There are current plans to finally launch Todayz Teenz as an actual magazine. However, it will not be glossy; on the shop shelves due to this costing millions.
We wanted to collect addresses of teenagers who would like to read the magazine; we would print the magazine at a printers and send the magazine's in the post.
When we get a certain number of address's (free subscribers) then we could start approaching advertisers.
So, if you would be interested in reading a REAL MAGAZINE, dilivered free to your door, please send your:
Name, Age, Gender & Address (incl postcode) to: todayzteenz@hotmail.com
We can not guarantee you will receive the magazine, as it all depends on advertisers. However, the magazine will not be launched unless we collect address's. We promise that your details will be safe, and only used for sending magazines; your details will not be passed onto a 3rd party.
Help Todayz Teenz become a real magazine.
Please, if you are interested just send us a quick email, it will take less than 5 minutes.
James,
Todayz Teenz
28.6.09
16.4.09
4.1.09
Guide To A Healthy Teenage Lifestyle
4.1.09
Hair
If you have short hair and don’t use any product, you only really need to wash it once a week. However, if you have long hair and/or use product (gel, hair spray, wax) then you need to wash your hair daily. Rinse your hair with a decent shampoo like Bed head, FCUK or L'Oréal. Make sure you also use a conditioner. Conditioner is very important and keeps your hair healthy and shiny. Use the shampoo and conditioner once a day everyday of the week days. Use different shampoo on the weekend. Still, use shampoo and conditioner but don’t use expensive stuff like Bed head etc. I personally use Head & Shoulders Anti Dandruff shampoo and conditioner because it stops my scalp from producing flakes which is kind of embarrassing. If you have naturally greasy hair, use anti grease shampoo. By changing your shampoo and condition on the weekends your hair is not becoming dependant on a single cosmetic. This means your hair will be healthier and look so much better.
Skin
Spots are very annoying and whether you have bad acne, a few spots or just one or two every few months there are ways to keep them under control. If your parents are over 40 and you ask them about spots, they will most likely tell you that you just have to live with them and put up with it. This may have been the case when they were our age but times have moved on and there are some fantastic treatments out there. I personally am a very spotty person, like my dad. However I hardly ever have spots. This is because of the way I treat my skin. Go to Boots and buy yourself a face scrub. The type I am talking about is a kind of gel with tiny little bits in. Every two to three days, scrub this on your face and wherever you may have spots. (but do not use it around your genitals!!!) Leave the gel on your skin for about 15 seconds and then wash off with water, either in the sink or the shower. Face scrubs feel grubby because they take off the top layer of your skin. This gradually removes the impurities in your skin and prevents spots from appearing. If your skin becomes soar, do not use the face scrub for a couple of days. Your skin will look fresh and refreshed every day.
Exercise
Believe it or not, you don’t have to do much to stay thin and be relatively fit. If you have a dog, take it out for a one hour walk. Walk somewhere different, get lost in the forest and just keep walking. Walking is a very easy and effective way of exercise but it is not sufficient enough. If you are into sport why not try out for the local sports team? If you’re not the sporty type just try your hardest in games lessons at school. Games or PE (physical education) are compulsory lessons in schools up to the age of 16 and optional until your 18. Games is a great excuse to get out of the classroom and have fun with your friends, experiencing new sports like ping pong, hockey and rugby; so take advantage of it. You could subscribe to your local gym. A gym near me charges about £3 for an evening on the weights/running/rowing machines. This is much cheaper than commercial places such as Esporta and Fitness First so try it. If you are not very strong or looking a bit weedy, try press-ups on your bedroom floor every day and try to get better and better.
