SOVA Blog

by 1abradoodle

My Planner Makes Me Feel Better

July 20, 2021 in Educate Yourself

My anxiety starts to get bad when I feel like I don’t have control over the things around me. I like to know what’s going on around me and what is going to happen in the future. I think this is why my planner is so important to me. By filling out my planner I create the structure I need to keep anxiety under control.

I’ve used lots of different planners and have found that certain planners work best for me. I think it’s important to experiment with different planners to find what method of organizing is most compatible with you – if you’ve always hated using a planner you might just be using the wrong type. For example, I can’t stand online planners. Similar to how some people much rather read a physical copy of a book vs. reading online, I find the act of physically writing down my schedule to be therapeutic. This next preference might sound silly but I also can’t stand thick planners. It overwhelms me. I rather have a simple, black and white, lightweight planner. On the other hand, there are people who prefer a huge planner that gives you room to plan your day on an hourly basis. 

Being able to have a tangible thing that contains a visual of what’s going to be happening in my life provides me with a sense of comfort. When I’m anxious I can look at my planner to ground myself and be reminded that I know what’s going on. Writing down important deadlines and due dates eases my anxiety about them. It provides me with a sense of control over my life and the things going on around me.

If you have anxiety that easily clutters and overwhelms you I highly recommend you try using a planner.

Do you use a planner? What kinds of planners have you used in the past? How did those help, or not help you?

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by 1abradoodle

You Should Try Journaling

January 26, 2021 in Educate Yourself

I feel a sense of clarity after journaling. It’s as if I’ve handed all of my anxious thoughts to the paper, taking some of the weight off of my mind. But journaling can seem daunting. How do you start? What even is journaling? I’m no expert, but I’ve been on and off journaling throughout my entire life and have recently gotten back into the groove of (somewhat) daily journaling. In this article I will tell you about the benefits of journaling and will give you some tips for starting. If you already journal, I hope this can offer some new inspiration as to how you can approach it. 

Why journal?

  1. Get things off your chest.

    Rant. In a time in which many of us are unable to talk with friends in person, think of your journal as a friend. You’ll be surprised about how much you end up writing.

  2. It’s a judgement-free zone

    You can be your truest self – you’re the only person who will see this. Write all of your secrets. Things you’re scared of saying out loud. As someone with anxiety, I’ve been conditioned to worry about how my words will be perceived by others. When journaling, this worry is erased – and it’s so freeing.

  3. Gain a better sense of self

    As you reflect upon your emotions and thoughts, you’ll notice things about yourself that you would have otherwise overlooked. After journaling, I feel more in touch with myself. It’s kind of like a bonding activity between myself and I.

  4. It’s a time capsule of your thoughts

    There’s nothing more satisfying than looking back and being able to say, wow I’ve grown so much. Your journal will show an evolution of your outlook on life, your mental health, life stories and much more. In a year or many years from now you can read back and see how you’ve grown. 

How do I journal?

There’s no certain way to journal! Allow your writing to take unexpected twists and turns. Maybe your story will turn into a poem or a jot dot list. Maybe you like to organize your thoughts with arrows and circles. Or maybe you love to doodle. Don’t limit yourself. Allow your thoughts to take any form they wish. 

Now, an empty journal can be daunting. My personal favorite way to start journaling is with some prompts. Here are some questions you can answer that will get you writing about your day. There’s no one way to answer these questions. Write lists, stories, quotes – whatever floats your boat. Allow the prompts to serve jumping points for your thoughts. 

  • What made you smile today? 
  • What was hiding in the back of your mind today? 
  • What made you angry today? What made you anxious?
  • What are you thankful for today? 
  • Did anything surprising happen today? 
  • What did you do for yourself today? Or what can you do for yourself tomorrow? 

Maybe you don’t want to write about your day. Maybe you want to gain some deeper insight into yourself. Here are some jumping points for that:

  • When do you feel like your truest self? 
  • What people do you enjoy being around and why? 
  • What are five things you’re proud of yourself for? 
  • Describe happiness 
  • What’s a childhood memory you think about often?
  • What do you want right now? 
  • Describe your perfect day. 
  • What fascinates you? Why do you think that is? 
  • What would you do if you could do anything? 

