Together in Loneliness

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.


For anyone who needs to hear this: you are not alone. It’s hard for a lot of people to know that, especially when their mind convinces them otherwise, and if you fall under that spell, do me a favor and read the first sentence again. And again. And as many times as you need until you can feel all of us from SOVA right next to you. We may all be anonymous, but we’re here together to support each other. Continue reading Together in Loneliness

How to Deal with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

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.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every year, millions of people deal with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), and I happen to be one of them. I tend to have symptoms of depression such as sadness, little interest in doing things, and loss of concentration right around the time where the leaves begin to turn colors and the air becomes a bit colder. It usually lasts for a few months until the spring finally comes around. For me, I was not even aware that it existed until a few years ago when my doctor had brought it up during an appointment. Continue reading How to Deal with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

Seasonal Affective Disorder

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.


Well it is winter. The days are shorter, it gets dark earlier and its going to get very very cold. With this change in the seasons, sometimes we can notice a change in ourselves. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that is related to the change in seasons.

Continue reading Seasonal Affective Disorder

Soup 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.


As the weather and leaves start to change in Western Pennsylvania, my mood tends to decline. However, this year I am determined to make the most of autumn. One of my favorite foods is soup, and this time of year happens to be perfect for soup. Continue reading Soup Season

Helping Your Child Find Positivity this Summer

As temperatures begin to rise and summer has officially begun, the temptation and need to go outside can feel even higher than usual. You’ve probably seen tons of advice (including on here) about how spending just a few minutes outdoors, especially during quarantine, can have a huge impact on mental health, but right now, the sunlight and summer as a whole can cause some mixed emotions. Continue reading Helping Your Child Find Positivity this Summer

Seasonal Changes

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 the weather cools, the sky darkens, and the color of the leaves change, so do our behaviors and attitudes. The term often used is “seasonal affective disorder.” Our energies begin to compare with the depleting elements in our environment. Our circadian rhythms are thrown off when it begins to get darker earlier in the day, and/or daylight savings. This reduced sunlight can also cause a drop in our serotonin levels, as well as imbalances in melatonin levels. Continue reading Seasonal Changes

Staying Warm

Even though it’s the fresh start to the year, January can feel exactly the opposite. There are no festive holidays – where it’s too late for stores to continue their Christmas and winter holiday promotions but far too early for the pinks and reds of Valentine’s Day – and it’s deep in the middle of winter. The weather can feel unpredictable lately, but generally, January is a time where winds are biting, it starts getting dark as early as 4:30 in the afternoon, and it’s just cold.

Continue reading Staying Warm