Jude Magnotti ‘26
EE Editor-In-Chief
In a world of overreactions and tense emotions, ordeals can explode from friendly interactions to all out warfare in a matter of hours. Friends turn to enemies, mediators to soldiers, and others get stuck in the crossfire unable to escape a raging avalanche that they had no part in.
However, more than anyone else, it is the people who find themselves in the center of these controversies that are left to pick up the pieces. Some may have made mistakes, others may have acted perfectly normal. Either way, just a few frightening words from an angry individual can set the rumor mill on fire and tear down the very fabric of someone’s life.
For people stuck in these situations, there is no more important goal than seeking help. Especially in situations where one finds themselves socially or physically isolated, the importance of realizing that you are not alone can not be understated.
This goes for not just ordeals like these, but in any complicated situation you find yourself in. It is easy to feel alone when everyone else makes you feel like you are. The impending feeling of doom creeps up on you and sits in your stomach like you swallowed a rock. Dread and fear take over your every waking moment as you can do nothing but wonder, “How will things get even worse?”
Your mind bounces around like a pit bull thinking of every worst case scenario possible. Your anxieties consume your life until eventually, no matter how many people tell you otherwise, you feel ALONE. And that is the biggest lie you will ever tell yourself. No matter how many people are against you, no matter how hopeless your situation may feel, there is ALWAYS someone in your corner wanting nothing more than to help protect you.
This can be a family member, a friend, a teacher, it does not matter who they are, just that they will be there for you through thick and thin. It will affect them too, but the most caring people know how to put their own mental health on the line in hopes that it will help someone else.
It’s not just mental health, however. Evidence has shown over time that chronic stress and pessimism poses just as much of a threat to your physical health as a deadly disease. With the constant release of stress hormones, the body’s heart rate, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels can be heightened to dangerous rates. That pit in your stomach can keep you from eating, from sleeping, from even doing the most basic things to care about yourself. Soon enough, you could not only find your mental health spiraling, but your physical health along with it as you fall further and further into that pit.
Nevertheless, while you can’t control what happens to you or what other people think, you can always control how YOU react. Stay calm, take deep threats, and keep a level head while thinking everything through. The only thing more dangerous than other people is yourself, and in many cases your own reaction can worsen things even more. No matter how hard something is or what kind of pressure you may find yourself under, always be mindful of how you react and handle the situation.
Most importantly, if you have done something wrong take accountability, but don’t let yourself be run over by a mob that would see you destroyed. Stand up, advocate for yourself, advocate for the truth, and never forget that there are always people who will be right there at your side to fight along with you. Whether the pressure you find yourself under is warranted or not, preserving yourself, your character, and your mental health is more important than anything else. So relax, take a deep breath, talk to someone, and figure your situation out for better or for worse. Whatever happens, it is your life, and it is up to you to decide how it goes…