Teen Talk
Summer 2012
OUR MISSION
We are a team of support
staff for our patients and our providers. Education is
provided for our patients with a chronic disease. They
will be aware of resource in our facility and our
community to enhance their ability to make informed
decisions living with a chronic disease.
In this issue…
Facts you should know about:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
VS
Attention Deficit Disorder
Swimming Smarts
The Victim and The Bully
Riding Your Bike
And more...
What Is Bullying?
Bullying is when a person is picked on over and over
again by an individual or group of people with more
power, either in terms of physical strength or social
standing.
Two of the main reasons people are bullied is because
of their social status or appearance. Teenage bullies
pick on the peers they don’t think fit in, maybe
because of how they look or act, their race or religion,
because they think they might be gay or lesbian, or
because they are shy and withdrawn.
Some bullies attack their peers physically, whether it’s
a shove, tripping, punching, or hitting, and even
sexual assault (physical bullying).
Other bullies use verbal insults and taunt or tease their
targets (verbal bullying). Verbal bullying can also
involve sending cruel and insulting instant messages or
email or posting insults about a person on a website
such as Facebook or Twitter (cyber bullying).
Still others (especially if they are popular) use
psychological control, excluding their victims from
their group or clique because they see them as
different (psychological bullying).
Those being bullied are at risk of mental health
problems, such as low self-esteem, stress, depression,
2 or anxiety. They may even think of
suicide, and some follow through.
How Does Bullying Make People Feel?
Most people can take one episode of teasing or
name calling, but bullying is relentless and can put a
person in a state of constant fear.
The victims health may suffer from the stress of
bullying, including stomach pains, diarrhea, and
irritable bowel syndrome.
They may go hungry during school, afraid to go in
the cafeteria for lunch, causing lack of
concentration during class.
They can also suffer from lack of
sleep with all the added stress,
making it hard to function at
school, do well on tests or
complete homework assignments
in a timely manner.
Common Signs That A Child I Bullying Others
Children who bully tend to have:
 Average or above average self-esteem
 Impulsive personalities
 Lack of empathy or caring toward other people
 Difficulty conforming to rules
 Positive attitudes toward violence
Bullies can be outgoing and aggressive, or can
appear reserved on the surface but manipulate
3 others in subtle, deceptive ways. They like to dominate others and are generally focused on themselves.
They often have poor social skills and poor social
judgment.
Most bullies think they are hot stuff and have the
right to push people around, while others may be
insecure. They put other people down to make
themselves feel more interesting and powerful.
Some bullies are quite popular, and they enjoy high
status and esteem from their peers and even
teachers. They are called Hidden Bullies, popular
teens who exhibit aggression including persistent
arguing, fighting, and getting in trouble in school
and at home.
Bullies are at risk of problems too, as their bullying
often leads to more violent behavior as they grow
up. It is estimated that 60% of school bullies will have
a criminal record by the time they are 24.
Some teen bullies end up being rejected by their
peers and lose friendships as they grow older. They
can also fail in school and not have the career or
relationship success that others enjoy.
If you find it hard to resist bullying someone, talk to
someone you look up to, and try to think about how
others feel when you tease and hurt them. Bullying
makes everyone feel miserable, even the bullies.
People might feel intimidated by bullies but they
4 don’t respect them. If you want others to look up to
you as a leader, find a positive way to use your power, rather than to put others down. You really don’t
want others to think of you as unkind, abusive and
mean. It’s never too late to change.
What Can You Do To Protect
Yourself If You Are Being Bullied?
 Report bullying if it threatens to lead to physical
danger and harm.
 If the bullying situation could escalate to physical
violence, try to avoid being alone, walking with
friends to and from school.
 Stick close to friends or classmates during the
times the bullying takes place.
 Ignore the bully and walk away. Remember,
bullies thrive on the reaction they get, and by
ignoring them or walking away you are telling
them you don’t care.
 Hold the anger, that way they don’t have control
over your emotions. If you are in a situation
where you have to deal with a bully and you
can’t walk away, use humor to throw the bully off
guard. Work out your anger by exercising or
writing down your feelings instead. Aggressive
responses tend to lead to more violence and
more bullying for the victim.
 Practice confidence - Ways to respond to the bul-
ly verbally or through your behavior. Practice
5 feeling good about yourself, even if you have to
fake it at first.
 Take charge of your life - Think of ways to feel your
best and strongest, so that the other kids give up
the teasing. Exercise is one way to feel strong.
Learn a martial art, or take a yoga class, or gain
confidence in something like chess, art, computers
or writing. Join a class, club, or gym and make new
friends.
 The confidence you gain will help you ignore the
mean kids.
 Talk to your parents, guidance counselor, teacher,
and friends - anyone who can give you support.
Talking is a good outlet for fears and frustrations
that tend to build when you are being bullied.
Bicycle Safety
Every year about 300,000 kids go to emergency rooms
across the country because of injuries on their bikes,
and at least 10,000 kids require a few
days in the hospital due to their
injuries. Some injuries are so serious
that kids die, usually due to head
injuries.
Tips For Being Safe On The Road
Ride a bike that is the right size for you. When you
stand straddling the top bar on your bike, and with
your feet flat on the ground, there should be 1-3
inches of space between you and the top bar.
 Wear a bike helmet that fits you properly. You