Food
A balanced diet doesn’t mean you have to miss out on chocolate and luxuries. Make sure you have a piece of fruit a day like a Satsuma, Clementine, Banana or Apple. Snacking between meals is fine as long as you keep it sensible. A penguin bar or bag of muleteers is fine and does help keep your sugar levels up. Drink water. Now I personally hate water on its own so I always mix it with Orange or Blackcurrant squash. This is fine; you are still getting the supplements you need. Eat breakfast. A bowl of Coco Pops with milk is good. Full English breakfasts are bad for you but are acceptable once in a few months! Try to have breakfast every day, especially if you have school. Don’t use vitamin tablets. If you are using supplements such as vitamin tablets (these come shaped as cartoon characters or just look like sweets) then your diet is not right. You shouldn’t need to use these unless you have a food disorder. For example, instead of having protein supplements, try fish for dinner. If you don’t like fish, try smoked samon or cod in breadcrumbs or even Birdseye Fishfingers for kids. There are so many different types of one food everyone can be pleased.
Sex
Wear condoms.
Alcohol
Many people think that WKD’s aren’t strong because they are only an alcho-pop. In fact they are and more than two small bottles will start to damage your liver. Alcohol is fine but you must keep an eye on what you are drinking. Add up the percentages on the bottles and know your limit. You will damage your liver; and you can’t just get a new one like the famous people do. Famous people have millions of pounds to buy them; you will not.
Friends
Believe it or not, your social life has a lot to do with your health. Make sure you have a few friends; the more the better. Always have someone you can talk to, even if it is an online friend. Having someone to talk to about your day is very important. Locking yourself away from the world is only asking for trouble in the future mentally.
Sleep
Teenagers need the same amount of sleep as babies and we all know how much they sleep! Try and get 10 hours sleep a day. I suggest going to bed at around 10pm and waking up at around 7am. If you have trouble sleeping there are many ways to help yourself. Come off of all computers, switch off all tv’s and don’t go near any screens at least half an hour before you decide to go to bed. This is because the bright lights stimulate your mind and make you not tired. Reading is a good relaxing task to make you sleepy. Do not take sleeping pills. Sleeping pills are messing with the way your body naturally works. Don’t play God as some say. Once in bed, lie on your back with lose clothing on like pyjamas or no clothes. Shut your eyes and focus on your breathing. Breathe deeply and count every breath out 10 times. Then count every breath in. Focus on how when you breathe the air in it is warm and when you breath out the air is cold. Think about how the air feels light and is your drug; it is keeping you alive. You will become more tired and eventually fall asleep. If you have an active mind; have a notebook and pen next to your bed; when you think of something, write it down and then forget about it and drift back to your peaceful sleep.
If you have short hair and don’t use any product, you only really need to wash it once a week. However, if you have long hair and/or use product (gel, hair spray, wax) then you need to wash your hair daily. Rinse your hair with a decent shampoo like Bed head, FCUK or L'Oréal. Make sure you also use a conditioner. Conditioner is very important and keeps your hair healthy and shiny. Use the shampoo and conditioner once a day everyday of the week days. Use different shampoo on the weekend. Still, use shampoo and conditioner but don’t use expensive stuff like Bed head etc. I personally use Head & Shoulders Anti Dandruff shampoo and conditioner because it stops my scalp from producing flakes which is kind of embarrassing. If you have naturally greasy hair, use anti grease shampoo. By changing your shampoo and condition on the weekends your hair is not becoming dependant on a single cosmetic. This means your hair will be healthier and look so much better.
Skin
Spots are very annoying and whether you have bad acne, a few spots or just one or two every few months there are ways to keep them under control. If your parents are over 40 and you ask them about spots, they will most likely tell you that you just have to live with them and put up with it. This may have been the case when they were our age but times have moved on and there are some fantastic treatments out there. I personally am a very spotty person, like my dad. However I hardly ever have spots. This is because of the way I treat my skin. Go to Boots and buy yourself a face scrub. The type I am talking about is a kind of gel with tiny little bits in. Every two to three days, scrub this on your face and wherever you may have spots. (but do not use it around your genitals!!!) Leave the gel on your skin for about 15 seconds and then wash off with water, either in the sink or the shower. Face scrubs feel grubby because they take off the top layer of your skin. This gradually removes the impurities in your skin and prevents spots from appearing. If your skin becomes soar, do not use the face scrub for a couple of days. Your skin will look fresh and refreshed every day.
