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DIA Conspiracy Theories

Jules Conners • December 21, 2023

Denver International Airport or DIA, located about forty miles from Boulder High, is the biggest airport in the United States and shrouded in a thick veil of controversy and rumors. From its devilish blue...

Criminal Brains

Sabine DeOrsay • December 21, 2023

When faced with news articles and social media posts of a new serial killer or murderer on the loose, many might wonder what's wrong with them? The brain of a psychopath is much different than a normal,...

Hillside Pizza, on Broadway, is newly opened and currently offering coupon deals to customers!

The Best Place for Pizza in Boulder

Ella Gibney • December 21, 2023

Every student at Boulder High has been there: the excitement of a lunch rush, students spilling out the front doors on their way to Snarfburger, Pearl Street, or for those short on time, Brooklyn Pizza...

With finals week just ahead and the semester drawing to a close, for many, these past few weeks have been a stress-storm of tests, projects, and presentations, on top of endless homework and studying hanging over our heads. How do we take care of ourselves at such a stressful time? We interviewed licensed therapist Jenny Hecht for information and advice on how to tend to our mental health. Here’s what she had to say. It is no secret that mental health is just as important as physical health, a vital aspect of your well-being. It might also be no surprise that our country’s collective mental health has steadily been getting worse since the turn of the century. For teens, the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the growing use of social media and the pressure of academic performance cause constant stress and anxiety in our daily lives. According to the American Psychological Association, feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness among Americans have increased by about 40% in the ten years from 2010 to 2020. It is now more important than ever to intentionally care for and preserve your mental health. But how, exactly, do we do that? To start, Jenny wanted to make it clear that taking care of your mental health does not mean there is something wrong with you. “Everyone has mental health, as it is another domain of our health,” Jenny said. “It requires the same level of care and intention as our physical health.” When we don’t put in the effort to take care of our mental health, it is easy to let any stressor, such as an upcoming math test, cause us to feel overwhelmed, stressed, or exhausted. When our brains get overloaded with pressure from things such as social media or school, the stress “turns off our prefrontal cortex, the part of our brain that gives us the ability to think critically, solve problems, control impulses, manage our time effectively, and find motivation. Instead, we are now being run by our amygdala, which is the part of our brain that helps us to survive,” said Jenny. The fight, flight, or freeze reaction that the amygdala triggers is what causes these intense feelings of exhaustion, hopelessness, anger, or panic. Many students are familiar with these feelings… they often occur during late-night study sessions, a final exam, or just during the course of a normal day. The amygdala response is what causes us to start scrolling through social media rather than finishing our homework, to freak out over the upcoming test rather than studying for it, or to feel like “giving up”. While these emotional reactions may not always be preventable, Jenny explains that there are ways to escape this mindset. “Learning to recognize when you are in this state and taking the time to engage in practices that help to reengage your prefrontal cortex is a very important part of avoiding ‘burnout’, which happens when our nervous system spends too much time in an amygdala-driven state,” says Jenny. Jenny stated that there are many practices that restore our mental health: almost anything that moves your body and engages your mind can help bring you back to focus. This could include getting exercise, going outside, taking a few breaths, getting some food, or calling a friend. Jenny also led us through a few grounding exercises that can help pull us out of this emotional state and return us to a decision-making one in just a short amount of time. “If you are stressed, the energy in your body travels up to your head,” Jenny explained. “We stop paying attention to our bodies and miss important cues. The idea of ‘grounding’ literally means to pull your energy back down to the ground.” “If you are feeling stressed and/or overwhelmed, start by bringing your attention to your seat or your feet. Simply notice yourself being supported by the seat you are on or your feet on the floor. Begin to extend your exhales so they are longer than your inhales, ideally exhaling through your mouth. And imagine that you are an hourglass timer filled with sand that has just been flipped over so all of the sand is at the top of your head. As you breathe, that sand travels down the centerline of your body, gathering at your seat or your feet, creating an increasing sense of heaviness and groundedness.” Jenny also emphasized the importance of taking care of your mental health in your daily life. Providing your body with the nutrients, sleep, and exercise it needs on a regular basis is a great way to avoid feeling overwhelmed by everyday stress. By using these simple grounding exercises and making sure to maintain your mental health through healthy behaviors and patterns, you can help keep yourself safe and stable during even the most stressful times. If you are struggling with maintaining your mental health, seek out additional ways to improve your mental health. There are many resources available that can help keep you safe and healthy. Talk to a Boulder High counselor, therapist, trusted adult, or friend, or look into the many websites, programs, and helplines available online. Take care of yourself this holiday season, and good luck with finals, Panthers!

How to Care For Your Mental Health

Ella Gibney and Summer Gardner • December 21, 2023

With finals week just ahead and the semester drawing to a close, for many, these past few weeks have been a stress-storm of tests, projects, and presentations, on top of endless homework and studying hanging...

Student Owned Businesses

Sabine DeOrsay • November 17, 2023

Lack of job openings and availability due to the pandemic has left some students unable to find jobs and make money. Holding a job as a highschool student is a very valuable asset that helps students integrate...

Abusive Relationships

Ella Gibney • November 17, 2023

Warning: this article mentions accounts of relationship abuse that may be triggering or traumatic for some readers. Reader discretion is recommended. Many teens and parents in the modern day are familiar...

Chef Lairds Praiseworthy Pumpkin Pie

Chef Lairds Praiseworthy Pumpkin Pie

Laird Krodelsmith • November 17, 2023

The holiday season tends to be pretty stressful at times, and in focusing on the feelings and opinions of others, many forget to treat themselves. This recipe is a quintessential solution to both of those...

On October 13th, a vague announcement was made, reciting rules about hate speech and discrimination from the student handbook.

Let’s Talk About Hamas

Becca Kless • November 17, 2023

On October 7th of this year, the terrorist group, Hamas, launched a surprise attack on Israel. They broke past the barriers into Israel and proceeded to kill over 1,000 civilians and kidnapped over 100...

Are Textbooks Here to Stay?

Taylor Robinson • November 17, 2023

Nearly every high schooler has the experience of being handed a thick book, cover peeling, covered in pencil doodles in the first week of school: The Textbook.  Bags sag for no longer than a day, as...

Off of 19th street, on the east side of the school is where I parked my bike Friday morning. By afternoon my bike had been stolen but the thief had the decency to leave me with my helmet.

Stolen Bikes

Griffin Nguyen, Staff Writer • November 13, 2023

 It was a Friday, 3:55 in the afternoon, when the bell rang. I made my way through my usual route, down the stairs from the 3rd floor to the main entrance so I could enjoy the last drops of the summer...

BVSDs 56 schools all gathered in the BVSD is the place to be event on October 11th in an attempt to let individual schools convince students to join the district.

Is BVSD the Place to Be?

Rogan Oakes and Milan Gdowski • November 13, 2023

Boulder Valley School District has a major problem: they are running out of students. Although many in Boulder High School struggling with packed classrooms and insufficient space in our school may find...

The Search for Coffee

Ava Quinn • October 26, 2023

As the weather cools and autumn rolls in, hot beverages and seasonal specialty menus put coffee shops on everyone’s minds. To truly discover what coffee shop offers the best autumn experience, I had...

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