Writing therapy for depressed teens

In THE TRAZ, young Katrina's grieving and depression sends her into a downward and dangerous spiral. Depression is common among adolescents as they struggle with the physical and emotional changes that come with puberty as well as ever more complicated life situations. Depression makes youngsters not only vulnerable to the results of their own poor decisions, but also to nefarious adults--who are always on the watch for ways to exploit others' weaknesses.

There are very effective treatments available depression and if you suspect your child may be suffering from it, seek professional help quickly. You will find a list of international resources in the back of THE TRAZ to assist you in finding the help and information you need. (For an excerpt of that list, check out my blog Who do you call when you're down and out? ) 

Agnes Jimenez, a partner with HelpYourTeenNow.com, a resource agency/parent advocacy group, shares with us information on how keeping a written journal can help teens deal with their troubles.

Journal Writing As a Therapeutic Activity for  Depressed Teenagers

Life can be overwhelming, especially for teenagers. Social pressures, raging hormones, and everyday situations can be difficult. Teens do not yet have the life experience behind them to work through many of these issues. As a parent or mentor, you have the insight and responsibility to do your best to help them. Consider suggesting that they keep a journal.

 

Helping a Depressed Teen

It is important to get help for troubled teens.  Teens, who are feeling depressed may appear withdrawn, lose interest in things they once loved, and they may feel tired all the time. If you suspect a teen of being depressed, do what you can to get a professional involved. He or she will be able to help develop a plan of treatment. If this is not possible, being a positive role model can help. Journaling is an excellent suggestion for many reasons.

The Science of Journaling

Keeping a journal isn't quack medicine, there is science behind it. According to University of Texas psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker, writing about events that are stressful helps you come to term with them. This in turn reduces their impact on your physical health. His research also suggests that keeping a journal helps to boost the immune system. In addition to keeping physically healthy, there are mental benefits as well.

Clarification of Thoughts

Teens especially can feel lost, torn, and uncertain of themselves. They may feel one way, but will act in a totally different way to fit in. Writing these inner thoughts down without worrying about how they sound can help teens get in touch with their innermost selves. A journal acts as a judgment-free sounding board.

Discovery of Self

Writing in a journal can help teens get to know themselves better. They will enjoy greater self-confidence and happiness. The process also helps them identify people or situations that are toxic.  

Stress Reduction

Teens feel a range of intense emotions like anger and sadness. Writing about them is a form of expression. Vividly writing about how they feel will release some of those feelings. This lets them move on and deal with the situation without the pent up emotions.

Problem Solving

Writing down problems is a great way of working through them. Teens will be able to analyze and be more creative about their conflicts. When looking at them in this way, solutions might become easier to identify.

Depression is a serious issue for teens. If you know a teen that needs help, do what you can to involve a professional. Offer insight and suggestions, like keeping a journal. There are many proven benefits, and it can truly help them. 
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Agnes Jimenez is a professional blogger and writer. She writes for many online establishments and currently partners with HelpYourTeenNow.com in spreading awareness about troubled and depressed teenagers (and how to deal with them).  Help Your Teen Now aims to increase awareness on the current psychological and societal stresses of today's teens and how these factors affect the future of our society.

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THE TRAZ is available in paperback and ebook formats and in a special School Edition that includes a Teaching Guide. Click on the following links to purchase or sample THE TRAZ

Amazon eBook

Amazon Paperback

School Edition Paperback

School Edition eBook

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Eileen Schuh, Author
FATAL ERROR
Schrödinger's Cat
THE TRAZ

Tweeting THE TRAZ for free

 I have a very special guest blogger today, Katrina Buckhold. Perhaps that name rings a bell? 
 

Katrina as she appears on the cover of THE TRAZ

 Katrina is the young protagonist in THE TRAZ. Although she is immature and abrasive and isn't perhaps all that reliable, I did agree to let her open her own Twitter account (https://twitter.com/KatrinaBuckhold).

Although I had to do a lot censoring and censuring for the first while, she seems to be growing up somewhat. 

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Free!

THE TRAZ

Free! 

