The Collegian, Wednesday February 15
Ask Louanne
The Collegian Advice Column
by Dr. Louanne Barton, Psychologist
Dear Louanne,
I'm a basket case. My girlfriend left me after 2 1/2
years. She's seeing someone else and the guy's a real
jerk. I can't believe it! I'll be graduating next year, and
we were going to get married. Now nothing seems
worth it anymore. I can't sleep, and I can't concentrate
on studying. It's been two weeks and I still can't get on
top of this. If this keeps up I won't even graduate. I'm
not the greatest looking guy in the world and not very
outgoing. The odds of my finding anyone else are pretty
slim. I feel like I'm going crazy! Help!
- •
Would you believe, half the students I've seen in my office this
past month have lost a love? It's like the Saint Valentine's Day
massacre. Someone once told me that's why they put St. Valentine's
Day in February, to try to shore up relationships. At Pitt they , even
have a group for the broken hearted.
"My girlfriend left me after 2 1/2 years.
She's seeing someone else and the guy's
a real jerk."
What you're experiencing is a real crisis, one of the hardest we
face in life. It's like grieving over the death of a loved one only harder
because she's not really gone, seeing her keeps reminding you of the
pain, and there's always that shred of hope that maybe she'll come
back. We experience grief in stages which include denial, anger,
depression, and guilt. Finally we come to a kind of acceptance.
At first it does feel like you're losing your mind with inability to
concentrate and remember things, a tendency to think obsessively
about the situation, and feeling the urge to cry all the time. Even
suicidal thoughts can enter our mind. We think such thoughts as "It
must have been my fault. What did I do wrong?" or "I'm a worthless
person and never find anyone else."
This grief process takes time. No, you're not going crazy. What
you are experiencing is normal in a situation like this. Allow
yourself to experience and express these feelings. Believe it or not,
in time the pain will dull and a feeling of acceptance will take over.
Don't be too hard on yourself if you can't concentrate on studying.
Try studying shorter periods of time and take more breaks if you have
to. When you feel better you can catch up. It helps to talk to close
friends or family. Keeping busy helps too. Structure your day so you
don't have too much time to sit home alone and think. As you begin
to heal try treating yourself to some new experiences, taking some
risks. Do some of those things you always wanted to do, but didn't
because of - your girlfriend, especially those things which will help
you meet new people.
Maybe we should start a "Broken Hearts Club" here on campus. If
you're interested come talk to me.
Send letters to:
Dr. Louanne Barton, Personal Counseling
213 Glenhill Farmhouse, Behrend College
Erie, Pa 16563
FR EE_ HELP
Signed, A Broken Heart
~ ' l t~i~~~ i~ ti
Get Fit Now
by Brian - Nelson
Collegian Staff Writer
Well it's that time of the year again when
everyone anxiously awaits the arrival of spring
and warmer weather. The recent surge of above
normal temperatures have pushed spring fever to
epidemic levels. Almost everywhere we look,
there's something to remind us that better days
are. coming. At school, there are signs
everywhere advertising spring break in Florida.
At the mall, the stores are already displaying
,
spring and: suimrter. fashions. All of these are
symbols of hope that spare us from falling victim
to the doldrums of an Erie winter, which could
closely be compared to living through the "Dark
Ages". I've even caught myself lately, counting
days in anticipation of baseball season. Just 52
more days.
It's also a time of year for most of us to put
aside all, of those holiday binges and get
ourselves in shape. Starting now could save you
the horrifying experience of finding that those
clothes that fit so well last summer seem to have
shrunk over the winter. I can guarantee that nine
times out of ten, mom's washing machine wasn't
responsible.
Everyone has their own type of summer
recreation, whether it be baseball, softball,
running, biking, volleyball, sunbathing, or even
just being a spectator to all of the above. I'd like
to pass along a few health tips that may help you
to get a little more enjoyment out of your favorite
past-times.
