Hello, Beautiful World!
Welcome to my blog, Psych-Busters: Uncovering the Truth One Disorder at a Time, in my little corner of the universe. Just as a disclaimer, this blog involves no crazy experiments, and is in no way affiliated with the TV show MythBusters.
To those who don't know my bubbly, intense-sunshine self, my name is Saleenjit Kang, which is also the name of this post (ikr... modest much?). However, I prefer to be called by my nickname, Saleena, because it's simply easier. I'm a senior at BASIS Scottsdale, and have been at this school for a very long time (more specifically, 8 years...). I don't mind it all that much, as I've made such wonderful friends and have had the opportunity to be surrounded by such amazing teachers and peers :) In terms of my interests/hobbies, my life began when I was introduced to Sherlock Holmes (the BBC version). If I'm not watching or re-watching the Sherlock Holmes episodes, I'm either cooking/baking, eating, lost in the world of YouTube, or exercising in some shape or form (walking, hiking, etc.). I also like to ice-skate, even though I don't excel in the sport :) Oh, I'm a Scorpio (if that matters). Yeah... that basically sums me up.
Getting to the point of this blog, this year I will be participating in the Senior Project under the supervision and guidance of my faculty adviser, Mr. Chadwick Carey, and my on-site mentor, Dr. Julie T. Anné. Both Mr. Chadwick and Dr. Anné are such enthusiastic, inspiring people, and loads of fun to talk to :) I am so grateful to have the opportunity to get to know them and work with them over the course of the next few months.
In terms of my project itself, I will be interning at A New Beginning, working with the team of specialized psychologists (particularly with clinical director Dr. Julie Anné). Over the span of 10 weeks, I will use the knowledge gained from discussions with the team on-site and researching case studies to provide insight on a new disorder every week, from anxiety to anorexia. My aim throughout the project is to push aside misconceptions, and shed light on the truth behind some of the most common disorders in modern society, while also attempting to find the root of the myths and eradicating the social stigmas surrounding the disorders. Through the perspective of a young adult who suffers from anxiety, I want to add conscientiousness to these psychological fields that have not yet been researched in-depth for the multitude of misconceptions that envelop them through both clinical and research data.
As Trimester 2 comes closer and closer to an end, I simply cannot wait to embark on this journey! Also, I mean, no school... what's there not to look forward to?
In terms of my project itself, I will be interning at A New Beginning, working with the team of specialized psychologists (particularly with clinical director Dr. Julie Anné). Over the span of 10 weeks, I will use the knowledge gained from discussions with the team on-site and researching case studies to provide insight on a new disorder every week, from anxiety to anorexia. My aim throughout the project is to push aside misconceptions, and shed light on the truth behind some of the most common disorders in modern society, while also attempting to find the root of the myths and eradicating the social stigmas surrounding the disorders. Through the perspective of a young adult who suffers from anxiety, I want to add conscientiousness to these psychological fields that have not yet been researched in-depth for the multitude of misconceptions that envelop them through both clinical and research data.
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| The Team |
As Trimester 2 comes closer and closer to an end, I simply cannot wait to embark on this journey! Also, I mean, no school... what's there not to look forward to?
I really hope you've enjoyed reading my first blog post, and you're just as excited for February to begin :) Please subscribe so that you won't miss any of these wonderful posts, and so that you can join me through this wonderful project. Feel free to comment down below what you'd like to see in future blogs and what you think so far (more gifs, anecdotes, anything!).
--Saleena ❤
P.S. Here's a link to check out my Final SP Proposal :)
Hi Saleena!
ReplyDeleteI never thought I would find a blog post that captures a person so perfectly, but you did it, in your first post, too. It sounds like you've got a lot of things to look forward to. I'm excited to hear about the different disorders that you'll be learning about. Your research sounds very interesting, and I think very relatable in today's society of increasing peer pressure and social norms. When you chose this topic, was there a specific disorder that fascinated you or that you wanted the public to know the "real truth" about? Can't wait to read more! :)
Hey Kiri!
DeleteI'm so so glad that you like my blog so far, and are eager to read more posts. I wasn't quite sure if my personality would truly come across; but coming from you (since you know me so well) it makes me feel a lot more confident and proud of my first post :)
In terms of my topic itself, I was inspired by a movie I had then recently watched that covered the social stigmas surrounding mental illnesses, and how it's okay not to be okay as long as we learn and move on from those points in life. Beyond that, as I was looking through the A New Beginning website, I was shocked by how many misconceptions I held surrounding anxiety despite being someone who has it. This led to a few ideas regarding how I wanted to carry out my project, and with guidance and inspiration from Mr. Chadwick, it became a reality.
I'm so excited to start this project already! Thanks for sharing my happiness and excitement :)
Saleena, I love your blog so much! It's just so fun and exciting! Also, your first post was awesome, and I loved how much the tone matched your personality. I, too, love psychology and mental disorders, so when I read what your research would be, I got really excited. I can't wait to see what you're going to learn from your internship, as well as vote on your weekly polls. :) Are there any disorders that you're most excited about, and do you know of any disorder myths now that not many people are aware of? In the meantime, I'll eagerly wait for your next post.
