First Time Blogger

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 I’ve already mentioned in the title, this is my first time blogging. I have never shared my experiences in a format quite like this, so this should interesting. I feel as if I have so many stories to share and so much to say, but nobody has time to read all of that in one sitting. So… I’ll try not to ramble on for too long. Part of me hopes lots of people read this and part of me hopes nobody does. It can be really difficult putting yourself out there, but hey too late now. Continue reading First Time Blogger

Saying “No” Can be Good

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.

At the end of last school year, I told myself to get involved in something I’d wanted to do the past three years: marching band.

Now, I’ve never taken a band class before. I don’t play a musical instrument (not at school, anyways). But some of my friends are very involved in band, and they often talked about the people they know (from band), the things they do (in band), and how the band director is looking for more people to sign up (for band) next year.

Well, the decision seemed obvious. Continue reading Saying “No” Can be Good

The Panic Attack Song

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.

Everyone has their own ways of coping with anxiety and panic attacks, but for me, it can be very helpful to listen to a calm, comforting song. So, I decided to write my own song to do this! I talked with a few friends who have experienced panic attacks in their own unique ways, and wrote lyrics that can hopefully resonate with and help other people too 🙂 Continue reading The Panic Attack Song

Weekend Reads: Starting College

To put it simply: starting college can be one of the most exciting and most stressful times in our lives. Major transitions in our lives like starting a new school, moving, and navigating and settling into your identity can be a shock to our system. It’s takes your daily routine and turns it inside-out, puts you in settings you’re not familiar with, and takes us entirely out of our comfort zone.  Continue reading Weekend Reads: Starting College

The Neuroscience Behind How We Use Instagram

Using social media can feel like a mindless activity. Most of the time, we’re opening apps and scrolling and before we know it, it’s been an hour of alternating between apps and retaining absolutely nothing about what you just saw and who you interacted with. Using social media is a way for our minds to go on autopilot, spending time on your phone to kill time in line, in class, and when you’re lying down to put off going to bed. Continue reading The Neuroscience Behind How We Use Instagram

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

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.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is typically a highly recommended method of treating mental illnesses. From personal experience, I feel it is a very helpful method of treatment. They provide you with different methods of positive thinking and just help you work through different issues you discover in your life. Continue reading Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Can Your Child’s Hair Tell You if They have Depression?

There are lots of hormones and neurotransmitters (chemicals released by neurons) that contribute to our mental health. You may have heard of dopamine and serotonin for example, which are both neurotransmitters known to contribute to a more positive mood. There’s also cortisol: this is the hormone that people often associate with stress, since it’s often released when we’re experiencing stress or going through anxious feelings. Obviously, these hormones and neurotransmitters have tons of roles and are much more complex, but they play an influential role in how we feel and react to events because of our mental health.

Continue reading Can Your Child’s Hair Tell You if They have Depression?

After 10 Years of Struggling With Anxiety, Here’s Where I Am Today

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.

Ten years ago I was in middle school, going through my awkward adolescent phase. I wasn’t particularly interested in school, but I wasn’t a bad student. I just kind of showed up, went through the motions, and went home. What I started feeling around that time was like nothing I ever felt before.  Continue reading After 10 Years of Struggling With Anxiety, Here’s Where I Am Today

How Younger Generations Meme about Therapy Online

If there’s one benefit to Twitter, it’s the memes. Even if you don’t use the platform, you’ve probably seen screenshots of tweets on Instagram or Facebook. A recent trend in memes is an imaginary conversation that the person has with their therapist. Continue reading How Younger Generations Meme about Therapy Online