Visual impairment: An interview By Christina (Kakorrhaphiophobia) and Robin (PSY) This month, the Articles Team decided to do something different. Instead of presenting a typical article, we wanted to give the TeenHelp community a unique perspective on what it's like to be visually impaired. Christina has been serving as a Staff member for quite some time, and you may have noticed her work as the Disabilities Forum Moderator... but did you know that she can't actually "see" what she's doing...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 1 (July 2010). Eye Injury Prevention Month & UV Safety Month by Stephanie (Konstantine) Our vision is vital. From seeing your loved ones and your environment, to watching your favourite films, eyesight is something that we use everyday and something that we may take for granted. July is Eye Injury Prevention Month and UV Safety Month, which aim to spread awareness of how to protect your eyesight. A massive ninety percent of eye injuries...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 12 (June 2010). National HIV Testing Day by Marie (Rie) June 27th 2010 is National HIV Testing Day, or NHTD. NHTD aims to increase awareness of HIV and AIDS and to encourage early testing. It is estimated that one in five people in the US are unaware of whether or not they have HIV. Lack of care and the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS can make it difficult for those in need to get appropriate health care and may discourage others from...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 10 (April 2010). Stand Up for Autism By Marie (Rie) What do you imagine when you hear the word autism? How do you personally picture a person with autism? Do you see the child repeating words over and over again? The teenager who has still never uttered a word? Do you picture the adult curled around rocking back and forth in a fetal position? Can you imagine visiting a country when you neither speak nor understand a word of their language?...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 8 (February 2010). Understanding Type One Diabetes By Jessi (Spazola) The Big Q: What Is Diabetes? Diabetes (medically known as diabetes mellitus) is the name given to disorders in which the body has trouble regulating its blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels. There are two major types of diabetes: Type One Diabetes, also known as Juvenile or Insulin Dependent Diabetes (treated by manually injecting insulin), and Type Two, which involves...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 6 (December 2009). The Benefits of Yoga By Katrina and Maria (Gidig) Salutations, everyone! As we've all learned by this point in our lives, stress, especially that comes with the holidays, can be overbearing; one can nearly be attacked by the strength of stress at times. Around this time of year, our homes can be hectic with Great-Aunt Eleanor coming to stay for a week. We feel rushed to find the money for presents, food and other...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 5 (November 2009). Lung Cancer and Smoking by Jessie Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, killing over one million people each year. This cancer is most prevalent in North America and Europe, and among people ages fifty and older with a history of smoking. In fact, lung cancer was rare before cigarette smoking became popular. November is Lung Cancer Awareness month, and each year on the third Thursday of November the...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 4 (October 2009). Dyslexia by Maria (Gidig) Learning disorders, a term many of us have heard use every day. Dyslexia, a learning disorder. But what really is a learning disorder? How does this particular one affect people? So many questions revolve around this one word—dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning disorder predominately affecting letters. This includes reading, writing, and spelling. Therefore, it’s mostly caught when a child starts...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 2 (August 2009). Immunizations By Gidig (Maria) We’ve all heard of immunizations, vaccinations, or just plain old “shots” from the doctor. It’s almost every kid’s worst nightmare—going to the doctor to get a needle poked into your arm. That doesn’t sound all that fun, even for adults. However, vaccines are seen as the one of the most successful medical advancements in history. Why is this, and how do they work? Furthermore, should you have a...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 2, Issue 12 (June 2009). Communicating With Your Doctor By drowningangel The following article contains tips and answers on:

Going to the Gynecologist: What to Expect by Jessie This guide contains answers to the following questions: - When should I start to see a gynecologist? - What should I expect during my first visit? (A step-by-step discussion on what happens before, during, and after the exam room.) - How do I choose the right doctor? - What do I do, if I’m not insured?