Exercise
Believe it or not, you don’t have to do much to stay thin and be relatively fit. If you have a dog, take it out for a one hour walk. Walk somewhere different, get lost in the forest and just keep walking. Walking is a very easy and effective way of exercise but it is not sufficient enough. If you are into sport why not try out for the local sports team? If you’re not the sporty type just try your hardest in games lessons at school. Games or PE (physical education) are compulsory lessons in schools up to the age of 16 and optional until your 18. Games is a great excuse to get out of the classroom and have fun with your friends, experiencing new sports like ping pong, hockey and rugby; so take advantage of it. You could subscribe to your local gym. A gym near me charges about £3 for an evening on the weights/running/rowing machines. This is much cheaper than commercial places such as Esporta and Fitness First so try it. If you are not very strong or looking a bit weedy, try press-ups on your bedroom floor every day and try to get better and better.
Food
A balanced diet doesn’t mean you have to miss out on chocolate and luxuries. Make sure you have a piece of fruit a day like a Satsuma, Clementine, Banana or Apple. Snacking between meals is fine as long as you keep it sensible. A penguin bar or bag of muleteers is fine and does help keep your sugar levels up. Drink water. Now I personally hate water on its own so I always mix it with Orange or Blackcurrant squash. This is fine; you are still getting the supplements you need. Eat breakfast. A bowl of Coco Pops with milk is good. Full English breakfasts are bad for you but are acceptable once in a few months! Try to have breakfast every day, especially if you have school. Don’t use vitamin tablets. If you are using supplements such as vitamin tablets (these come shaped as cartoon characters or just look like sweets) then your diet is not right. You shouldn’t need to use these unless you have a food disorder. For example, instead of having protein supplements, try fish for dinner. If you don’t like fish, try smoked samon or cod in breadcrumbs or even Birdseye Fishfingers for kids. There are so many different types of one food everyone can be pleased.
Sex
Wear condoms.
Alcohol
Many people think that WKD’s aren’t strong because they are only an alcho-pop. In fact they are and more than two small bottles will start to damage your liver. Alcohol is fine but you must keep an eye on what you are drinking. Add up the percentages on the bottles and know your limit. You will damage your liver; and you can’t just get a new one like the famous people do. Famous people have millions of pounds to buy them; you will not.
Friends
Believe it or not, your social life has a lot to do with your health. Make sure you have a few friends; the more the better. Always have someone you can talk to, even if it is an online friend. Having someone to talk to about your day is very important. Locking yourself away from the world is only asking for trouble in the future mentally.
Sleep
Teenagers need the same amount of sleep as babies and we all know how much they sleep! Try and get 10 hours sleep a day. I suggest going to bed at around 10pm and waking up at around 7am. If you have trouble sleeping there are many ways to help yourself. Come off of all computers, switch off all tv’s and don’t go near any screens at least half an hour before you decide to go to bed. This is because the bright lights stimulate your mind and make you not tired. Reading is a good relaxing task to make you sleepy. Do not take sleeping pills. Sleeping pills are messing with the way your body naturally works. Don’t play God as some say. Once in bed, lie on your back with lose clothing on like pyjamas or no clothes. Shut your eyes and focus on your breathing. Breathe deeply and count every breath out 10 times. Then count every breath in. Focus on how when you breathe the air in it is warm and when you breath out the air is cold. Think about how the air feels light and is your drug; it is keeping you alive. You will become more tired and eventually fall asleep. If you have an active mind; have a notebook and pen next to your bed; when you think of something, write it down and then forget about it and drift back to your peaceful sleep.
28.12.08
19.10.08
Specter Chair
19.10.08
While the chair appears to be a draped piece of fabric over a solid structure, it in fact has no structure. The fabric has been treated so that it is stiff enough to serve as the four legs and seat.
16.9.08
Future City: Ziggurat
16.9.08
Ziggurat is truly an architectural masterpiece from the future; powered by steam, wind turbines and other natural energy resources, this desert city in the United Arab Emirates will cover 2.3 square kilometers and be able to sustain a community of up to a million people!
It will also feature a public transportation system that runs both horizontally and vertically, and plans are being drawn up to utilize both public and private green spaces for agricultural opportunities.
