Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Stigmatized And Getting High, Emma M. Murphy

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The first time I was asked to sell my medication was after a small party sophomore year. I was starting to fall asleep in the midst of chattering people and drunken laughter. My 12 hours of focus was up. Concerned people around me started asking why I was suddenly so sleepy and without thinking about it, my boyfriend answered “Her medication has worn off, so she’s getting kinda sleepy.” Someone asked, “What type of medication does that?!” We both froze. [excerpt]

Rethink #, Kayla A. Britt

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Watching anyone struggle with mental health disorders should never be funny- and yet, in some instances, that’s exactly how it is viewed. Recently, celebrity Amanda Bynes was involuntarily committed to psychiatric hold for the second time in a year. This was following a series of very public tweets which clearly show instability in her mental health. One tweet in particular regarding a microchip she believes was implanted in her brain is markedly delusional. The media and public, however, have been sensationalizing and demoralizing her condition by treating it as just another piece of shocking celebrity news. Headlines like “Amanda Bynes’ …

Fearless: Gettysburg Breast Cancer Survivors, Allsion P. Lauro

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As we reach the end of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Surge would like to recognize breast cancer survivors. For today’s Fearless Friday, we are honored to highlight four brave and fearless Gettysburgians:Joyce Sprague, Academic Administrative Assistant for Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies; Anne Lane, Associate Dean of Academic Advising; Julie Ramsey, Vice President for College Life and Dean of Students; and Sandy Buhrman, Administrative Services Assistant for the Center for Career Development. These women are truly fearless for persisting in the face of adversity, advocating for other women, sharing their stories and inspiring others. [ …

The Space I Own, Alison P. Lauro

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***TRIGGER WARNING: Eating Disorders***

I don’t care what anyone says—being a woman is hard. Being a young woman has its own set of complications–we experience a lot of pressure to look a certain way, to act a certain way, to have a specific friend group; to act as social butterflies and to live up to a set of socially constructed beauty standards. And there are too many girls—myself included—who have fallen victim to this impossible set of expectations. [excerpt]