Welcome to Wellness

Can You Say "Stressed"?

You might have noticed that campus seems a little tense right now.  Assignments piling up, exams to study for, not enough time in the day to get it all done...  Why not take a break from all the craziness today at the s.w.e.e.t. peer educators' Stress Free Zone from 12:00 - 3:00 pm?  Grab a friend and stop by the Old Chapel (next to Hawley Lounge) to relax and recharge with free brain food and cold drinks.  Did you know that there is research that proves that interacting with animals can help reduce your stress level?  Come and meet our therapy dog who is coming to campus just to make you feel better.  Make your own stress ball and aromatherapy bag to take back to your room or to the library.  Relax with some play dough or a coloring book.  Good self care is extremely important for surviving the end of the semester and finals.  Do something good for yourself today, Weds., May 1st and stop by the Stress Free Zone. 

Date Rape & Sexual Abuse Awareness Week April 29-May 5

Check out all the events for next week:

April 29th    10:10pm      63's Patio.................................Bonfire Vigil

April 30th    1-2pm          UC Auditorium.......................Sexual Assault Speakers from                                                                                                 RAINN

May 1st        9pm               UC Auditorium.......................Delta Dance Revolution Fundraiser

May 2nd        2-8:30pm    Garden Catering, Fairfield...Garden Catering Fundraiser

May 5th        1-5PM            63's Patio.............................."Take A Stand" Event                                                                                       co-sponsored by the Psychology Club

April 29th-May 3rd    10am-4pm...............................Awareness Tables

All events run in association with and in support of RAINN and the Center for Women and Families.

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday is "420"!

No, it is not Bob Marley’s birthday!  Neither is it a California penal code for possession of weed, or the number of chemical compounds found in a cannabis plant.

What 420 is, whether expressed in the form 4:20 (as a time of day), 4/20 (as a calendar date), or just the unadorned numeral (pronounced "four-twenty"), is a universal, unofficial symbol for the use and appreciation of marijuana. In fact, 4/20 (April 20) has come to be known in certain circles as "Marijuana Appreciation Day”.

Notwithstanding the many and various urban legends that have grown up around the meaning of "420" and its connection with marijuana, the true story behind that connection is surprisingly prosaic.

In the early 1970s a small group of hippie stoners at San Rafael High School in northern California used to meet at a designated location every day to smoke weed at 4:20 p.m. They did this so regularly that among members of the group the expression "420" became a general euphemism for "time to light up."

The catchphrase spread beyond their immediate circle, beyond the high school they attended, and ultimately beyond California, so that within a decade or two pot smokers were using it across the country and indeed the world over. ." (From David Emery a freelance writer and an avid chronicler of urban legends and popular culture, April 2011)

To be Blunt….

Although marijuana may be legalized in some places and decriminalized in others like alcohol and other drugs, research indicates that marijuana can have negative effects on the brain in areas that have a direct impact on academic, social, physical and psychological success. Marijuana is also addictive for some users.  The main active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC for short. The latest treatment data indicate that marijuana accounted for 17 percent of admissions (322,000) to treatment facilities in the United States, second only to opiates among illicit substances.

How Does Marijuana Affect the Brain?

Scientists have learned a great deal about how THC acts in the brain to produce its many effects. THC acts upon specific sites in the brain, called cannabinoid receptors, kicking off a series of cellular reactions that ultimately lead to the "high" that users experience when they smoke marijuana. The highest density of cannabinoid receptors are found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentrating, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement.(NIDA, 2010)

 Marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. Research has shown that, in chronic users, marijuana's adverse impact on learning and memory can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off. The presence of MJ in the brain has also been shown to affect the brains ability to retain new information. In other words, if you get “high” on Saturday night and go to class on Monday, your ability to retain new information is impaired (even if you are not “high”). Someone who smokes marijuana every day may be functioning at a suboptimal intellectual level all of the time.

Long-term marijuana abuse can lead to addiction, that is, compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite the known harmful effects upon functioning in the context of family, school, work, and recreational activities. Estimates from research suggest that about 9 percent of users become addicted to marijuana; this number increases among those who start young (to about 17 percent) and among daily users (25-50 percent).

Some people report withdrawal symptoms including: irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which can make it difficult to remain abstinent.

Marijuana and Mental Health

A number of studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.

Effects on Health

Numerous studies have shown marijuana smoke to contain carcinogens and to be an irritant to the lungs. In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50-70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke.  Marijuana increases heart rate by 20-100 percent shortly after smoking; this effect can last up to 3 hours.

Medical Marijuana

Scientists have confirmed that the cannabis plant contains active ingredients with therapeutic potential for relieving pain, controlling nausea, stimulating appetite, and decreasing ocular pressure.