The plans will officially be unveiled at Cityscape Dubai, an event which runs from the 6th to the 9th of October '08.
www.ciaranmoore.blogspot.com
It will also feature a public transportation system that runs both horizontally and vertically, and plans are being drawn up to utilize both public and private green spaces for agricultural opportunities.
The plans will officially be unveiled at Cityscape Dubai, an event which runs from the 6th to the 9th of October '08.
www.ciaranmoore.blogspot.com
8.9.08
Don't Be An Asterisk
8.9.08
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the Ad Council announced in August the launch of a multi-year public awareness campaign focused on teen steroid use. The campaign is being funded by U.S. Olympic Team sponsor Johnson & Johnson, and it marks the first time the USOC and the Ad Council have joined forces to raise awareness about the national issue of illegal performance-enhancing drugs both within and outside of sport.
Dontbeanasterisk.com is a fancy website for teenagers. It gives information about what steroids do to your body and how it can damage your health.
The campaign tries to stop teenage steroid use by making them realise that it is cheating, and no-one likes a cheat.
Dontbeanasterisk.com is a fancy website for teenagers. It gives information about what steroids do to your body and how it can damage your health.
The campaign tries to stop teenage steroid use by making them realise that it is cheating, and no-one likes a cheat.
5.9.08
Facebook Called Me Fat
5.9.08
“Maybe it's my age, my sex or the fact that it knew I was engaged, but the site decided I was a gal who needed to drop a few pounds. And it wasn't shy about its tactics. This was not a close friend taking me aside, telling me in gentle tones that she'd noticed I'd put on some weight and was there anything going on in my personal life that I needed to talk about?”
Facebook targets its advertising to users based on the information in their profiles. This is not a new concept, of course. Kids usually see toy ads while they watch Nickelodeon, and women get ads for birth control pills as they watch Lifetime.
“Facebook knows my birthday, my relationship status and which book I'm reading, among other personal tidbits.”
The site started turning this information into dollar signs last November with the launch of Facebook Ads, which targets users' presumed areas of interest (or psychological soft spots).
Basically, the subliminal goal of product advertising is to make you feel inadequate and ashamed, because you're not perfect.
Facebook spokesman Matt Hicks said "If you're a wedding photographer, do you want to waste your money advertising to a general audience? Or do you want to reach those that are engaged?"
“I fought back harder. I clicked a little blue link that said "Report" and filled out a form. Nothing changed. I assumed that the diet ads would subside after I changed my relationship status from ''engaged" to "married" in May. They did. I now receive ads with ‘Trying to get pregnant? Visit our site now. We're a national network of fertility specialists treating male and female infertility.’
“Thanks, Facebook, for calling me barren.”
(Interview from msnbc.com)
3.9.08
Mind-Bending USB Lollipops?
3.9.08
This is Eye Candy, it's described on the website as using "cutting edge Sensory Substitution Technology to transmit vivid emotive images into your mind's eye".
Devices like Eye Candy work by producing a matrix of small electrical pulses on your tongue, which is loaded with nerves, in the shape of a certain object to fool the brain into seeing it.
It's available in six different flavours that all do different things to your brain. Scary, huh?
www.ciaranmoore.blogspot.com
The Kingdom
On Saturday, I sat down to the TV and flicked through the movies which were on. The Kingdom got my attention. The blurb said something about FBI and the Iraq war so I thought I would watch it and see if it was any good.
It starts off with a breif introduction about how the Iraq war started, due to oil etc. In this action movie, I actually learnt a lot of history.
Predictable in so many ways, the movie took a highly sensitive political issue and treated it like a glossy Schwarzenegger movie, complete with corny one-liners. It was certainly gripping but it is difficult (and a little distasteful) to find violence and action entertaining when such weighty topics are being thrown around.
This film didn't know whether it wanted to be an action blockbuster or an affecting piece of moralising like Blood Diamond.
There was ONE line which really inspired me to write this blog. At the bigining of the movie, when an American Agent is killed by a suicide bomber, his friend starts to cry. Another Agent walks up to the friend and whispers something in her ear.
