The Remedy
Week 9 (May 27-June 2)
A remedy is defined as "a medicine or treatment for a disease or injury." We are living in a moment where disease, specifically COVID-19, is the main topic of conversation. You might hear experts on the news discussing possible treatments, or vaccines for this particular disease. However, for this prompt, you are the expert. As a result of this pandemic, people may be experiencing fear, sadness, grief, loneliness, financial difficulties, racism, etc. These, too, can feel like a type of disease. In this prompt, we want you to explore all the angles of this pandemic, and come up with a treatment. For example, if the "sickness" you want to address is sadness, then describe the symptoms, show us what sadness looks like, how you would treat or heal this sadness, and why. Being as literal or metaphorical as you wish, choose a "disease" to address, describe the symptoms, tell us how you would heal it, and why.
Depresion
by Lisa
En estos momentos de mucho dolor y desesperación a raíz del covid-19, muchas personas han entrado en crisis, donde no saben que hacer o todos los cambios tan radicales que hemos tenido nos descontrolan en diferentes áreas. En mi persona, fui diagnosticada con depresión severa hace dos años. Tenía que estar tomando un tratamiento, el cual deje porque mi cuerpo lo rechazaba, pero segui tomando terapias. Hoy en día, puedo decir que a raíz de lo que pasó. Me he sentido algunos días mal, porque tengo muchas cosas en mi mente. La tristeza se apodera de uno en muchas maneras. Empieza con un pequeño pensamiento y luego te terminan robando las noches y te las convierte en un insomnio puro en el cual muchos sentimientos se encuentran. Las personas que sufren de depresión pasan mucho tiempo pensando, las cosas nos afectan hasta un grado tan grande que nadie se lo puede imaginar.
Facing Depression During COVID-19
by Marlow
Every now and then, there comes a period of time in our lives where we suddenly do not feel like our usual selves. Our mood is suddenly downtrodden, our motivation on the slopes, and the happiness we once knew until then has disappeared. I, like countless others, have experienced depression at least once in my short life. It is something that I try to avoid to the best of my ability, but there are moments when it is unavoidable despite my best efforts. During the pandemic, though states are reopening at a cautious rate, there are still a vast number of people who may not know when they may return to work, how they might feed their families, and how they can bargain with their landlords and mortgages.With all of these and countless other situations arising with COVID, the feeling of depression has fallen upon some of those affected by everything happening over these past months.
The Implosion
by Johnay K.
This disease has grown as a result of COVID-19 and has bolted into a lot of lives causing uncertainty in many households. There are plenty of people who were already victims of this menace prior to COVID-19’s unwelcomed entrance into society, which only progressed their symptoms. The following are known symptoms (given in no order):
Fatigue, sweating, fear, insomnia, nausea, trembling, palpitations, lack of concentration, hypervigilance, irritability, worthlessness, and so on.
To further the severity of this disease, there are many of those who choose not to report it as a result of believing it can be ignored, and therefore cured. This is not the answer to curing this disease. This disease can be self-diagnosable, and treatment can be as follows:
An Attempt at a Remedy for Injustice
by Ayah
If you ask me to define justice, I'll list the things that fall under the term from the government, courts, and political aspects, to your daily interactions with anyone you come across. Justice is being fair and equal. It’s difficult to stand up to those causing injustice because you are speaking truth to a liar.
There Is No Cure
by Amya
The world is in disarray. Things are constantly changing, seemingly only getting worse. Everywhere you may look there’s violence, ignorance, disease, and utter chaos. Unfortunately, all of these causes can implant an extremely dangerous sickness in the healthiest people. Some symptoms may include rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, irrational thought, chest pains, shortness of breath, upset stomach, trembling, and feelings of hopelessness. If you are experiencing these symptoms, there is a possibility you are suffering from a condition known as Fear, and there is no cure.
Being Alone
by Rose
Loneliness brings depression, overthinking and anxiety. During quarantine, lots of people feel this way because of social distancing. We can't really physically interact with our friends as we normally do. Loneliness is the feeling of being isolated. Loneliness has little to no human interaction or company which is bad for the human brain. My cure for this is calling a close friend or family member to see if they would like to hang out (while following the safety protocols). Also, find things that make you happy and go outside for fresh air or a run. Exercise always makes people feel good and better about themselves. I also say that social media can help because it is a social platform where you're not alone. In addition, listening to upbeat music always lifts one’s spirit up because it removes the sadness away.
The Cure For Abandonment
by Jailah
My cure would be for abandonment. The remedy would be a pill that tastes like a fruit snack, because my favorite candy is fruit snacks. I would cure this because I know how it feels to feel abandoned or actually be abandoned. Abandonment could lead to more harmful things like suicide. Suicide isn’t the way out. The fruit snack pill will make you feel whole again. Make you feel that the whole world loves you, fighting bad symptoms like hunger, sadness, the urge to wanna fight anyone that gets in your way. I wanna cure this so that anybody who feels alone knows that someone is there for them.
Loss of A Loved One
by Sam
Client: Doctor! Doctor! I’m calling because I don’t feel too good.
Doctor: Well, what are your symptoms ?
Client: I don’t feel like myself; I'm sleeping all the time and I’m tired all the time, my body hurts, I’m overeating, and I’ve been gaining weight, fainting…..
Doctor: Mhm…. has there been any changes in your life recently ?
Client: Well, I recently lost my brother, but everything else has been the same.
Doctor: Have you been dealing with the loss of your brother ?
Stagnant
by Marc
Imagine a time in your life when things seemed stale and nothing, and I mean nothing, felt the same. That feeling, that touch, that taste, and that look. It is the same thing over and over again. It takes the color out of your favorite shirt, takes the fizz out of your soda, and takes the flavor out of your family's cooked meals. All of those descriptions sum up one feeling you probably have felt during the pandemic. That feeling is stagnance. A quick Google search defines Stagnance as, “showing no activity; dull and sluggish.” In my opinion, I have not been the same. I am somewhat bothered by how there is nothing more to do than watch television, play on my xbox, or video chat friends from school.
Curing the Sore Throat
by London
A sore throat is horrible. The symptoms include hurting when you speak, and sometimes a scratchy, irritating sensation in the throat. The way you treat a sore throat, however, is some good ginger ale and some Halls. They will soothe your scratchy and annoying throat. Also, let's not forget the Vapor Rub. It's personally more effective if you rub it on (the outside of) your throat. Not to mention, all of these things are completely accessible at your corner or grocery store.
How to Fix a Thing Called Racism
by Kairon
The disease I want to cure is racism. Racism can come in many forms, such as being treated unfairly in the workplace, in stores like Giant or Safeway, or even getting followed around your neighborhood. Racism is getting looks from other people, or being made fun of. The way I would treat this sickness is by showing people we are equal by coming together, like what's going on now, but peacefully. I would give a speech that would ask if you have family. I do too. Do you have bad days? Yeah, me too. You have a loved one you want to make it home to, right? We all do. Yes, all lives do matter. I do agree with that, but it’s only black men and women dying at the hands of people who are supposed to protect us. All lives do matter ,but that's my protest to make it seem like it happens all the time to every race when it's not the case. If you ask a group of non-Black people if they want to experience what black people experience, what do you think they would say?