The Downward Spiral By Trent Reznor: Chapter Summary

Since early school start times have already proven to cause depression and anxiety among students, it is common that because of it, suicidal thoughts can generate as well. In a study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, they found that “Adolescents that go to sleep at midnight or later are also more likely to suffer from depression and have suicidal thoughts”(Start Times are Unhealthy to Students). While suicidal thoughts can lead to serious long-term problems for a specific student, but for those around them as well. Likely the most effective reason why schools should push back their start times is that of the fact that they pose a problem to teenage drivers. Findings made by the American Academy of Sleep Societies say that “There are data that demonstrate that lack of sleep has negative consequences for teens," he said.

Bad experiences with substance abuse can lead to car accidents, cuts or burns. They can also lead to injuries caused by self-harm, an especially common occurrence in teens with dual diagnosis (i.e. when a drug problem co-occurs with a mental health disorder).” The quote explains how teens could die or how they’re sent to the E.R. from substance abuse. What that example is how teens can die from substance abuse.

Drugs such as alcohol have an effect on all users, regardless of their age; however, alcohol has an especially harmful effect on teens since their bodies are still developing. Studies have shown that alcohol has numerous negative effects on a teen’s body and mental health; for example, a study conducted by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention stated that “alcohol consumption affects the brain’s frontal lobes, which is essential for functions such as emotional regulations, planning, and organization” (“Age”). Teens already have high emotions and difficulties planning and organizing; alcohol will only enhance teens’ struggle. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention also found that alcohol consumption at a young age can potentially cause chronic problems such as memory loss, depression, suicidal thoughts, and poor decision making (“Age”). Teens have a difficult enough time making decisions and organizing their lives, but adding alcohol to the mix will only make matters worse; their bodies are still developing, and they are still learning to be adults.

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a common mental disorder that is caused by genetics, the environment, brain structure, and chemistry. Bipolar disorder can often be misdiagnosed in teenagers since they are going through changes in their body and mind. One could see mood swings in a teenager and make the mistake of thinking he or she is going through normal changes. However, if one looks deeper into Holden’s character, one realizes that his mood swings, along with his excessive desire for sexual experiences, are actually symptoms of bipolar disorder. The first warning sign of his mental condition is when he buys Sunny, the prostitute, for the night.

There is a huge impact of separation and divorce on young people, children of divorced parents tend to have triple problems, drug uses and crimes however; drug uses and alcohol are the most common problems, which have a huge danger on teens and children. Divorce does not only affect young children but also in their teens and 20s. A very recent survey shows that, problems with drink and drugs played a huge part in children’s lives, 14% admitted that they started drinking alcohol, or more alcohol than they used to, while 13% considered taking illegal drugs because of their parents separation or divorce (Edmunds, 2014, p.1). During a divorce some children go through a difficult time, which might lead to drugs and alcohol and this is another huge problem, many young people admitted that their parents’ divorce or separation actually made them alcoholic or do drugs including marijuana, inhalants, cocaine, uppers, hallucinogens, crack or sedatives. When children go though a divorce they just want to forget what is happing and run from their reality by doing drugs or drinking alcohol.

For the 16 year old protagonist, Holden Caulfield, he experiences just that. But Holden isolates himself in order to protect himself from rejection. Though Catcher in the Rye was written over half a century ago, all of the issues outlined are still very much relevant because I’m sure we can all agree that being a teenager can be very difficult. The experience of teenagers has changed considerably over the last 30-40 years; including a significant increase in the rate of anxiety, depression and behavior problems according to new research from the Nuffield Foundation. This is a major problem because depression has fatal effects especially on adolescents as their minds are at a vulnerable state.

Unfortunately, this experimentation can prompt substance misuse and addiction. Measurements demonstrate that drug abuse is a developing issue among teenagers. Drugs should be forbidden all over the world because for teenagers it destroys their social life. On the other hand, many teenagers believe that it should remain because it helps them to cover from painful memories in their past. Despite the many causes and effects of drug abuse, two of the main causes are Lack of parent to child communication and low self-esteem and two of the main effects are Health problems and Behavioral problems.

Teenage suicide occurs due to a variety of reasons.The main cause of teenage suicide is time. People who spend longer in such a chaotic emotional state are far more likely to commit suicide.Time is the main cause. If something begins to bother someone, it starts as a slight irritation that they can put off for a while, but eventually it begins to take over their lives. Over time, they start to lose the ability to cope and this is when they start thinking, and attempting, suicide. For example, in the story Romeo and Juliet, both characters experience or are in a emotional distress or stated of mind.

Have you ever taken the time to think of what bullying might do to one’s brain? It can cause some pretty serious damage to a person, especially internally and psychologically and it might even become a permanent issue for them for the rest of their life. The three most harmful psychological consequences of bullying for teenagers are weak social skills, anxiety, and stress.

Consequences Consequences of child abuse are grave. They bequeath after-effects on adolescence’s brain and constitution. Physical impacts are the most obvious and may include serious wounds or deaths by homicide or suicide. Then, children can be retarded in the future. Durrant JE (2005) suggests that children who have suffered corporal punishment tend to take part in aggressive behaviour such as hurting their families or friends in future.