Headstrong Team
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Top 5 mental health apps
With so many mental health apps out there- which ones are the most helpful? Here's a few suggestions to get you started
Autumn self-care #GetHygee
It's time to get cosy or 'Hygee' as the Danish say. Here's a few ideas to help you snuggle into Autumn and Hygee up your November
Autumn self-care- #LightUp
This time in our self-care mini series we're thinking all about light (and also giving you a great excuse to put more fairy lights up!!).
Autumn self-care- #GetCreative
So, we are kicking off with CREATIVITY!!! AND there's all sorts of ideas here that don't involve paints and brushes!
Autumn self-care ideas
There's just something about the darker days that can bring us down SO...here's a series of idea & super practical things you can do to take care this month.
Summer with scars- Livestream
The Alumina team are back to talk about the practical and emotional challenges of living with scars when summer hits. Watch the YouTube session here.
2. How to keep your cool during exams
This time we’re focusing on the importance breathing can have on calming our anxiety. Here’s just a few techniques you can try ahead of your exams, so if you need them you already know how to use them.
1. How to keep your cool during exams
Here's a few tips around grounding yourself- a great technique you can learn to bring yourself back into the present and regain control over your anxiety. .
Managing Exam Anxiety- Youtube session!
Arghh exam time is here!! If you missed our YouTube livestream around managing exam anxiety then not to worry- here's the recording!! Full of loads of practical help to manage the stress of exam time.
Pt3. THREE THINGS if you're struggling with self-harm
Finally in part 3 of the THREE THINGS you can do if your struggling with self-harm series, we look at the importance of talking and reaching out to others for support. As people we need connection with others (even if we don’t feel like we do), it’s how we’re designed and even though it can be daunting, talking can make all the difference.
Pt2. THREE THINGS if you're struggling with self-harm
THREE THINGS you can do if you’re struggling with self-harm part 2 is all about our feelings. One moment you’re happy, the next you’re anxious, the next you’re angry. Sometimes it can feel like our feelings are taking over and we’re not in control of them, but have you ever wondered what is going on in your brain and how you can regain a sense of control?
Pt1. THREE THINGS you can do if you're struggling with self-harm
Next in our series is THREE THINGS you can try if you’re struggling with self-harm. As with all our videos, we want to give you a range of practical things you can try, alongside helping you understand a little more around why you feel the way you do. Firstly, recognizing you need some support right now and even wanting to watch this video is a fantastic step...we hope it helps.
Pt3. THREE THINGS you can do if anxiety is taking over
And finally in the THREE THINGS you can do if anxiety is taking over series, we look at dialing down the pressure and putting some great stuff in place to help us chill out and make space in our busy lives to rest and relax. Sure there’s something’s we just can’t change...but there’s plenty we can.
Pt2. THREE THINGS you can do if anxiety is taking over
Part two of THREE THINGS you can do if anxiety is taking over and we’re focusing on the facts! It can be so helpful to better understand inside us to better understand why you feel the way you do, what’s triggering our anxiety and what we can do to help ourselves get back into control
Pt1. THREE THINGS you can do if anxiety is taking over
Here’s THREE THINGS you can do if anxiety is taking over. Argh we all hate to feel anxious don’t we. Trouble is - anxiety is an essential human emotion. Part one is all about creating a pause moment to take a breath, find some calm in the chaos and let some of the water out of our emotional bath tubs.
Pt3. THREE THINGS you can do if sleep is a problem
Pt 3. Finally, we look at sleep stealers! Yup, these are the things that literally steal our ability to sleep and keep us WIDE awake when we should be resting. We hope you find some good ideas here to put into practice.
Pt2. THREE THINGS you can do if sleep is a problem
Pt 2. In the second post of our THREE THINGS you can do if sleep is a problem series, we look at how the routine of your day can make all the difference to how your body unwinds at night. Here’s some ideas you can try tonight.
Pt1. THREE THINGS you can do if sleep is a problem
Pt 1. Sleep can be SO frustrating, can’t it?! One moment you can’t stay awake because you’re so tired, the next you’re lying-in bed wide awake when you should be asleep! So, what can you do to help? Here’s THREE things you can try.
Pt3. THREE THINGS you can do if you feel anger is about to explode
Pt 3 of the series is all about learning to get stuff out of your head instead of letting it build up. Have a watch and see if you can think of the places and people in your life that can help you unpack things when you need to.
Pt2. THREE THINGS you can do if you feel anger is about to explode
Pt 2 of our THREE THINGS you can do if anger is about to explode series is all about practicing frustration. Sounds weird we know, but learning how to manage or hold feelings of frustration can be a key skill in keeping your cool when you feel that wave of anger building up.
Pt1. THREE THINGS you can do if you feel anger is about to explode
The next issue we are going to look at in the THREE THINGS series is the subject of anger and what to do if you feel like your anger is about to explode! Ever felt like you’re seriously about to lose it? Here’s some tips and things you can try.
Pt3. THREE THINGS you can do if you wake up feeling low
Part three of the series looks at the importance of grabbing a pause moment at the start of the day to allow ourselves to experience a sense of the bigger world around us. AWE can help us lift our mood and eyes above how we’re feeling and be ready to face the day.
Pt1. THREE THINGS you can do if you wake up feeling low
The THREE THINGS series from Headstrong is kicking off today. Each week we'll be posting three short videos around a particular subject, giving you three simple and practical things you can do to help make yourself feel better. This week is THREE THINGS you can do if you wake up feeling low.
