Leanne Proves an Inspiration

8:30am Sunday 18th September 2011

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AN inspirational Crewe college student is one of the area’s front runners to carry the Olympic flame at the London 2012 Olympics.

Leanne Downie, who suffers from Crohn’s disease, has been nominated for the Coca Cola Future Flames initiative – a nationwide search for young people to carry the prestigious flame during the torch relay next summer.

Future Flames has targeted young people who use their passion in areas such as sport and physical activity, music and dance and community and the environment to spread happiness in their local communities.

The South Cheshire College student is being backed by friends, family and other students after bravely battling with her illness and raising funds for numerous charities at the same time.

Leanne, 19, spends most of her spare time organising fun events to raise cash to help people with Crohn’s disease as well as other cancer charities.

she is also a member of the North Midlands group of the National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s disease (NACC).

Leanne said: “I feel really honoured to be nominated for Future Flames.

“I’ve always been a people person and try and help others in any way I can.

“I know what it’s like to have a debilitating illness and all the fundraising I’ve done has been my way of giving something back.

“People have been selected from up and down the country for this and hopefully if enough people vote for me I’d love to go all the way and carry the torch at such a fantastic global event.”

Leanne was first officially diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory disease of the intestines which is brought on by certain food types, when she was 15.

she suffered dramatic weight loss and other symptoms, which led to her being admitted to hospital where she underwent emergency surgery.

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HAPPINESS: ALL IN WHO YOU KNOW, GOALS

An Indiana University study that compared strategies used by extroverted college students and their less socially inclined peers found that happy people who are less outgoing relied less on partying and drinking to be happy and more on connections with family and friends or cognitive strategies, such as positive thinking.

“You don’t have to go out and party to be happy. That’s the thing students feel they need to do, particularly when they’re new to campus,” said Bernardo J. Carducci, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast. “But, it’s critical to maintain contacts with family, with friends and like-minded individuals with whom you feel some sort of meaningful connection. That could be other people in clubs that you belong to, like the accounting club, astronomy club . . . people you play intramural sports with.”

A second study, also conducted by Carducci, found that college students who are goal-oriented also tend to be happier than their less focused peers.

“When you look at what these people do differently, people who strive to reach personal goals, they engage in more purposeful leisure, rather than sitting around and watching television,” Carducci said. “They don’t go clubbing as much as the others. They spend more time on what we call spiritual reflection. They write in journals. These are the kinds of people who tend to be more happy. These also are the people who mostly graduate from college.”

About the studies:

* Carducci’s study “Self-Selected Strategies for Seeking Happiness by Individuals with High Happiness and Low Social Affiliation: a look at being HHIPe” was discussed in August at the American Psychological Association’s annual meeting. Co-author was Rebecca S. moody, an IU Southeast undergraduate psychology major. the study “Instrumental Goal Pursuit as an Individual-Difference Dimension in the Seeking of Subjective Well-Being” was discussed in June at the Biennial Meeting of the Association for Research in Personality. Co-author is Benjamin D. Traughber, an IU Southeast undergraduate psychology major. * both studies involved 337 undergraduate students who completed an online survey that measured aspects of happiness, social affiliation, and drive to reach goals. the survey included the Satisfaction with Life Scale, Positive/Negative Affect Scale, and a 44-item Survey of Happiness Strategies.

Carducci said it would be useful for student advisers to know where students rate on Instrumental Goal Pursuit. “With this measure, you can look at people who are low and realize you need to keep an eye on them,” Carducci said. “They might need help learning how to develop goals. They might need help learning how to delay instant gratification.”

The studies are part of the IU Southeast Happiness Project, which is looking at the relationship between happiness and student achievement and retention. For more information about the Shyness Research Institute, visit ius.edu/shyness/.

SEXUAL HEALTH SHOULDN’T BE LEFT TO CHANCE

For college students, back to school readiness goes far beyond gearing up with laptops, school books, a map of campus, or dorm room furniture. College students from freshmen to seniors — even those who may not be planning to have sex any time soon — need to take care of their sexual health.