ReplyDeleteHey Korina! I'm very happy that you're in my blogging group, and that you love psychology as much as I do! Ever since I took the AP course in 9th grade, I've been in love and fascinated with the topic. I'm also very excited to read more about your research project (even though it's not about elephants, I suppose :))! In terms of the mental/eating disorders I will be covering, I'm most excited to research more about anxiety (because it's so common in modern society, but we don't know the whole truth behind it), and eating disorders (because body image is such a big, controversial topic in the media nowadays, and it's so important that it be discussed properly). In terms of disorder myths that many people aren't aware of, I researched a few in my project proposal (check that out!) that were very interesting. The one I found most shocking and fascinating was the one about depression (the research paper talked about the placebo effect, and how patients that took the placebo vs actual depression medicines recovered/felt the same in a blind experiment). I can't wait to blog more (and put up more polls :)), and have such a wonderful audience reading my posts! <3
DeleteCool, Saleena! This sounds so interesting. I know people who have suffered from anorexia and some who suffered with anxiety and I will be very interested to see what you find. How does one know when they've reached the root of a disorder? I love that you've included your voice so seemlessly. I feel like you're sitting in front of me and telling me about your SRP. It's great!
ReplyDeleteHi, Mrs. Bailey! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my blog :) I really appreciate it. I'm also very excited to spend the next few weeks dedicating my time to a subject I'm really passionate about! I cannot wait to blog more, and find better gifs. I'll be a pro by the time I'm done haha :) I'm really glad the post is 'so-me'! I wanted it to be conversational and show my personality. In terms of my project, currently, I am not quite sure how one knows when they've reached the root of a disorder. I'd like to say, based on my current knowledge, that disorders, their causes, and their symptoms vary with every person, and so one cannot really say he/she has 'uncovered' it all because it is unique with every patient. I think that there are some fundamental similarities between different cases, but in the end, disorders have many facets. Sorry that isn't such a concrete answer, but I hope that helps for now! I'll be sure to look into this, and address it in a future post. Thank you once again :)
DeleteI love everything about your blog - you have given it so many personal touches! I look forward to following your blog each week.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of your project and wonder if you might be able to use what you learn to create a 10 week curriculum of sorts for students who may or may not realize that they or their friends are struggling with a disorder. Your blog is certainly an educational platform for awareness!
Will you be researching the stigmas and biases that exist surrounding disorders? I wonder if you could create a poll/survey to compare preconceived notions with reality.
I can't wait to read your next post!
Hi Ms. Mitrovich!
DeleteThank you so much for your lovely comment! I'm so happy and grateful that you're my blogging group's liaison. I've had so much fun making this blog totally me, and look forward to continuing that :) I absolutely love your 10-week curriculum idea, and think I might just make that my "final product" at the end of the SP- maybe the school could even use it as teaching material for AP Psych! I really hope I am successful in raising awareness. In terms of researching the stigmas and biases that surround disorders, I will most certainly be doing so! Part of my methodology is creating a survey to send through email for people to fill out regarding their notions surrounding my "disorder of the week." I will then use the results to talk with the psychologists on what the actual truths are, before researching where the misconceptions rooted from. I hope that helps! Thank you for your enthusiasm in joining me on my SP journey!
I'm so excited for you! Also for me, because I get to read your fantastic blog posts and learn right alongside you. I cannot wait!
ReplyDeleteAww! Thanks Stirling! I'm so excited for the both of us as well :) I'm looking forward to reading about your fantastic journey too <3
DeleteThis is so awesome! Have you watched the Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch? He's the best. Relating to your actual project, how did you come to be interested in mental health and stigmas? Have you taken classes or worked with people with mental disorders before? I'm really excited to learn more about this-- psychology was one of my favorite classes!
ReplyDeleteHey Julia! I'm so glad you like my blog :) That's exactly the one I was talking about... he's soooo amazing! Having anxiety myself and following a lot of YouTubers that struggled with or still struggle with mental disorders perked my interest in mental health and stigmas. I find it fascinating that the people that put their lives on the internet and have such wonderful, outgoing personalities still have or had mental health issues, and used YouTube as a way to get past that and share their experiences. I feel like society associates mental disorders with certain types of people, and YouTubers are slowly showing us that even the most successful and outgoing can face mental disorders in their everyday life. In terms of my own experience, I have taken AP Psychology (it was my personal favorite too!), and have volunteered at a memory care center for over two years (although this isn't a mental health disorder, it still pertains to the brain). Thank you for showing so much enthusiasm- I can't wait to begin and share more!
