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Neal Shusterman is a New York Timed best seller for over 30 books. Challenger Deep won the 2015 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. He has earned a reputation as a dynamic speaker and storyteller. Shusterman earned degrees in drama and psychology. His english teacher made a difference in his life. He did an extra credit assignment and that's when he found his passion for writing.

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About Neal Shusterman

Neal Shusterman is the New York Times best-selling author of over thirty novels for children, teens, and adults. He won the 2015 National Book Award for Young People's Literature for Challenger Deep-and his novel, Scythe, was a 2017 Michael L. Printz Honor book-and is in development with Universal Studios as a feature film. His novel, Unwind, has become part of the literary canon in many school districts across the country-and has won more than thirty domestic and international awards. He co-wrote his most recent novel, Dry, with his son Jarrod, and in addition to being on numerous award lists, Dry is currently in development with Paramount Pictures. His upcoming novel, Game Changer, is in development with Netflix as a TV series, and he is co-writing the pilot episode.

Shusterman has also received awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, and has garnered a myriad of state and local awards across the country. His talents range from film directing, to writing music and stage plays, and has even tried his hand at creating games.

Shusterman has earned a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. As a speaker, he is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give him a unique approach to writing, and his novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor. Neal lives in Jacksonville, Florida, but spends much of his time travelling the world speaking, and signing books for readers.

A Word from the Author

When I was a kid, I wanted to be everything. A writer, an actor, a doctor, a rock star, an artist, an architect, and a film director. I had a teacher who said "You can't do that ? you'll be a jack of all trades and a master of none!" But I had it worked out: I'd be a jack of seven trades, and master of three.

Then, in ninth grade I had an English teacher who really made a difference in my life. She saw my love of writing, and challenged me to write a story a month for extra credit. Since I desperately needed extra credit in her class, I took her up on the challenge, and by the end of ninth grade, I really began to feel like a writer. That's when writing emerged above all my other interests as my driving passion.

When I was sixteen, our family moved from Brooklyn, New York, to Mexico City, and I spent my last two years of High School there. Having an international experience changed my life, giving me a fresh perspective on the world, and a sense of confidence I might not have had otherwise.

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About Neal Shusterman Neal Shusterman is the New York Times best-selling author of over thirty novels for children, teens, and adults. He won the 2015 National Book Award for Young People's Literature for Challenger Deep-and his novel, Scythe, was a 2017 Michael L. Printz Honor book-and is in development with...

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Challenger Deep takes place in the real world but also in an alternate reality where the main character, Caden is on his way to the Mariana Trench. The Mariana trench is 7 miles deep and it's on the floor of the Pacific Ocean. There have only been 3 divers that have explore Challenger Deep. The setting shows where Caden's mind is when he isn't in the real world.

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Somewhere between Hawaii and the Philippines near the small island of Guam, far below the surface of the water, sits the Mariana Trench, the deepest spot in the ocean. What's down there?

How deep is the Mariana Trench?

The Trench sits like a crescent-shaped dent in the floor of the Pacific Ocean, extending over 1500 miles long with an average width around 43 miles and a depth of almost 7 miles (or just under 36,201 feet). At that depth, the weight of all that water above makes the pressure in the Trench around 1000 times higher than it would be in, say, Miami or New York. Floor vents release bubbles of liquid sulfur and carbon dioxide. Temperatures are just above freezing, and everything is drowning in darkness.

For comparison, most ocean life lives above a depth of 660 feet. Nuclear submarines hover around 850 feet below the surface as they travel through the ocean waters. Whales aren't usually seen below about 8,200 feet. The site of Jack and Rose's true (albeit fictional) love, the sunken Titanic, can be found at 12,467 feet.

According to National Geographic, if you were to put Mount Everest at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, its peak would still sit around 7,000 feet below sea level.

Toward the southern end of the Mariana Trench lies the Challenger Deep. It sits 36,070 feet below sea level, making it the point most distant from the water's surface and the deepest part of the Trench.

