Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 9 (February 2008). Abuse by .Infinity. (Mel) Abuse is one of the most common heard terms around the world these days. We hear about it in television, from people we know, and most of all on the Internet. To abuse or mistreat something or someone is a very unlawful act, one which usually has horrible results. Though many things can be abused or mistreated, the main target for such a thing is usually children. Whether the child is young,...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 6 (November 2007). Friendship and Forgiving by .Infinity. (Mel) In your lifetime you will meet many people. Within these people you meet, you will often befriend someone. Sometimes during a friendship you may have a few disagreements, which at some point may cause arguments. These arguments can be small, but at other times they can be fairly large. While sometimes the argument may end quickly, at other times it may never end. Never-ending...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 6 (November 2007). Bullying (a mini manual) by Gitler What is a bully? Based on a wide range of reasons, a bully is a person who attacks others either verbally or physically. A bully usually has little or no regard for the feelings of his - or her - victims; thus saying or doing extreme things at times. A simple act of messing with someone does not make one a bully, a person who torments others on a daily basis does. Why do bullies torment...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 2, Issue 10 (April 2009). Binaural Beats by Maria (Gidig) What are binaural beats? In rather broad terms, binaural beats are specifically made frequencies, formed to change your brainwaves -- which control your state of mind -- how your brain reacts, and more. Binaural beats have been acknowledged since 1893 by a German physicist, Heinrich Wilhelm Dove. Since then, they have been extensively researched with a significant amount of data collected.

Keeping It Safe By Anonymous (Please note: This is a guide, and only advises on safer sex. It can not guarantee 100% protection, but greatly reduces risks. It's wise to know your sexual partners and their sexual habits, to further lower this risk.) Introduction - STIs So we all know that when a guy's sperm goes into a girl's vagina, she can get pregnant. I don't know about you, but my sex ed seemed most concerned about this. However it isn't the only risk involved in sex, and you...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 2, Issue 10 (April 2009). Model United Nations: impacting the world on a small scaleBy sushi_error Recently, I attended my first Model United Nations Conference at a local university in my town. Model United Nations is a simulation of the United Nations and draws over 400,000 middle school students, high school students, and college/university students worldwide. High school and college conferences are usually held at large universities/colleges....

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 2, Issue 9 (March 2009). Understanding Generalized Anxiety Disorder by Lizzie Visualize for a moment a time when your muscles tensed, your heart started beating faster, your breath quickened and you felt an overwhelming sense of dread. This could be a memory of a time when your car skidded in the rain, when a professor announced a pop quiz that you are not prepared for, a partner wants to have “the talk,” or when you first realize someone caught you in...

Grieving the Loss of a Pet By Shaz When a person you love dies, it is natural to feel sorrow, express grief, and expect friends and family to provide understanding and comfort. Given the rich and intense relationships most pet owners share with their animal companions, the loss of a pet can be very painful. The loss of a beloved pet can trigger overwhelming feelings of grief and sadness. Many consider grieving inappropriate for someone who has lost "just a pet." In reality, though,...

Maintaining Long Distance Relationships Written by: Katrina Long distance relationships are becoming quite common these days. As the relationships are becoming more common, so are the questions about them and how to keep them going good and strong. A lot of people say that they are difficult to maintain, and those who say so are indeed correct. Though long distance relationships can be hard to keep strong, one must keep in mind that anything is possible when effort is present....

The benefits of relaxation techniques: Practicing relaxation techniques can improve how you physically respond to stress by: • Slowing your heart rate • Lowering blood pressure • Slowing your breathing rate • Reducing the need for oxygen • Increasing blood flow to major muscles • Reducing muscle tension You may also gain these overall health and lifestyle benefits from relaxation techniques:

The Gun vs. The Needle Your Guide to Piercings By Marionette. ** Please go to a professional when getting any part of your body pierced, lobes or otherwise. ** All piercings, besides the lobes, should be done with a needle and NOT a gun. Guns are typically cheaper, but there are so many more risks involved. Piercing guns have been used for years for piercing people of all ages. Today, though, professional body piercers want to see the gun banned. Why?

Forgiving an Abuser By Ellie You may feel ready to forgive your abuser now, or you may feel as though you should read through this article. Leave and think about it for awhile, and come back when you're ready. Whether or not you forgive your abuser is your choice; there is no obligation. This is part of your personal recovery; though you may not have felt in control whilst you were in the abusive situation, you are in control now. This article will provide some steps to deal with what...

The Relationship Game Written by: devs711 Here is my long awaited (or not so awaited) sequel to my article from a while ago entitiled "The Dating Game". OMG! You have a boyfriend/girlfriend! Congratulations!!! Now, I would love to tell you that the hard part is over, but, to be honest, I would be lying. Relationships can and usually will test your inner thoughts and emotions. In order to keep it all going smoothly, you are going to have to be completely steadfast on what you want...

What is OCD? Written by: Casey You pick up your keys and set them back down. You do it again and again, until it feels right. Then you place the keys in your pocket and take them out. You keep doing it, counting silently, breathing deeply. Thirty minutes later you finally make in out the door. These little 'quirks' rule your life. You plan your day around them. People around you throw out a term repetitively: OCD. But what does that mean? What is OCD? What can you do about it ? What...

Panic Attacks Written by Lee and Marie. What is a panic attack? A panic attack is an unforeseen incident of extreme fear caused by a sudden onset of anxiety. Depending on both the type of anxiety and the situation, there may or may not be an external factor triggering the event. During the panic attack, the body feels threatened and creates excess adrenaline to help defend itself from a perceived attack. A panic attack can last as short as a few seconds or, in severe...