Specific Issues that may have a negative effect on our mental health.
Anxiety and Stress
We all experience stress sometimes. It’s our bodies response to pressure. Some stress can be good and motivate us to do something we’re nervous about like taking a test, public speaking or running a race. However, sometimes stress can be overwhelming and interfere with our daily lives.
Anxiety is a term used to describe the thoughts, feelings and physical sensations we get when we are frightened, worried or stressed.
Most of us worry sometimes – about things like friendships and schoolwork – and feel anxious when we’re under stress, like at exam time. But after the stressful event we usually calm down and feel better.
But when you’re not in a stressful situation, and you still feel worried or panicky, that’s when anxiety can become a problem and affect your day-to-day life.
When we experience stress, our bodies are programmed to produce hormones to trigger stress responses known as fight, flight or freeze. These responses are designed to keep us safe from danger: to either fight the danger, run from it (flight) or freeze and hide. Although we may not actually have to fight, run or hide we often still feel the physical sensations associated with these responses during stressful times. Common sensations include a fast racing heart, tense muscles, butterflies in the tummy, sweating, and dizziness.
This video explains our bodies response to stress and anxiety:
Anxiety is a term used to describe the thoughts, feelings and physical sensations we get when we are frightened, worried or stressed.
Most of us worry sometimes – about things like friendships and schoolwork – and feel anxious when we’re under stress, like at exam time. But after the stressful event we usually calm down and feel better.
But when you’re not in a stressful situation, and you still feel worried or panicky, that’s when anxiety can become a problem and affect your day-to-day life.
When we experience stress, our bodies are programmed to produce hormones to trigger stress responses known as fight, flight or freeze. These responses are designed to keep us safe from danger: to either fight the danger, run from it (flight) or freeze and hide. Although we may not actually have to fight, run or hide we often still feel the physical sensations associated with these responses during stressful times. Common sensations include a fast racing heart, tense muscles, butterflies in the tummy, sweating, and dizziness.
This video explains our bodies response to stress and anxiety:
We are also more likely to experience anxiety at different stages in our lives. During our teens and adolescence our brain goes through huge changes and development. These changes can make us more likely to perceive things as more stressful and dangerous.
So what can we do when anxiety becomes a problem:
Lots more info on anxiety and ideas to help you in the following websites:
So what can we do when anxiety becomes a problem:
Lots more info on anxiety and ideas to help you in the following websites:
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Bullying
No one deserves to be bullied.
Bullying affects over one million young people every year, and anyone can be bullied.
What is bullying?
Bullying is a mixture of behaviours and impacts; what someone does and the impact that it has on you, which affects your ability to feel safe and in control of yourself.
Bullying behaviour happens face to face and online and can include:
Bullying can be a one-off or it can go on for a long time. And bullying can happen to anyone. “Bullying is not your fault, and things can get better”.
Bullying can make you feel isolated and worthless, lonely, anxious, angry and lacking confidence. You may experience some or all of these feelings.
Bullying affects over one million young people every year, and anyone can be bullied.
What is bullying?
Bullying is a mixture of behaviours and impacts; what someone does and the impact that it has on you, which affects your ability to feel safe and in control of yourself.
Bullying behaviour happens face to face and online and can include:
- Being called names, being teased or made fun of
- Being hit, pushed or kicked
- Having your belongings taken or damaged
- Being ignored, left out, or having rumours spread about you in
- Being humiliated
- Receiving abusive messages or having nasty comments made about you online
- Being targeted because of who you are or how people see you
Bullying can be a one-off or it can go on for a long time. And bullying can happen to anyone. “Bullying is not your fault, and things can get better”.
Bullying can make you feel isolated and worthless, lonely, anxious, angry and lacking confidence. You may experience some or all of these feelings.
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Bullying in any form is hurtful and unacceptable and can make your life miserable.
No matter how alone you might feel, there is always someone you can talk to and someone who can help. See section on who you can talk to at Marr. there is also help and advice available from RespectMe- Scotland's Anti-Bullying Service and their website can be found by clicking the image below. |
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If somebody physically hurts you, or verbally abuses you, that’s bullying.
Specific types of bullying include: • homophobic bullying based on your sexual orientation • racist bullying because of your skin colour • religious bullying because of your beliefs or faith. • sizeist bullying referring to your body size • sexist bullying focusing on you being of the opposite sex • cyberbullying targeting you online, often anonymously • bullying because you are different |
Eating Difficulties
You may not have had any reason to know much about eating difficulties previously, and sometimes you may have heard them referred to as eating disorders. You may only know information about eating difficulties from how they are portrayed in the media, including how sufferers may describe them on social media too . TV and movies often portray a particular type of story in terms of who gets eating disorders, what causes them, and what the symptoms are. For example, you may have often heard about the experiences of young white women with anorexia, which doesn’t reflect the full spectrum of eating disorders and people who can develop them.
Anyone, no matter what their age, gender, ethnicity or background, can develop an eating difficulty, which can range in severity. It is important to seek help early, as they can develop into more complex mental illnesses. Some examples of eating disorders include avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), bulimia, binge eating disorder, and anorexia. One of the best resources for anyone experiencing eating difficulties is Beat, and Young Minds have some young people focused advice.
Anyone, no matter what their age, gender, ethnicity or background, can develop an eating difficulty, which can range in severity. It is important to seek help early, as they can develop into more complex mental illnesses. Some examples of eating disorders include avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), bulimia, binge eating disorder, and anorexia. One of the best resources for anyone experiencing eating difficulties is Beat, and Young Minds have some young people focused advice.
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Self-Harm
Self-harm describes any behaviour where you hurt yourself on purpose, usually as a way to cope with negative thoughts, feelings or experiences that feel wrong, it seems that self-harm is the only way to let these feeling out. It is a very common behaviour and can affect 10% of 15-16 year olds. It may take several forms, such as cutting or burning and younger children may pick or scratch at wounds or pull their hair out.
If you self-harm it is usually a sign that you are experiencing another mental health problem, such as anxiety, depression, stress or you are being bullied. You may feel that you have no other way of dealing with these issues and turn to self-harm. The issue is that self-harming often only brings a temporary relief to the main issue, and you are still having to deal with it, again over time. It can be upsetting for anyone who self-harms to think that this is the only way they have to cope, but there are other healthy ways of supporting positive mental health and you can find some on the Support and Strategies page.
If you self-harm it is usually a sign that you are experiencing another mental health problem, such as anxiety, depression, stress or you are being bullied. You may feel that you have no other way of dealing with these issues and turn to self-harm. The issue is that self-harming often only brings a temporary relief to the main issue, and you are still having to deal with it, again over time. It can be upsetting for anyone who self-harms to think that this is the only way they have to cope, but there are other healthy ways of supporting positive mental health and you can find some on the Support and Strategies page.
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‘No Harm Done’ is a response to the powerful cry for help from young people, parents and professionals who have told us just how difficult dealing with self-harm is. The films were co-produced with young people, parents and professionals to reassure those affected by self-harm that things can and do improve. |
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If you are concerned about self-harming or want to talk about it remember your guidance teacher is always available for you, and if you are an adult please reach out also. Staff are here to support. Other support systems are MeeTwo app that allows you to talk anonymously about difficult things with other people of a similar age or experience. You can get help with your problems or use your experiences to help others. The app is a safe space where all posts and replies are checked before going live so there is no harassment, bullying or grooming.
Another great app you could download is Calm Harm |
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