Help and information at SHU

 If you are concerned about your or someone else’s use of marijuana or other substances, you can contact Janice Kessler, the Alcohol and Other Drug Intervention and Prevention Specialist.   Janice is located in the Counseling Center and can be reached at 203-371-7955. All appointments are free and confidential.

 

 

 

Tis the Season

No Christmas has not returned but “spring has sprung” and with that said, most of us are now addressing seasonal allergies as well as spring colds.

Seasonal allergens are often caused by things in the air and on the ground all around us that are “springing up” everywhere. Some of us have allergies to trees, plants and grass; others of us have allergies to all of those and more, and then there are those of us who are simply allergic to the classrooms.  For the latter, we at Health Services cannot help you.  

 However if you are a seasonal allergy sufferer you can take the following steps to ease your discomfort.

1.  The first approach to treatment is to adjust your personal habits and your environment, which can both severely affect your symptoms, long time allergy sufferers know what this means.  Take your meds, eat right and get enough sleep.

2.  Know that reduced immune systems can worsen allergies and cause additional illness, if you are uncertain of allergy or illness consult your medical provider.

3.  Air pollution can worsen allergy symptoms. Most allergy sufferers have learned to deal with their environmental issues; in home air filtering, systems can reduce irritants.

4.  There are many OTC (over-the counter) remedies for easing irritations of the sinuses, you should consult with your doctor to determine which are best for you.

 As for “spring colds”, you should not ignore prolonged symptoms as many patients who present to health care providers are often diagnosed with far more complicated illness i.e.;(pneumonia or chronic sinusitis) for having let symptoms go untreated.

 My advice to you when in doubt get it checked out!

 

Free Testing for STDs on-campus!

Heard of GYT on MTV sponsored by the CDC?  It’s the “Get Yourself Tested” campaign; it empowers young people to reduce the spread of STDs through information, testing and treatment as needed.  Why is this important?  Well, we all need to be responsible for our own wellness and health.  Here are a few facts to consider: 

One in two sexually active young people will get an STD by the age of 25.

Most young people with an STD don’t know it.

Of the approximately 19 million new STDs that occur every year in the U.S., most will go undiagnosed.

Many STDs are curable and all are treatable.*

 The Connecticut Department of Public Health will be on campus tomorrow for s.w.e.e.t.’s “Are You Positive You’re Negative?” screening.  Students can get a free, confidential STD screening on Thursday, April 4^th from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm in the Pitt Center Board Room.  The STD screening requires no payment or appointment and could not be more convenient!  If a student tests positive, the Department of Public Health staff will provide direct follow up and free medication.  Students can also take home free giveaways, educational information, and lists of resources that are available to help keep our campus community healthy.

Since the most common symptom is no symptom at all, think about GYT.

*Statistics provided by GYTNOW.org

Feeling blah? Get a Mood Check-up!

This Wednesday, March 20, the Counseling Center will be offering anonymous depression screenings from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. across from the Registrar’s Office.  If you are concerned about yourself or a friend, walk down and take a 2 minute screening that is designed to call attention to depression and its symptoms. 

 Depression doesn’t discriminate!  If you have been experiencing a persistently sad mood, feeling overly emotional, anxious, irritable, distracted or empty, please get a mood check-up or call for an appointment at the Counseling Center at 203-371-7955.

 We are here to help!

Diet soda sounds like a good idea but...

New findings suggest that diet soda mixed with alcohol leads to faster intoxication than regular soda mixers.

 From the ABC Medical New Unit, 2/5/13

By SAMIR VERMANI, M.D.,

 Cutting calories with diet soda may seem like a good idea, However………

 A new study released in the journal Alcoholism suggests that cutting alcoholic drinks with diet soda makes them more potent than using their full-calorie counterparts. Specifically, researchers found that mixing alcohol with diet (sugar-free) soft drinks resulted in higher breath alcohol content than mixing alcohol with a regular (sugar-sweetened) soft drink.

 "The results were surprising," said Cecile A. Marczinski, assistant professor in the department of psychological science at Northern Kentucky University, and one of the lead investigators of the study.

 Researchers served one of three beverages: vodka added to a diet drink, vodka added to a regular drink or a regular soft drink with a vodka scent added so that participants would believe it was an alcoholic beverage. They then sat back while the subjects enjoyed their cocktails.

 Those participants drinking the vodka-diet drink cocktails had significantly higher breath alcohol content and had the highest degree of behavioral impairment among the groups, the study found.

 

Planning a sweet spring break trip?

