Why Do People Commit Suicide

Why Do People Commit Suicide Depression Suicide Print Why Do People Commit Suicide? By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial policy Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on September 30, 2015 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 04, 2020 Jacqueline Veissid / Getty Images More in Depression Suicide Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Types Childhood Depression In This Article Table of Contents Expand Depression and Mental Illness Trauma Substance Use Loss Hopelessness Chronic Pain A Burden to Others Social Isolation Cry for Help Accidental Suicide View All Back To Top Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911 immediately. Its often difficult to imagine what led a friend, family member, or celebrity to commit suicide. There may have been no clear warning signs, and you may wonder what clues you might have missed. Often, many factors combine to lead to a decision to commit suicide. Its often an act made  during a storm of strong emotions and life stresses rather than after careful consideration. Depression and Mental Illness While there are many factors that can influence a persons decision to commit suicide, the most common one is  severe depression.?? Depression can make people feel great emotional pain  and loss of hope, making them unable to see another way to relieve the pain other than ending their own life. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, depression is present in about half of all suicides. Other mental illnesses besides depression can also play a role in suicide.  For example, a person with schizophrenia  or other illnesses that produce psychosis might be hearing voices that command them to kill themselves.  Bipolar disorder, an illness in which a person experiences alternating periods of high and low moods, can also increase a persons risk for committing suicide.?? Borderline personality disorder  is another condition with a high rate of suicide.  Eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia, also have a high rate of death by suicide.?? Traumatic Stress A person who has had a traumatic experience, including childhood sexual abuse, rape, physical abuse, or war trauma, is at a  greater risk for suicide, even many years after the trauma.?? In a survey of nearly 6,000 U.S. adults, nearly 22% of people who have been raped had attempted suicide at some point while 23% who experienced physical assault tried to take their own life at some point. Being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or multiple incidents of trauma raises the risk even further. This is partly because depression is common after trauma and among those with PTSD, causing feelings of helplessness and hopelessness that can lead to suicide. The Connection Between Suicide and PTSD Substance Use and Impulsivity Drugs and alcohol can also influence a person who is feeling suicidal, making them more impulsive and likely to act upon their urges than they would be while sober. Use of drugs and alcohol can contribute to the other reasons people commit suicide, such as the loss of jobs and relationships.?? The rates of substance use and alcohol use disorder are also higher among people with depression and other psychological disorders. Put these together and the risks increase. Loss or Fear of Loss A person may decide to commit suicide when facing a loss or the fear of a loss. These situations can include: Ending a romantic relationship or close friendshipLosing a job or being unemployed and unable to find a sufficient source of steady incomeFinancial problemsLosing social positionLosing your living situation due to financial reasons or the ending of a relationshipAcademic failureLosing social or family acceptance due to revealing your sexual orientationBullying, shaming, or humiliation, including cyberbullyingBeing arrested or imprisoned Hopelessness Hopelessness, either in the short-term or as a longer-lasting trait, has been found in many studies to contribute to the decision to commit suicide. The person may be facing a social or physical challenge and may see no way the situation can improve. When people feel they have lost all hope and dont feel able to change that, it can overshadow all of the good things in their life, making suicide seem like a viable option.   While it might seem obvious to an outside observer that things will get better, people with depression may not be able to see this due to the pessimism and despair that go along with this illness. Chronic Pain and Terminal Illnesses If a person has chronic pain or illness with no hope of a cure or reprieve from suffering, suicide may seem like a way to regain dignity and control of their life. In some states, assisted suicide is legal for this very reason. According to a study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, the following health conditions were associated with a higher risk of suicide:?? AsthmaBack painBrain injuryCancerCongestive heart failureDiabetesEpilepsyHIV/AIDSHeart diseaseHigh blood pressureMigraineParkinsons disease Chronic pain can also bring on anxiety and depression, which can also increase your risk of suicide. According to research, people with chronic pain are four times more likely to have depression or anxiety than those who are pain-free. Chronic Disease and Mental Health Belief Your Life Is a Burden to Others A person with chronic pain or a terminal illness can also feel like a burden to others, as it becomes harder and harder to ask for yet another ride to the doctors office or more help with household duties or assistance paying for hospital bills. In fact, many people who decide to commit suicide often state that their loved ones or the world, in general, would be better off without them. This type of rhetoric is a common warning sign of suicide. People often see themselves as a burden to others or feel worthless due to the overwhelming emotional burden they are carrying within. Social Isolation A person can become socially isolated for many reasons, including losing friends or a spouse, undergoing a separation or divorce, physical or mental illness, social anxiety, retirement, or due to a move to a new location. Social isolation can also be caused by internal factors such as low  self-esteem.  This can lead to loneliness and other risk factors of suicide such as depression and alcohol or drug misuse. The Health Consequences of Loneliness A Cry for Help Sometimes people attempt suicide not so much because they really want to die, but because they simply dont know how to get help. Suicide attempts are not a cry for attention but a cry for help. It becomes a way to demonstrate to the world just how much they are hurting. Unfortunately, these cries for help may sometimes prove to be fatal if the person misjudges the lethality of their chosen method. People who make a failed attempt are also at a much higher risk of trying again, and their second attempts are much more likely to be lethal.   Accidental Suicide There are some situations where what appears to be a suicide is actually an accidental death. The dangerous choking game (also known as “pass-out challenge,” “flatliner,” and space monkey”) where teens attempt to asphyxiate themselves in order to feel a high, as well as autoerotic asphyxiation, are examples. Accidental suicides can also include unintentional overdoses, poisonings, and firearm deaths. A Word From Verywell You may never know why a person committed suicide. While it might have appeared that someone had everything to live for, it probably didnt feel that way to them. If you or a friend are at risk of self-harm, the  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  is available 24/7 for online chat or by phone by calling 800-273-8255.