6 don’t want it too small or too big. Make sure you
don’t wear a hat under your helmet. Wear your
helmet level and cover your forehead. Don’t tip
it back so your forehead is showing. Also the
straps should be fastened at all times, and that
the straps are snug enough so you can’t pull or
twist the helmet around on your head.

Wear your bike helmet any time you go for a ride,
even if it is for a short distance. Better safe than
sorry!

Wear bright clothing, and make sure nothing is
hanging, such as loose pant legs, shoelaces or
backpack straps, as they can get stuck in the
chain and pedals of your bike.

Wear the right shoes. Sneakers are good, but
avoid sandals, flip-flops, heels and cleats. They
don’t grip the pedals. NEVER go riding barefoot!

Put reflectors on your bike so other people can
see you, especially if you are riding at dusk or
after dark.

Keep your eyes on the road ahead to avoid
falling. Wet leaves, puddles, gravel and rocks,
curbs, and changes in the road or sidewalk
surface are all hazards.

Always bring water with you if
you are going on a long trip, so
you don’t get dehydrated.
7 Keeping Your Bike In Tip Top Shape

Make sure your seat, handlebars and wheels fit
tightly.

Check and oil your chain regularly.

Check your brakes to make sure they work well and
aren’t sticking.

Check the tire pressure in your tires to make sure
they have enough air, and the right amount of air.
Obey The Rules Of The Road

Ride with your hands on the handlebars at all times.

Stop and check in both directions for traffic upon
leaving your driveway, an alley, or a curb.

Cross at intersections and walk your bike across,
using the crosswalk following the traffic signals.

Ride on the right-hand side of the street, so you are
going the same direction as the cars do. NEVER ride
against traffic!

Use bike lanes and designated routes when you
can.

Don’t ride too close to parked cars, as doors can
open suddenly, and always keep your eyes out for
cars and trucks on the road.
8 

Stop at stop signs and always obey traffic lights.
Ride single-file on the street when you are riding
with friends.

When passing other bikers or
people on the street, always
pass to their left.

Always use hand signals.
Hand Signals
Left turn - Lift left arm straight out horizontally.
Right turn - Lift left arm straight out horizontally to the
elbow, then lift hand up so palm is facing to the front
OR lift right hand out horizontally.
Stop - Left arm out horizontally, then drop hand down
so palm is facing to the back.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
VS
Attention Deficit Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a
medical condition that affects how well someone
can focus, pay attention, and sit still.
ADHD begins in childhood, though sometimes it’s not
diagnosed until much later in teen years, and
sometimes not until adulthood.
People with ADHD have trouble focusing on certain
tasks and subjects because they have differences in
9 the parts of the brain that control attention
and activity. They may seem impulsive,
“wired” and often get into trouble
because of it. ADHD can show up in
different ways in different people.
Here are some of the signs of ADHD:

Has difficulty paying attention and staying focused
on a task or activity.

Has trouble focusing on instructions and difficulty
following through.

Has difficulty paying close attention to details or
makes careless mistakes.

Has problems finishing assignments or tasks at school
and home and jumps from one activity to another.

Easily distracted, even when it is something fun.

Loses or forgets things such as homework.

Has trouble organizing tasks and activities.

Has difficulty waiting one’s turn.

Blurts out answers before questions have been
completed.

Interrupts or intrudes on other people.

Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in their seat.

Feels restless and often talks excessively and has
trouble engaging in activities quietly.
10 People with ADHD have so much trouble staying
focused and being able to control their behavior,
that it affects their emotions and how well they do in
school and in all aspects of their lives. It interferes in
their ability to study and learn like other kids.
As they grow older, people with ADHD may outgrow it
but more than half who have ADHD as a child will
continue to show signs of the condition as young
adults.
Sometimes the symptoms of ADHD become less
severe as the child gets older. The hyperactivity part
of the disorder can diminish with age, although the
problem of staying focused, their lack of being able
to focus and pay attention, and their lack of
organizational skills often remain.
Attention Deficit Disorder
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is used to describe a
type of ADHD that doesn’t involve hyperactivity.
The child with Attention Deficit Disorder has all the
same problems as the child with ADHD, except for the
hyperactivity aspect, and the impulsive issues that
stem from it.
11 Here are some of the signs of Attention Deficit Disorder:

Has difficulty paying attention and staying focused
on a task or activity.

