This page contains links to various websites that you might find helpful, informative, enjoyable or just interesting.
(Remember, this list is not comprehensive and the presence of sites on this list does not constitute endorsement for or support of any of the information provided on these sites.)
Updated: 7/13/20
Alcohol and Drugs-General Info
Alcohol and Drugs-My Parent Abuses Alcohol/drugs
Anxiety and Fears and Rumination
College Prep, College Search, Applications
Dating and Relationships-General
Dating and Relationships-Dating Violence
Depersonalization and Derealization
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Intersex, Questioning
Learning and Learning Difficulties
Manhood and Masculinity Issues
Music Venues for Teens in Nashville
Parents and How to Deal with Them
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Prejudice, Discrimination & Bias
Sex & Sexuality-Educating Yourself
Sex & Sexuality-Sexually Transmitted Infections
Stats on Teens (find out where you stand)
Womanhood and Femininity Issues
Heroes for My Son and for my Daughter
Here is a collection of real life heroes and role models that will
Restore Your Faith in Humanity
Get out the tissues and watch this
Everyday heroes are the best. It’s the little things
http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20121129/US.NYPD.Act.of.Kindness/
Here’s a place to find heroes of every sort, especially kids
http://www.myhero.com/go/home.asp
But what if you only had one leg . . .
http://deadspin.com/the-one-legged-wrestler-who-conquered-his-sport-then-l-452888181
Medal of Honor honoree Dakota Meyer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5AmTYnd4KA&NR=1&feature=endscreen
When you need to remember that people are mostly good . . .
Greater Good, of course
Upworthy, an old favorite
Then there is this youtube page that will inspire and help you realize what YOU could do (by seeing what others have done to bring good into the world)
And what an incredible time it is to be alive on this planet
Many of these came from a site that seems to be winding down (circa 9/16) but it’s a good one: This Gives Me Hope
Sun, sand and playing hooky from school. What could be the harm in slacking off now and again?
THIS! THAT’S WHAT!
You can’t HELP but feel better!
Time to go in the kennel . . .
FML: Your everyday life stories
Don’t you dare whine about anything ever again unless you have been taken hostage!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk
Have you told your mom (or your dad) you love them lately?
Jobs and Employment (Be sure to check out the Career links above)
Here are some jobs you might not know about that pay a lot
http://career-advice.comcast.monster.com/salary-benefits/salary-information/nontraditional-jobs-that-pay-100k/article.aspx?WT.mc_n=comcast800
Here are some jobs that are always in demand
http://career-advice.comcast.monster.com/job-search/company-industry-research/hardest-job-openings-to-fill-2011/article.aspx?WT.mc_n=comcast800
Here are some ideas for different kinds of jobs
http://discoveryourskills.com/
And, getting a college degree makes a difference in getting a job when times are tough
http://www9.georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/hpi/cew/pdfs/CollegeAdvantage.ExecutiveSummary.081512.pdf
But college degrees aren’t for everyone
Here is a site that has suggestions about jobs for teens
http://www.employedteenagers.com/
Here’s how far your salary will go compared to the cost of living in different cities.
Looking for that dream job? See what Mike Rowe has to say (you know, the Dirty Jobs TV show guy)
7 Leadership qualities you may already have
Leadership positions for women are still few and far between. Here are some words of wisdom and insight from women who have become leaders in their companies.
Sometimes leaders can end up being kinda crazy. It’s the followers that seem to make the difference.
http://www.break.com/index/weirdo-kid-starts-huge-dance-party.html
Learning and Learning Difficulties
This is a great summary of what an IEP is, written for teens
http://nichcy.org/wp-content/uploads/docs/st1.pdf
Think you are perceiving the real world? Think again. It is all an illusion . . . .
Calvin and Hobbes was a brilliant cartoon written years ago by Bill Watterson. He gave a commencement address to his alma mater, Kenyon College, that is a brilliant argument for following your passion.
http://web.mit.edu/jmorzins/www/C-H-speech.html
Letters of Note is an attempt to gather and sort fascinating letters, postcards, telegrams, faxes, and memos.
http://www.lettersofnote.com/
This is a site that will make you THINK. It is a critical analysis of lots of different topics. It can be dense, but if you are going to take a position on something, get ALL the facts (not just the ones that support what you want to believe)
http://www.mercatornet.com/
WHAT DO PHILOSOPHERS BELIEVE? | More Intelligent Life
OK, this brilliant woman had a stroke. She happened to be a neuroanatomist.
