Spring Break
Students scream out the stress
Kristen Majors
Issue date: 4/20/06 Section: Campus
The group of students letting out the loudest scream they could muster Wednesday afternoon in front of the Morgan Library was hard to miss. Heads all over the plaza turned as members of Active Minds led the crowd in releasing stress during the Scream Fest.
Dani Fishman, a senior food science and nutrition major, said releasing stress by screaming was a rewarding experience.
"It looked interesting; it looked like something fun," said Fishman. "I know a lot of people who suffer from mental illnesses and I figured it was for a pretty good cause."
Active Minds is a new student organization that strives to "reduce stigma through education, advocacy and awareness of mental illness," said Becca Frazee, the president of the CSU chapter and senior psychology major.
The organization currently has 15 members; some deal with mental illnesses, while others have family members with mental illnesses, and still others are just interested in the subject.
"No matter what the reason, they all care so much that this organization is just thriving," Frazee said. "This month alone we've had nine programs, and all of them have been so successful."
Frazee's personal interest comes from her experience with bipolar disorder, with which she was diagnosed at age 14.
At 15, she attempted suicide. She also has seasonal affective disorder, so in the fall her mood goes down and in the spring it comes up again. Her grades follow her mood.
"It really is a fight to stay afloat," Frazee said. "I do that by staying on my medication and seeing my doctor regularly. I have to be very careful about alcohol intake, caffeine intake, keeping a regular sleep schedule, keeping a regular exercise schedule and getting plenty of sunlight."
During her senior year of high school, Frazee completed a research project on bipolar disorder, and decided then that she wanted to go into psychology. She has managed to avoid suicidal thoughts throughout her four years at CSU and is set to graduate in December of 2006.
Dani Fishman, a senior food science and nutrition major, said releasing stress by screaming was a rewarding experience.
"It looked interesting; it looked like something fun," said Fishman. "I know a lot of people who suffer from mental illnesses and I figured it was for a pretty good cause."
Active Minds is a new student organization that strives to "reduce stigma through education, advocacy and awareness of mental illness," said Becca Frazee, the president of the CSU chapter and senior psychology major.
The organization currently has 15 members; some deal with mental illnesses, while others have family members with mental illnesses, and still others are just interested in the subject.
"No matter what the reason, they all care so much that this organization is just thriving," Frazee said. "This month alone we've had nine programs, and all of them have been so successful."
Frazee's personal interest comes from her experience with bipolar disorder, with which she was diagnosed at age 14.
At 15, she attempted suicide. She also has seasonal affective disorder, so in the fall her mood goes down and in the spring it comes up again. Her grades follow her mood.
"It really is a fight to stay afloat," Frazee said. "I do that by staying on my medication and seeing my doctor regularly. I have to be very careful about alcohol intake, caffeine intake, keeping a regular sleep schedule, keeping a regular exercise schedule and getting plenty of sunlight."
During her senior year of high school, Frazee completed a research project on bipolar disorder, and decided then that she wanted to go into psychology. She has managed to avoid suicidal thoughts throughout her four years at CSU and is set to graduate in December of 2006.
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