Drunk Driving

A major problem amongst teenagers is drinking and driving. A part of the teenage experience is experimentation and trying new and different things. Some of these choices are healthy while other can be considered dangerous. Teens often experiment with gateway drugs like cigarettes, marijuana, etc. One of the most used gateway drugs is alcohol. Teens believe that alcohol allows them to have more fun at parties. This is partly because alcohol lowers you inhibitions and will cause you to feel more "loose" and "free".

Often times, under the influence of alcohol, you are more like to do and try things that you would not do understand normal circumstances. Alcohol is also a depressant which causes you to feel tired. Some people may binge drink at a party which means they drink an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time. Binge drinking can lead to “blacking out” which means you are conscious, but not fully aware of your actions. It may also cause a person to “pass out” which means that your body completely shuts down and you are unconscious for a period time. It could also lead to alcohol poisoning. If so, your stomach will have to be pumped in order for you to live. Binge drinking can also lead to death.

When you are under the influence of alcohol your reflexes, vision, and reaction time are impaired. When teens drink and get behind the wheel they are putting their life and the lives of others in danger because they are not coherent and lack the ability to make safe and sound decisions on the road. A drunk driver may exceed the speed limit, have impaired vision, be unable to see other people or cars on the road, swerve in and out of lanes, or pass out while driving and lose complete control of the car. In all of these scenarios, drunk driving inevitably leads to tragedy, destruction, and possibly death.

In the novel Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper, the main character, Andy, got his best friend killed because he was drinking and driving. Andy became depressed and withdrew from sports, his friends, and his family. He would often cry about what had happened and needed counseling. In the end he committed suicide.

Many young lives are being lost at the hands of drunk drivers. It is okay to have a good time, but it also important to be responsible and safe. No one has to the right to partake in any action they may result in the death of another person.

Grieving

      As a teen it is hard to deal with the loss of a loved one. When you loss someone you can start to grow all different types of emotions and that’s grief. Grief takes on different shapes, attitudes and behaviors. Teens experience grief in many different ways and not necessarily in the same order or at the same time. During grieving you may experience different feeling like anger, worry, guilt, and loneliness. In addition shock, self blame and very deep sadness.
         There are 7 Stages of Grief.
The first stage is SHOCK & DENIAL-You will probably react to learning of the loss with numbed
disbelief. You may deny the reality of the loss at some level, in order to avoid the pain. This may last for weeks.
      2. PAIN & GUILT-
As the shock wears off, it is replaced with the suffering of unbelievable pain. It is important that you experience the pain fully, and not hide it. You may have guilty feelings or remorse over things you did or didn't do with your loved one.
      3. ANGER & BARGAINING-
You may lash out and lay unwarranted blame for the death on someone else. This is a time for the release of bottled up emotion. You may rail start questioning "Why me?" You may also try to bargain in vain with the powers that be for a way out of your despair ("I will never drink again if you just bring him back")
      4."DEPRESSION", REFLECTION,LONELINESS-
Just when your friends may think you should be getting on with your life, a long period of sad reflection will likely overtake you. This is a normal stage of grief. During this time, you finally realize the true magnitude of your loss, and it depresses you. You may isolate yourself on purpose, reflect on
things you did with your lost one, and focus on memories of the past. You may sense feelings of emptiness or despair.
       5. THE UPWARD TURN-
As you start to adjust to life without your dear one, your life becomes a little calmer and more organized. Your physical symptoms lessen, and your "depression" begins to lift slightly.
       6. RECONSTRUCTION & WORKING THROUGH-
As you become more functional, your mind starts working again. You will start to work on practical and financial problems and reconstructing yourself and your life without him or her.
      7.ACCEPTANCE & HOPE-
You learn to accept and deal with the reality of your situation. Acceptance does not necessarily mean instant happiness. Given the pain and turmoil you have experienced, you can never return to the carefree, untroubled YOU that existed before this tragedy. But you will find a way forward. Eventually, you will be able to think about your lost loved one without pain; sadness, yes, but the wrenching pain will be gone. You will once again anticipate some good times to come, and yes, even find joy again in the experience of living.
         In the book Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper the main character Andy went through most of these steps. He felt shocked about the death of his best friend Rob. Andy experienced a lot pain after the lost of his best friend. He felt the pain of being without him. He felt as though it was his fault his friend was dead. He was also angry hat he was gone. Andy was angry that he wasn’t there with him anymore. Andy became very depressed and withdrew from his family and friends.         Although it is always difficult to lose a loved one or someone you care about, it does get better. With time, the person will be able to heal and accept the loss without experiencing the excruciating pain that initially follows the death of someone you care about. You will never be able to completely get over losing someone you love, but in time, you will be able to move on and fully enjoy your life.