Has trouble focusing on instructions and difficulty
following through.

Has difficulty paying close attention to details or
makes careless mistakes.

Has problems finishing assignments or tasks at
school.

Easily distracted, especially when it is noisy.

Loses or forgets things such as homework.

Has trouble organizing tasks and activities. Though
those with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) don’t
have the hyperactivity aspect of ADHD, they still
have trouble staying focused and being able to
complete tasks at home and school, and it affects
how well they do in school and in all aspects of
their lives as well. It also interferes in their ability to
study and learn like other kids.
What Causes ADHD and ADD?
Though it’s not exactly clear why some people have
ADHD/ADD, research shows that it is probably genetic
and it may be inherited in some cases. Scientists have
12 also found that it is prevalent in children who are born
prematurely and is more commonly diagnosed in boys
than it is in girls.
It is known that ADHD and ADD is caused by changes
in brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. These
chemicals help send messages between nerve cells in
the brain. The neurotransmitter Dopamine stimulates
the brain’s attention centers. So a
person with low amounts of this
chemical may show symptoms of
ADHD and ADD.
How Is ADHD/ADD treated?
Because some people have more trouble with the
attention side of the disorder and others have more
problems with the activity side, doctors gear their
treatment to the person’s symptoms so different
people may have different treatments.
Doctors usually follow a multimodal (pronounced:
mul-tee-moe-dul) approach for treatment. This means
they use several different treatment methods for one
patient, such as medication, family and individual
counseling, and changes at school to address
particular learning styles. Medications help both those
with ADHD/ADD by improving their focus and
attention and reducing the hyperactivity in those with
ADHD. The medication used today is taken at home
once a day in the morning.
Family counseling helps treat ADHD/ADD because it
keeps the parents informed and shows them ways to
work with their kids that will help them. It also helps
improve communication within the family and solves
13 problems that come up between teens and parents
at home.
Individual counseling helps the teens to better
understand their behavior and helps them to learn
new coping skills. Sometimes teens work together in
group therapy, which helps them work on coping
skills and interacting with others, if that has been an
issue in the past.
Schools are also involved in helping the student with
ADHD/ADD. Most will develop a plan that is right for
each teen, and they will make changes that allow
them to learn in ways that work best for them.
People with ADHD/ADD may also have other
problems such as depression, anxiety, or learning
disabilities like dyslexia, that requires treatment. They
may also be at greater risk for smoking and using
drugs, especially if they are not appropriately
diagnosed and treated.
~Tips To Try ~
 Sit in the front of the classroom to limit distractions
 Turn off email, instant messaging and your phone
when doing homework or other tasks, to help
stay focused.
 Talk with your teacher about your ADHD/ADD
and work together to make sure you are learning
in a way that best works for you. Some teens
may benefit from smaller class sizes and tutorial
help, or studying in a quiet place.
14  Use tools that will help you stay organized. Keep
track of assignments in a notebook, including a list
of books and readings you’ll need to bring home
to do them. Write down classes and other
appointments in a daily planner or notebook, so
you don’t forget.
 For those with hyperactivity, exercise. It can help
you when feeling hyper during school. Talk to the
teacher about taking activity breaks so you can
stay focused and concentrate better in class. Take
frequent activity breaks while studying or doing
homework too, if needed.
 Practice relaxation and meditation techniques to
help you relax and focus.
 Let friends know what’s going on, so they
understand your impulsive behaviors, and apologize
if you have hurt someone’s feelings and try to be
careful in new situations.
 Most importantly take pride in the things you do
well. Having ADHD/ADD is just a different way of
being, and people who have it have their own abilities and talents.
 Learn as much as you can about ADHD/ADD so you
can find the methods that work best for you, so you
can reach your full potential both academically
and socially.
15 Trivia ~ 1900-1910
 Kellogg’s Toasted Corn Flakes, Grape-Nuts and
Quaker Oat were staples in everyone’s household
in the 1900’s.
 Hellman’s Blue Ribbon Mayonnaise, Morton Salt,
and Crisco were first introduced at this decade
too.
 Wages - Child in textile mill… $3.54/week. Meat
Packer… $9.50/week, Housekeeper... $5.00/week.
 In the 1910’s cigarette smokers were definitely in
the minority when it came to tobacco use. Upper
class people smoked pipes or cigars, while the
less refined men favored chewing tobacco.
 In the early 1900’s boys played marbles, and if
there was a manhole cover nearby, the dips in
them were used as gullies. The boys would flip
their marble with their first finger against their
thumb and fore if they got a
marble into a gully. Boys were
proud of their marble
collections and would swap
among themselves to get a
range of sizes and colors.
Some of the marbles were
very pretty. They were made of glass with a twisted color markings inside.
 One of the girls favorite games was skipping rope,
either by themselves holding an end of a rope in
each hand, or in a group where the ends of a
16 longer rope were held by two different people, one
at each end. Any number of children could come in
and skip together and some times tried to see how
many they could do before some one stumbled
over the rope and stopped it. Sometimes they
would play at "calling in" a particular child by name
and they would vary the speed of
the rope so that the child doing the
jumping had to jump faster or in
some sort of fancy manner.

