Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2018 i MASK The Magazine

I will never forget that moment: I picked up my daughter from school and she asked, “Where are we going?” I proceeded to tell her, “Remember, your brother has a basketball game,” to which she replied, “Can’t we ever just go home?” I just sat for a moment, shocked, and said, “You know what? Next year, we can make that choice.” Let me give you some backstory. We have a blended family of five children, with a 10- year span between the youngest and oldest. My daughter, the youngest, has endured years of being schlepped around to this event and that activity. And now, during this moment, she was beginning to have her own “to-dos” to add to this already crazy schedule. Every day, we had somewhere to go or…

What’s the first thing your teen does when they get home from school? Like most kids, they raid the refrigerator. But snacking on the wrong foods can add unwanted calories and make your child even hungrier when mealtime rolls around. The key is to choose healthy snacks that will fill them up and provide nourishment without adding too many calories. In addition, limiting the amount of sugar your child eats is key to overall health. Research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that sugar behaves much like a drug, and over-consumption has addictive effects on the brain. Sugar contains dopamine, which can cause addiction, impairs memory and learning skills, and may contribute to depression and anxiety. It’s also a risk factor for age-related cognitive decline. When choosing…

Q: I’m feeling stressed out. My parents are getting divorced, school is just too much, and my life is a mess. My friend told me to take Xanax to help me not worry as much. Should I take it? – Carson, 8th grade, Hyde Park, Massachusetts A: Carson, school and family issues can be overwhelming, but you should never take a medicine that isn’t prescribed to you by a doctor. There are many healthy ways to deal with stress such as exercising, journaling or listening to music. However, if it feels like too much to handle, talk to a trusted adult. Q: I’m sitting here with piles of homework, a project is due, and I have to prepare for a student government meeting. Plus, I have to leave for a…

To help students and parents deal with the stress that accompanies college life, we asked Nicole Taylor, Arizona State University Deputy Vice President and Dean of Students, and Dr. Aaron Kasnow, Associate Vice President of Counseling & Health Services, to provide some insight and advice. Here’s what they shared. While college is an exciting time in a young person’s life, it can also be a time of increased stress due to major life changes and transitions. What are the most common stressors in a college student’s life? The most common stressors in a college student’s life are adjusting to more personal responsibility, increased autonomy living away from family, changes in routine, increased academic responsibilities, and meeting new people. One important thing to keep in mind is that college is designed…

What is ASU Counseling Services’ mission? ASU Counseling Services work to support the academic mission of the university by providing mental health, consultation, and outreach services that facilitate the student learning experience and student success in persistence and graduation. The department values the diversity represented within the student population, including culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, religion, students with military experience, and students with disabilities. We respect and appreciate the unique history of each student. We are committed to meeting the needs of diverse people and providing a safe and welcoming atmosphere that is sensitive to all students. What services and programs does the department offer? ASU Counseling Services offers confidential, personal counseling and crisis services for students experiencing emotional concerns, problems in adjusting, and other factors that…

In an age when opioid usage is in crisis mode, another drug is reaching communities across the nation. According to a report on CNN.com, “grey death” is a deadly mix of opioids that can kill in very small doses. Named for its likeness to grey concrete powder, it’s made with a combination of lethal opioids. The ingredients range per batch, but investigators have found everything from the designer drug U-47700 and heroin, to fentanyl and fentanyl-like molecules. Heroin and fentanyl are two widely used opioids and are highly addictive. U-47700 is a synthetic opioid that is seven-and-a-half times stronger than morphine. Carfentanil is another synthetic opioid—often used as an elephant tranquilizer—that is 100 times as potent as fentanyl and 5,000 times more potent than heroin. The ingredients and its grey…

When we think of impaired or distracted driving among teens, we often think about alcohol or electronic activities like texting and driving. However, more than 11 million people age 16 and over drove under the influence of illicit drugs, according to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In addition, in an article on CNN.com, “…positive drug tests were more common than the presence of alcohol among the fatally injured drivers who were tested in 2015,” according to a report titled “Drug- Impaired Driving” by the Governors Highway Safety Association and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. What can help teens know not to drive under the influence of drugs like marijuana, prescription medication, and illicit drugs? Experts say parental involvement is key. “It is so critical for…

