Some of the more common symptoms associated with depression include fatigue, a loss of interest in things one usually enjoys, and hopelessness. Anxiety symptoms are usually thought to be restlessness, nervousness, and a rapid heart rate. Another symptom that can come with both, however, is anger. Continue reading Anger’s Role in Depression and Anxiety
We’ve heard it before (in fact, we’ve even discussed it here): tips to help de-stress and relax often include getting organized. Whether that be through cleaning out the closet, getting a planner, or buying color-coordinated folders and binders, people feel some sort of satisfaction when things are put in their place, even if it isn’t relevant to what may be causing anxiety.
But why is that the case?
Nostalgia can be a powerful tool. Advertisers and Hollywood have taken note of this: a lot of TV shows and movies today are reboots and commercials tap into that childhood nostalgia in order to make the viewer associate the product with a simpler time. Positive memories and remembering happier times is comforting, a warm sort of feeling that can remind you that things can be good, because they have been that way before.
You have probably written something recently. These can include jotting quick ideas or to-do lists, but for some, writing is therapeutic as well, where they can have a private space to write about how they are feeling that day or over a certain period of time.
Continue reading New Places to Write
An easy target for those criticizing how adolescents use technology today is by mimicking them taking a selfie. The image can feel much more familiar than you may want to admit: your phone in your hand, arm stretched out in front of you as you angle and turn both it and your head as you try to find the most flattering shot. You take a few, get unhappy with nearly all of them, then repeat the process with different lighting, by changing your hair ever so slightly, and so on. Continue reading The Effects of a Selfie
Television shows have been including trigger warnings for years. You may have noticed the box in the upper left corner with a not just a suggested age warning, but a few letters underneath to indicate if there’s violence, sex, heavy language, or suggestive dialogue. It’s also those black screens that show up right before the episode starts, sometimes included with a stern, male voice warning about more specific content in the episode that may be disturbing and that “viewer discretion is advised.” Continue reading TV Shows and Content Warnings about Mental Health
The SOVA Project is happy to feature this blog post written by one in our team of fantastic SOVA Ambassadors—these are young people who help create meaningful blog posts from adolescents’ perspectives. We hope you can use their post to start a conversation with your adolescent.
Caffeine is a drug. It sounds far-fetched, but it is completely true.
I learned this from a professor teaching a science course. We had a unit on addictive drugs, and she opened it with teaching us about something many of us have – a caffeine addiction. She explained that like any drug, caffeine is difficult to stop consuming and has withdrawal effects. Continue reading Caffeine Intake and Anxiety
No matter where you’re working, the time in between Thanksgiving and winter break, no matter how long, can be hard to navigate. Suddenly everything feels like it’s in overdrive, especially for adolescents: going from a longer, likely relaxing break to having a ton of assignments due within the span of a couple of weeks can seem, and is, overwhelming. The same can be said for work, which adolescents are likely doing on top of school; those working in retail specifically have a whole other level of stress given the rise in people shopping and extended hours that they have to work. Continue reading Navigating Work Stress During the Holiday Season
The SOVA Project is happy to feature this blog post written by one in our team of fantastic SOVA Ambassadors—these are young people who help create meaningful blog posts from adolescents’ perspectives. We hope you can use their post to start a conversation with your adolescent.
The blog post includes mentions of eating disorders, weight insecurities, and thoughts about harmful behaviors. Please read with caution if any of these items triggers or upsets you.
I have had insecurities about my weight for years, probably before I should have. But such is the nature of both an image-obsessed society and OCD (since my obsessive thoughts would always revolve around my weight). Continue reading Orthorexia: A Disorder I Never Knew About
The SOVA Project is happy to feature this blog post written by one in our team of fantastic SOVA Ambassadors—these are young people who help create meaningful blog posts from adolescents’ perspectives. We hope you can use their post to start a conversation with your adolescent.
In previous posts I have talked about my struggles with depression and anxiety, but I suppose this one is more so about my confusion. I have always had trouble understanding my emotions and the emotions of others. I often times feel certain emotions like anxiety or depression and cannot pinpoint why. I also feel emotions that I cannot identify. I have no idea what I am feeling or why I am feeling it. Originally, I thought that everyone else had the same issues, but when I talked about it with family members, they could not identify with my issues. Continue reading The Enigma of Emotions