Kate Chopin A Woman Ahead of Her Time - 1845 Words

Abandoned by friends due to her supposed ‘immoral’ works, Kate Chopin was a mind ahead of her time. Stuck in the strict 1800s, her expressions of loathing marriage and sexual freedom in the lives of women were less than ideal to their modern culture (Chopin, â€Å"The Story of an Hour† 2241-2243). Her writings often consisted of marriage being below dreams of music and art, and even love not being able to hold a marriage together (Davis 62). The reality of these ideas compromised Chopin’s short stories and novels; the feeling of repression of women and the crushing restraint of marriage (Anderson et al. 480) Born as Katherine O’Flaherty in St. Louis, Missouri, she was daughter to an Irish father and French mother who often encouraged her†¦show more content†¦Dà ©sirà ©e found herself disgraceful, thinking she was â€Å"cursed with the brand of slavery† herself, and along with her child (Chopin, â€Å"Dà ©sirà ©e’s Baby† 573). With the story The Awakening, Edna Pontellier is a married woman who never really conformed to the socially acceptable format for women during her time. She taught herself down to swim while at a vacation house that most of the story takes place at, though she becomes scared swimming into the sea and goes back to shore. With these days, she meets a man, Robert, who is not her husband, and skips a church mass with him to spend an â€Å"idyllic day together† (Chopin, â€Å"The Awakening† 52). However, as flirty as Robert seems to be, he cannot find himself wrapped up in an affair with a married woman and leaves t o Mexico. Edna returns to their home with her husband, but she continues to explore her freedom. She breaks many social codes, and at one crucial moment, takes off her wedding band and throws it on the ground, stomping on it. From this moment on, she shows a great distaste to marriage and even makes a comment after refusing to attend her sister’s wedding, in which she says: â€Å"A wedding is one of the most lamentable spectacles on Earth† (Chopin, â€Å"The Awakening† 52). Soon, Edna’s husband notices these changes in behavior. He calls a doctor who simply dismisses her changes as only being moody, and that she will be normal again soon. NotShow MoreRelatedKate Chopin: A Woman Ahead of Her Time Essay1390 Words   |  6 Pages Kate Chopin a Woman Ahead of Time In the 1800s married women had to submit to their husbands. Woman who got married had no voice with law. This meant their husbands would have to take legal action for them. Wives did not have any rights to their own property, and they would not have right to wages they earn. But these started to change through feminist women who raised their voice against men. Even though the feminist movement started in the 1960s, there were women ahead of this time thatRead MoreA Brief Note On Kate Chopin s Chopin 1642 Words   |  7 PagesMaddy Mummey Mrs. Corby AP English 12 20 April 2015 Kate Chopin Kate Chopin was a successful author of numerous short stories and novels during her life; many critics refer to her as a forerunner author of the 20th century (Kate). Throughout Chopin s life and the many experiences she endured, she grew a great sense of respect and empowerment towards women. However, she is not categorized as a feminist or a suffragist (Kate). Chopin insistently supported the revolutionary notion that women wereRead More The Life of Kate Chopin1083 Words   |  5 PagesThe life of Kate Chopin      Ã‚  Ã‚   Kate Chopin led a fascinating life filled with times of triumph but also times of great loss. Living in the South during the post-Civil War era, the setting and experiences of her life would have a great impact on the subjects of her writing. Chopin began writing as a way to express her frustration with life. This is why her emotions about life are conveyed so strongly in her writing. One of her short stories, Juanita, is an excellent example of how ChopinsRead MoreEssay about Kate Chopin Short Stories1663 Words   |  7 PagesKate Chopin was an American