While the number of people that have climbed to the top of Mount Everest, the Earth's highest point, holds somewhere in the thousands, only 3 divers have ever explored the Challenger Deep. The first expedition happened in 1960 when Jacques Piccard and Navy Lt. Don Walsh reached the Challenger Deep in a U.S. Navy submersible. They were only able to spend 20 minutes there due to the extreme pressures, and their arrival stirred up too much dust from the seafloor for them to take any pictures.

The next visitor didn't arrive until over 50 years later in 2012, when filmmaker and science fiction aficionado James Cameron solo dived to the Challenger Deep in a submarine he designed himself. Cameron was able to spend three hours there. And, of course, he captured video and took many photos-he is a Hollywood filmmaker, after all.

The extreme pressures took a toll on his equipment, though. Batteries drained, sonar died, and some of his vessel's thrusters to malfunctioned, making it hard to maneuver.
"Continue reading "The Mariana Trench is 7 Miles Deep-What's Down There?" on QuickAndDirtyTips.com

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The Mariana Trench Is 7 Miles Deep: What’s Down There?

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Somewhere between Hawaii and the Philippines near the small island of Guam, far below the surface of the water, sits the Mariana Trench, the deepest spot in the ocean. What's down there?

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What impact does mental health have on a person's overall health and well being? Also how do people cope with mental health issues?

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Since the pandemic, there has been a toll taken on teenager's mental health. It has been found that 1 in 3 adolescents will meet the criteria for and anxiety order by the age of 18. There was a poll taken the effects of the pandemic is most likely to impact teens. It has forced teens to be removed from their normal life. This article shows how right now there are issues of mental health in people that are Caden's age.

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A new report finds that the mental health effects of the pandemic are more likely to have a significant impact on teenagers. Carol Yepes/Getty Images

One in three adolescents (31.9 percent) will meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder by the age of 18.

A new poll finds many teens show signs of anxiety and depression.

The restrictions of the pandemic have been felt across the board. For teenagers, restrictions have meant months of virtual learning, more time isolated from friends, and the canceling of important social activities like sports, school performances, graduations, and proms.

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant living through multiple crises, including financial and disease-related ones, all at once.

These crises have taken a toll on our mental and physical health.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 4 in 10 adults in the United States have reported anxiety or depressive disorder symptoms during the pandemic.

But a poll from C.S. Mott Children's Hospital shows that the mental health effects of the pandemic are more likely to have a significant impact on teenagers.

The restrictions of the pandemic have been felt across the board. For teenagers, restrictions have meant months of virtual learning, more time isolated from friends, and the canceling of important social activities like sports, school performances, graduations, and proms.

According to the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health at Michigan Medicine, a national poll shows that 46 percent of parents say their teen had shown signs of a new or worsening mental health condition since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.

"Teenage years are filled with physical, emotional, and cognitive changes. There are also hormonal shifts, more independence and responsibility, and peer challenges," said Brittany LeMonda, PhD, senior neuropsychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. "It is therefore not surprising that teens have been more susceptible to declines in psychological health over the last year."

The poll looked at responses based on 977 parents of teenagers between 13 and 18 years old. The results suggest that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 teen boys have experienced new or worsening anxiety.

Going deeper, the results show that more parents of teen girls than parents of teen boys noted an increase in anxiety and worry (36 percent versus 19 percent) or depression/sadness (31 percent versus 18 percent).

Regardless of a pandemic, a large portion of teenagers will meet the criteria for a anxiety, depression or other mental condition.

One in three adolescents (31.9 percent) will meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder by age 18.

According to the Child Mind Institute, 14.3 percent of teens will be affected by depression and bipolar disorder.

With the added trauma of the global pandemic, it's not a surprise that teens are one of the most affected groups.

"What we see is not surprising in the pool," said Dr. Jess Shatkin, a child and adolescent psychiatrist leading educational efforts of the Child Study Center at Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone Health.