DeleteHi Saleena! Your blog post is so engaging and it perfectly captures the kind of person you are. With your project, are there any specific disorders other than anxiety that interest you, and would you be looking into possible therapeutic solutions as well? This topic is really interesting, especially for me as student, considering how there is alot of test anxiety associated with high school as a whole. I can't wait to read more about your project and follow you on your research!
ReplyDeleteHey Sri! Thank you for such a lovely comment :) I really appreciate it, and am glad that the blog matches my personality! Other than anxiety, I'm super excited to look more into body-image related disorders and depression. I may look over therapeutic solutions; however, that will not be the main focus of my research. I'm right there with you on the test anxiety among high schoolers (that's a part of the reason why I'm eager to look into it). Thank you once again, and I can't wait to begin this journey alongside such a wonderful audience :)
DeleteHey Saleena,
ReplyDeleteAs a psychology student, I've semi-studied these disorders before, but I've never heard of the misconceptions that pertain to them. What kind of misconceptions are there? Why do you think these misconceptions or myths exist? I look forward to your next posts!
Hey Nathan! Psychology is such a wonderful class to take, especially in high school, combining different subjects together. I really hope you're enjoying the course :) What I mean by misconceptions is what society sometimes associates with a disorder or believes to be true that is not representative of the disorder itself (from symptoms to causes). For example, while anxiety disorders are sensitive to stress, they are not caused by them. Check out my proposal for more examples! In terms of your second question, I will be researching where these myths stem from and perhaps why they are portrayed as so. For now, I think media plays a major role in the creation of these myths (but don't quote me on that...). I hope that helps answer your questions. As I progress with my project, I'll be sure to provide a clearer answer for you! Thank you!!
DeleteHey Saleena! I know people with anxiety and bipolar disorder, which has stemmed my interest in what you are researching. In what ways are you going to remove the social stigma surrounding different types of disorders? I am looking forward to following your blog in the upcoming weeks!
ReplyDeleteHey Layla! I'm so glad you're interested in psychology; it's a really great subject :) In terms of removing the social stigma surrounding the different types of disorders, I'd like to do so by informing the public on what the reality of the particular disorder is. Not what we've been taught or what we've heard, but what the disorder really entails. I think it's important for the general public to get the nitty gritty details on the disorder itself, and to understand perhaps why and how they had misunderstood the disorder to begin with (I hope that made sense). That is what I would like to share and bring light to. I really hope you enjoy my blog- can't wait to begin :)
DeleteHey Saleena! I thought that this was a really cool intro to psychology. However, I was curious about which disorders you will be researching specifically? I hope to learn more through your work!
ReplyDeleteHey Millie! Thank you so much for the lovely comment! I'm glad you liked my first post :) Although I do not have a concrete list at the moment, I'm looking into anxiety, depression, anorexia, bulimia, substance abuse, trauma, and family/adolescence issues. The list will become more certain as I progress through the project. Thank you once again!
DeleteHi Saleena! I loved your first post! Your idea seems so insightful and powerful. I think the research you'll be doing on mental illness will prove to be very important in terms of social stigma. I was wondering how you plan to eliminate these social stigmas if they are perpetuated, as you said you currently believe, through the media?
ReplyDeleteHi Nitya! Thank you; your comment was absolutely lovely :) Currently, I believe the media does a play a huge role in social stigmas (as you mentioned). The best way to combat that for now is to try to build conscientiousness in the public on the truth behind some of these commonly misunderstood disorders. I think if people realize that they receive faulty information, they'll be more cautious in the future and do their research before holding onto their beliefs. I hope my project can help with this! Thank you for reading and joining me on this journey :)
DeleteHey Saleena, I found your senior project topic unique and intriguing. I like how your findings can be applied to social situations, not just academic ones, as the misconceptions can be discussed in normal conversations with anyone, not just in research terms about the diseases. I'm sure your research will better answer my questions, but for now do you know if people with the psychological disorders also believe the misconceptions, as in do they convince themselves that such social stigmas are true in relation to themselves? Or are the misconceptions generally believed by those without the diseases, who don't really know what it's like to have the disorders personally?
ReplyDeleteHey Annalise! Thank you for reading my blog and following it! I'm really happy you find my topic applicable to a variety of situations :) In terms of your questions on my project itself (please understand that these answers are based on my current understandings and may change over the course of my project), I think that everyone-with and without the disorder- can hold these misconceptions. I'm sure patients do come in with some misconceptions on their disorder that they read or heard somewhere. In these cases, the psychologist they're working with can help shed light on the actual symptoms/details of the disorder (so they may believe the social stigmas to be true in relation to themselves before the therapy sessions, but then would learn what actually applies to them and what is true). I hope that helps for now! Thank you :)
DeleteHi Selena! I am so excited to go on this amazing journey with you. I am very interested in the medical field, and since psychology is very necessary (especially with patients) i am so excited for this.
ReplyDeleteHi, Pooja! Thank you for your lovely comment. Psychology is an amazing field, and I am so glad you are excited for my project :) Thank you once again!
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