Debby Herbenick, associate director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University and a sexual health educator at the Kinsey Institute, offers this tips:

* Wait until you’re ready. There’s a lot of advice out there about avoiding the pressures of sex. Equally important is to figure out what “ready” means for you. When you’re in love? Married? Engaged? with someone you trust? After you’ve learned all you can about birth control, preventing sexually transmissible infections (STI) and are in a relationship? People’s “ready point” varies from one individual to another. once you understand what you need to feel safe and comfortable enough to open yourself to pleasurable sex, you’ll have a better sense of when to say “No” — and, ultimately, to say “Yes.” * Update your status. Your STI status, that is. if you’ve ever had oral sex, vaginal sex or anal sex, then it would be wise to get tested for STIs such as chlamydia (the most common bacterial STI in the U.S., and prevalent among those ages 15 to 24), gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. Leaving certain STIs untreated can lead to various health problems, including infertility for both women and men. Condoms provide excellent protection against most STIs, so keep some around and make sure to use them if and when you have sex. Adding water-based lubricant to the condom can increase pleasure. * plan ahead. Even though many college students abstain from sex for personal or religious reasons, it is true that most college students choose to have sex with a partner — or more than one partner — during their college career. Sex could be greatly improved, and be enormously safer, if more men and women thought ahead. if you’re already sexually active, or thinking about becoming sexually active in the next year, you should also seek out a wellness exam from your healthcare provider. Women: ask about a gyn exam. Men and women both: ask about the HPV vaccine, STI testing, and birth control options. also, keep a handful of condoms around your dorm room. Even if you don’t end up using them any time soon, they tend to have long expiration dates — or your best friend or roommate may need one. * Party within reason. going to parties is a common part of the college experience — and they can be a lot of fun. make sure to follow common sense, though: Go with a group of friends and make sure to leave with that same group of friends. never walk home alone. never let your friends walk home alone (especially if they’ve been drinking or taking drugs). Keep an eye on your drink (yes, that means taking it to the bathroom with you). also, load your phone with numbers of friends you can rely on as well as a reliable taxi service or “safe ride home” service provided by your fraternity, sorority, university, community and/or health center.

College is a great experience for many men and women. Herbenick said many people use this time to date, to better understand or explore their sexuality, to come out to family or friends, to learn how to communicate about sex with a partner and to generally make good memories.

“By having safer, smarter sex you’re also likely to have better sex — if and when you make that choice,” she said.

INDOOR AIR QUALITY: NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT

For college students, their dorm room or apartment might be “home, sweet home” — but the air they breathe inside their homey sanctum could be causing illness or breathing problems.

Cramped or shared living quarters can make questionable air quality even worse when poor cleaning habits, building features that serve as “sinks” for pollutants, and even modern “green” designs expose students to increased levels of unwanted airborne substances and common allergens. These can include mold, tobacco smoke, radon, pet dander, volatile organic compounds and other substances.

“When multiple residents share a house or apartment, they’re at risk for bacterial and viral infections caused by the close quarters,” said Larry Newton, a certified industrial hygienist and assistant director of the Industrial Hygiene Lab at Indiana University’s School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. “Humans shed bacteria such as Staph, an opportunistic organism that can cause mild to severe illnesses including MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Breathing problems can be aggravated. Simple hygiene, like routine light cleaning, can make a big difference. You don’t need to be phobic about it, just pick up and clean up after yourself.”

Wallboard, said Newton, can act as a sink for pollutants because the wallboard can absorb odors and chemicals and re-emit them later when the conditions, such as temperature and humidity, are right. Allergens such as mold and pet dander can get stuck in cracks found in walls, carpeted floors and behind fixtures.

Weatherization and other environmentally friendly retrofitting can make it more difficult for fresh air to come into a house and for stale or polluted inside air to leak out. Newton compares it to trying to breathe with a plastic bag over one’s head.

Kevin Slates, clinical assistant professor and director of the Industrial Hygiene Lab, said the risks of poor indoor air quality in residential and commercial dwellings are often overlooked because the health symptoms are not acute.

“The EPA cites poor indoor air pollution as one of the top 5 health risks,” Slates said. “As a result, we are seeing an increase in the diagnosis of adult onset asthma. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 34.1 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma. In addition, 9.6 percent of children have asthma.”

Slates and Newton provided the following tips for improving indoor air quality:

* Put away or throw away things that attract rodents or bugs, such as food, dirty dishes and clothes that need to be washed. * Mold will show up where there is a water leak, so any water leaking into the residence or excessive moisture should be addressed right away. Cabinets, drawers and closets that are rarely used can accumulate moisture, stale air and other pollutants, so they should occasionally be aired out. too much humidity can encourage mold growth, so it should be reduced to acceptable levels (less than 60 percent). * Residents should open windows and doors at least once a year to air out their dwellings. * Contaminants in air ducts usually accumulate where the supply-air duct curves sharply up to the floor vent. Slates and Newton suggest removing the register and vacuuming the supply duct at that curve. * Vacuuming the supply-air ducts’ curves in newly built residences is particularly important before turning on furnaces or air-conditioners, Newton said, because builders often sweep debris, such as fiberglass, gypsum dust, general debris and sawdust, into these ducts. if they are not vacuumed out first, the debris will be blown into the living areas of the residences. * Leave shoes and boots by the door so that allergens and contaminants that could be hitchhiking on the footwear are not spread throughout the residence. * Purses and backpacks should be kept off of the ground as much as possible, particularly in restaurants, to avoid picking up “riders,” such as insects. * Kitchens and bathrooms should be cleaned at least once a week because roommates often share these spaces or items within these spaces. That red film that sometimes appears in toilets is bacteria, Newton said, and should be cleaned. Surfaces should be wiped with a cleanser to keep germs from spreading. * Air freshening sprays generally mask odors but do not eliminate the bacteria, mold or other substances causing the odor. * Change furnace filters according to manufacturers’ instructions. consider using a HEPA filter in the furnace and purchasing a HEPA-filtering vacuum cleaner. Residents can check with the maintenance staff or supervisor of their apartment buildings to see how often filters are changed. * Carpeting can serve as a reservoir for allergens and other particulates, so residents should consider solid floor surfaces.

Slates and Newton said everyone should be concerned about inside air quality, but children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems, asthma and serious allergies are more likely to feel the effect of poor inside air quality.

DRUNKOREXIA: STARVING FOR a DRINK

Binge drinking and eating disorders are rife on college campuses. the combination of disordered eating practices and binge drinking behavior, “starving all day to drink at night,” can cause a range of health problems.

Young women (and some men) beginning their college experience are concerned about body image and may worry about gaining the “freshmen 15.” They might engage in calorie-sparing eating or even go so far as to fast prior to weekend drinking parties with the hope of not gaining weight.

“They also might abuse caffeine, laxatives, diuretics, prescription stimulants or prescribed or over-the-counter medications to suppress appetite, to purge themselves or to increase their metabolism,” said Carole Nowicke, research associate at the Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University. “These young men and women in most cases have not been diagnosed as suffering from anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa but are engaging in extreme calorie restriction, and/or purging before drinking.”

Not eating or drinking non-alcoholic beverages prior to a night out, says Nowicke, can cause dehydration, which is further exacerbated by the diuretic properties of alcohol. Drinking on an empty stomach allows alcohol to enter the bloodstream much faster than it would if it were arriving on top of a full meal. Nowicke said extreme dietary restriction, bulimia or anorexia, may lead to weakness, dizziness, fainting, low blood pressure, constipation, bone thinning, hair loss, growth of fine body hair (“lanugo”), loss of tooth enamel and decay, sleeping problems, electrolyte imbalances, and problems with the heart, kidneys and liver.

Eating a meal before indulging, especially food containing proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, will slow the absorption of alcohol as it passes through the stomach and into the small intestine and then is metabolized by the liver.

Some facts about disordered eating, alcohol and binge drinking:

* a 2010 study of freshmen at a Southeastern University found that 14 percent were restricting calories prior to drinking. six percent of the freshmen were trying to avoid gaining weight and 10 percent were trying to accentuate the effects of alcohol. * a 2001 study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) found that individuals with eating disorders were up to five times likelier to abuse alcohol or illicit drugs, and those who abuse alcohol or illicit drugs are up to 11 times likelier to have eating disorders. * there may be little gender difference in calorie restriction behavior prior to binge drinking, although some males indicate that they may spend less money on food to save funds for alcohol purchases, as well as wishing to feel the effects of alcohol more quickly. * Very thin celebrities who gain media attention by appearing inebriated in public may seem glamorous to young men and women and encourage similar behavior. Pro-anorexia websites publish photographs of these celebrities for “thinspiration.” * “Drinking games” encourage binge drinking by design; the objective is not to socialize with friends but to get quickly inebriated. * a “drink” is half an ounce of alcohol: One 12-ounce beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or one 1.5-ounce shot of distilled spirits. * a “binge is a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 gram percent or above. For the typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming five or more drinks (males), or four or more drinks (females) in about two hours. * a wine spritzer, reduced-calorie beer, or one ounce of liquor mixed with a zero calorie soft drink may be slightly under 100 calories, but margaritas, mudslides, Long Island iced teas, chocolate martinis, pina coladas, and “hard” lemonades can range from 200 to more than 600 calories per serving. therefore, 4-6 mixed drinks can easily add up to more than 2,000 calories, the same amount as eating an extra-large cheeseburger or having a large milkshake. * as many as 40 percent of college students binge drink. * About 90 percent of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21 in the United States is in the form of binge drinks. * Approximately 92 percent of U.S. adults who drink excessively report binge drinking in the last 30 days.