feminist fiction writer and a woman ahead of her time. She lived in the socially conservative nineteenth-century, but in her stories, she wrote about unconventional characters, particularly women, that caused others to question her morality. Similar to the female characters in her stories, Kate Chopin was an independent woman. She would often smoke cigarettes or walk in the streets unaccompanied; these practices were co nsidered unusual for a nineteenth-century woman toRead MoreKate Chopin s Story Of An Hour993 Words   |  4 Pagestheir stories of real life experiences and feelings. Kate Chopin largely based her stories off of her own life. Kate Chopin spent her childhood years in an alternative and matriarchal Louisiana town with a family that was unconventional. She challenged her nineteenth century sexist society and used her own life to put strength and feminism into her stories like â€Å"The Storm†, â€Å"Desiree’s Baby† and of course â€Å"The Story of an Hour†. She lived with her mother, grandmother and great grandmother who wereRead MoreKate Chopin s The Storm Essay1339 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"The famous writer Kate Chopin once said, â€Å"The voice of the sea speaks to the soul.† The Awakening, (1899). Kate Chopin was widely recognized as one of the leading writers of her time. She was an American author of short stories and novels. She was born on February 08, 1850 in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. She died on August 22, 1904, in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Written in 1898 but not published until it appeared in The Complete Works of Kate Chopin in 1969, The Storm hasRead MoreKate Chopin s Literary Creativity And Women s Independence1097 Words   |  5 Pages Kate Chopin has become one of the most influential feminist writers of the century. From Chopin’s literary rejection of The Awakening, the rejection sparked a fire in Chopin’s feminist side. Chopin began writing short stories that would become society’s lead in literary creativity and women’s independence. Kate Chopin’s biography is astonishingly intriguing and the importance Chopin plays to the feminist literature genre is exceptional. Critics either rave Chopin’s work or completely destroy itRead MoreKate Chopin s The Story Of An Hour980 Words   |  4 PagesMallard is a woman trapped in her own golden cage. Throughout the story, the author, Kate Chopin, shows the true colors of matrimony during that time and what it meant in women’s lives. Women were the only possessions attained after marriage, designated to do house labors and take care of a husband and children. â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin illustrates that marriage is another manifestation of women’s abdication of liberty once they say â€Å"I do†. â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin is a shortRead MoreThe Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin862 Words   |  4 Pagesan Hour Kate Chopin’s short story, â€Å"The Story of an Hour†, is about one married woman’s true hidden feelings of being married in the 19th century. The story was published in 1894, a time where it was unacceptable for women to express their wants and needs as a woman. Women were not seen equal to men and did not have the same privileges as men such as voting. Therefore, some of her literary works were considered controversial. It wasn’t soon until the late 20 century people took note of her work andRead MoreModern Heroine By Kate Chopin1363 Words   |  6 Pagesaverage woman in an unexpected situation, which, despite the odds being piled against her, she usually overcomes in the end. In today’s culture, women have overcome many difficulties to be able to work, teach, vote, have a voice in the government, and even are CEOs. Some people believe that some of these achievements are because of examples that come from literature that have led women to believ e in, motivate, and stand up for themselves. In literature the amount of the things that a woman protagonist

