Theology 102: Podcast Script

Prince: Hello and welcome to Give Life a Chance's podcast entitled, It Start with Us.

Kelly: I am Kelly Cruz

Prince: I am Prince Ramos, and we will be your host for today's episode.

Kelly: So, just brief background information, Prince and I are currently in college.

And we are hosting this podcast today to talk about stress, anxiety, and mental

health issues in teenagers. For those who are not aware, stress is a normal and

healthy emotion. Children and teenagers who are still in school can become

stressed, especially when a deadline approaches or if we have a particularly

difficult test to prepare for.

Prince: Yes, yes. But the thing about stress is that it is fleeting and that we can

overcome it. What is concerning is when that stress turns into anxiety or

depression, and some of the students lack the skills to manage the stress and

pressure they are under. What should be a fleeting emotion becomes a

lingering one. We see it progressing into anxiety and depression, and that is

what we consider a mental health issue.

Kelly: Have you ever felt pressured during the past semester?

Prince: Of course, I did. Especially when the deadlines are close to each other, and

some projects and quizzes are mixed there. Boy! I was not able to sleep for

days just to beat the deadline.

But I have a question for you, Prince.

Prince: Sure, sure, what is it?

Kelly: What did you do to survive those weeks?

Prince: Oh, nothing special. First, of course, I listen to music. And it is not just any

kind of music, I prefer the lofi-soft pop, chill music that is very light to listen

to. I also eat good and healthy food and sometimes sneak some chocolate

every once in a while.

Kelly: Speaking of food, I just want to share my experience. Whenever I eat bananas,

I feel like my mood gets better. Oh, it also happens when I snack on walnuts.

So, I did a little research and discovered that bananas contain tryptophan, a

type of protein that the body converts into mood-lifting serotonin. Bananas

also contain vitamin B6, which balances our mood. Walnuts, on the other

hand, are high in omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium, which may aid in the

prevention of depression, anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. They are also a

high-antioxidant food, making them a convenient on-the-go mood booster.

Prince: Oh, thank you for that. I will keep that in mind for our midterm examination.

Kelly: Always happy to help, not only you but also to our listeners. Shout out to

everyone who is listening right now. Let us have some walnut eating party one

of these days.

Prince: I will look forward to that if the walnuts are for free, Kelly.

Both: *laughs*
Prince: So, now that we've strayed a little, let's get back on track. As previously stated,

we should not allow stress nor anxiety to control our lives. Our main problem

here is when stress becomes anxiety. Unfortunately, the biggest issue with

stress and anxiety is that it frequently becomes a bigger problem than we can

handle. So, the main issue in dealing with stress and anxiety... is how do we

deal with them?

Prince: Fortunately, we had some feedback from our followers and listeners on our

Facebook and Instagram pages. From their responses, we gathered the top 3

most answered coping mechanisms they do whenever they feel stressed or

anxious.

Kelly: To begin, for those who have pets in their homes, being close to them is one of

the best things to do after a long day. Interacting with pets has been shown to

reduce cortisol levels, a stress-related hormone, and lower blood pressure.

Animals have been shown in other studies to reduce loneliness, increase

feelings of social support, improve mood, and reduce stress, anxiety, and

depression.

Prince: I suddenly felt the urge to play and spend time with my dog. But moving on,

the next coping mechanism is exercising. Those who messaged us about this

must be fit and healthy. But, yes! Endorphins are released when you exercise

regularly, which improves your overall cognitive abilities. It may even assist

you in falling asleep, thus reducing stress. Remember that exercise does not

have to be strenuous — yoga, short walks, and stretching can all help relieve

stress and improve mental health.

a while, whenever we are in a sedentary position like sitting. Because

according to one of Dr. Malanga's articles, inactivity and prolonged sitting are

linked to chronic disease and cause havoc on our spine. Finally, but certainly

not least! Praying and listening to gospel music. Nothing compares to the

peace that our Creator bestows on us when life's storms begin to rage.

Prince: Of course. One of my favorite verses is found in 1 Peter 5:7, where it is stated

to cast all our anxiety on Him because He cares for us. Stepping away from

attempts to control our worries and leaning into God's reassuring words can

help us practice casting our anxieties on Him. Just like how that children's

bible song goes, "with Christ in my vessel, I can smile at the storm until He

takes me home." No matter what challenges we face, let us remember that the

peace God gives us is the best peace we will ever have.

Kelly: Our present time is really full of challenges, and sometimes all we can do is

struggle and try to survive. But never forget that we are allowed to take a step

back, breathe, relax, and rest before going back to the battlefield. Whenever

we feel overwhelmed by what is happening around us, remember to reach out

and talk it out. Suppressing our emotions will only make us blow up at a faster

pace. Stress, anxiety, loneliness, doubts, anger, fear, and depression are some

of the toughest opponents to beat, especially when we are fighting by

ourselves.

Prince: That is so true, Kelly. So, if you or someone you know is currently struggling
 and is about to give in, start reaching out. It can start by talking to someone we

trust, like a family member or your bestest friend. But if you do not want to

disclose something that personal, you can always reach out to our local suicide

hotlines. We have a list of those contacts that can be seen on our

site: https://givelifeachance.carrd.co/#. Remember that we should always give

life a chance.

Kelly: This has really been a meaningful episode. I have learned a lot for the past few

weeks, running the sites and social media accounts, spreading awareness,

interacting with our audience, and hosting this podcast.

Prince: I have to agree to that. That is why we encourage everyone to keep on

spreading positivity and awareness when it comes to our mental health. Even if

we cannot see it, does not mean it is not true. Mental Health problems are real.

Our struggles are real. But beyond that, we must also keep in mind that we

matter.

Kelly: Once again, this is Give Life a Chance reminding you that every step we take

and every word we speak will be the start of something new.

Prince: It started with us, do not let it end on us.

Kelly: Thank you for listening this has been Kelly Cruz

Prince: and Prince Ramos.

Kelly: See you next time!