Depression among college students is on the rise. The combination of mounting stress, perfectionism, and lack of support is taking a toll on more and more college students. There is a lot more being demanded of students today than ever before due to the rise in number of graduates in the job market, the fear of not being able to find a job after graduation even with a degree, the state of the economy, and the pressure from family to do well.

“Today’s college students are twice as likely to become depressed and three times as likely to become suicidal than they were a decade ago (Zumer).” Many counseling center directors nationwide claim that the depressed economy has put more stress on students recently than grades have due to the fact that family’s dollars must be stretched further, this tends to put pressure on the student to do well because they are forced to graduate and get a good job so that they can pay off student loans and help to support their family.

Students also feel they must stand out among their peers because of the perception that there are very few opportunities in the workplace. Competition can be healthy, especially in an educational environment, but too much can lead to feelings of failure.

Cited- Student Depression Rates Rising. The Triangle Newspaper. Zumer, Bryna. Issue date: 1-11-08. http://media.www.thetriangle.org/media/storage/paper689/news/2008/01/11/News/Student.Depression.Rates.Rising-3149759-page3.shtml.

- Increase blood flow and slows heart rate
- Decreases high blood pressure
- Reduces anxiety
- Decreases muscle tension
- Helps with chronic diseases
- Enhances the immune system
- Reduces emtoiotnal distress
- Decreases cholesterol levelsm and lowers the risk for cardiovascular doseasse
- Decreases the aging process
- Builds self confidence
- Improved learning ability and memory
- Improved relationshions at home and work
- Purifies your character
- Increased job satisfaction
- Increases your listening skills
- Provides peace of mind and happiness
- deeper understanding of yourself
- changes your attitude towards life

You may want to check out these local web sites if your intrested:

http://www.meditationinflorida.org/

http://www.healthandharmonyonline.com/

Catelynn is a high school junior from a small town in Michigan. She is so grateful to have her boyfriend Tyler of three years to be there with her through this pregnancy because they both come from unsteady households.  Catelynn’s mom can be described as short fused and unreliable and Tyler’s dad is always in and out of jail.  To make matter worse Catelynn’s mom and Tyler’s dad are now getting married and Catelynn is pregnant with Tyler’s child.  Catelynn and Tyler decide that they are not ready to have a family and decide to put the child up for adoption.  Believe it or not Catelynn and Tyler’s friends are the only people supportive of their decision.  Catelynn’s mom is not supportive of adoption, and she tells Catelynn that she’s sure to change her mind when the time comes. Tyler’s dad is even less supportive. He can’t understand handing your baby to perfect strangers. So Catelynn and Tyler decide to give the baby for adoption against their parents’ wishes.  Tyler’s mom is the only family member who supports them. She drives them to an adoption agency to explore their options. Once there, the social worker, Dawn, gives them some “parent books” to look through, to see if anyone appeals to them. She says that sometimes the kindest thing one can do is be selfless and give up the baby. They agree to think it all over.   After looking over the “parent books” they find Brandon and Teresa that seem like the perfect family for their child.  When they tell their parents about their decision their parents go mad, put the young teens fight back saying they want better for their child then the life they had and have to live.  Then the time came for the baby to be born and they followed through with give up their baby girl for adoption and giving her a better life.Farrah is a popular cheerleader at her Council Bluffs, Iowa high school. She has big dreams, and juggles cheer with her job and grades.  She unexpectedly gets pregnant and rumors start flying around her school.  She has to deal with keeping the baby’s dad - who has proven unfit to be in the picture - in the dark about her news, and it’s getting harder to do with the gossip that’s flying around her.  Finally, Farrah attempts to squash the rumors by telling the team about her “situation.” They understand, and she hopes the drama will end here. After all, she has enough to deal with without this. She’s making big life decisions as a single “expecting” mom. And though her parents feel adoption is the best choice, Farrah’s not so sure.  The rumors keep flying and Farrah decides to quit cheerleading and decides to finish school out at the local community college.  Her mom, still has mixed feelings about her teenage daughter having a baby is her only consistent source of support, and makes it very clear that she doesn’t want Farrah partying or dating at such a serious time. In a last attempt at teenage-ness, Farrah defies her mom to go on a date with a boy from her work. When he bails on her at the last minute, she decides that her young, carefree days are over.  As her due date approaches, Farrah realizes that even her family might not be there for her in the way she needs. Her mom and sister are squeamish, and in the middle of Farrah’s delivery room tour, they reveal that they might not have it in them to be with her at the birth. Then one night Farrah’s water breaks at an inconvenient moment and her mom is left to coach her through the whole process alone. After 8 hours of labor, Farrah gives birth to Sophia, and her mom even cuts the umbilical cord. Motherhood seems to suit Farrah and even though she goes a little stir-crazy sometimes, she still goes out of her way to give Sophia the best life possible with the help and support of her family.There are so many other examples of how our class, ethnicity, and social standings really impact how these teen pregnancies are each affected.  Although, in the end there are other options then abortion and it’s good to hear and now woman are showing that there other options and they are taking responsibility for their actions.

