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Citation Belluck, Pam. "Promising Depression Therapy." Well Promising Depression Therapy Comments. New York Times, 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. Summary There is a new form of treatment for depression - it's still experimental, thus far, but it involves electric shocks to the brain. It's similar to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), but unlike ECT, which is only administered for a couple of seconds while the patients are anesthetized, the new form of treatment, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is given consecutively for 20 to 30 minutes to a fully conscious patient. It doesn't have nearly as high risks as ECT (which can cause memory loss), or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), another form of treatment, which has risks of seizures. With tDCS, there are few side effects. Not only that, but it's fairly inexpensive. Eventually, if the tDCS leaves the trial stages, it is simple enough that it may even be used at home. Michael Donnelly, one of the trial patients, vouches for its positive effects, as it worked where his medications did not.

I found this article very interesting in a hopeful sort of way. Depression is part of the foundation of many other mental issues or disorders and can even lead to suicide; if we find a way to combat depression effectively and with few side effects, then we may be able to help more people. For an example, we've learned in class that traumatic experiences can cause people to have eating disorders, from depression or from a feeling of lacking control in their life. But if this kind of therapy leaves the testing stages, because of it's low-risk and fairly low price, as well as easily administered, we can help more of those people. In particular, I think it would be a great thing because many people, especially parents of depressed kids or teens, worry about letting them take medication with high-risk side effects. From what the trials have shown so far, it also seems to be pretty effective. So I think that this therapy shows a great hope for people who are depressed and need help. Personally, I can't imagine being sad all of the time, so I think that being able to help these people, who are trapped in a perpetual state of despair or lethargy is something very hopeful and wonderful.

Citation Carey, Benedict. "Study Questions Effectiveness of Therapy for Suicidal Teenagers." The New York Times. The New York Times, 09 Jan. 2013. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. Summary According to the journal JAMA Psychiatry, 55% of suicidal teenagers have already received some therapy before they thought about suicide, planned it or tried to kill themselves. About one in eighth teenagers had persistent suicidal thought at some point and a third of those who had the thought attempted within a year of having the idea. The study also suggests that access to treatment of depression in fact doesn't make a big difference and help prevent suicides.  In 2010, just between the ages 13 to 18, 1386 people committed suicide. Also they researched 6,483 adolescents and found 9% of male and 15% of female experienced some stretch of having persistent suicidal thoughts. They found out that suicidal behavior was often complex combination of depression, eating disorders, drug abuse.  Alice McConnell is a 17year old girl who committed suicide and her mom claims "there might have been some carelessness in the way the treatment was done." It turns out that Alice was not taking treatment regularly although her mom trusted her that she could take care of her medication. Ms.McConnell claimed " I think therapy does help alot of people, if it's handled right" 

I chose this article because I thought that this was a very relatable article and talks about suicides of our age. I was very surprised by all the facts and made me realize once again that suicide is a big problem and not a rare thing. I found it interesting that therapies and medication doesn't always help and could worsen suicidal thoughts. I agree with Ms.McConnel and I think there needs to be better ways of therapy and medication and many more people need to know the right way to handle people with suicidal thoughts.

"Aspartame's Hidden Dangers." Mercola.com. Mercola.com, n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2013. . "Aspartame Is, by Far, the Most Dangerous Substance on the Market That Is Added To Foods." Mercola.com. Mercola.com, n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2013. . Summary: This article covers the negative health effects that come with the human consumption of aspartame, a natural sweetener found in "diet" foods and beverages such as Coca-Cola Zero. Among the health risks are birth defects in pregnant women, worsening of diabetes, the development of brain tumors, epilepsy, and emotional disorders such as clinical depression. The consumption of aspartame can cause headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain, according to Mercola.com. Studies done on the adverse health effects of aspartame have often been altered to remove the negative results.

Personally, I find it sickening that the FDA is allowing this substance to remain on the market. The FDA has offered no statements regarding the countless adverse health effects caused by aspartame, even though they obviously exist. Hopefully, it will be banned sometime soon.

Citation: Louis, Catherine Saint. "Effects of Bullying Last into Adulthood, Study Finds." The New York Times. New York Times, 20 Feb. 2013. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. . Summary: Both bullies and victim of bullies at a young age experience psychiatric problem when they're adults. Researchers followed 1420 subjects who were assessed 4-6 times between the age of 9 and 16. They categorized them as bullies, victims, bullies who were also victims, and children who weren't bullied at all based on the children themselves and the caregivers. Later, at the age of 19, 21 and between 24-26, they tested them again. Researchers then found that victims of bullying were 4.3 times more likely to have anxiety disorder at adulthood, and bullies who were also victims were 14.5 times more likely to develop panic disorders and 4.8 times more likely to experience depression as adults. Men who were both bullied and victims also were 18.5 times to have suicidal thoughts in adulthood. Bullies who were not victims were 4.1 times more likely to have an antisocial personality disorder as adults. Female bullies were 26.7 times more likely to have developed agoraphobia (anxiety). These were all being compared to the people who weren't the bullies nor the victims. Victims could have anxiety disorders, bullies who were victims can have panic disorders/depression/suicidal thoughts, and bullies could be antisocial when they are adults.

I found that this article informative that what may happen in schools will have a long time effect to the student's life. I know that bullying will have a psychological and emotional effect at school, but I have never thought it would last when the bully or the perpetrator reach adulthood. Knowing how the effects are long-lasting, I feel this should be a warning to bullies and victims to not get involved with any type of bullying, or else it will leave a bad psychological scar in your memory. Hopefully I will never see an incident of bullying during the time at school.

Citation: "A Son ‘Cuts,’ and a Father Struggles." Motherlode A Son Cuts and a Father Struggles Comments. New York Times, 5 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. Summary: A father is trying to find out the meaning that lies under the scars of his son's cuts.  When he first noticed the cut, he believed his son when he told him that he got it when, he fell, but he was shocked when his daughter texted him that he was cutting himself.  This was hard for him as he has always made a conscious effort to protect his son.  The writer argues that tattoos are similar to cutting because you are piercing ur skin and tissue, but it is considered "socially sanctioned" self harm.  It is also apparent that there are more anonymous posts about teens cutting themselves rather than eating disorders or depression.  Some teens cut to share the pain or relate the pain with someone they know, or their celebrities that they look up to.  The writer thinks that it is more important to understand the stories than sending his son to traditional therapy which is recommended.

It is always sad when there are cases of teens causing self inflicted harm to themselves. Rather it is because they are being bullied, having family problems, depression, or whatever, it is never pleasant to hear abou these cases. The hard thing about trying to prevent this from happening, is that the teens will often not tell anyone doing this, and there is no real cure to this.