Hopscotch was very popular during
this time too. There were many variations of this game, with different rules about what
to do at each slab. The chalk quickly rubbed off or
was washed off by the rain.

At the high school level, students were being guided into academic and vocational tracks. Classes in
ethics, health, family life and job skills
were also being added to the lineup.

At the turn of the century, 34% of city children left for
school with little or no breakfast. Most likely an
equal number of children couldn’t afford a proper
lunch.

Rose O’Neill created the Kewpie doll in 1909.

In 1913, an item called the Erector Set was invented.
It was a steel, motorized toy that children could use
to build models of just about anything. AC Gilbert,
a medical doctor, was the creator.

In 1901 only 11.4% of teens between the ages of 14
-17 were in high school. The number increased to
17 15.4 % by 1910.

In 1900, one out of every five kids between the
ages of 10-15 was employed. Some of the jobs
were sewing, making cigars, running errands for
neighborhood shops. Some worked in glass
factories, textile mills, and mines, while still others
worked in the fields or on the farm, where they
picked tobacco etc.

The first Pizzeria in America was in New York city.
They called it Lombardi’s.

Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first airplane
flight from Kitty Hawk, NC in 1903.

Henry Ford built the first automobile that members
of the general public could afford, naming it the
Model T. It was introduced in 1900 for $850.00.
Swimming Smarts
Summer is right around the corner
and when the weather gets hot,
everyone wants to be in or around
water. Hanging at the pool, beach,
lake, or pond is a great way to beat the heat.
Most kids don’t think much about water safety, but
they should. For people ages 5-24, drowning is the
second leading cause of accidental death!
Most water related accidents can be avoided by
knowing how to stay safe and following a few simple
rules. Learning how to swim is essential if you plan to
18 be in or around the water.
Swimming instructors always tell their students:
Swim with a partner. Whether it’s in the pool or in a
lake, even the best swimmers get tired, and sometimes
get muscle cramps, which can be dangerous if you
are over your head when it happens, or to even get
out of the water by yourself when it is happening. If a
friend is nearby, they can help you get to shore, out of
the water, or go for help in case of an emergency.
Be prepared. Learn some life-saving skills such as CPR,
and rescue techniques. It could help save a life!
Check your local YMCA or YWCA, chapter of the Red
Cross or your local hospital to see if they offer free classes. They usually have them for beginning and experienced swimmers and boaters somewhere in the community.
Swimming lesson provide you with tips on handling
unexpected hazards in and around water.
If your just learning how to swim, don’t go over your
head, and don’t try to keep up with more
experienced swimmers.
If you’re a good swimmer and have had lessons, keep
a watchful eye on your friends, who may not swim as
well as you do. If it appears that you or your friend(s)
are getting tired, suggest taking a break from
swimming.
Swim only in areas that have a lifeguard. You never
know when there will be changes in ocean currents,
19 rip currents, a sudden storm or other hidden dangers.
If something should happen, the lifeguards are trained
in rescue techniques.
Swimming in an open body of water is different than
swimming in a pool, and you need more energy to
handle the currents, waves and other changing
conditions in the open water.
If you find yourself caught in a current or riptide, it is
important not to panic or fight the current. Try to swim
sideways, parallel to the shore until you get out of the
current, which is usually a narrow channel of water.
Gradually make your way back to shore. If you are
not able to get away from the current, stay calm and
float with the current. It will usually slow down, and
then you can swim to shore.
Be careful about diving. Diving injuries can cause
permanent spinal cord damage, paralysis and
sometimes death.
Watch the sun. Sun reflects off the water and
intensifies the burning rays. You won’t feel sunburned,
but the pain from the sunburn will catch up with you l
later. Reapply sunscreen frequently and cover up
when you can. Don’t forget your hat, UV protective
sunglasses and protective clothing.
Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Dehydration
causes dizziness, nausea, overheating and cramps in
your legs.
Never drink alcohol while swimming. Half of all
adolescent male drownings are tied to alcohol use!
20