TOP 10 TIPS FOR A SAFE SPRING BREAK

1. Wear sunscreen (SPF 15 at least). Do you want to spend all but the first day of your vacation in pain looking like an oh-so-cool lobster?  Not to mention that pesky skin cancer thing…
2. Before heading out for a night of partying designate a sober driver to get everyone home safely or get the number for a reputable taxi service from your hotel.
3. Don’t put your drink down or leave it unattended.
4. Use the buddy system – don’t leave friends behind at a party or bar at the end of the night.  Also, if if a friend feels sick or passes out don’t leave them alone.  Watch for signs of alcohol poisoning and call 911 if you friend is unconscious or semiconscious; breathing less than 10x a minute; has cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin; can’t be woken with pinching, prodding, shouting; or vomits without waking up.
5. Make sure your cool new shades filter out the sun’s UV rays.
6. If you choose to drink alcohol set a limit and stick to it.  One drink an hour, interchanging alcohol with other beverages.
7. Drink lots of water. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are no fun on vacation.  Alcohol will dehydrate your body so drink lots of water to stay cool in the heat if you decide to drink.
8. Know the drinking laws at your travel destination. You can ask your travel agent for this information or check the links at www.safespringbreak.org.
9. Make sure that your family and friends know your departure and arrival times, where you are staying, and the phones numbers of where to reach you (you might not get cell service at your destination). Set regular check-in times and always follow-through with them.

 Hopefully, these tips will help you have a fun, yet safe, spring break trip.  Above all else, just try to enjoy your time away from school because it won’t be long before you are back to the daily grind of writing papers, taking tests, and reading page after page of boring college textbooks.  Good times.

 

Love Your Body!

Check out the events for LOVE YOUR BODY Month!!

 Thursday, 2/21                  Don’t Weigh your Self-Esteem                   Outside of 63’s

Friday, 2/22                        11:30am-1:30pm

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Monday, 2/25                    Don’t Weigh your Self-Esteem                   Linda’s

                                                   11:30am-1:30pm

 Monday, 2/25                    Healthy Eating Screenings                         Seton and Merton Hall Lobbies

                                                    5pm-6pm

 Monday, 2/25                      Nutrition for Performance                           UC Auditorium

                                                    For female athletes                                       

                                                    Dr. Beau Greer

                                                    7pm-8pm

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Tuesday, 2/26                 Your Diet is Making you Fat                         Edgerton Theater

                                                Melanie Jatsek, RD

                                                7:45pm

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Wednesday, 2/27            How do you help a friend in need             Outside of 63’s

                                                Active Minds

                                                11am-2pm

  Wednesday, 2/27         Love Your Body                                                 Roncalli Hall—9^th floor

                                                6:30pm

 Wednesday, 2/27          Active Minds fundraiser                                  Pinkberry

                                                6pm-10pm

 Love Your Body month is co-sponsored by the Body image Task Force, the Social Work Club, Health Sciences Club, Residential Life, s.w.e.e.t., Kappa Delta, SATO, Active Minds and Chartwells Dining.

How to Survive Valentine's Day

There is a lot of advice out there on how to get the perfect gift, on how to make your sweetheart happy.  But what about those of us that don’t have that special someone?  Here are a few tips for the single people on how to survive the most “romantic” day of the year:

  Call  a friend or relative whom you are close to, but have not had a chance to talk to in a while, and wish him a Happy Valentine's Day. You will be reminded of the people in your life who always stand by you.

  Celebrate the fact that you are no longer in a bad relationship. If you recently broke up with someone, the chances are good that you were in a poor relationship. Couples always break up for a reason. You might have been treated poorly, or perhaps the relationship brought out the worst in you. Let go of the sorrow and embrace the fact that you are now open to a good relationship when the opportunity comes around.

  Host a singles-only gathering with single family members, friends and co-workers. Invite a few single friends over for a nice dinner and movie or game night. Having a get-together with other singles will remind you that you are not the only person who is not in a relationship. You can all get through the holiday of love by providing support for one another and enjoying a fun evening.

  Take time to decide if you are ready to look for a relationship. Ask yourself if you are single because you have been unable to find someone to date, or if you like living the single life. Consider whether you often find yourself longing to be in a relationship, or only when Valentine's Day and other holidays roll around. If it's the latter, you might not really want a relationship. Follow your heart, engage in some self-reflection and you will be able to determine if it's time to start looking for someone new.

  Spoil yourself for a change. If you are like most people, you devote your time and energy to everyone and everything while neglecting yourself. Use Valentine's Day as an excuse to appreciate yourself and all you do for others. You do not need to buy yourself traditional Valentine's Day goodies and products. Treat yourself to that sweater you have been admiring at the mall or that new CD you have been meaning to buy. Order in some dinner on Valentine's Day and take a few hours off to pamper yourself.

And if these tips don’t work, if you are feeling more alone and isolated than you would expect, please make an appointment to see one of the counselors at the Wellness Center.