In-Class Essay Writing Analysis - 1456 Words

When I think back to the time right before we started writing our essay I realize that in order to come up with any ideas for the paper we had to chew on one thought for over ten minutes. For example when I read the sentence that we wrote about fast-paced live of professionals that reside in the city, I remember that just that one sentence took us about fifteen minutes to finally use it on our paper. It seems like we should have done some free-writing before we started this assignment. When we started to write this essay we didn’t have a clear visual on our thesis. We had lots of information that was scattered and had no connection between the Robot, the Jeep and the advertisement that was being talked about. In this essay I included lots†¦show more content†¦What we can say after this sentence is, the city looks completely empty and it has no people or signs on the side of the street. This advertisement includes only gray, boring, cemented retail properties. Looks li ke there is a parking garage so that makes this advertisement based in a big city like Seattle for example. The slogan that the advertisers included is as follows, â€Å"It’s time to start having fun with the city† (Signs of Life 236) After we include this quote to back our theory up we can explain what it is trying to say. For example, in the past the Jeep was always targeting county residents that had a place to go off-roading. Now the advertisers are trying to persuade the city people that they can also have fun on a nice four wheel drive Jeep and still live in the city. They might not be able to use this vehicle as a off-roader but they defiantly can still have fun cruising on a pavement and maybe once in a while take a risk. Using couple quotes from our reading added about one paragraph to our essay, but all the quotes were stuck in one paragraph instead of having them all scattered throughout our writing. That was not the only problem with the quotes, we didnâ₠¬â„¢t explain the quotes after we wrote them. One good quote we used talksShow MoreRelatedHow to Write Good Essey1042 Words   |  5 Pages | |COURSE OUTLINE | |ESSAY WRITING | | Read MoreI Was A Horrible Writer886 Words   |  4 Pagestimes writing essays for writing classes. I knew I had to improve a lot on how to establish academic essays and learn to come up with good ideas. Every time I make up a mind to concentrate on writing a good academic essay, I always end up rushing through rest of the essay after spending few hours on it. It was easy for me to essays until I took this WR 122 taught my Professor Wood. When I compare myself today with me from the past as a writer, I ve improved numerous amount of skills on writing. NotRead MoreHow I Am A Writer Essay1112 Words   |  5 PagesReflective As a writer, I would consider myself to be a very strong writer. 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I feel overall I didRead MoreMy First College English Class973 Words   |  4 PagesEnglish Class English 111 was a challenge for me. This semester in English 111 I grew by leaps and bounds. I learned to use the resources that are out there, like paper rater, the textbook and many other awesome websites and books. I learned what a rhetorical analysis essay was. Then believe it or not, successfully wrote two rhetorical analysis essays of my own. As the semester went on I feel like I grew more and more confident in my knowledge of the material. I honed my skills in writing by utilizingRead MoreCritical Skills And My Writing Assignments901 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout all my writing assignments, I have developed many critical skills that allows me to simplify my work, and narrow-down my topic to simpler forms. Interestingly, at the beginning of this quarter I was afraid of in-class writing essays because I am a super slow in writing and thinking. However, after writing several drafts for every assignment, my understanding of the critical skills gradually increased to the point where I wrote well organised essays within the time limit. I think I am readyRead MorePortfolio Writing Review And Reflection893 Words   |  4 PagesPortfolio Writing Review and Reflection When I started this class, I never thought I was a â€Å"good† writer. Ironically, after this class, I have learned how to be an organized writer and the term â€Å"good† is extremely unclear and subjective. From the short stories and questions to the individual essays, each assignment helped me practice and develop my writing skills. Overall, I think my writing has improved and the process of writing, something I often over looked, has immensely helped my writing. My literacyRead MoreAn International Student From An Asian Country Essay790 Words   |  4 Pageswell English, but after coming to U.S and attending Eng 121 class, I became better at speaking, thinking and writing in English fluently. Obviously the first reason is that my professor is a very good and taught me with a patience and in a good manner. Initially , when I came to my first class and I got first assignment for the Eng 121 class, I was very nervous because it was very hard for me. I didn’t know how to write 3 pages essays, journals. But then , I decided that I would work hard and passRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Writing1056 Words   |  5 Pagesmy writing has improved tremendously. I used to be very scared of writing and hated the idea of sharing my writing or thoughts with anybody. I used to never go to teachers, friends, or my parents for help because I was embarrassed of my writing and did not want them to read it. This semester I worked harder to get past this and gain more confidence in my writing. Now I have developed a solid pre-writing process that has helped me develop more organized essays and become less scared of writing. LastRead MoreAnalysis Of The Perks Of Being A Wallflower1206 Words   |  5 PagesIn the English 110 class, we performed many tasks that are required to do in the class. The class also required us to read a book which was titled, The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Reading the book was to help us write an essay about the book. We wrote many essays in the class also each essay was a different type of essay. In total in the class we wrote 4 essays on different subjects and with different methods of writing of the essay. Three of the four essay I selected because

