Lifestyle

Sniffles, cough, sore throat ... these can be symptoms of any number of conditions, but are often a byproduct of the common cold.

In 2018, a lone gunman opened fire inside the walls of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people and injuring at least that many more. Two weeks later, the surviving students returned to campus. It was February, after all, and the school year show must go on. While I recall story after story about the tragedy, I don’t remember any news personality explaining that those kids would have to walk through those doors again. Thinking about it now, I cannot explain why I thought they wouldn’t have to return to school. It just never occurred to me that going back to places of trauma would be expected of anyone. Yet, it is. The people who survived the 9/11 attacks are routinely expected to attend recognition services at the various sites where their lives were in peril. Survivors of Pearl Harbor have been recognized in programs held at Pearl Harbor. Is this healthy, this returning to trauma site mentality? Experts are divided. Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis with Pepperdine’s psychology department says that it is natural not to want to return to locations where bad things happened. “People avoid other people, places, or things that remind them of trauma, which is a result of feeling powerlessness, hopelessness, and terror.” But, avoidance isn’t always healthy long term, especially when the place is part of our normal routine. Refusal to reenter can inhibit a survivor of trauma from leading a full life. I never saw myself in this category, yet I recently conquered a fear I didn’t even realize I held.

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Anxiety affects millions of people worldwide. The Anxiety & Depression Association of America indicates anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults age 18 and older every year, which equates to around 19.1 percent of the population.

“I would like to change my bedtime on New Year’s Eve,” says Tyler, 11. “I usually go to bed at 10 p.m., but I would like to stay up all night. I would have a great time because we would first party, second play video games and third eat a lot!”

Nine people were recently honored during STAR Transit’s Quarterly Driver Safety Meetings and Employee Appreciation Week. Rosalyn Bain was announced as the 2022 Employee of the Year, and Brock Vawter received the 2022 Driver of Year award.

Various changes to appearance and health are associated with aging. Issues such as diminished vision, waning muscle strength and gray hairs are among the more common and noticeable side effects of aging. Cognitive decline is another symptom often associated with aging, even if that needn’t be the case.

If so, have you ever visited Cruzitos?

Recycling, mulching, wildlife habitats provide good options

Recipe courtesy of Beef Loving Texans Total time: 45 minutes Servings: 8

Mouthwatering Recipes to Beef Up the

Recipe courtesy of Beef Loving Texans Total time: 50 minutes Servings: 12

Braeden Donohue, Kassandra Pierce, and Cynthia Senkel secured spots on the Texas High School Coaches Association All State Academic Team.