Newsletter #83 - Reaching out to others; how to read more; putting yourself first.

TeenHelp Newsletter

TeenHelp Newsletter #83 - February 15th 2017 - http://www.teenhelp.org

Welcome to the TeenHelp Newsletter! Our Newsletter contains a lot of useful information about our current work, including updates to our site and services, new resources, details of upcoming events, short bits of advice, interesting links and more!

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TeenHelp News

TeenHelp regularly makes changes to its site and services. Some of these are large and noticeable, and others are small and much less so, but each one contributes to the positive development of TeenHelp and how our users experience our community. Below are some of the most recent developments.

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New Newsletter cover (February 12th 2017)

TeenHelp's Newsletter now has its very own cover, which showcases a Picture of the Month submitted by our users. To view the very first cover, check out our Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr social media pages.

If you would like the chance for your photographs to be featured, send a message to our Newsletter Officer (Psychomachia.) or email us at publications@teenhelp.org with your submissions.

http://www.teenhelp.org/newsletter/

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New thread subscription notifications (January 28th 2017)

Thread subscriptions help you to keep track of threads that you have posted in or those that you are interested in following. It is now much easier to see when threads have been updated, as a notification will appear in the top left of the site.

To subscribe to a thread that you have not yet posted in, go to 'Thread Tools' at the top of the first post and select 'Subscribe to this Thread'. To manage your subscriptions, go to 'List Subscriptions' under 'Subscribed Threads' in your User CP. Alternatively, click on 'Quick Links' and then 'Subscribed Threads'.

http://www.teenhelp.org/subscription.php

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Shorter Staff applications (January 27th 2017)

All Staff applications have been shortened so it's now quicker than ever to apply to be a volunteer.

TeenHelp is run entirely by volunteers who dedicate their time and experience to the day-to-day running of the site. We always welcome new volunteers and there are a variety of volunteering opportunities, no matter your level of experience or knowledge. If you have a few hours a week to spare and want to help out, why not apply today! Your contribution could make a massive difference to TeenHelp and the young people we support on a daily basis.

http://www.teenhelp.org/volunteer/

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Latest articles (February 1st 2017)

My experience with Bipolar 2 Disorder
Though Bipolar Disorder can be very difficult to live with, it is still possible for people who have it to make great improvements in coping and living with it. Read about this user's experience with Bipolar 2 Disorder to get an idea of what living with the disorder is like.

How to Cope with an Existential Crisis
An existential crisis occurs when someone questions their existence in the world. This article discusses questions provoked by an existential crisis and how to cope with them.

An Unquiet Mind: A review
Kay Redfield Jamison's An Unquiet Mind is a memoir about a woman's struggle with Bipolar Disorder. People who have Bipolar or those who would like to learn more about it could benefit from reading this book. Read this article to help you decide if this book is for you.

Combating Constipation
Constipation, or the inability to make a bowel movement, can be an uncomfortable and worrisome experience for those who experience it. This article suggests different remedies for constipation.

http://www.teenhelp.org/articles/

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Resources

TeenHelp works with a range of different organisations and websites in order to help and educate young people. Below is a selection of some of them. For a full list of the organisations we work with, please visit our Resources page.

http://www.teenhelp.org/resources/

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Erowid

Erowid works with academic, medical, and experiential experts to offer a comprehensive bank of information about countless drugs including the effects, doses, health issues, legal issues, what they look like, and their chemical structure. Additionally, Erowid provides personal accounts of those who have used the drug, a slang dictionary, as well as frequently asked questions. The website also offers book recommendations and links to other resources for further reading.

http://www.erowid.org/

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Tips Of The Month

Each month we share small bits of practical advice that you can implement to improve your life or that of others.

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Deciding to reach out

Reaching out can be difficult, and some people struggle with knowing when to ask for help and how to go about doing so. The following will discuss when and how to reach out, as well as the benefits of asking for help.

• You should ask for help when you feel as though what you are going through is taking up a lot of your thoughts, or decreasing your quality of day-to-day life. You should seek help immediately if you feel you are a danger to yourself or others. If you are in a crisis now, look at the 'Currently in Crisis' section of TeenHelp's Safety Zone.
• Choose someone you trust to reach out to. It is very important to choose someone you trust to confide in, as it is likely you are planning to share deeply personal information. If you want to build up trust with someone while working on easing your anxiety about opening up to someone, try slowly introducing small topics before you get into the larger one you'd like to discuss.
• Consider how you would like to tell someone. While some people are comfortable with verbally sharing information, others are not. You can write a note; this allows you to process your thoughts and think about what you want to say. You can use the note in your conversation, or you can give the note in its entirety to the person you want to confide in. If you want to talk to someone verbally, plan a time to have a conversation. You can ask them to find a time to talk, so they will remember and bring it up later, or you can bring it up yourself. You can also speak to someone in a public place if you are nervous about their reaction.
• If you do not feel as though you have anyone in your life to reach out to, or if you have reached out and would like to talk to your peers, try some of TeenHelp's features. You can use the Support Forums, HelpLINK, Live Help, or the Blogs.
• Reaching out allows you to lift some weight off of your shoulders. You do not have to do this alone; sharing with someone can be a healthy emotional release. You may also find that you can relate to some people, and being open about what you're experiencing allows you to work on getting through it, whether you speak to a professional or use self-help techniques.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f3-general/

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How to read more

Reading is something a lot of people like to do but some people might find that they aren't reading as much as they like. Whether you like to read but haven't done so in a while or you are someone who doesn't read often but would like to pick it up, the following tips can help you start reading more.

