The topic about how stigma can affect how we view mental illness is not new. The way that people talk about mental illness can not only impact how we view those with mental illness, but how we can view our own. We’ve talked about stigma several times before, because it’s important to change this mindset and the harmful effects that it can have. Continue reading Tackling Stigma
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.
Like many others, I have been struggling with being away from friends and family during this quarantine. From a family member passing away without a proper ceremony, to loved ones that I used to see at will, to simply missing my friends and social life, I am struggling. The uncertainty of quarantine – how long it will last, when the next restriction will be placed or even when one will be lifted – is what makes this the most difficult. If we knew that in a week it would be safe to get back to visiting normally, many people would be relieved. But, we are not lucky enough to have that kind of foreseeing. Continue reading Staying Together, Apart
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 and body dysmorphia. Please read with caution if any of these items triggers or upsets you.
I have always had an interesting relationship with my body. I’ve found that I go through periods during my life where I am incredibly body confident and love what I see in the mirror, and I also experience periods of self-doubt where I dread looking at myself and my body. Continue reading Body Image During Quarantine
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.
So I’ve never written on here before, but I thought it would be a good idea to talk about a subject I’m well-versed in: long-distance relationships. With everything going on these days, many people are forced to experience long-distance unexpectedly. I, however, have been doing this for many months now, both normal long-distance and more recently, military long-distance ever since my girlfriend started boot camp. I’m here to share my top tips for what has worked in my relationship.
This is absolutely key to any relationship. However, starting long-distance is not something small and it shouldn’t be assumed that both partners will onboard. My girlfriend and I had many “August conversations,” as we called them, where we discussed all our options before I left for college: staying together, taking a break, breaking up, etc. We wanted to make sure we were both committed to the same goal before being miles away from each other. This really helped put into perspective our expectations for one another and the sacrifices that we would be making.
It is easy to get wrapped in your life, especially when your partner isn’t there to make plans with, but prioritizing the relationship is significant in keeping it alive. Carving out specific times to call or sacrificing missing an event to visit each other may be what it takes to get through this patch of distance.
We’re lucky to have so much technology at our disposal, but your phone does not have to be the only channel your relationship operates through. Along with calling, video-chatting and Netflix Party-ing (highly recommend), you can also send each other letters, or care packages, and keep something special from the other person with you. Don’t be afraid to try something new out to see what works for your relationship? For example, if my Marine has a big assessment coming up, I can send her a $5 Starbucks e-gift card since I can’t physically buy her Starbucks myself.
Okay yes, this is very similar to the first point, but this is more about the discussions that happen once you have already decided to become long-distance. If you’re worried, tell the other person. Every little hurdle will make you two stronger in the end (if this is true, my girlfriend and I must be Superwoman and Wonder Woman). I also think a big motivator for doing long-distance is thinking about what comes after it’s over. For example, I’m going to get my degree and she’s going to finish with her military term in about four years, but that doesn’t stop us from arguing about what kind of toaster we’re going to have in our potential apartment in Atlanta in 2024.
The foundation. Allow yourself to trust your partner and remember it goes both ways. This goes for anything. You will get hurt, more than anyone else, if you don’t trust them and don’t have open communication. I can say with total confidence, there isn’t anyone I would make these sacrifices for besides the person I love more than anything.
Here are some other links for more information:
Helpful links: 10 Tips on Making Long-Distance Work
Has your child ever been in a long distance relationship? If you have, what has worked for them? Have you talked to them about being separated from their relationships, whether these relationships are romantic or not? How has this affected them?
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.
If you asked me what I’d be doing around this time six months ago, I’d tell you that I’d be preparing for college, becoming more excited for the summer, and finishing off my junior year with my friends who were about to graduate. I’m someone who loves change, but does not like when things do not go as planned. Continue reading A Message To Those Struggling During COVID-19
This year, Mental Health Awareness Month overlaps with the Islamic month of Ramadan. The simplest association with Ramadan is fasting: from sunrise to sunset everyday, Muslims who are able to fast do not eat or drink anything (even water). Continue reading Ramadan and 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.
Is it just me or am I going on social media platforms way more than usual? I think this is a trend that I can attribute to the COVID-19 pandemic. Being quarantined, having a stay-at-home-order, and being scared to leave the house leaves me with one thing I have abundantly more of now. Time. Continue reading Social Media Spike
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.
Being a college student definitely can be stressful, but during the stay at home order, along with added stress from the coronavirus, it was a nice escape to keep busy with coursework and final projects. Even personally, a now cancelled summer internship has me scrambling to find new ways to grow professionally in my career path. With the college semester coming to an end, all this added time really has me worried thinking about how I will fill my time productively, especially with everything still closed such as gyms, seeing friends in person, or even going swimming since summer is soon approaching.
If you are a student, and looking for some ways to stay busy and productive while still in the stay at home order, check out this list of some potential suggestions! Continue reading The Semester Is Over, Now What?
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.
As we all are going through a situation of a mandated stay-at-home, we find ourselves not being able to go hang out with our friends. Personally, I find this very challenging since all my friends are now home from college due to this virus. It’s frustrating to know that on a sunny, warm Saturday, I am not able to go outside and hang out with my friends all day. I know that it is for our safety and the safety of all those who we interact with. However, it has been hard for me to keep sane and entertained during this time.
One of the most commonly given and useful pieces of advice in regards with coping and living in quarantine has been to establish a routine. This is incredibly important! Regardless of quarantine or not, having some sort of structure in your routine and your daily activities can help the mind feel more organized, less cluttered, and less vulnerable to messy – and potentially chaotic – thinking. Continue reading Taking Things One Day at a Time