Quest Academy

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It is already a struggling moment that I have clinical depression. I can barely motivate myself to think about good things in life due to my mental condition. It is also impossible for me to manage a daily routine that does not require medication and self-care instructions. And now that there is a pandemic, the struggle I am facing every day becomes twice as much more complicated. My mental illness does not allow me to see a different angle of things. I merely focus on what I want to think about, and that is the toxicity of the world. My clinical depression makes me scared and anxious even more that it takes a toll on everything I do.

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How Is Everything For Me Lately

With all the mixed feelings I have due to this pandemic situation, I am now experiencing panic attacks and nightmares. It sucks because I don’t like how I picture the future. There are too much brutality and deaths in my head. I find it very disturbing and irritating at the same time. But unfortunately, I can’t take it off my mind. The feeling of hopelessness is rising because I somehow knew that this COVID-19 outbreak will still be in control for the next few more months.

I am aware that there is nothing people can do in this situation. I also believe that staying positive and mindful about everything available right now is the key to mental survival. However, for those individuals like me who are already suffering from a mental health issue, it’s not easy. There is no way people can just say we should look at the brighter sides of this Coronavirus outbreak because we can’t. There is nothing we can do to rectify our depression in an instant, especially that we know the world can’t even stand the battle from this global crisis.

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With individuals like me, who has clinical depression, the way we respond to the things around us is different. Our understanding of home quarantine gets related to self-isolation. We don’t like the idea of being trapped in our homes alone and surrounded by only a few people we know. Though, that is one thing we always kind of deal with. Perhaps that is because the limited amount of people available will only limit our options to get involved socially. The fewer people we socialize with becomes a way for us to isolate ourselves even more. It’s a no brainer detail because people with clinical depression often choose to distance themselves from everyone.

How Am I Managing The Situation

Yes, I can agree that there are certain things depressed people can do during the lockdown. These include watching television, exercising, listening on the radio, playing with their phones, and so on. But despite those activities and their mental benefits, I can’t process the thoughts of doing any of it. I feel like attaching myself more to the pandemic situation even though I know I can’t do anything. I watch the news often, and that’s the thing I like doing. With that, I can say, I am not helping myself, and I am only adding damage to my already unhealthy condition.

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But for those who don’t understand, please do not hate us. It is not like we are not trying to get better. It is just that the timing of the pandemic situation heightens our already unstable clinical depression. And with all the limited access we can get, we are having difficulties too. Think about it. The world’s people are anxious and terrified. How much more do you think it affects us people with a mental illness?

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Firefighters were the main topic of discussion at the 2017 PTSD Conference. The event was dedicated to finding ways and means to help Texas firefighters (and all the firefighters across the globe, for that matter) reduce their symptoms of PTSD. It was also mentioned that these firefighters had shown similar symptoms with the military soldiers who manifested with moderate to severe PTSD, along with other mental health illnesses. This is because, like soldiers, they are obliged to respond immediately to emergencies and need to respond appropriately – all the time.

In relation to this, we will be sharing here some helpful information about PTSD and its development among firefighters.

The incidence of PTSD among firefighters has increased compared to other professions. Most of us, at some point in our lives, go through a traumatic experience. Not all traumatic experiences eventually lead to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, but those who have gone through multiple traumatic experiences are more likely to develop PTSD.

The trauma that these firefighters usually experience arises from their exposure to individuals they help that are DOA, severely injured crime victims, as well as too much stress from helping infants and children. Additionally, they reported that they also feel so depressed after medical emergencies due to vehicular accidents.

Risk Factors

There are several risk factors for firefighters developing PTSD. These include working as a firefighter at an early age, being single, previous treatment for another illness, near-death experiences, feeling intense fear when experiencing trauma, and pessimism, among others.

Preventive Factors 

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It is undoubtedly true that firefighters have a higher likelihood of feeling over-stressed because of their job. Still, it is also important to remember that a majority of them do not develop Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In fact, some preventive factors were found to help decrease the chances of firefighters having PTSD, social support being one of them. Love and support from family, friends, and significant others are a big factor in helping these unsung heroes cope and overcome their traumas.

Also, getting help from a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or counselor, can guide the firefighter into facing his fears and learning how to handle them.

