Newsletter #90 - How to deal with homesickness; how to save money on textbooks; coping with dry mouth.

TeenHelp Newsletter #90 - September 20th 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 Chat Room (August 24th 2017)

TeenHelp has launched a new Chat Room, which does not require specific software to use it.

The new Chat Room is in a floating bar at the bottom of the site and will be available on every page, so you can navigate the site freely with the Chat Room following you around. "Chat Rooms" is the main part of the chat where you can meet others to talk to, whereas "Chat" is for one-to-one chat. Happy chatting!

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f2-an...new-chat-room/

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Latest articles (September 4th 2017)

1984 by George Orwell: A review
1984 by George Orwell is a book about a world where everyone's moves are monitored and characters live in what is known as a "negative utopia". Due to its mature content and sensitive themes, it is also one of the most controversial books of all time. Read this review to learn the article author's opinion of the novel and decide whether you'd like to read it as well.

What is guided imagery?
Guided imagery is a tool that is used to help bring about positive feelings and wellness. It helps people become more mindful and aware of their thoughts. This article explains what guided imagery is, discusses its benefits, and also provides ideas on where to find different guided imagery.

Queens of Geek: A review
Queens of Geek by Jenn Wilde is a romance novel about two characters with very different personalities and how their love lives develop over a short space of time. Read the review of this novel to determine if you would like to pick the book up yourself.

Himalayan salt lamps
Himalayan salt lamps contain pink or white salt crystals that are lit by a heat source. Besides their good look, they are also known to help with anxiety and insomnia. This article discusses the benefits of Himalayan salt lamps, where they can be purchased, and how to use them.

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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OCD Online

OCD Online is exclusively devoted to promoting a greater awareness and understanding of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This website provides articles written by its founder (a clinical psychologist), and information on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of OCD. There is also the opportunity to find out answers to your questions, a list of recommended readings and other online resources.

http://www.ocdonline.com

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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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Dealing with homesickness

Whether you're moving into a dorm room or your first apartment, leaving home for the first time can produce mixed emotions. While excitement is often the only thing we focus on at the beginning, it's normal to feel homesick as you settle into your new living space. Read on to get some ideas for coping with those feelings when they arise so you can make the most of this new chapter in your life.

• Bring a little piece of home with you. One of the things people miss the most when they leave their home is a feeling of familiarity. While making your new place your own is important, consider dedicating a corner to things that remind you of home. For example, you could frame photos of your favourite people and places to display, light a candle with a smell that reminds you of home, or bring along a blanket or stuffed animal that you associate with the peace of being in a comfortable place. Of course, make sure that whatever you do choose to bring is in line with the rules of your new home.
• Schedule time to talk to your loved ones. Making time to talk to your friends and family is one of the most effective ways to combat homesickness. Having regular conversations with the important people in your life can help make the distance feel a little bit smaller. Perhaps you could schedule weekly or bi-weekly phone calls or video calls to ensure that spending time catching up remains a priority. Rather than using this time to reminisce, focus on sharing updates on the new, exciting things going on in your life and finding out about new things that are going on back home.
• Make an effort to meet new people. While it's important not to replace the people that were a part of your life in your hometown, branching out and meeting people in your new area is equally important. After all, these are the people that you'll be spending most of your time with. Find out what social events your dorm, campus, or apartment complex have and attend those when you can. As most places typically hold events once or twice a month, you might consider following your dorm or complex on social media or checking bulletin boards regularly to find things that will fit with your schedule. Doing so will provide you with easy opportunities to meet new people, reducing the risk of awkwardness that can sometimes occur in unplanned social situations.
• Get involved as much as you can. Filling your schedule with activities that you enjoy is a great way to help you feel more at ease in your new area. On top of that, keeping busy limits the amount of time that you can spend thinking about how much you miss your old home. If you're living on campus, try participating in some of the different clubs offered during the semester, as there's usually something for everyone. Additionally, no matter where you live, you can look for organizations in your area that you can volunteer for, join community clubs such a book club, or consider taking up a recreational class and learning a new skill.
• Allow yourself to feel without dwelling. No matter what, there will be times that feelings of homesickness are too prominent to ignore. In these moments, it's okay to let yourself give in to what you're feeling. Allow yourself to be sad and to miss things more than usual. Letting yourself feel genuinely is healthy. However, don't allow yourself to dwell on these feelings. Give yourself a realistic time limit to be upset. Then, push yourself to go back to conquering this new chapter of your life.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f222-travel-moving/

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Saving money on textbooks

When university starts one of the issues many students face is being able to afford the textbooks that their professors will provide. It can be a stressful time of year but here are some ways that students can go about trying to save money on their textbooks.