TED | Talks | Jill Bolte Taylor: My stroke of insight (video)
And, by the way, the TED talks are brilliant! Go searching for interesting topics. You’ll certainly find it.
http://www.ted.com/talks
Want a sophisticated analysis of the issues related to intellectual copyright and the internet (rather than you just saying “Man, it should be my right to download anything I want!”), try this
The Play Ethic
This is pretty high order but you can look around, especially at the resources and brain teasers
Brain Fitness and Cognitive Health Authority: Market Research and Advisory Services | SharpBrains
It Figures – Figures of Speech
5 Things TV Writers Apparently Believe About Smart People | Cracked.com
Why thinking in the shower may be an ideal model for “creative pause” ~ Authentic Boredom
Beware of Reactionary Workflow :: Tips :: The 99 Percent
YouTube – Stop and Hear the Music
‘The Compass Of Pleasure’: Why Some Things Feel So Good : NPR
OK, we are diving deep. There is a relatively new area of philosophy called experimental philosophy. One thing they are looking at is what makes someone have relative moral values (“Is it right or wrong?” “It depends.”) as opposed to absolute moral values (“That’s just wrong!”).
Here’s a test to see where you stand
Here’s an article by one of the main guys. Get ready to read it a couple of times and then you’ll probably have to read some other stuff. S-T-R-E-T-C-H
Stories of adventures and life changing experiences by everyday scientists. GREAT stories.
This is a logic problem that is reputed to be one of the most difficult in the world. Try your hand (mind?) at it.
http://gizmodo.com/5971702/the-hardest-logic-puzzle-ever-and-how-to-solve-it?popular=true
Beautiful explication of what really (should) matter and how your expectations and attributions get in the way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmpYnxlEh0c
Taking a stand against street harassment. You know it’s wrong. Do just overlook it in your friends.
The pressure to Man Up is intense.
What do you say when told to Man Up?
YouTube – Tim McGraw-Grown Men Don’t Cry (With Lyrics)
The Great Male Survey 2010 Edition – AskMen.com
The Art of Manliness | Men’s Interests and Lifestyle
‘Pre-Adulthood’ Separates The Men From The Boys : NPR
Why omega males are cropping up in TV and movies like Greenberg. – By Jessica Grose – Slate Magazine
And here is a magazine that focuses on what adult men REALLY think about and struggle with (sexual intimacy rather than sexual conquest, everyday challenges rather than extreme sports, emotional and family life rather than bar hopping).
Or if you are a sensitive guy (meaning that you actually are in touch with your emotions and are not afraid to be vulnerable)
Sexism is wrong and more subtle than you may think.
African American men (and men of darker color) have their own unique (and dangerous and infuriating) challenges that require their own TALK.
OK, this is explicit, not pornographic, but slightly explicit article by a guy talking about how a woman taught him how to be sexually intimate with a woman, as a woman and not an object. It doesn’t have graphic details. It is not a how to. It is about why it is IMPORTANT to. It is mostly about how to grow up and be a man when it comes to sexual intimacy. This is what pornography is NOT; a real, powerful and profound way to be sexually intimate.
Marching Band and Sports on Level Playing Field
Marching Bands Experience Physical Challenges – Health News – redOrbit
Marching in the Band as Tough as Playing Sports – Fitness – FOXNews.com
Here’s a good summary of what is known about marijuana addiction
Ms. Kilbourne has some important and sobering things to say about advertising and its effects on kids. Lots of good stuff here on a range of topics
http://jeankilbourne.com/?page_id=53
An insightful analyst of media influences
http://www.shapingyouth.org/
6 Studies That Prove Reality TV Is Causing the Apocalypse | Cracked.com
6 Shocking Ways TV Rewires Your Brain | Cracked.com
WebMD: Better Information. Better Health.
familydoctor.org – Health Information for the Whole Family
girlshealth.gov — Health Information for Girls!
KidsHealth – the Web’s most visited site about children’s health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Drugs.com | Prescription Drugs – Information, Interactions & Side Effects
Sites for Guys
http://www.youngmenshealthsite.org/
Meditation is a practice that has now been well established to bring all kinds of health benefits, psychological benefits, emotional benefits; you can’t go wrong with practicing it. Be sure to also check out the resources on the Stress Management section below
Here is a cool site that has retreats and training for medication and mindfulness for teens.