 

3 days only

Monday, 10th September 2012

to

Wednesday 12th September 2012 inclusive

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk  

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In celebration of this week's special promo, she's pulled together some of her fave quotes from THE TRAZ and here they are in 140 characters or less: 

 

Perhaps he had some use for her genius.The thought that he wanted her for something when no one else did...> #Free THE TRAZ http://ow.ly/dkT

THE TRAZ http://ow.ly/dkSTy She tucked one of her dad's shirts around her face so she could catch the scent of what once was. FREE today

#FREE today: She was cold when she got home, despite the heat of the August sun. She listened to the silence calling to her. THE TRAZ http://ow.ly

"Please?" She tilted her head and searched his face, as she knew he liked her to do.>THE TRAZ http://ow.ly/dkRZ5 Free today 

The cool moonlight was sparking off eyes that, in the sun, shone blue and bright. She stood on her toes and... Free today >THE TRAZ http://ow.ly/dkS5o

The day started not all that badly—a warm June morning. By seven o'clock the summer sun was already high... THE TRAZ http://ow.ly/dkS8q Free 

She thought of electrons & photons, the intertwining of space, speed & time. In 2 weeks she'd be a teenager > THE TRAZ Free today! http://ow.ly/dkSjh

 Colours & numbers could be digitized. Someday the human mind would be etched on a silicon chip >THE TRAZ http://ow.ly/dkSjh Free

Katrina felt faint and distant and dizzy. Words swirled about her. Someone said, "Dead. Everybody dead. Dead." THE TRAZ http://ow.ly/dkSDe  Free

"You're 13, running around 'til the wee hours of the morning & coming home drunk. I won't put up with it." THE TRAZ http://ow.ly/dkSKS  Free

Katrina slipped from her chair and grabbed his arm. "Grandpa! Grandpa! Are you sleeping or are you dying?" THE TRAZ ow.ly/aXtbK  Free

The parts of her that were cold began stirring, moving, pulsating, synchronizing with the beat of the pistons  >THE TRAZ http://ow.ly/dkTVR  Free

THE TRAZ  "How far do you want to ride?" Shrug's voice broke into her reverie. "Forever," Katrina answered.  Free http://ow.ly/dkTVR

THE TRAZ "...The man dropped to the ground. His eyes slid closed. The remnants of a smile still twisted his lips..." FREE today http://ow.ly/dkTVR

Eileen Schuh, Canadian writer www.eileenschuh.com

She was afraid...

It was a dark and lonely time in my life when she came to me…a tiny girl on a ridge, lying on her belly, watching danger unfold in the valley below. Listening.

Grasped tightly in her fingers were autumn grasses.

Her anticipation was so intense it hurt my lungs. She was barely breathing. Afraid to move.

I saw her there whenever I closed my eyes. She was waiting…

Each night, night after night, as I lay down to sleep, she came to me. Afraid. Excited. Alone. Always on her belly on an autumn ridge. One night I felt the  thump, thump, thump of an approaching helicopter shaking the ground beneath her belly. Once I heard the scream of sirens.

There came a night when I could stand it no longer; I needed to know who that young girl was. Why was she on that ridge? What was happening in the valley below? I flicked on the lights and made my way to my laptop.

There was no one but me in that tiny cabin in the forest that night--and it would only be me the next day…and the day after. There was no one I had to meet in the morning, nothing I had to do, no place I had to be.  There was no one to care if I stayed up all night, ate breakfast in my pyjamas, slept all day.

I snuggled down on the sofa, pulled an afghan around me, and began to write the young girl’s story.

Her name was Katrina. In the valley below was The Traz biker gang compound. Speeding in from the horizon was the police tactical team. And off in the distance was a rescue chopper… 

Katrina’s life unfolded, novel after novel after novel... 

And thus there came to be The BackTracker series.

THE TRAZ (Book I) also comes in a School Edition because that young girl had much to teach.

Also in paperback.

FATAL ERROR (Book II) soon to be released by Imajin Books.

 












Eileen Schuh,
Canadian Author http://www.eileenschuh.com

Also the author of SCHRÖDINGER'S CAT

Writing press releases

 It may seem odd to write press releases (sometimes called media- or news releases) about yourself, but I was once a reporter and know that information that comes over the wire (or via email, these days) is valuable.

A reporter cannot hunt down all stories and to have a good one land in her lap is a bonus.  While there is no guarantee that the media will pick up on the story, if you send it to several outlets, chances are one or two will find it fits in with their programming or on their page.  (Remember to include TV, Radio, and newspapers in your mail out  There are also online news sources that will pick up press releases.) 