Nowicke said the combination of eating disorders and substance abuse is not a new phenomenon, but the shorthand term “drunkorexia,” which is not a recognized psychological term, describes a certain type of drinking behavior in connection with unhealthy dieting. It has obtained recognition in the media for encompassing the issues of binge drinking and anorexia/bulimia. she said the strategy of not eating in favor of consuming alcohol might fail to keep weight off because many popular mixed drinks are high in both fat and calories.

Nowicke can be reached at 812-855-1237 and

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“I thought, ‘if I just go down this hill and have a wreck, I can go to the hospital and get some rest,’ ” Rohling said. “then I immediately thought, ‘you idiot! who in their right minds would want to hurt themselves?’ ”

That moment signified a point people with depression and anxiety must reach before they seek help, Rohling said. The O’Neal Bridge incident was three years ago, but it brought the then nearly 60-year-old Rohling “out of denial.” soon after, she said she decided life was too short to be miserable. She started talking to a doctor, seeking treatment for the depression and anxiety she believes she has battled her entire life.

“it was as if I could have bits and pieces of happiness, but it didn’t seem to last,” said Rohling, of Florence. “I suffered from severe anxiety. I was extremely grumpy and fussy. I just was not happy. and, if I wasn’t happy, nobody around me was happy, either.”

Externally, Rohling’s life appears ideal. She and her husband have four children and six grandchildren. She plays piano at her church and teaches piano. She is self-employed as a bookkeeper.

Rohling also works with the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) of the Shoals because she realizes she still needs help. The group offers classes and support.

“When I’m feeling good, I can overlook my spouse’s quirks,” Rohling said. “But, when I’m not in a good place, I want to kick him out of the house.”

Betty Robertson, NAMI Shoals’ education spokeswoman, said depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, may especially manifest themselves during the holidays when a person is feeling overwhelmed.

“a lack of family support and loneliness can exacerbate the illnesses,” Robertson said. “There are an awful lot of people who have no family, and, if they do have family, they are estranged from them. Sometimes the Christmas that we and Riverbend provide is the only one people (with mental illnesses) have.”

Dr. Lynn Embry, a licensed professional counselor at for your Health in Muscle Shoals, said those prone to depression and anxiety are indeed more vulnerable during the holidays. Not only do unrealistic expectations associated with special occasions and parties trigger episodes in those who suffer from mental illness, they also may feel pressure to spend money they do not have, overeat or mix alcohol with their medications.

Embry said older individuals are particularly susceptible to holiday depression, although those who are alone, grieving the loss of a loved one or a relationship, and alcoholics and addicts can find the holidays disconcerting, as well. When it comes to holiday anxiety, Embry lists the “worriers, the perfectionists, the ones who don’t take enough time to slow down and enjoy the present moment and the ones who are not able to set healthy boundaries for themselves” as most likely to stress out to an unhealthy extreme.

For most, some holiday stress is inevitable. But when it escalates to physical symptoms such as increased blood pressure, stomach problems, muscle tension, headaches, panic and the daily feeling of being overwhelmed, Embry encourages treatment by a physician. Medication is not always required in these cases, he said.

“There are varying degrees and one treatment does not fit all,” Embry noted. “Talk therapy, exercise and relaxation are helpful, along with good nutrition and a positive attitude. The support of friends and family is critical.”

Rohling agrees. She said it is essential for family members to be proactive in learning details about their loved one’s specific illness, especially around the holidays. for instance, much like dementia patients, people with mental illnesses crave structure and sameness. in holiday situations, a person’s carefully constructed environment may become unraveled and, therefore, extremely uncomfortable. Rohling emphasizes depression and anxiety are treatable illnesses, requiring support, not blame.

“There is extra stimulus that comes from the holidays,” Rohling said. “The person may not be able to handle everything that’s going on.”

Rohling said she now realizes she cannot do everything, especially during the holidays.

“I tried to be supermom, superwife, superwoman,” she said. “I’m getting better. I know now what my body can and can’t do.”

Rohling encourages those who feel something is wrong inside them and have not sought care to do so. if the family doctor cannot provide it, a mental health professional can, she said.

“We have to get rid of the stigma,” she said. “There’s no reason not to get help today.”

Rohling said seeking help has positively affected her mentally, physically and spiritually. She has learned to instill boundaries, be kind to herself and has finally found a place of serenity. her most prayerful time is when she plays piano, she said.

“I’m happy with the way I feel inside,” she said. “I’m more calm and more at peace with myself than I’ve ever been. That’s priceless.”

Cheryl Milligan can be reached at .