In the good old days when you were young, sugar came from a just-ripe peach, your favorite after-school activity was bike riding, and a friend’s compliment about your sweater brought a smile to your face. Each brought a rush of happiness and contentment to the reward center in your brain. But today’s world is not the one in which you grew up. Bullying at school, domestic violence in our homes, crimes in our communities and a national epidemic of opioid abuse plague our society. Our children are not only shouldering that exposure, but are also struggling to exert their independence while dealing with peer pressure and fluctuating self-esteem. Consequently, they may be choosing unhealthy coping strategies, from lying and cheating to self-harm and drug use. At the heart of the…

Returning from an exhausting day at school on Friday afternoon, you can’t help but think about the grueling hours that will be spent on homework this weekend: writing a college admissions essay, working on an AP psychology project, cramming for a math test (a class in which you are on the verge of failing). Where do you even begin? On top of that, the realization strikes that you’re also working 12 hours this weekend. So much for attending your best friend’s birthday party. So much for spending quality time with your family. But you’re not done yet. You have an orchestra recital, remember? An opportunity for a college scholarship is riding on this one performance. What about exercise? Oh, I’ll just go to the gym next weekend, you repeat for…

When it comes to dealing with stress and anxiety, does coping mean erasing the negative emotions and replacing them with positive ones? Does it mean to distract from negative feelings by eating, going for a walk, or taking a bath? It seems as though “coping skills” has become a catchphrase that has lost its meaning. “If you really think about it, coping means tolerating; it means to face and deal with a situation and the consequences,” says Dr. Shefali Gandhi, a licensed psychologist in Scottsdale, Ariz. “If the fire alarm goes off at home, we don’t take a bath. We listen to the cue and understand we have a situation that needs attention. Our feelings are our body’s alarm system—we need to pay attention to them and then determine what…

With a few unexpected twists and turns, the college experience can be like a roller coaster, Corrina Williams says. And when she talks about life as a junior at Arizona State University, it’s clear she’s handling the ride just fine as a successful student. But it wasn’t always that way. As a freshman, there were times Williams wasn’t sure if she could succeed in college, like when she failed a test for the first time. “It was a political science exam, and I remember studying for hours on end just to pass it, because it was worth 500 points,” Williams says. “I knew I bombed it the moment I took it. I immediately hiked up “A” Mountain, sat down and called my best friend from high school and just started…

THE ‘CLEAN’ IN CLEAN EATING Clean eating focuses on consuming real, whole, minimally processed foods at least most of the time, choosing organic and sustainable options whenever possible, and selecting foods that meet our individual nutritional requirements. That means that while the majority of what we eat should be quality, nutrient-dense foods free of chemicals and additives, it can also be gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan if that’s what works best for you. In this sense, the “clean” in clean eating refers to transparency in your food choices—evidence that your food is actually what it appears to be instead of a sugar- or chemical-filled imposter masquerading as a health food. CALORIES THAT COUNT Oklahoma City-based registered dietician and nutritionist Sam Carter, says clean eating should be viewed as a journey towards…

DRUG Nearly three-quarters of teens say stress is what leads them to use drugs. This stress can be from school, work or family, but in any case, stress can be dealt with in a healthy manner. Talk to your child about what gives them stress and teach them alternatives to coping (like sports or hobbies) that will give them a more positive outlet. BULLY Whether it happens on the playground or on a cellphone screen, the negative effects of bullying can greatly influence how a teen feels. Speak with your child about who they are or aren’t getting along with, and brainstorm ways to cope and avoid negative interactions. Put their phone away if they receive negative comments and suggest talking to a friend, parent, or sibling for advice or…