I’ve always wondered why movie ratings are so important.  Who decides who can watch a movie and how do they qualify some for a certain movie and no one for another.  So, I decided to look it up on mpaa.org which is the Motion Picture Association of America. “The ratings are decided by a full-time Rating Board located in Los Angeles. There are 10-13 members of the Board who serve for periods of varying length. They work for the Classification and Rating Administration, which is funded by fees charged to producers/distributors for the rating of their films. The MPAA Chairman chooses the Chairman of the Rating Board, thereby insulating the Board from industry or other group pressure. No one in the movie industry has the authority or power to push the Board in any direction or otherwise influence it. There are no special qualifications for Board membership, except that the members must have a shared parenthood experience, must be possessed of an intelligent maturity, and most of all, have the capacity to put themselves in the role of most American parents so they can view a film and apply a rating that most parents would find suitable and helpful in aiding their decisions about their children and what movies they see.”

So what do the ratings really mean?

G- General Audiences (All Ages Admitted)  “Contains nothing in theme, language, nudity, sex, violence or other matters that, in the view of the Rating Board, would offend parents whose younger children view the motion picture. The G rating is not a “certificate of approval,” nor does it signify a “children’s” motion picture.”

PG-Parental Guidance Suggested (Some material may not be suitable for children) “Should be investigated by parents before they let their younger children attend. There may be some profanity and some depictions of violence or brief nudity. There is no drug use content in a PG-rated motion picture.”

PG-13- Parents Strongly Cautioned (Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13) “A PG-13 rating is a sterner warning by the Rating Board to parents to determine whether their children under age 13 should view the motion picture, as some material might not be suited for them. A PG-13 motion picture may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category.  The Rating Board nevertheless may rate such a motion picture PG-13 if, based on a special vote by a two-thirds majority, the Raters feel that most American parents would believe that a PG-13 rating is appropriate because of the context or manner in which the words are used or because the use of those words in the motion picture is inconspicuous.”

R- Restricted (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian) “An R-rated motion picture, in the view of the Rating Board, contains some adult material. An R-rated motion picture may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated motion pictures unaccompanied by a parent or adult guardian.”

NC-17- No one 17 and under admitted “The rating simply signals that the content is appropriate only for an adult audience. An NC-17 rating can be based on violence, sex, aberrational behavior, drug abuse or any other element that most parents would consider too strong and therefore off-limits for viewing by their children.”

I believe that these ratings are very helpful for myself and parents around the world as well.  Though, most of the time they are not followed completely, I feel that they are a useful guide to teaching others of what is acceptable to watch for certain age groups.

            Some psychologists and sociologists disagree on whether sex addiction is real or not.  According to the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, sexual addiction is not listed. Why? Sociologists, Martin P Levine and Richard Troiden argue that simply shifting societal values are the main reason to blame. They believe the sex addict theory amounts to “transforming sin into sickness”  Levine said self-help groups like Sex Addicts Anonymous and Sexaholics Anonymous simply try “to shut down the sexual behavior and not deal with the underlying problem” for those who are unhappy because their frequent sexual behavior violates moral standards. “It used to be that people said, `The devil made me do this.’ Now they say, `My disease made me do this.’ If you enter the role of being a sick person, you’re not responsible for the behavior.”     

Levine and Troiden have some really good points of view on their feelings of sex addiction, but it seems that this addiction is growing. There are many treatment facilities around the country that offer a 12 step program which prohibits them from sexual stimulants (ex. porn) form 90 days, the same amount of time it typically takes for the brain chemicals to stop craving and the body to undergo withdrawls.  Just like alcoholics and drug addicts are instructed to never have a drink or get high again, sex addicts are prohibited from self – gratification. They are to focus on having making sex more of an emotional experience with a loving partner, rather than just for pure sexual gratification.