For-all of you baseball and softball players, as
well as runners. Have you ever wondered how
great it would be to have a smoother delivery on
a pitch, a better cut at• the bat, and to be able to,
run thatextra distance without pain to the joints?
All of this is possible. All it takes is a little oil.
Cod liver oil that is. That's right. That same old
stuff your parents gagged on when they were
kids.
When you compare our bodies to a machine,
a lot of things begin to make sense. The machine
needs oil to function properly. Right? Our bodies
also need to be oiled in one form' or another in
order for its parts to function' properly. Cod liver
oil does the job. Its magical ingredient is vitamin
D 3, which we receive in another way through
slmlight. Living through an Erie winter, it
doesn't take much for None to realize that their
bodies probably lack this \ essential nutrient. A
lack of this vitamin can cause brittle bones, rob
your muscles and tendons of erasticity, and can
Ab or tion contd. from previous page
determine "fetus viability" before
being allow to get a private
abortion. -
Legal scholars say the court
could declare the law
unconstitutional, thus leaving
women's rights to undergo the
procedure unchanged. It could
also declare the Missouri law
constitutional but leave Roe vs.
Wade intact. The court could also
overturn Roe.
If the status quo is changed ,
activists on both sides of the
issue say, life for collegians
could change dramatically.
"We're not really sure what
this all means yet," said
Rothman. "The court could chip
away at Roe vs. Wade, giving the
states more leeway in regulating
abortion. The worst case will be
that while the rich will always be
able to find abortions, the poor
won't. Students will be hard hit
also cause chronic joint pain. Studies have
shown that cod liver oil can ease the pain of
arthritis, and can prevent many friction injuries
caused to the joints through the wear and tear of
various sports and activities. Not only does cod
liver oil lubricate the muscles and joints, but it
also aids the liver in its cleansing process,
improves clarity in vision, and promotes healthy
skin.
But wait. Before you all run out and grab a
bottle, let me warn you of a few things. First of
all, it tastes terrible in- its raw form. My
suggestion is that you buy-the emulsified cod
liver oil. It tastes so good. in this form that you
probably want to lick the spoon. In addition, rd
like to mention that the cod liver oil won't do a
thing for you unless it is taken properly. That i
where the catch is. When you first get up in the
morning you need to drink two large lukewarm
glasses of water, wait ten minutes, take two
tablespoons of cod liver oil, wait a half hour,
then eat a good breakfast. For a person with a
tight schedule, this is a hard ritual to follow, but
definitely worth the hassle. I guarantee.
For those of you who are sun
worshippers, and soak up as much of it as you
can during our all too short summers. Why not
start now? No, Fm not crazy. I realize it's only
February, and probably the closest thing you'll
get to a natural tan is windbrm from walking
across campus in a bliziiird. What I mean to say
is start priming yourself for the tanning season
through various safe methods such as
canthaxatintablets and sunless tanning lotions.
Canthaxathin tablets conOst of beta carotene
(the coloring found in carrots and other related
vegetables), and food coloring. They permeate
and color subcutaneous level just beneath the
skin, to give you a gold tint all year round. This
also provides an excellent base tan for when
tanning season finally does arrive. The
consumer should be cautioned howeverthat none
of these products provide protection in natural
sunlight Everyone should put on a sunscreen
lotion before laying, out in the sun. Even those
who are blessed with easily tanned, flesh should
use some type of protection. Without it, over a
prolonged period of time, skin will become dry
and scaly, giving you wrinkles and age spots.
Those with light, sensitive skin should protect
these simple steps can save you from such
problems as skuicancerlater in life.
Finally for all you spectators. What more can
I say? There's only; bout a month left '6l spring.
since most don't have a lot of Rothman continued, explaining
money.
that if Roe is overturned each
"A lot of it just depends on state will determine its own
where you go to school," abortion statutes.
Check out the Super Value
of Balfour Class Rings
on Feb. 15-16
at the Behrend
• I
Bookstore
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