"Since 1999, when the surgeon general did their first report on mental health in families and children, it showed that about 20 percent of kids suffer from major psychiatric disorders," Shatkin said. "These can be mild, from adjustment to divorce, while some will be more severe, like anxiety, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. All of these increase with added stress."

The pandemic has forced teens to be removed from normal social, physical, and educational interactions.

The poll's results show that kids have been hardest hit by changes in social interactions over the past year, with 3 in 4 parents reporting a negative impact on their teen's connections to friends.

The parents report that 64 percent of their teens have been texting, while 56 percent are using social media, 43 percent online gaming, and 35 percent talking on the phone every day or almost every day.

The minority of parents reported that their teens have been meeting with friends daily, indoors (9 percent) or outdoors (6 percent).

"When kids are depressed, we try to engage them so they don't stay in and isolate. We call it behavioral activation," added Shatkin.

Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, this all becomes a much greater challenge when staying in and isolating becomes the only way to stay physically safe and curb the spread of the virus.

The research shows that parents during the pandemic have reported negative changes in their teen's sleep patterns, withdrawal from family, and aggressive behavior.

These symptoms can be signs of depression or anxiety. Parents should watch for teens exhibiting these behaviors or other major changes in behavior due to the added stress of being removed from their usual experiences.

"Parents should be aware of warning signs, such as withdrawal and isolation from others, drop in grades, changes in sleeping or eating patterns, substance use, apathy, and suicidal thoughts," said LeMonda. "Early detection of anxiety and depression can lead to early intervention and better treatment outcomes."

The poll findings also tapped into methods that parents have used to improve their teens' mental health. Experts recommend:

Relaxing family rules

Fifty-two percent of parents polled have tried relaxing family COVID-19 rules to allow for contact with friends, while 47 percent also said they have loosened social media restrictions. Eighty-one percent and 70 percent said both of these helped, respectively.

Talking with an expert

Talking with a mental health professional is always a strong option, with or without severe symptoms of depression or anxiety. One in four parents said they sought help for their teen, and 74 percent of those said that it had a positive effect.

Trying a web-based program

Twenty-five percent of parents encouraged their teen to try a web program or app to improve mental health. Apps are often less intimidating because they are efficient and portable.

Keeping communication open while still giving space

One in seven parents reported that their teen has withdrawn from the family. This can be concerning for a parent so they may try to overcompensate.

It can be more effective to demonstrate that teens are not alone by sharing one's own insecurities and fears surrounding our changed world, as well as sharing personal coping strategies and asking questions to help create a safe space.

Encourage better sleep habits

One in four parents reported that their teens had had a negative change to their sleep patterns.

Creating a regular sleep schedule to fit with an online learning schedule, or creating responsibilities around the house and encouraging interaction with friends and family, can all contribute to a more healthy sleep routine.

"For parents who are able to and are around the house, it can be good to try to exercise with your kids most days," said Shatkin. "This can be jogging, walking the dog, playing tennis, or whatever you can do safely outside."

He also suggested building in activities or expanding on teens' responsibilities to help give them a sense of purpose. This can be a family movie night, family cleaning, or having kids help plan meals or cook.

"Kids sometimes get a pass on these because parents are busy or end up doing it themselves. Now, there is an opportunity to enhance that," he said.

Begin the dialogue early

The most important thing to remember is that mental illness can begin at the earliest of ages. Waiting until teens reach their 20s or 30s to deal with mental health can be detrimental.

"We have a huge opportunity to identify these issues early and also prevent a lot of them," said Shatkin.

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COVID-19 Lockdown Impacts Teens' Mental Health

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One in three adolescents (31.9 percent) will meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder by the age of 18. A new poll finds many teens show signs of anxiety and depression. The restrictions of the pandemic have been felt across the board.

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"Truth is I would like to escape myself" is about getting too much in your head and how that can hurt more than help. The author wants to be more carefree instead of worrying. Caden often didn't like what was going on his mind. He said he heard voices telling him things and he couldn't escape it.