At the end of the movie, just before the terrorist leader is killed, he whispers something to his son.
At the very end of the movie, the audience is told what was whispered to both American Agent and Iraqi Terrorist. They said exactly the same thing.
Don't Worry, We're Gonna Kill Them All
That line inspired me. It sums up war perfectly. War is just a big hatred of other people. War is discusing, it's like a playground fight but one punch means death, and there arn't just 2 people, there are thousands apon thousands, and then you have the completly innocent victims.
The thought I want to leave you with after reading this...War is discusting, we live on this Earth with 6 billion other people, and we need to learn to be nice to one another, or atleast be peacful. There are British men fighting all over the world for our safety. They, in my eyes, are the bravest men in the world.
God Bless The Soldiers
It starts off with a breif introduction about how the Iraq war started, due to oil etc. In this action movie, I actually learnt a lot of history.
Predictable in so many ways, the movie took a highly sensitive political issue and treated it like a glossy Schwarzenegger movie, complete with corny one-liners. It was certainly gripping but it is difficult (and a little distasteful) to find violence and action entertaining when such weighty topics are being thrown around.
This film didn't know whether it wanted to be an action blockbuster or an affecting piece of moralising like Blood Diamond.
There was ONE line which really inspired me to write this blog. At the bigining of the movie, when an American Agent is killed by a suicide bomber, his friend starts to cry. Another Agent walks up to the friend and whispers something in her ear.
At the end of the movie, just before the terrorist leader is killed, he whispers something to his son.
At the very end of the movie, the audience is told what was whispered to both American Agent and Iraqi Terrorist. They said exactly the same thing.
Don't Worry, We're Gonna Kill Them All
That line inspired me. It sums up war perfectly. War is just a big hatred of other people. War is discusing, it's like a playground fight but one punch means death, and there arn't just 2 people, there are thousands apon thousands, and then you have the completly innocent victims.
The thought I want to leave you with after reading this...War is discusting, we live on this Earth with 6 billion other people, and we need to learn to be nice to one another, or atleast be peacful. There are British men fighting all over the world for our safety. They, in my eyes, are the bravest men in the world.
God Bless The Soldiers
17.8.08
Stop Knife Crime Competition
17.8.08
Knife crime has become a big thing in the media lately. When you switch the news on or listen to the radio, you always here of someone being stabbed.
Teenagers seem to be the ones most affected. Todayz Teenz survey showed that 14% of teenagers carry around knifes when in town.
However, is carrying a knife around for protection just as bad as carrying around a knife with the intention of injuring someone?
Todayz Teenz is launching a competition to make a short video about knife crime and the affects it has on people.
Once you have made your video, upload it to a site such as Youtube and email us the video URL.
If your video is chosen as the best one, it will be placed on the Todayzteenz.com homepage.
So get your video cameras ready, find a few friends, act out a story about knife crime and send it to us.
Who knows, your video could be viewed by thousands of teenagers across the World.
[Please do not use real knifes in the making of your video]
Thanks. We look forward to viewing your entries.
- No swearing is to be heard in the video.
- The video must not discriminate against a group of people or be offensive in any way.
All video URLS must be sent to us by 1st October 2008.
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I Think Exams Are Good
I think it’s fair to say EVERYONE hates exams! They are just so stressful and annoying! Personally I am a year nine girl and I have just done my SAT's. My school made it out that nothing I had ever done in my life mattered and it was all down to what I produced in my SAT's now. I was really worried and nervous! We had a week of exams starting the Tuesday after a bank holiday Monday. That whole long weekend was dedicated to revision! We had two a day including Maths 1, Maths 2, Mental Maths, Science 1, Science 2, Shakespeare Essay Paper, Writing Paper and the English Reading Paper. So after all my revision we did them all, and to my surprise I found them all actually quite easy and I wasn't stressed at all at the end of the week! But personally, I actually think exams are quite helpful. I mean, when I take my GCSE's I am going to be really glad I did my SAT's because they give us a bit of an experience of what they are going to be like. We know what to expect now too, so it won't come as such a shock in year 11. Whereas if the Government decide to completely stop exams until GCSE's, they would come and we would all be incredibly nervous and not know what was going on. Thankfully we know what to expect now though! So after all the stress of the revision, I think it is all worth it in the end!