Now that celebrities are coming out with this addiction after being caught being unfaithful (ie, Tiger Woods, David Duchovny). Are more and more people going to start using that as an excuse like Levine mentioned earlier? Michael Douglas reportedly has a signed prenup with his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones that includes a $5 million “straying free” should he sleep with someone other than his wife. I’m curious to see which way our society will go about opening up with their spouses on this issue.

http://ils.unc.edu/~viles/172i/users/big/docs/AP881031-0282

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/30/earlyshow/health/main4400786.shtml

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/02/20/2550891/sex-poiu-opiu-opiu-opui-opiu-ipui.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35464930/ns/health-sexual_health/#storyContinued

http://www.myaddiction.com/education/articles/sex_statistics.html

http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/guide/sexual-addiction

  Serotnin levels which regulates baby sleep, heart hate and breathing were 26% lower than in the brainstems of babies who died of other causes. The levels of the emzymes trypohande hydrozglase was also found to be 22% lower in SID babies, which is needed to made serotonin. According to the study they are focusing why certain babies are lacking the emzymes to make serotonin. Their is no test as of yet to determine which infants are at risk.

  Dr. Hannah Kinney, who is officiated with the Childer Hospital of Boston Mass, believes that they are decades away from discovering a physical marder of brainstem thatt will be identified in the blood. To advoid the frisk of SIDS, doctors recommend that parents make sure babies can breath uninhibited during sleep( fan helps). Place babies on their back to advoid their rolling over, don’t bundle the baby, and don’t leave loose bedding or stuffed toys in the crib.

  Past reseach, using decades of old data had found signifcant higher divorce rate for ” not married but living together of the oppiste sex.” But now, in our day and age with 2/3 of couples who marry live together first. A different picture is emerging.

  Socioloist Pamela  Smock of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor consider the data definitive. ” on the basis of these numbers, thier is no negative effect pf cohabitation on marriages.” Another comment was made by Paul Anato a sociologist at Pennsylvania State University, ” Maybe the effect of permarital cohabitation is becoming less of a problem than in the past.”

  The report also take a closer look at different contributing factors such as, ethnicity,education level, up bringing and whether couples were engaged when they moved in. The odds that men and women will made 10 years of fmarriage is the same for who live together or don’t. 71% for engaged men and 69% eengaged non-cohabiting men. Amoung women the probability of making 10 years was similar (65%) to (66%) fr those who didn’t cohabit.

  There us a lot of inteesting work being done on difference amoung different groups of cohabitors as why, when, and how they cohabit……stay tunned.

When children are abused and/or neglected, they are denied of their childhood. They’re forced to deal with situations they shouldn’t have to be thinking about at such a young age. They can develop life long issues due to abuse and/or their parent’s failure to provide them with the appropriate care. These children grow up to lead destructive, unhealthy and dangerous lifestyles. According to <childhelp.org> “Children who experience child abuse & neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.” Also, “Eighty percent of young adults who had been abused met the diagnostic criteria for at least 1 psychiatric disorder at the age of 21 (including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, & post-traumatic stress disorder).”

Parents that neglect or abuse their children make a conscience decision to ignore their child’s needs. They simply allow their child to suffer and sometimes even go out of their way to hurt the child. It is very sad when there is any case of abuse or neglect because the child is innocent and did not ask for it. Their parents chose to have a child, as well as chose to not take care of them in a proper way. These parents are selfish and do not realize that it does not only affect them, but the child, the state, and the foster family the state finds for the child.

Child abuse and neglect are senseless crimes and are 100% preventable. I believe people that neglect or abuse their children should be punished to the full extent of the law (longer sentences and higher bails). I also think that it should be harder for them to get their child back. The law should do more to make sure that the parents have changed, and are without a doubt fit to be a good parent. There should also be more money put into public health so that no child will ever get turned away. As well as there needs to be more shelters open to struggling families. Also, all school employees, coaches and child care workers should be trained more thoroughly to look for signs of neglect and abuse. People need to come together to look out for the children that live in their community, and make sure that they have a normal, healthy childhood.