Teaching kids with ADHD is a big challenge. These kids have diverse ways of learning things that are entirely different from those of disorder-free children. That is why having them in the mainstream requires extra effort from the teachers. But instead of treating this as an inconvenience, teachers should view this as a guide on how to handle these types of kids. Parents are so stressed out by this issue and assistance and guidance from their ADHD kid’s teacher is a big help.

Continue reading “5 Effective Lesson Ideas For Teaching Students With ADHD (To Lessen The Stress On Parents)”

Due to the standards imposed by schools these days, children are expected to work hard and excel academically. “There’s tremendous anxiety in kids and we’re definitely seeing an increase” says by psychologist Dr Helen Clark, PhD in an article on Parent24 Struggling with an anxious Child. As a result, parents are inclined to get after-school tutorial services to help their kids not only regarding completing their homework but mastering their lessons as well. In the case of children who were diagnosed with anxiety, tutors have to exert more effort compared to the average students just to harness their academic and emotional skills. To help children with anxiety, a full understanding of the condition is imperative so that the tutor can design the lesson in such a way that can be fully grasped by the child.

Continue reading “Tutoring Accommodations For Children With Anxiety (Bridging Relationships)”

 

 

 

Is your little elementary student ready to move up to junior high school after the summer break?

If you’re living in the same town where you or your spouse grew up in, there is a high possibility that you’ll wish for your child to have the same alma mater as his or her mom or dad does. In case it’s a new location, you may feel like it’s natural only for the kid to enter the nearest institution from the house. However, is that honestly the best decision you can make as a parent?

Here are the eight things to think about before enrolling your child in a school.

 

1. The Environment

Off the bat, you should take into consideration the location of the establishment. Do you think it will be safe for a teenage boy or girl to leave the place without getting mugged or harassed? You don’t want to act judgmental about the neighborhood, no doubt, but the amount of litter or vandalism surrounding any institution can be an indication of how good or bad it will be.

 

 

2. The Curriculum

Since your son or daughter is about to go to middle school, it means you already have a fair idea regarding their intellectual prowess. If he or she shows great interest in science, math, or arts, there may be an educational institution that may accept them and nurture their genius. Assuming they’re still at crossroads about what they want to do in later years, then it’s alright to enroll them in a regular school where they can acquire different skills.

 

3. The Commute

How far the academy is to your home is another thing to study. Sometimes, despite having confidence with their kids, parents still don’t want them to travel for longer than 30 minutes to attend classes, regardless if they’ll ride the family car or a public bus. Other times, it’s the children who refuse to do that. Thus, have an honest conversation with your kid about their commute situation once they decide to enter this or that institution.

 

 

 

4. The Child’s Special Needs

Let’s put out there that not only kids with autism or various physical or mental disabilities require particular attention. The ones with very high IQ or who came from a non-English speaking country have specific needs as well that your academy of choice has to be able to meet.

 

5. The Ongoing School Regulation

As you scout for a middle school, you should remember to ask for a copy of their existing regulations. Most academies have plenty of do’s and don’t’s, and you have to ensure that the institution you’re eyeing imposes some – if not all – the rules you want your offspring to learn. Redempta Maithya, Ph.D. and co-authors wrote, “Along with academic performance, school discipline ranks as one of the major concerns voiced by the public about schools and the school system.”

 

6. The Facilities

You also need to think about the newness of the academy’s facilities. In other words, are you cool with enrolling your child in a freshly built institution or a decades-old one? The former constitutes to current design; the latter speaks of history and perhaps long-lasting construction materials. Wan Zahari WanYusoff, Ph.D. says that, “School facilities have the important role to ensure the quality of teaching and learning with respect to achieve quality of education. The performance of school facilities significantly affected on student achievement.”

 

7. The School Feedback

Don’t be shy to talk to your neighbors, friends, and family members who ideally have kids attending the same school your child will likely join. More than the teachers or the principal, other parents can offer plenty of details concerning their children’s experience there without sugarcoating anything. That can help you resolve whether it’s still a smart decision to put your son or daughter in that particular school. Ismat Rahman, Ph.D. points out that, “There is a great importance of feedback in improving learning experience for the students.”

 

8. The Miscellaneous Fees

Finally, how’s the budget for the child’s education looking? In case you merely have a few thousand dollars prepared for one academic year, enrolling him or her in a public system where you just need to pay for books and lunch may be better. Considering there’s no financial limit, though, you can look into private – religious or not – establishments.