Are Literature Circle Effective Free Essays

Literature circles are mostly used during a classroom to expand the view of the book and really see the details in each others opinion, but are they effective? Multiple students find literature circles helpful in understanding the book and they all have their own job when it comes to coming together and discussing what they read. In a certain way literature circles are helpful when it comes to comprehending the book everyone in your group is reading. You also get to bond more with the other people in your group, increase your discussion skills and vocabulary as well. We will write a custom essay sample on Are Literature Circle Effective or any similar topic only for you Order Now Everyone in the group has their own opinion so when a question is asked about a certain paragraph or page, you can all discuss why you answered what you did. â€Å"Literature circles are effective for team building abilities, discussion skills, and reading comprehension†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Matt) Even though staying on task is one of the tricky parts of literature circles, they truly are helpful. Literature circles are a great way for students to read and enjoy a book, especially high school students because most teenagers now a days do not read as much as they should. It’s a wonderful tool as well, so they can learn to work effectively together. When your in your group you can have a discussion director, summarizer, vocabulary reporter, and a passage master. Discussion directors create questions about the passage they read and take notes during the discussion. Summarizers are the ones that summarize the passage. Vocabulary reporters look for significant words in the passage that caught their eyes and discuses them with the group. Passage master find passages in the reading that everyone should notice, remember, or think about. Everyone in a literature circle has a job so they can all work together and compare thoughts. This is an important tool when comprehending a book. Everyone has a way to contribute, and work together. Literature circles are very helpful when it comes to your reading, vocabulary, and discussion skills. You get to hear others opinion about the reading so you can understand how they felt. So sincerely literature circles are very effective. How to cite Are Literature Circle Effective, Essays