New series COMING SOON!
THREE THINGS is a brand new collection of videos launching this month, covering a range of issues from anger and sleep problems through to panic attacks and anxiety. Each video offers three really practical, easy steps you can take to make yourself feel better. Watch this space!
Get Blending!
Some days we can wake up feeling a bit low on energy, especially at this time of year. Breakfast is a good way to get some much-needed vitamins and good stuff into you. Try this super easy, energy boost of a smoothie!
The Headstrong Journal
How are you feeling today? Sometimes it can be tough to explain what’s going on emotionally, to put into words how we’re feeling. Well, maybe it’s time to start journaling? Journaling can help you better understand why you feel the way you do. Find out more about the Headstrong journal HERE.
Alumina- Free support for 14-19year olds
Are you or someone you know struggling with self-harm? Are you looking for a safe and friendly place where you can begin to better understand the journey you’ve been on, and explore what a future without self-harm could look like? Then why not check out our Alumina groups?
Cool Down Playlist
Whether you're chilling by the *paddling* pool (ha!) or needing some tunes to help you cool off after a hard day of....well, sunbathing...this playlist is as refreshing as an ice bucket for your feet! So pour a nice cold drink and dive into these chilled out tunes.
Power Within playlist
Headstrong Playlists
So, as we kick start this year’s MHAW, here’s a new playlist to celebrate our power within theme and get you hitting the week with a BOOM!
National Day of Reflection
A short video to help you pause on national day of reflection 23rd March
Three reasons to be positive this spring :-)
Finally we've landed in spring and let's all be honest...WHAT.A.RELIEF! Winter just sorta wears us down a bit doesn't it? With it's dark days and bleak weather, but this year there's even more to be positive about than normal :-)
National Sleep Month- Tips to help you sleep
SO….we’re not sure if you knew this BUT March is National Bed Month! Yes, a whole month dedicated to not only celebrating just how much we love our beds (and oh we really do!) but also for raising awareness about the importance of getting a good night’s sleep.
Music to fall asleep to
Headstrong Playlists
Music can be a fantastic tool in helping us switch off from the day and fall into a restful sleep. Here's a few of our favourite Spotify sleep related playlists for you to try...
Ultimate things to make with cheese this October...hmmm cheese x
Ultimate things to make with cheese this October...hmmm cheese x
Cold Weather Tunes
Headstrong Playlists
Weather a little bleak outside? Reluctant to leave the warmth of the duvet and feeling the urge to snuggle down with some warming tunes? Well, here's a collection of chilled out snuggly songs to accompany any autumn/winter day.
HELLO there Autumn!
AUTUMN IS HERE!!!!! Here’s our little celebration of all things awesomely autumnal, summed up in an acronym (excuse the tenuous links to the letter U!!).
Clouds are the original YouTube!
Looking for something to do today that requires minimal effort? Why not try cloud watching?
Brains are AMAZING- sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia
To end our mini series on brain facts (we hope you've enjoyed it!), we decided to give mention to one of the longest words we could find :-)
Brains are AMAZING- Neuroplasticity
Part three of our brain facts series is all about NEUROPLASTICITY (great word eh?!). Our brains incredible ability to adapt and change to our circumstances...find out more here!
Brains are AMAZING- The upstairs/downstairs brain
Part two of our brain facts series and this time it's all about the upstairs/downstairs brain, and how that can help us understand why we react the way we do :-)
Brains are AMAZING- Hippocampus
So, in part one of out brain facts series we're going to be looking at the hippocampus. The Hippo-what-sus?! Don't worry- you can find out more here! :-)
Brains are AMAZING
Our brains are just incredible but we often don't know much about them. So we thought we'd post a mini series to highlight some brain facts this week:-)
Help, I'm in crisis
Headstrong isn't a crisis service but if you need help here's a few places you can go
Understanding Heartbreak (part two)
Part two of a mini series looking at why break-ups can feel so painful and how we can begin to recover from them
Understanding Heartbreak (part one)
Part one of a mini series looking at why break-ups can feel so painful and how we can begin to recover from them.
Livestream- Managing Panic Attacks
Join the Youthscape mental health team as they talk about all things panic attack related and give you loads of practical tips to help
Why do we cry?
Have you ever wondered why we cry and what it actually means? Tears are an unusual part of being human and experiencing emotion, aren’t they? Often it just feels like an outpouring of the big emotions we’re feeling inside, appearing both when we’re sad and so happy that we just can’t stop laughing (we’ve all been there!). Well, here’s just a few thoughts for you...
Help me understand- Self-harm
Self-harm is something you would’ve heard about, but let’s be honest, it’s one of those subjects that raises lots of questions. What exactly is self-harm and why do people turn to it as a way of coping? Here’s a short video explaining some basic facts around self-harm and some tips around how to help.
Your brain needs a BREAK!
Your brain needs a break. Right now, so many people's minds are tired, fed up, and bored. This means it's harder for your mind to work as well as it usually does. So you might find focusing is harder and motivating yourself to do anything takes a little bit of work.
ACHOO!!!!! Argh it's hay fever season again!
So it's that time of year again, the blossom is out and the sneezing has begun. Here at Headstrong we feel your pain :-/ hay fever can make life a bit miserable and finding something that works for YOU is key. Here's a few tips that might help :-)
Life After Lockdown- A film by NCS National Citizen Service
A fantastic short film by the National Citizen Service featuring young people's thoughts and hopes on what life could - and should - be like after lockdown.