This is a really effective CD for meditation. (The Respire 1 cd) Lots of kids report that this has made it possible for them to get their brains to turn off (and then to be able to use it at other times of the day when worried or getting stuck inside their head). (Note: I don’t know these folks. They don’t know I have recommended their product. There are lots of directed meditation recordings out there and this one is pricey. But, as I said, it seems to be particularly engaging for facilitating meditation from the kids I work with. Meditation is the important thing, not any one way to practice it.)
mental illness, mental health information center
NIMH: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Home Page
Psych Central . Trusted information in mental health and psychology
Nine Money Books for Children – SavingAdvice.com Blog
OK, this is an article on how just holding money has an effect on you.
127771.pdf (application/pdf Object)
Talking money with teens | Marketplace From American Public Media
Living Wage Calculator – Living Wage Calculation for Williamson County, Tennessee
THIS is a quiet, powerful moment that happened to Dave Alvin, an early punk music cult figure in Los Angeles. This is how you recognize what is really important and get back after what really matters to you.
http://www.studio360.org/2012/may/25/aha-moment-dave-alvin/
Sometimes, motivational speeches just aren’t enough.
http://www.collegehumor.com/video/5891781/motivational-cat-speech
Here you go! The inspiration you were looking for!
http://www.collegehumor.com/video/3797331/40-inspirational-speeches-in-2-minutes
It’s like disappointing your mother (only she has really long, really skinny legs and a HUGE nose, and she can fly)!
Monster.com | “Stork” reaching your potential
Here’s a test to see how capable you are when it comes to motivating yourself
http://mymotivationskills.com
He’s talking about learning to ride a bicycle but his message is universal!
http://www.break.com/index/kid-gives-speech-after-learning-to-ride-a-bike-2065802
You can do it.
http://www.break.com/index/need-some-motivation-right-here-2438788
Music Venues for Teens in Nashville
Rocketown Nashville is the well established place for teen concert going. They also have an indoor skatepark. Known for their attempts to have a trustworthy place for kids to rock out while also making it teen friendly.
Mercy Lounge / Cannery Ballroom
The upscale clothing and guitar store in the Gulch (right outside downtown Nashville) has held an open mike night for 17 and under on Sunday nights. Might be worth checking out to test your chops. The notice was in the store but I didn’t see it on their website.
http://twooldhippies.com/visit-nashville
This is a government site that gives you a lot of information from sources across the government agencies.
http://www.nutrition.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=11&tax_level=3&tax_subject=395&topic_id=1688&level3_id=6570&level4_id=0&level5_id=0&placement_default=0
And this is from the USDA
http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&tax_level=3&tax_subject=358&topic_id=1612&level3_id=5951&level4_id=0&level5_id=0&placement_default=0
Or, if you want to be a vegetarian
http://www.vegetarianteen.com/
This site is for the thinking teen who wants to know about nutrition
http://library.thinkquest.org/10991/index.html
Lots of info here (it is a website for teenage girls but the information is really good for guys too)
http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/wellness101.html
And, finally, an excellent site about nutrition for athletes
http://www.psal.org/psalsports/articles/psal_stories.aspx?storyid=7178&menu=links
And, then there is this great song
This is a good site for resources and materials dealing with OCD
Relief from OCD: A Guide for People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
This is the premier site for OCD: The OCFoundation.org. This is the teen page
Help for Teens and Young Adults with OCD
An Obsessive Compulsive’s ‘Life In Rewind’ : NPR
Here is a new site that has some good resources
http://www.peaceofmind.com/
OK, do NOT look at this if you have contamination OCD issues!
6 Items You Touch Everyday That Are Filthier Than a Toilet | Cracked.com
Heartbreakingly beautiful word slam poem by a man with OCD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-ByhUDUllM#at=65
Parents and How to Deal with Them
Have you taken a good look at your relationship with your parents? Some things can seem normal that aren’t.
Alright you inconsiderate twit. THIS is how to be a good kid.
http://www.npr.org/2013/02/08/171382156/a-life-defined-not-by-disability-but-love
Now, what if you have a crazy parent? (There are also some book suggestions over in the book section you might want to check out)
They can be narcissistic. Here’s an example and some suggestions on how to begin to deal with it
They can be borderline. Here is a great blog post that can help you discover if THAT is the kind of crazy your parent it (and how to begin figuring out how to survive it)
Or a Tiger Parent (extremely controlling, pressuring to pursue a career your parents have determined is the best, nothing but perfection is good enough). It can do real damage.
How do you score on internet sex problems? Dare you to take this survey.
Think that porn career is glamorous? Here are some of the stats.
Before you watch porn again, watch this TEDx talk about what porn is doing to your brain (and your sexual desire)
And here is that guy’s site that provides research based info on the effects of porn on users.