• Bring a book with you everywhere. This is something you should do because if you have a book with you wherever you go, you will be more likely to read when you have the downtime. If you can't bring a physical book with you, you can use any of the numerous apps out there to read ebooks as well.
• Have a scheduled time to read on a daily basis. Setting aside a certain time to read on a daily basis is a good idea because then you will know that every day at that time you will be able to read and get some of your book finished. Also, by doing this you will start to get into the habit of reading and it will become more routine.
• Read more than one book. If you are someone who gets bored easily you might find that you feel bogged down by focusing on one book. If you read multiple books you will be able to keep your mind fresh and might find that you don’t get bored so easily. If you decide to do this, something that you might want to consider doing is reading books of different genres so that it is easier to differentiate between each novel.
• Listen to audio books. If you are someone who can’t stay focused on reading or you have long commutes, you might find that you complete books at an easier pace by listening to them. If you would like you can also listen and read along which can be a good way to stay focused on the story while listening to it.
• Read graphic novels and manga. These books have a lot less text but you are still partaking in reading a story with a plot as well as pictures that provide visuals. You might find that you complete more stories when you read these types of books.
• Read a certain amount of pages each day. If you read a certain amount of pages each day you will find that those pages add up and you will have completed a number of books in a short amount of time. It also seems less daunting than setting aside a certain amount of minutes a day to read. Something to note is that some people choose to read a certain amount of chapters each day and this might be something you consider doing instead.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f198-literature/

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Putting yourself first

In a day and age where people are accessible 24/7, it has become far too easy to say yes every time someone asks if you want to hang out or respond immediately when you receive a message from someone. While neither of those are necessarily bad things, both can make you feel drained if you forget to make time for yourself. If this is something you struggle with, read below to learn some different ways to make yourself your number one priority.

• Say no sometimes. Often, we find ourselves saying yes to going out with friends for fear of missing out and letting them down. As easy as it is to do that, remember that it is okay to say no if you would rather stay in with a good book or curled up under a blanket watching your favourite movie. While it may not seem like it, taking a night off every once in a while will give you some much needed chill time.
• Schedule "me time" each week. Whether it's taking a bubble bath, doing something crafty, or journaling with a cup of coffee or tea nearby, find something that makes you feel relaxed and make time in your schedule to do it weekly. Even spending an hour or two by yourself doing a calming activity can help to relieve your stress levels, which will end up having a positive impact on your mood.
• Turn off your technology from time to time. How many times a day do you pick up your phone to respond immediately when it buzzes? How about all the times you check for notifications or mindlessly scroll through the Internet? Turning off your phone and/or laptop every once in a while will allow you to live in the moment you're in and help decrease the need to respond to people who are not physically present the second you hear that little "ding".
• Remember to take care of your needs. Check in with yourself on a daily basis to make sure you're taking care of your basic needs like getting enough sleep, properly hydrating yourself, and eating good meals. When you take care of what your body needs, there will undoubtedly be an improvement on your mind and you will end up feeling rejuvenated and more energetic as a result.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f18-friends-family/

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Interesting Things (on TeenHelp)

A lot of content is posted to TeenHelp every single day, from threads to articles, social groups to albums. But it is difficult for even the most veteran user to keep on top of it all, so we have selected a few items from among the masses that we thought were interesting to draw your attention to.

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Threads

Songs to study to
While some people need quiet to study, others need music or other background noise. What songs do you suggest studying to? Make suggestions and share your favourites here.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f224-...ngs-study-too/

Favourite childhood book
Reading can be a fun activity for anyone of any age. Did you have a favourite book(s) as a child? Share your favourites and read what others have to say.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f198-...hildhood-book/

Storytime
If you're in the mood to share a story about yourself, this is the right place to go! Tell any kind of story about your experiences and read what others have to say here.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f35-g...735-storytime/

French knitting
This user's current hobby is French knitting. Do you knit or crochet, or are you interested in it? You can share your interest in the hobby here.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f221-...ench-knitting/

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Social groups

Knitters united
Do you knit, or are you interested in learning how to knit? Join this group to meet others who are interested in knitting and share tips, creative ideas, and pieces you have made.
http://www.teenhelp.org/socialgroups...itters+united/

Pay it forward
When you pay it forward, you are doing something kind or positive for someone with the hope that they will then do it for someone else. This group is for those who want to make others happy by being kind to others and paying it forward.
http://www.teenhelp.org/socialgroups/g541-pay++forward/

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Picture Of The Month

Each month we feature a picture by one of our users. If you would like to see your picture here please contact us by replying to this Newsletter, emailing us at publications@teenhelp.org, or messaging our Newsletter Officer (Psychomachia.) on the website.


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Donate to TeenHelp

In order to continue providing free services to young people around the world, TeenHelp requires a constant income of voluntary donations to support our regular costs. If you are able to, we ask that you please donate any money you can to us, even if it's only a few dollars.

http://www.teenhelp.org/donate/

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Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr

Our social networking pages are a great place to get a lot of high-quality information. We aim to connect you to interesting organisations, volunteering opportunities, events, news stories, pictures, videos, and more!

Facebook: http://www.teenhelp.org/facebook
Twitter: http://www.teenhelp.org/twitter
Tumblr: http://www.teenhelp.org/tumblr

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Editorial team

Publications Team Leader/Editor-in-Chief: Haley (Halcyon)
Newsletter Officer: Chess (Psychomachia.)
Senior Newsletter Editor: Cassie (Cassado)
Newsletter Editor: Chantal (WretatsyRemedial)
Newsletter Editor: Dez (~*Just Keep Swimming*~)
Newsletter Editor: Jenna (~Abibliophobe~)
Newsletter Editor: Sammi (Metanoia.)

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