Article by: Holly, 14, Wiltshire
Article by: Holly, 14, Wiltshire
Stuck In A World Of Killing
There are some pretty disgusting people in this world.
The things people do and say.
It's sickening.
The news on T.V.
Always bringing more horrific events into our homes.
And of course it has to be bad to make the news.
Murders.
Suicides.
Rape.
Torture.
Theft.
Attacks.
A world at war with itself is doomed, is it not?
How are we supposed to move forward and progress if all we do it hurt one another?
Yeah, the murderer might not know his victim. But he does know that that person has a family and people that care about them, yet they still proceed in killing them?
This planet is so messed up.
So much that the people who live on it feel the need to kill themselves.
Are the people on Earth really so desperate they feel there is no other option?
We, all of us need to think about the possible consequences of our actions. Leaving someone out of a conversation in the school corridors. To you it might be a small insignificant action. But to that person you left out, how do you think they feel? How would you feel in their position?
That leads me onto another point
Stereotypes.
This is the one this that gets me the most.
Who the heck do you think you are?
Strutting around, labelling people like they’re your property.
Oh so and so he's an emo
Yeah she's a pikey
Uhoh here comes the boffin
It's just STUPID.
Every single individual person on this damned planet is different.
What gives you the right to put over...what? 6 billion people into categories?
We are all very, very different. Not only in appearance but in personality.
Until we can overcome the love of power we will not see the power of love.
Article by: Becki , 15, Bournemouth
Inspired by Maria Kenny & Renee Yeho.
Get Connected
We all face problems. But sometimes the people who are supposed to be there to help – parents, teachers, friends - are part of the problem, from arguments to abuse.
So where do you turn?
To someone confidential, impartial and easy to get hold of, who can tell you what sort of help is out there and how to get hold of it.
Get Connected provides a free, confidential helpline that gives young people in difficult situations the support and information you need to decide what you want to happen next. It could be anything from a listening ear to somewhere safe to stay for the night.
We’re free:
calls to Get Connected are free from all landlines and mobile phones. Any connection we give you to another helpline is also free.
We’re confidential:
We won’t tell anyone you’ve called or emailed unless we think your life is in danger, in which case we’ll ask before we do. We don’t keep your phone number or email address and your call won’t show up on the phone bill.
We’ll find you the best help whatever the problem:
We can help you decide what sort of help you’re looking for and put you in touch with it, whether it’s by connecting you to another helpline, emailing you a link to an online service, texting you details of a service or giving you the address of somewhere local.
We’re for young people:
if you’re under 25 and in the UK you can call, email or talk to us via webchat about any issue.
Need help? Get Connected can find it for you. We’re free, we don’t judge and we won’t tell.
Call 0808 808 4994
Telephone helpline open 7 days a week, 1pm-11pm
Email help@getconnected.org.uk
Emails answered within 24 hours
Webchat www.getconnected.org.uk
Webchat open Monday-Friday, 7pm-10pm
Todayz Teenz has permission from Get Connected to publish this information.
Sharing The Secret...My Self Harm
My name’s Kim. I’m just your ordinary 16 year old girl stressing over guys, school, how I look – the usual. But I want to raise people’s awareness for something that goes on everywhere – even though we know no-one wants to talk about it, we have to get it out there. Self harm. Being honest, I too myself have self harmed; I was a self harmer for about 4 years. It’s not easy to talk about it but I feel that nowadays everyone associates cutting for someone who’s “emo” or “attention seeking”. But it’s not always the case. I consider myself a shy type of girl – I hate talking about how I feel or what I’m thinking about, so I’m hardly the attention seeking type, nor do I like being labelled emo or anything along those lines because of how I look or how I supposedly act.
