University of Texas at El Paso DigitalCommons@UTEP The rP ospector Special Collections Department 4-10-2018 The rP ospector, April 10, 2018 UTEP Student Publications Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.utep.edu/prospector Part of the Journalism Studies Commons, and the Mass Communication Commons Comments: This file is rather large, with many images, so it may take a few minutes to download. Please be patient. Recommended Citation UTEP Student Publications, "The rP ospector, April 10, 2018" (2018). The Prospector. 315. https://digitalcommons.utep.edu/prospector/315 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections Department at DigitalCommons@UTEP. It has been accepted for inclusion in The rP ospector by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UTEP. For more information, please contact [email protected]. VOL. 103, NO. 26 THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO APRIL 10, 2018 THE WELLNESS ISSUE Pg. 4 Pg. 3 Pg. 7 Pg. 2 Pg. 11 DESIGN ALEJANDRA BY GONZÁLEZ / THE PROSPECTOR PAGE 2 APRIL 10, 2018 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OPINION MICHAELA ROMÁN, 747-7446 You’re mentally stronger when you seek support BY RENE DELGADILLO tion in my head, chest and shoulders that As I was driving to the clinic that first pill in my hand hoping that I could finally they could be hiding behind a smile. It’s The Prospector accelerated my heart rate to a speed that visit, my hands were sweating and my feel peace and happiness. My girlfriend time to break the stigma against people made me think I was going to die of a head became filled with thoughts such as, asked me to record it to make sure I was with mental health diseases. It’s time to My depression “everything is going to go wrong,” “you’re on the right track. give them the help and support they need and anxiety have heart attack. I’ve now been on anti-anxiety and anti­ to feel happy. consumed me I then learned that the sensation was a never going to be happy” and “why are Don’t be ashamed of your depression for years, but for panic attack. you even trying?” depressants for more than a month and it or any mental health disease that you the longest time Even when it got to the point where I My girlfriend noticed this and started hasn’t been an easy experience, but I feel might be struggling with. Don’t bottle I never took any was experiencing physical pain because to hold my hand to try as best as she much better. The medication I’m taking up your emotions because this is when type of action of my depression and anxiety, I still de­ could to make me feel comfortable and has reduced my panic attacks to just one a simple moment of sadness can turn that would help cided not to seek any kind of support safe. I started to cry in the waiting room per day, which is much better than what me overcome the or help. So why didn’t I ever tell anyone because I felt like something was about to I was experiencing before the pills. The into depression. It’s okay to talk openly constant thoughts about how I felt mentally and physically? go terribly wrong. pills have given me more energy and I feel about these kinds of issues. of sadness, loneliness, guilt and suicide. Because people can be ignorant and As soon as I heard the doctor call my much happier. I hope I can continue feel­ Don’t let depression and stress de­ For years, I struggled on my own. I uneducated when it comes to mental name, my girlfriend stood up from her ing this way. stroy your life like I almost let it do to never told anyone what was going on in health and they just assume that it’s my chair and said, “I’m going in with you.” After the first three days of being on mine. I know it’s hard, but you’re not my brain because I was too ashamed to be fault for feeling depressed, as if I have My heart started to beat so fast that I the medication, I decided to tell my fam­ weak if you seek help. criticized or made fun of. I decided to pre­ control over it. wanted to run away and pretend I was ily about what was happening in my life Don’t give up, I believe in you. tend that I was happy because I noticed I had my first panic attack when I was never inside that clinic. and explain what I was going through. I There is nothing wrong with taking that people got scared and did everything 15, and still have them at 22. They can But I didn’t run. I knew it was time to hadn’t seen my dad cry the way he did medication for your depression and anxi­ they could to avoid “the talk” about men­ happen at any time of the day. I some­ take action. when I told him since my mother’s death ety. The brain is just like any other organ tal health and the consequences it has in times have them while I’m sitting in class, The doctor started to ask questions when I was just 6 years old. But I had to in our bodies, and we have to treat it to a person’s life. while I’m driving, when I’m showering about my mental and physical health and explain that it wasn’t his fault and that I stay healthy in the long run. My family and the majority of my and even when I’m doing interviews for told me right away that my body was not was going to be okay. If you ever need someone to talk to friends in middle school and high school The Prospector. producing enough serotonin, a chemical The next thing I decided to do was to or need to set up an appointment with a never knew that I had a lot of suicidal For some reason, it took almost eight that has a wide variety of functions in the quit alcohol, smoking, soda and junk counselor, visit the University Counsel­ thoughts when I was inside of a class­ years for me to build up the courage to human body and that contributes to the food consumption after my doctor ex­ ing and Psychological Services, located room or while I was sitting on the couch see a doctor and get myself checked for well-being and happiness of a person. plained to me that I was treating my de­ in room 205 in Union West, or call 747­ at my house. my depression and anxiety. Telling a stranger that I had suicidal pression with those vices. I then promised 5302. They helped me and they can help Keeping my depression and suicidal I have not been the only one affected by thoughts was one of the hardest things myself that I would try everything to start you too. thoughts to myself was the safest thing to my depression and anxiety. My girlfriend, I’ve ever done in my life, but at that point, feeling better. I even decided to accept my And to my girlfriend, thanks for being do—at least that’s what I would tell myself who I met when I was 17, has also suf­ I had reached rock bottom and I knew I girlfriend’s invitation to start going back there even when I didn’t even realize you until my anxiety started to kick in. fered from my pain. After watching me couldn’t deny medical attention. to church again. were there to support me. One day while I was playing soccer, struggle with my mental health, she con­ The first night I took my medication, I Ask your family and friends how they Follow Rene Delgadillo @rdelgadillonews I started to feel a strong electrical sensa­ vinced me to go see a doctor. recorded a video of myself crying with the really feel mentally. You never know what I’m here for a good time, not a long time NOW ON SOUNDCLOUD BY JAKE DEVEN So, I’m somewhat healthy, but I ative or complex things with their The Prospector won’t be posting my pumped-up food intake. triceps or my latest prepped meal Whatever, I don’t. And there are We all have at on social media anytime. things that I like to do that you don’t. least one friend It’s trendy to be in shape and be That’s sort of how living your or acquaintance Listen to The Prospector Sports Weekly Podcast as they talk all things baseball, dissect each on some fancy diet. All anyone sees own life and being different people MLB division, talk the Padres organization and preview the Chihuahuas home debut against who is con­ in the Discover tab on Instagram works. I’m a grown up and I don’t the Salt Lake Bees. Now at theprospectordaily.com stantly posting on is pictures of people at the gym or have to justify my Taco Bell habit social media about posing for a “sponsor,” looking way to anyone, and I also like being able how great they more muscular than the average to have fun on the weekend with­ feel when “eating person. And that’s just the thing, out diet or training regimen getting clean” and how many people are doing this for the in my way.