When writing a release, try to make your story relevent to the media who's attention you are after and make it 'news'  In this release, I include information not only about my scheduled author visits and books, but about my links to this northern community and how my book relates to recent headlines relevant to the people there.

CKLB Radio phoned me long distance to arrange an interview

It worked.  I got a call from one of Yellowknife's radio stations requesting an interview.    Some media will run a news release or part of it exactly as it has been submitted but many want to follow up with their own questions, sound bites, video, photos, etc. so be sure to include contact information in your releases

Above all else, remember the 5 W's of the news world: Who, What, Where, When, and Why.  You must have those somewhere in your release, preferrably near the beginning.  In the press release below, I don't mention my author visit until several paragraphs into the story.  To compensate for the late mention of my 'newsworthy' visit, I made sure it was mentioned in the headline. Ideally, however, I should have had it sooner.

In my defence, first sentences and first paragraphs of media releases are as difficult to write as those of novels.  You want them to grab attention, reveal relevancy, prove your story is newsworthy, entice the reader to keep reading, etc.  It is hard to get that all accomplished in a few words!

Speaking of first sentences, make them real attention grabbers, but keep them honest.  Most media pride themselves on their credibility and are not out for the National Enquirer-type story  A misleading headline or opening sentence will immediately kill journalistic interest.  Remember, reporters want NEWS, so make your entire release timely, interesting, and relevant.

Although I've had lots of experience reading press releases, I'm quite new at writing them.  However, judging by the great response to both my latest releases, I believe I'm getting better at writing them!

ps: in journalistic tradition the 'date line' (ST. PAUL, AB, November 15, 2011) includes the place where the release was written (not necessarily where the story happened or will happen) and the day on which it was 'released'.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Author of novel for at-risk kids to visit Yellowknife

ST. PAUL, AB, November 15, 2011  When Canadian law enforcement and social service agencies publically pleaded for community help in combating the increasing incidents of criminal gangs’ recruiting youngsters, Northern Alberta author, Eileen Schuh, immediately knew how she could help.   

THE TRAZ, Schuh’s debut novel about a 13-year old girl who falls in with a biker gang, was about to go to press and Schuh saw the opportunity to turn the adventure tale into a learning experience for both those on the cusp of maturity and the adults in their lives.   

Rather than interrupting THE TRAZ’s emotional, fast-moving story with life-lessons, Schuh appends a Discussion and Teaching Guide to her novel.  Calling on her experience as a volunteer with the RCMP and making use of Government websites such as Canada's National Anti-drug Strategy  and RCMP Reports Research and Publications,  Schuh researched the social issues on which the THE TRAZ touches. 

As part of her determination to help keep youngsters off the street, Schuh will be in Yellowknife at the SideDoor Youth Center after school on Thursday, December 1^st to engage young readers in a conversation about difficult situations they may face and choices they may have to make. 

 “What are some important differences between a family and a gang?” is one discussion question.  “What are some life-altering decisions you may soon have to make?” asks another. The Discussion Guide also includes information about resources such as the Kids Help Line and Suicide Prevention Centres.

Schuh has links to the North through her daughter and her family who have lived in Yellowknife for several years.  She is very aware of the unique problems that youngsters in isolated northern centres face and hopes a visit with the SideDoor kids will inspire them to make wise choices. 

Schuh will also be visiting the Yellowknife Public Library during her stop.  On Monday evening, December 5^th from 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm, Schuh will be at the library talking not only about THE TRAZ, but also her other recent release, Schrödinger’s Cat—a adult sci-fi novella.  

“I’d be happy to talk to readers about either of my books.  Or about the publishing industry or even about life as an author,” Schuh says.   “As an added bonus—everyone who drops buy will be entered in my draw to win a Kindle eReader!”

She will also be selling and signing her books at the library and reminds people that books make great gifts —even for those who already have everything.   

Schuh’s books can also be bought through the Yellowknife Book Cellar or from online bookstores such as Amazon, Smashwords, iTunes Library, and Barnes and Nobel.   They are also available for borrowing through the Yellowknife Public Library.

You can learn about Schuh and her books online at

http://www.eileenschuh.com

http://eileenschuh.blogspot.com

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For more information, to arrange an interview, or to receive a review copy of her books:

email: eileenschuh@yahoo.com

phone: 780-645-7890

Eileen Schuh, Canadian writer www.eileenschuh.com