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Truth is I would like to escape myself.

Detach my body from my skin,

peel it layer by layer to uncover

beneath the surface of petals

and thorns piled up year after year,

who I am and who I want to be.

I want to be the flower that grows

in dirt, the feather that flies free between

the cracks of fences. A wise woman

once told me, don't worry about you,

worry about who you could be.

I want to be the woman who sits

on a desk and writes pieces of oceans,

rivers on a white space in a place

where imagination has no border.

Illustration by Linda Dalal Sawaya

Source: Poetry (March 2021)

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Truth is I would like to escape myself by Nour Al... | Poetry Magazine

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Truth is I would like to escape myself. Detach my body from my skin, peel it layer by layer to uncover beneath the surface of petals and thorns piled up year after year, who I am and who I want to be.

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Vincent van Gough's "Starry Night" was painted while he was incapacitated for mental health issues. The painting was the view from the asylum that he was in. In Challenger Deep, Caden was in a hospital for 9 weeks due to his mental health issues. He is very passionate about art and is often drawing at times in the book.

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The Connection Between Mental Illness and Creativity - Google Arts & Culture

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Google Arts & Culture features content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute to bring the world's treasures online.

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Andy Puddicombe is the founder of the meditation app, Headspace. He shows how 10 mindful minuted can help slow our brains down and make us feel less stressed. It connects to Challenger Deep by showing different ways meditation can help with mental health issues.

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Andy Puddicombe: All it takes is 10 mindful minutes

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When is the last time you did absolutely nothing for 10 whole minutes? Not texting, talking or even thinking? Mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe describes the transformative power of doing just that: Refreshing your mind for 10 minutes a day, simply by being mindful and experiencing the present moment.

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Proof is a play about a woman named Catherine who's father was a talented mathematician who suffered from dementia. He recently passed away and she starts going through her own issues. Catherine and Caden are alike in some ways because when they were asked if they were okay, they always said they were fine.

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David Auburn's play Proof premiered at the Manhattan Theatre Club in May 2000, and opened at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre on October 24, 2000. He is the recipient of the Guggenheim Foundation Grant, Helen Merrill Playwrighting Award, and Joseph Kesselring Prize for Drama.

His other plays include: Skyscraper, performed at the Greenwich House and published by DPS; Fifth Planet, New York Stage and Film; Miss You, HBO Comedy Arts Festival; and The Next Life, Juilliard School. His work has been published in Harpers Magazine and The New England Review. He was a member of the Juilliard playwrighting program.

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David Auburn's play Proof premiered at the Manhattan Theatre Club in May 2000, and opened at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre on October 24, 2000. He is the recipient of the Guggenheim Foundation Grant, Helen Merrill Playwrighting Award, and Joseph Kesselring Prize for Drama.

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This podcast talks about how our brain works with anxiety. It says all the ways that we can cope with our feelings. It connects with Challenger Deep by showing the potential of the way Caden's mind worked.

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In today's episode, Gina discusses a range of cognitive biases that may complicate and exacerbate our anxiety experience. Our nervous systems are equipped to use these biases to make our lives easier, but we can easily fall prey to inherent weaknesses in these inherent tendencies of our minds. Listen in to hear how you can reduce the adverse effects of these mental processes.
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Article mentioned in today's episode
http://www.anxietyreallysucks.com/cognitive-bias-why-youre-no-good-at-being-rational/
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What is anxiety?
Quote:
Mantra for Anxiety: This is not you. This is something moving through you. It can leave out of the same door it came in.
-James Clear

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‎The Anxiety Coaches Podcast: 710: Our Brains Hardwiring and Anxiety on Apple Podcasts

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‎In today's episode, Gina discusses a range of cognitive biases that may complicate and exacerbate our anxiety experience. Our nervous systems are equipped to use these biases to make our lives easier, but we can easily fall prey to inherent weaknesses in these inherent tendencies of our minds. Lis...