Suicide

Did you know that suicide is the third-leading cause of death for people ages 15-24? Suicide among teens often happens after a stressful event like a death of a loved one, a divorce or a break up with a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Depression is a major risk factor for suicidal behavior!

In the book Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper the main character Andy committed suicide. He didn't know any other to get rid of the pain he was feeling. Andy was just so depressed and he didn’t talk to anyone about it. He found his father's gun and just killed himself without any goodbyes.

When a teen commits suicide everyone is affected. Friends, family, teammates, teachers, and many more people will be affected. Just like in Tears of a Tiger all of Andy friends just wanted to know why. Why he did it? Why didn’t he talk to anyone about his thoughts of suicide? Why didn’t he have the strength to “stay”?  Why?

           Most suicidal attempt teens say that they tried to kill themselves because they were trying to escape from a situation that seemed impossible to deal with. They didn't want to die as much as they wanted to escape from what was going on. And at that particular moment dying seemed like the only way out.

If you think somebody you know might be planning a suicide attempt there are often some signs. They are talking about suicide or death in general, talking about "going away", referring to things they "won't be needing," and giving away possessions. In addition talking about feeling hopeless or feeling guilty, pulling away from friends or family and losing the desire to go out, having no desire to take part in favorite things or activities, having trouble concentrating or thinking clearly, experiencing changes in eating or sleeping habits and engaging in self-destructive behavior.

If you have been thinking about suicide, get help now. You can talk to someone you can trust, but just make sure you just keep everything inside. Talk to someone who will listen openly and without judgment. Let Go! Depression is powerful. You can’t wait and hope that your mood might improve.  

Depression

         If you think your depressed, you're not alone. Depression is more common in teens than you think but teenage depression isn’t just bad moods. Depression is a serious problem that impacts every aspect of a teen’s life. It can destroy the very essence of a teenagers personality, causing an overwhelming sense of sadness or anger. Fortunately, teenage depression can be treated. Although depression is highly treatable, experts say only 20% of depressed teens ever receive help.
    It's important to learn what teen depression looks like so you or a teen you know can get the help thats needed. Some of the signs and symptoms are saddness, anger, lots of crying, widthdraw from family and friends, lost intrerest in activies, changes in sleeping and eating.In additon theres guilt, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of death or suicude.
    If you have any of these signs or symptoms for more than two week, you might have depresseion and you need to see a doctor for help. Just like in the book Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper, the main character Andy felt very gulity for his best friends death and became very depressed. His parents made him go see a Psychologist for help. There he got to speak freely about how he felt without any parents or peopele who would judge him.

   Just like Andy you can go talk to a Psychologist for help or if you don't feel comfortable talking to a stranger, talk to a parent or a friend about your situation. There are all types of treatment for depression. You can take Medicine prescribed by a doctor or go to group therapy.

   Depressed teens left untreated can choose take it into there own hands. They can choose to abuse themselves and that can lead to suicude. We must all do our part in preventing these outcomes as best we can. Watch for those warning signs and if  observed, seek the necessary help right away. PLEASE HELP TEENS DEAL WITH DEPRESSION!

Teen Depression Sources:
1. www.safeyouth.org/scripts/teens/depression.asp
2. www.nih.gov
3. www.teendepression.org
4. www.aacap.org

Death

         Have you ever lost a friend? Death still remains a great mystery since the beginning of human history. Death is a major conflict in the teen society because most teen’s deaths are caused by teen violence. I myself haven’t experienced any deaths in my life but some of my close friends have. Losing someone is very hard!
     There are all types of teen related deaths. An example of teen death is drinking and driving like in the book Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper. The main character Andy and his best friend Rob were coming from their basketball game at their school Hazelwood. To celebrate the win Andy bought beer. Andy drove some of his friend’s home and during that time period Rob and Andy was drinking. They got in a car accident and Rob died (the other boys were ok). Andy felt very guilty for the death of his best friend.
         Death is traumatic not only for the dying, but for the people who love them. Many people deal with the death of someone in different ways. For example Maya Angelou felt it was her words that killed her rapist so she stopped talking for almost six years. It took her some time but she DID deal with it and started talking again. It may feel like it's impossible to recover after losing someone you love but the pain will go away with time. To help ease the pain in the recovering process you can always go see a school counselor or a professional Psychologist. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to a counselor or a psychologist just talking to family members and friends. Talk to people who will be good listeners, who will accept your feelings. Just remember you're not alone...you're surrounded by friends and family that are willing to be, and already are, sharing your pain. Lean on them...it makes it easier