So it's been a while since I've updated so why not do it now?

Man, I can't believe I have two more years of college left, gahscskdfjskdl. Organic chemistry and biochemistry... all this biosynthesis crap gosh it really pisses me off that my class gives out only 6% A's. WTF?! Hello! The professor is this old loon who refuses to curve or water down his material from 1950-something. Two tests each worth 50% of the grade. Sexy.

I really want to do this study abroad program, in fact it was a major reason why I came to this school - they gave out quality study abroad opportunities for same-tuition rates. The thing is, if I'm going to study abroad then I'm going to have to do it soon, because I have to do at least 18 hours of my 27 hours upper division physics on campus, so I think either this summer or fall is my last shot. What's better is that now Obama is in office I won't have to worry about getting tomatoes or sandals thrown at me in foreign countries for being "American"

......

I want to start a club not only in my school but in the state of Texas - I'm not sure of the liabilities or legality of what I want to do, but my basic premise is this. Every adolescent and teenager should have access to a fully qualified psychologist or psychiatrist. I find it appalling that the level of mental illness within our generation, within our families, and perhaps within ourselves is something that has to be "tolerated" obviously with unimaginable marked distress. I want to raise money to get psychiatrists or psychologists to visit local junior high schools and high schools to consult and possibly hold therapy sessions for adolescents and teenagers who don't have the health care benefits or are too removed from their parents or family or any form of outlet to seek treatment themselves in a private manner. I don't know if society fully comprehends the extent to which the pervasiveness of mental illness inflicts upon its sufferers, but there is no medical condition - I believe, that transcends the pain associated with moderate to severe mental illness, for in my philosophy, the robbing of hope from its victims in the form of mind-shattering chronic and constant pain undeniably produces permanent negative and dramatic effects on both the physiological and psychological state of the human. Only terminal illness can exceed the depravity of mental illness for no self-contained physical disease can rob a person of their very soul and entrap them in the worst forms of pain.

Mental illness isn't merely a self contained phenomenon - it affects the family, whose maternal high hopes for their children are shattered with disappointment at the knowledge of the disability, it's manifested in the relationships the child didn't get to have because they were too afflicted to express themself, it's manifested in the time spent isolated and confined to their world of pain with no one their to save them or even help them. It's manifested in the way it doesn't allow a person to be themself or be the potential of what they could be. It's manifested in the way they're forced to hide in shame and needlessly berate themselves over their failures. It's manifested in so many ways that are so closely entangled with a child's natural development and sense of self and it is usually grossly ego-dystonic to where they gradually lose any ability to better themselves.

Due to the genetic qualities of mental illness and the physiological development of the brain, most mental illnesses develop around the ages of adolescence to young adulthood, with spontaneous development after age 23 being exceptionally rare and usually confined to some form of physical or chemical brain trauma. And yet, so many of our youth who suffer in secret aren't getting quality treatment when a vast array of studies show that early intervention dramatically increases the efficacy of treatment in the form of symptom recovery and decreased effect on lifestyle both in quantity of time and in quality of performance. While pharmacological treatments such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (or SSRI's) and benzodiazepines are controversial, studies show that these chemical interventions don't produce permanent physiological changes to the brain but instead temporarily alter uptake receptors that have been implicated in exacerbating psycho and psychosomatic symptoms - that with discontinuation of the medications, symptoms usually come back and the uptake receptors "downregulate" or return to their prior functioning before medical intervention.. there is of course associated side effects and the controversial withdrawal symptoms from these medications so of course they shouldn't be prescribed lightly.

However, even without medications for adolescent or teenagers, there exists powerful psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy that has been tested to be effective in managing every known anxiety and psychosomatic mental illness listed in DSM-IV. The therapy is relatively short, usually only lasting 3 months and has efficacy ratios in studies of as much as 90% with the 10% failure ratings heavily tested to be non-compliers with treatment. However, it's hard to get the qualifications necessary to conduct an adequate CBT program and a vast majority of potential patients don't have access to the treatment due to cost, stigma, or lack of insight/motivation. Indeed, suffers from a wide variety of anxiety disorders usually don't present for treatment until after 17 years of suffering from their silent torment. They're usually bewildered to learn that they can become asymptomatic usually within 3-4 months of treatment..

Now, I think beginning a club focused on getting psychologists and psychiatrists to junior high/high schools will educate people much sooner, get them involved, and moreover due to the relative leisure of high school enable patients a higher ability to commit to treatment. Additionally, students who suffer from bipolar or schizophrenia or clinical depression - illnesses that only respond to pharmacological interventions, can find immediate relief from their torment.

My ultimate goal would be to reduce the stigma associated with suffering from mental illness, since given the ratios of those afflicted - roughly one fourth of adolescent to teenage children qualify for a diagnosis in DSM-IV criteria. Educate them about the nature of their disorder so as to provide them hope and through them a life preserver so they don't have to drown in their ocean of despair. With the treatment of their disorders they can go on to work more productively, become more involved in their life and the lives of others, have relationships and grow in a natural and enjoyable way, for no one should have to suffer needlessly and no one should feel alone, ashamed, or embarrassed over something that they had little to no control of.