it is important that we sympathize with and support these students. Here are some stories of people in our school who are trying their best to cope with everything going on in their lives. *All names used have been changed for privacy.
ODD, ADD, Depression: Charlie
When you hear your parents shout, ‘Clean your room!’ most would reply with a grumbling ‘Okay’ or a slight argument, but that is not the reality for Charlie*. He was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, depression and Oppositional Defiant Disorder—a mental disorder which causes the victim to be disobedient, uncooperative and even violent. Charlie began showing signs when he was only 5, suffering from uncontrollable anger and violent outbursts. As Charlie grew older, his ODD symptoms led to severe depression. He got to the point where he was Baker Acted—detained for under 72 hours in a mental institution—on four different occasions. People can be Baker Acted by first responders if they are believed to not be able to make rational decisions, or if they become a danger to themselves or others. Charlie had terrible experiences at the mental institutions, including people smashing glass, getting beat up five times by other patients and watching someone kick a door and shatter his foot. Charlie’s ODD has also caused his relationship with his family and friends to suffer greatly. Due to his outbursts and other factors caused by his ODD, ADD and depression, his girlfriend broke up with him. “I don’t feel like I belong. I get so angry it’s hard to keep jobs, I always feel like everyone is out to get me, like I’m not worth anything,” Charlie said.
Panic disorder: Jane
this episode for a seizure, bu It was a normal trip to New Jersey, an annual effect of extreme anxiety. tradition for Jane*. Until the nausea hit. Until she threw Jacob will have inst up. Until the panic attacks. What was once a vacation doing homework at the next quickly turned into a sleepless nightmare. backwards and starts twitch “I started screaming and crying because I could “Everything just stops fo not get myself to eat without throwing up,” Jane said. very poor grades,” Jacob sa “It makes me feel like it is pointless to be alive or do Jacob was diagnosed w anything during my panic attacks.” depression at 16. His anxiety After that week in New Jersey, she came home experience extreme sympto and planned to go to the doctor when she started to episodes, muscle spasms an panic while trying to get in the car. She stayed home little for his anxiety to be trig from school for a week, only leaving her bedroom to with these problems on a da go to the bathroom or get a drink and barely eating His ADHD and anxiety a or sleeping. his relationships, making it h “I missed so much school friends. work that week and it was such “Onc a pain to get back on track,” [anxiety My disorder got so bad that it and the Jane said. “It felt impossible to make anything up because took over my life. It was hard not seem when I tried, I would have a much, pe to see my grades drop to rock want to panic attack about how much bottom and my family worrying. were con work I had to do.” After this experience, she anything - Jane was finally able to go to the said. doctor, after her parents convinced her, and they Although Jacob doe diagnosed her with panic disorder and put her on he has still found ways to im Zoloft. Although the medication helped her panic reactions, such as counselin attacks for some time, it was not a long term solution. significantly helped, he still s For now, Jane copes by distancing herself from things pertaining to his ADH other people. Although not ideal, she shuts down missing social cues. whenever she feels her life is going downhill and has a “My social life has b very hard time opening back up. I don’t think there is any goo “Even though I can shut down, I still find ways to back. Even though I am on t cope with the pain,” Jane said. “I read books, take incredibly hard to get back,” long showers, and go to the gym whenever I feel the need to get away.” Combination ADHD: Nicole* was writing an e ADHD, Anxiety, Depression: Jacob something on the wall. It dis While playing his instrument in band class, off of her train of thought. S Jacob* became lightheaded. He quickly set his percent on that essay, and h instrument down before falling to the ground, shaking got worse as time went on. and unresponsive. The untrained eye might mistake Nicole was diagnosed w
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