Have you ever journaled? Do you currently journal? Is there a habit that you used to do when you were younger, like journaling, that you want to pick back up again? What do you journal about?

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by 1abradoodle

College Application Anxiety

September 29, 2020 in Educate Yourself

If anyone is familiar with the college application process, you would know that this is an overwhelming time of year. I’ve found myself getting sick to my stomach just thinking about colleges. It feels like the most important decision of your life, when in reality it isn’t. Here are some tips that have helped me cope with anxiety throughout this process.

Remember

College is four years of your life. Imagine your life as a timeline, college is only a sliver. While your college decision is important, it is not the single factor that will determine your future.

Don’t Idealize

I’ve found myself stressing about the idea of “perfect fit.” Acknowledge that there are multiple universities where you can be happy. Instead of having the “I need to get into this school or else I’ll hate my college experience” mindset, have the “No matter where I go, I will find a way to be happy.”

Focus on You

Don’t make your decisions based off of your classmates. Your best friend could dislike your dream school and that’s totally ok. You might dislike the school that your parents really want you to go to. Understand that this process is for you, be confident in your decisions.

Talk about Money with Your Parents Early On

Understand what your constraints are so this doesn’t become a stress factor last minute. Also recognize that almost all schools offer financial aid. Use net price calculators for each school to get an idea of what your expected family contribution would be at a school. Most schools will charge you much less than the raw price listed for the school on google.

Be Mindful of Social Media Consumption

YouTube videos such as “Reacting to my decision letters from universities” can be fun to watch but can easily heighten anxiety surrounding universities. Limit intake of media that has a harmful impact on your anxiety.

Make an Excel Sheet with Deadlines

With everything neatly laid out, you will feel in control.

Ask for Advice

If you’re interested in a school, seek to set up a time with a current student to talk with them. If you have a question, don’t hesitate to reach out to counselors or admissions officers. This sounds cliché, but it’s important. You don’t need to feel alone through this process, there are people whose careers are to help students with this process.

Remember

Top school or not, you will end up where you’re supposed to be! Be excited about this next step in your life!

For those who have gone through the college application process, what was the experience like? What advice do you have from your experience? For those who are about to or are going through the college application process, what are you worried about and how do you feel?

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by 1abradoodle

Talking with Your Friends about Mental Illness

August 4, 2020 in Educate Yourself

When I was first seeing a therapist and diagnosed with anxiety, it felt like a secret. I didn’t know how to bring up this topic with my friends, it felt like something taboo and embarrassing. I was afraid I would be judged and seen differently if people knew that I went to therapy. When I had to miss class for therapy I didn’t tell people why. I was secretive about it and would hope that my friends wouldn’t ask questions about it.

But after attending therapy for a while, a trusted adult gave me important advice. They told me to be open with friends about my struggle with anxiety. Through telling people why I was going to therapy, mental illness could be much less stigmatized. Mental illness doesn’t need to be taboo, and by telling people about your experiences, they might feel more compelled to talk about theirs.

So I started telling people that the reason I was missing class was because of therapy. Or I would tell my friends when something was making me anxious. I felt so relieved when I told people about what I was struggling with or how I was feeling. Through doing this, I found that some close friends also deal with similar problems. Mental illness is way more common than you might think. Through talking about it, I felt way less lonely.

When talking about therapy I felt that I was helping to destigmatize seeking help and dealing with mental illness. Many people think that therapy is only a place you go to if you are dealing with severe trauma or a life threatening mental illness. My friends were surprised when I told them that therapy can be as simple as a conversation with someone who gives advice when you feel sad or anxious. Friends dealing with mental illness felt like they could talk to me about it, because I was open about it.

While it might be uncomfortable to tell someone you are struggling with anxiety or need to miss class because of therapy, the more that I was open about it, the less uncomfortable it was to talk about. 

Talking about mental illness and normalizing seeking help allows for me to claim the mental illness as mine. I feel like I have more control over it, and I feel relieved. At the same time, I can help someone else realize that they might need help and I can become closer with friends who I didn’t know were dealing with similar problems. It’s important that we normalize discussion regarding mental illness.

Have you ever opened up to anyone about your mental health or seeking treatment? What has either stopped you or caused you to open up?

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