In any given year, one in five Americans will experience a mental illness. Of these people, 30% will choose not to seek help because they are worried about the negative perceptions of others.
Is Not Using Smartphones Actually Bad for Your Mental Health?
The popular narrative says that social media, smartphones, and constantly being online has had a negative effect on our mental health, especially for adolescents. It can be difficult not to be bogged down by comparing ourselves to others, wanting validation for content that we create through likes and comments, or feeling confused and anxious about a possible passive aggressive post. Continue reading Is Not Using Smartphones Actually Bad for Your Mental Health?
Going Back to School
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.
School is starting again which can be extremely anxiety-inducing for many teenagers. I know it is for me at least especially since it is my senior year and I have to apply to colleges. When returning to school, you see many people whom you haven’t seen for three months which may make you feel like they are judging you and, especially in high school, you get a ton of homework almost immediately. I have a few strategies that help me reduce my anxiety in school. Continue reading Going Back to School
Always Thinking “What If?”
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.
One big thing I have always struggled with anxiety-wise are the “what ifs.” What if I fail this test? What if nobody likes me? What if I embarrass myself? What if….. The list goes on and on. I knew I had to work through this as it was keeping me from doing some pretty important things, such as getting dental work done. My fear of the dentist combined with my constant “what ifs” surrounding the dentist. What if it hurts? What if he’s mean? What if I panic and cry? All of these things combined made me put off dental work causing me pain and yes, further anxiety surrounding the whole situation. I reached out to my therapist for help. Continue reading Always Thinking “What If?”
Think Positive
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.
We are human, not perfect.
To see that and believe it, there is a great exercise you can try: set two jars by your bed, one labeled “positives,” and the other “negative.” At the end of each day, write down on a small piece of note paper each positive and negative thing you did and place them into the corresponding jar. Continue reading Think Positive
#MyYoungerSelf
There’s no start date when it comes to mental illness. While depression is often considered to start in adulthood, the truth of the matter is that it can occur at any age. Half of people who experience mental health conditions do so before they’re 14, with 75% doing so before they’re 24. Continue reading #MyYoungerSelf
Why has Juul Attracted So Many Adolescents?
Chances are, you’ve heard of JUUL. Like any phenomenon and trend, the word itself may cause an immediate response: recognition, mocking, maybe even confusion. But like any phenomenon or trends, especially one that’s mostly popular with teenagers and young adults, everyone has an opinion on them. Continue reading Why has Juul Attracted So Many Adolescents?
When Should You Seek Help?
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.
After what felt like a lifetime of being dissatisfied with my body, eating disorders, and depression, I finally sought help during my freshman year of college. Continue reading When Should You Seek Help?
“I can handle this on my own”
Adolescence is a time where we want to and feel like we can do everything on our own. This desire to be an individual without asking others for help happens with pretty much everyone once they start puberty. As we get older, we realize we have the option to make our own choices and don’t always have to rely on what those who are older than us. Continue reading “I can handle this on my own”
It’s Okay to Cry!
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.
As a new school year begins, things are already hectic. Where are my classes? Will my books be expensive? Are my teachers understanding? The questions race by faster than I can handle, and just because the school year is starting doesn’t mean that my other problems just go away.
So I sat down and cried. Continue reading It’s Okay to Cry!