Parenting is the most important job you’ll ever have. But instead of taking everything so seriously, childhood experts say having fun and being silly is one of the best approaches to parenting. “Let’s face it, kids are silly at heart,” says youth development professional Greg Hood in an article for Parent.com. “It’s part of their development as they grow and mature. Somewhere along the line, as adults, we’ve learned that being silly has negative consequences. Try putting a rubber chicken on your boss’s desk and see what happens.” According to Hood, it’s natural as we “train” our children for adulthood, we teach them not to be so silly, and we certainly don’t partake in it. “We’re serious about wanting to be the best parents we can possibly be. But one…

As famous as many of its celebrity residents, Malibu is home to some of the most spectacular beaches in Southern California, where surfers can catch the perfect wave on the coast and outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking through inland canyons and trails. The endless activities and colorful scenery are sure to make any visitor want to extend their stay. Relax in the sand, get some TLC in the sun, and enjoy quality family time in this breathtaking beach town. BY THE SEA There are few destinations better than Malibu—or “the ‘bu,” as it’s known to locals—for learning to surf. If your kids have been eager to learn, there are plenty of classes available at any of Malibu’s beaches. A typical lesson will last from an hour to an hour and…

Today’s teens are under more stress today than ever before. Consider this: According to the annual “Stress in America” survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), American teens (age 13 to 17) report experiencing stress at unhealthy levels, appear uncertain in their stress management, and experience symptoms of stress in numbers that mirror adults’ experiences. These findings are especially sobering when paired with research that suggests physical activity, nutrition and lifestyle are also affected by stress in teens. When it comes to development, adolescence has always been a challenging period defined by physical, cognitive and social changes. It’s also an awkward stage where children struggle to build their own identity, seek independence, and learn about intimacy in relationships. While these things can cause certain levels of stress, other causes—ones past…

As parents, we try to protect our children from physical harm and making poor decisions. But what happens when what is harming our child is something invisible and intangible? We want our children to be happy, but each generation seems to be exposed to greater amounts of stress at a younger and younger age. Things like fewer carefree recess periods at school, more cyberbullying, and the increased need to keep up with the Joneses are just a few things creating more stress in our children. The child and adolescent brain goes through significant changes during development, first growing larger and then being “pruned back” to fine tune and streamline things, similar to how we allow rose bushes to grow and then we thin them out to keep the most desired…

To my fellow dads: Have you noticed, as I have, how stressed out everyone is? We optimize every minute for maximum efficiency. This trickles down to our children when we overload their already fast-paced lives with every experience and activity made available to them. We are on-the-go all the time. What effect does this have on our kids? In a society where everything is instant, where passive time is frowned upon, and where instant gratification is expected, is it possible we are wiring their brains to adapt to this new status quo? Take a deep breath. We have a big responsibility to keep tabs on our lifestyles, and a duty to teach our children about balance, rest and play. Our children look up to us as their fathers, and they…

If you have teens, then you’re most likely dealing with their stress, anxiety, sadness and a plethora of emotions. But there is a solution, which can be achieved one breath at a time. Youth Meditation, a nonprofit organization based in North Carolina, is dedicated to empowering youth, teachers and parents with practical knowledge and effective tools for managing not only stress, but also anxiety and emotions. Formed in 2014, it is co-founded by Ranjit Deora and Angela Gala, students of Dhirendra Bhramchari, whose students included Indira Gandhi. “Youth Meditation is a program that teaches children, teachers and parents mindfulness practices, and how to meditate. Meditation and mindfulness are the fundamental building blocks for focus,” says Gala in an interview on the nonprofit’s website. “Often, our minds are very busy…being able…

COPPER STATE SANDWICH 2 slices sourdough bread2 slices vegan cheddar cheese1 tbsp. vegan mayonnaise (such as Just Mayo)1 tbsp. chipotle sauce2 Anaheim green chilies, roasted, peeled and choppedVegan butter, for toasting Generously butter one side of each of the slices of bread. On the unbuttered side of one slice of bread, spread mayo and chipotle sauce to taste. Layer chopped green chilies and two slices of your favorite vegan cheddar cheese. Top with the other piece of bread, leaving buttered side facing out. Put sandwich in a panini press or grill pan on the stove and cook until cheese melts. The Nile Cafe // 105 W. Main St., Mesa // 480-352-9882 // niletheater.com…