Symbolism in the Metamorphisis by Franz Kafka free essay sample

The Metamorphosis, a novella written by Franz Kafka, the author demonstrates a connection between the transformation of the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, into dirty vermin to he isolated condition of human kind. The similarities between Gregors isolation and humans is revealed through symbolism. And through many symbols, the entire novella depicts an allegory of isolation and alienation. Throughout this allegory, Kafka does not reveal the meaning of the story outwardly. Instead his use of symbols guide the reader and help to reveal the hidden agenda of the novella. A major symbol used in The Metamorphosis, is vermin or the dung beetle. The transformation of Gregor into the dung beetle is chosen opposed to something else due to the fact it is a repulsive, unhygienic creature. Humans have a natural aversion to organisms such as these thus portraying his enhanced isolation from his family. This also relates to the overall isolation of the human condition. We will write a custom essay sample on Symbolism in the Metamorphisis by Franz Kafka or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Lansburg states When in society any group of men characterized by anomalous taste or social or racial heredity is de-nounced as vermin there will always be one group that will from then on see nothing but the other others rottenness,, and another fraction within the scorned group that will think and act as if they had truly been transformed into vermin, this quote relates to how Gregor felt. In the beginning of the novella, the reader is informed that Gregor is undertaking a great psychological stress, he has devoted his time to supporting his family with his demanding job as a traveling salesmen. His job of deep isolation and no human relationships results in Gregor actually becoming or perhaps believing he is a vermin, just as Lansburg described in the quote, when one is treated like vermin they will begin to act like it. Another symbol used to depict isolation and a need for a human relationship is the picture of the women in fur, which Gregor cut out of a glossy magazine and lodged in a pretty frame. It showed a lady done up in a fur hat and fur boa, sitting up right and raising up against the viewer a heavy fur muff in which her whole forearm had disappeared. This photograph depicts an allegory of Gregors link to humanity. In the first chapter, Gregors relationship with a magazine cut-out, rather a real women, portrays his alienation from other humans, representing his personal human identity hes lost. The glass in the frame, acts as a block between humanity and himself, reminding him that humanity is out of his reach. Furthermore this symbolizes human loneliness and longing for contact with others, for Gregor can not actually interact with the photo. The entire novella, The Metamorphosis, is in itself an allegory. The reader is left to infer many different events in the novella, which is due to the many interpretations of it. The reader could infer that Gregor is only an insect in a moral or psychological sense, and that perhaps this metamorphosis occurred as a subconscious way to escape his obligations for his family. However, the many symbols throughout the novella depict a strong message that human kind over all falls victim in many ways to isolation. Gregor is the main allegory which demonstrates human kinds alienation and loss of human connection, the author does so by transforming Gregor into a filthy dung beetle.