• Consider renting them. There are a number of sites where university students can rent textbooks and the price for renting is usually cheap compared to paying full price or even buying used at the book stores around campus. If you are taking a class and won't need to reuse the textbook at any time then it would probably be wise to look into the textbook rentals in your country. Some campuses also offer a rental service to their students so you could look and see if your campus is offering that service.
• Look for used books that students on campus are selling. Usually students on campus will end up selling their old books and they tend to sell them at a cheaper price than the bookstores around campus. The best way to look for these books is on noticeboards that will be posted all over your campus. You usually tend to see these notices during the first few weeks of the new semester.
• If you have an eReader, you might be able to save money by buying the digital copy of the textbook. It seems that more and more often publishers are offering textbooks in ebook format. Sometimes the ebook can end up costing less than the physical copy of the book. Also, with most eReaders you are still able to highlight and bookmark pages so that you can go back and reference important passages.
• If you are taking a class with a friend you can split the costs of books. The biggest obstacle students might run into by taking this route is finding a schedule that works for them so that each person has access to the book when needed. However, if you are taking the same class but on different days or at different times it is still an option that could work well.
• Talk to your teacher on the first day of class and see if you can purchase an older edition of the textbook. Textbook editions are constantly changing and in a lot of instances the changes are quite minuscule, such as page numbers being different. That is why purchasing an older edition is a viable option as long as you talk to your professor ahead of time. The professor will be able to tell you which edition/s you will be able to use for the course. For example, if the course lists the sixth edition, you may be able to use the fourth or fifth edition without issue, while using the third edition would mean missing out on something important. They should also be able to tell you what would be different so you can determine if you would be willing to put up with those differences to save money.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f22-education-careers/

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Coping with dry mouth

Dry mouth can be an uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing problem for people struggling with it. It is often associated with taking medications such as antidepressants. Read on to learn about different remedies for a dry mouth.

• Avoid spicy and overly sugary foods, or caffeinated drinks when possible. An excess amount of sugar can increase thirst while the scent of spicy foods can be difficult to eliminate with a dry mouth. Instead, try different foods that are just as tasty without the added sugar or spices. Fruits, vegetables, soups, crackers, or pretzels are a few foods that are worth a try.
• Chew gum, or suck on low-sugar hard candies or mints. Doing this causes the mouth to create more saliva, which helps combat dry mouth. Flavors such as peppermint or wintergreen may be beneficial.
• Drink water frequently. Water is both healthy and hydrating, which can reduce dry mouth. Taking a few sips throughout the day can go a long way.
• Breathe in through your nose instead of your mouth. Breathing in through your nose when you remember to allows your mouth to stay moist and clean.
• Maintain oral hygiene. Brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash at least twice a day. Try to brush your teeth for at least two minutes and rinse with mouthwash for thirty or more seconds. Some stores have mouthwash or mouth sprays specially marketed towards dry mouth.
• See your doctor if your dry mouth persists. Dry mouth typically does away on its own, but if it does not it can be a sign of other problems. Be sure to see your doctor if it does not go away.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f16-general-health/

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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

Music for a bad day
Music can be a powerful tool to use when you're feeling low, whether it is a distraction or an encouraging positive message. View this thread to see different songs that have been suggested to listen to when you're having a bad day, or suggest some of your own here.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f224-...music-bad-day/

What makes you glad you're you?
Though it can be difficult to think positively about yourself, it is important to look at your attributes that make you who you are from time to time. What makes you happy to be yourself? Share your thoughts and read what others have to say here.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f29-g...lad-youre-you/

McGregor vs Mayweather?
Did you watch the recent match between these two competitors? If so, what were your thoughts on it? Who did you support, and why? Discuss your thoughts on the match here.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f220-...vs-mayweather/

Which Indian Food is your favourite?
Foods from various cultures offer different experiences with both learning and your tastebuds! What Indian food is your favourite, and why is that so? Read about other's favourites and share your own in this thread.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f184-...your-favorite/

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Social groups

Doom HQ
Doom is a set of first-person video games. Join this social group to connect with fans of the game, whether it is the original version or one of the remakes.
http://www.teenhelp.org/socialgroups/g534-doom+hq/

Tutors of TeenHelp
Are you looking for some homework help, or would you like to help others? This group allows users to ask questions and help others throughout their academic journey.
http://www.teenhelp.org/socialgroups...ors++teenhelp/

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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, Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter

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!

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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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