HEALTH

Whether or not you're a Selena Gomez fan, you probably already know about her decision to cancel the rest of her amazing Revival Tour. Just a few weeks ago, she chose to cancel that and the rest of her 2016 engagements due to the state of her mental health. The singer and actress has been struggling with panic attacks and anxiety brought on by her lupus.

Sel can be considered is 1 in 5 young people who suffer from a mental illness. That's 20 percent of our population. While we hate to see her under such stress, there may be something positive to come from this: She has now opened up an enormous avenue for young people everywhere to speak up about their own wellbeing. She has demonstrated that there is no reason to feel ashamed to remove yourself from a situation that you feel you can’t handle. Your health (mental or physical) always outweighs whatever else is going on in your life, and we thank Selena for reminding us of that.

If you feel that you need to remove yourself from a stressful situation for your health, here are some people you can turn to.

1. Your best friend. The first step to solving a problem should always be talking to someone you trust—that could be your bestie. But they shouldn’t be the last person you talk to. Reaching out to an adult as well will really help you out. 

2. Your parents. Your parents will drop everything to help you, no matter the circumstances. So if you are starting to feel unlike yourself in any way, let them know. They will want to know what's going on so they can begin taking next steps, and besides, big decisions can't be made without their input.

3. Your guidance counselor. It’s their job to guide you, so they’ll definitely be able to assist you in getting healthier even if your issues don't stem from school. They are an especially good person to talk to if you, your bestie or your parents are unsure of what to do to relieve you.

You know that Selena is fiercely loyal to her friends (just ask her BFF Taylor Swift), so she would want you to keep an eye on your pals. Just because a friend hasn't asked for your help doesn't mean that they don't need it. If you know of someone who hasn’t been acting themselves lately, talk to them. It might be exactly what they need.

Have you ever found yourself in a dark place and asked for help? Who did you turn to?

Photo credit: Selena Gomez

by Amy Garcia | 9/13/2016