Free Essays on Packaging

â€Å"Roses are red, violets are blue, which one are you?† How many times have you heard this rhyme and never took the time analyze it. Not every rose is red. Just like a rose we as humans don’t fit into one nice little description or box. We’re all inherently different and this diversity is what makes us special. Growing up in a society that is pressured by the views of the media, a young person can struggle with how they depict themselves. Through their actions and appearance, their identity to the eyes of others is established in comparison with what the media portrays. Just like many young people, I try to embrace my originality in disregards to my environment. From my actions to my appearance, they are molded by the so-called pop culture and at the same time promoting my roots, the African American culture. I try to present myself as a "hip," confident, athletic, African American. Before people know you, they make predicaments of who you might be base on first glances at your hairstyle, the clothes you wear, and your overall appearance. It is no wonder that many young people do "back to school shopping" in hopes to develop the perfect first day image. It may be having a new haircut, a new car if they can afford it, or new clothes. You want to project a sense of your true self. Your aim is to be original but yet fashionable so that your first impression will generate a positive vibe amongst your peers. As I walk into the shopping mall with a summer’s worth of money in hand. I gaze expectantly towards the department stores in hopes of finding the perfect outfit for myself. I need something that would separate me from the crowd, but not alienate me from the masses. I turn into an urban outfitter in hopes of finding an outfit that will speak to me. The hip-hop music in the background already has my attention by catering to my brand of music. Out of the corner of my eye I spot a pair of black cargo shorts. I’m delighted to... Free Essays on Packaging Free Essays on Packaging â€Å"Roses are red, violets are blue, which one are you?† How many times have you heard this rhyme and never took the time analyze it. Not every rose is red. Just like a rose we as humans don’t fit into one nice little description or box. We’re all inherently different and this diversity is what makes us special. Growing up in a society that is pressured by the views of the media, a young person can struggle with how they depict themselves. Through their actions and appearance, their identity to the eyes of others is established in comparison with what the media portrays. Just like many young people, I try to embrace my originality in disregards to my environment. From my actions to my appearance, they are molded by the so-called pop culture and at the same time promoting my roots, the African American culture. I try to present myself as a "hip," confident, athletic, African American. Before people know you, they make predicaments of who you might be base on first glances at your hairstyle, the clothes you wear, and your overall appearance. It is no wonder that many young people do "back to school shopping" in hopes to develop the perfect first day image. It may be having a new haircut, a new car if they can afford it, or new clothes. You want to project a sense of your true self. Your aim is to be original but yet fashionable so that your first impression will generate a positive vibe amongst your peers. As I walk into the shopping mall with a summer’s worth of money in hand. I gaze expectantly towards the department stores in hopes of finding the perfect outfit for myself. I need something that would separate me from the crowd, but not alienate me from the masses. I turn into an urban outfitter in hopes of finding an outfit that will speak to me. The hip-hop music in the background already has my attention by catering to my brand of music. Out of the corner of my eye I spot a pair of black cargo shorts. I’m delighted to...

Dont Be a Hero! Take Your Sick Days!

Dont Be a Hero! Take Your Sick Days! Somewhere in between convincing our parents that we’re sick enough to miss school and landing our first professional role where it’s actually worse to miss work than to go in sick, we’ve lost sight of something important about sick days. Shane Ferro over at the Huffington Post recommends we all learn from a recent BMW CEO’s collapse onstage and change our attitude about taking days off. Full disclosure, my husband is on his third straight week of pink eye. Three weeks of discomfort and upsetting visuals and being too contagious to go in to work- but he hasn’t taken a single sick day. Instead, he’s worked from home constantly, sometimes with one eye closed, Skyping in for meetings with his web cam turned off and generally getting exactly zero rest despite years worth of accumulated sick days and a seriously gunked-up eye. How did he get like this? †¦.That’s a topic for another column. Let’s look at the public examples set by the 1% instead!Harald Krueger, BMW’s new CEO, collapsed at the Frankfurt Motor Show on stage last week due to a moment of dizziness. Chances are in a new role, at an important public event, he knew canceling wasn’t an option- despite the fact that he’d been traveling extensively and was feeling ill before it happened.A recent study  by researchers at Harvard and Stanford estimated that â€Å"more than 120,000 deaths per year and approximately 5-8% of annual healthcare costs are associated with and may be attributable to how U.S. companies manage their work force.† The study looked at factors including long hours, job insecurity, and work/family conflict.Americans in particular think of their jobs as extensions of themselves. Even when they’re too sick to do their jobs, that high-stakes feeling is what sends them to work with colds, flus, and worse. We like to prove we’re dedicated, essential, and stoic- even though germs don’t know from bravery and just want to find a new host whose life they can ruin!Of course what people don’t realize when they’re trying to play the hero is that refusing to give your body a day to rest up- choosing instead to power through and suffer at your desk while your immune system struggles to defeat the germs that are making you (and trust me, everyone around you) miserable- actually has more long term health consequences than we knew. Stress at work can exacerbate illness or even affect your life expectancy.So if you’re lucky enough to have them, make sure you take your sick days. Get your flu shots. Stop infecting your neighbors and go lie down and drink some fluids. The work will be there when you recover.Now, can someone please print this out and go put it on my husband’s desk?Taking A Sick Day Is Not A Crime. So Why Do We Feel Weird Doing It?Read More at Huffington Post