People these days don’t think that just because we self harm we like it – that’s not it, I hate doing it. Then when I get asked why I do it. I don’t have a particularly perfect reason, everyone’s are different but I believe it was because I was going through a rough time with my family – dad was really annoying me, I wasn’t being noticed, I was being blamed for stuff I never done, school pressure, and one of my best friends ditching me for a 22 year old guy.
So I took all the pain I had and bottled it up until I found out that by bottling it up,
“it haunted me”all I could think about was how angry I was and how I wanted to get back at myself and take control of how I felt by doing something about it. And I turned to self harm. Not the best choice I know, but at the time I knew no other way to let it out.
I remember the first time it happened, I was shaking and crying and the first thing I did was run into the bathroom, snap one of those disposable razors and went back into my room sat on the floor and looked at the blade, and seconds later, I had made a slit on my arm.
The pain was enough to take my mind off everything going on even though it hurt. After I had done it, I felt no pain. Days later I found myself doing it more and more and I couldn’t stop. I told myself that I could limit it to one area, oh no, it spread I started on my wrist, which then lead to my hips and thighs and on my lower back. I was good at hiding them too – my best excuse was that the cat had gone for me.
I thought it was my own little secret, but my best friend was suspicious so I told her in the end, she was really supportive. Just the thought of having someone you could go to if you were upset just for a shoulder to cry on or talk to, the feeling was indescribable. After a while, I wanted to make it stop after hiding it for so long. I started to talk to the Samaritans through email because I felt confident enough to talk to someone that could not judge me, but I made a mistake one day by leaving my emails up and mum wanted on the computer. I never realised it until one day I was on the computer and the words out her mouth were “how are you, you okay Kimberley” I knew something was going to be brought up and I could feel myself starting to shake and go all hot like, I was going to pass out.
The next words were “how long have you been hurting yourself?” I froze for words. How could I tell my mum that I was hurting myself? After a few minutes of my mum telling me I should have come to her I burst out in tears. The moment that happened mum sat beside me and hugged me and told me how much she loved me and she didn’t want me to be like that anymore. I showed her my scars and she began to cry. The only thing running through my head was “what have I done”.
I felt like I had hurt my mum and not myself. Both my mum and I decided I should go to the doctors to get a check up and I agreed. He told me how the scars were not fresh so I hadn’t done it in a while which was good. He told me because I was so calm about it I did not need a councillor or psychologist. At the end of the day I felt a huge relief getting it off my back. Sure now everyone is careful around me and I admit that I do still cut when I can’t cope but I am on the road to recovery and with the support of my friends and family I’m going good.
I just wanted to let people know, self harm is not something people should do for attention, from personal experience the addiction of the blade gets worse and you find it harder to stop. The pain you cause family and friends turns out to be more than just a scare. There are organisations like To Write Love On Her Arms that help and understand those who do self harm, they are amazing at support and advice, what they gave me was very meaningful and to people who self harm in the world, you’re not alone. You don’t have to be. You may not want help, but do it, for your own safety. You won’t regret it.
Article by: Kimberley, 16, Glasgow
Drugs Are Fun, But I Would Never Do It Again
It was my 16th Birthday. I was at my friend’s house with all my mates. We were all really drunk and having a good time. The music was playing loud and people were dancing. Everyone was having a good time. It was well into the morning when I noticed a guy in the corner was smoking weed. He came over to me and offered me some pills. Because it was my birthday he gave me 7 for free. I wanted to try it for the experience so I took them. The pills were small and had the word PD 155 printed on them. The pills (known as Whizz) tasted just like paracetamol. The pills made me feel hot and then cold and then hot again. It felt weird, but I wasn’t scared, it was fun. The lad then gave me some weed. The weed tasted just like a normal cigarette and made me feel like everyone was chasing me. I enjoyed it. The effect lasted for two days, and the whole time I didn’t know what I was doing,
“I was off my head”It soon wore off, and luckily I felt normal. I’m not sure if I would do it again. I was un-aware of my surroundings and I could have easily been hurt. I think I was lucky to have had a good experience because I have heard stories where people do stupid things and can kill themselves or others around them under the influence of drugs.
Article by: Rachel, 16
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