Here is a brief summary of the potential problems with watching a lot of port
Wonder of you have a problem? Here’s a test to see where you fall.
http://www.sexhelp.com/am-i-a-sex-addict/internet-sex-screening
The Greater Good Science Center has some awesome info on various aspects of focusing on the positive and healthy in your life. Check out their Greater Good In Action site.
Want to be happy? You probably won’t believe what research has to say about it.
Count Your Blessings – Health and Happiness – TIME
Home – GivesMeHope – Like FML, but for optimists!
MyLifeIsAverage – Life Is Normal Today
GRATEFULNESS.ORG – A Network for Grateful Living
Gratitude Challenge: Sharing Our Inspiration Journal
Guard against well-informed futility, nurture Intelligent Optimism
Optimism is not for the faint of heart (or the untrained professional)
Watch Motivational Speaker Board Break Fail Video | Break.com
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
It is probably better if, after you look over some of this, you talk to a mental health professional who knows something about PTSD. Other things can look like it and it is very difficult to just take care of it yourself.
http://www.apa.org/research/action/ptsd.aspx
This is made for parents but it will give you an good idea about what it is and what can be done to help you if you have it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yq_JsMTypI
Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.
If you are going to keep the child, it isn’t all pain and recrimination
Too much too young: five teenage couples speak out | Life and style | The Observer
This has some segments on teen pregnancy, all the dimensions
9INE: A realistic look at teen pregnancy
You will need to start thinking about this if you are a guy who is about to have a child
http://www.fatherhood.org/
Prejudice, Discrimination & Bias
A bit technical but with an interesting idea about the importance of people in trying to change the frame
Letter from a bi-racial (African American/White) woman to her white father.
How empathic are you? Find out here.
Perfectionistic much? Find out how much.
This is a personality test based on what are called the Big 5 personality traits. See where you end up.
Here is an online Conflict Resolution Questionnaire provided by the University of Arizona to find out your conflict management style.
This is a really cool way to generally review your how things are going in various areas of your life called the wheel of life. Here is a generic online version. Here is a way for you to create a more individualized review of how well important areas of your life are going.
There is such a thing as “covert narcissism (take the test at the end of the article).” It’s where you “feelings of neglect or belittlement, hypersensitivity, anxiety, and delusions of persecution”
Find out if you are a risk taker?
What about if you happen to be a highly sensitive person? Learn more about it here.
Just how forgiving a person are you? Here’s one way to find out.
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/2/
How mindful are you of your current state of calm?
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/4/
Want to know what your implicit (unconscious) biases are?
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/
And, how about how much grit (i.e., determination) do you have? It predicts success you know.
https://sasupenn.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_06f6QSOS2pZW9qR
Are you compassionate? Want to find out?
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/10?utm_source=GG+Newsletter+-+January+2013+%232&utm_campaign=GG+Newsletter+-+January+2013+%232&utm_medium=email
How about whether you are a compassionate lover?
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/9?utm_source=GG+Newsletter+-+Valentine%27s+Day+2013&utm_campaign=GG+Newsletter+-+February+2013+%232&utm_medium=email
Or are you anxious
Get Info | RAINN | Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network
This is a very useful article on the physiological responses to sexual violence. Something that many survivors worry about.
We Should Have A Podcast. Two young women, Corey Podell and Courtney Pauroso, use their podcast to discuss how Courtney was raped by her boyfriend who then went on to sexually assault another woman. When the other woman revealed the assault, Courtney felt moved to reveal the assault, which she had kept secret, on their podcast. If you have wondered why it is difficult for a woman to reveal a sexual assault, if you are wondering whether your feelings and thoughts are crazy after you have been sexually assaulted, this is a powerful story. Courtney is real and vulnerable and terrified and angry and confused. She does a beautiful job of verbalizing why your reaction to rape and sexual assault is so conflicted when it is perpetrated by a loved one. There are no graphic descriptions of the assault but the emotions are raw and should be upsetting to you as a listener. If not, it is time to reflect inwardly about what has happened-to your emotional self.
What if you are a guy who has been sexually assaulted by a woman?
This is a powerful video of a guy who was sexually assaulted at 13 by his teacher. He “jokes” about how cool it was supposed to be. It’s not (and he has to pretend it was)
Why Rape is Sincerely Hilarious
What if it happens to someone I know?
Here is a great resource for men in what to do when their female partner has been raped
Here is a very good review of what to say and not say if someone tells you they have been raped or sexually assaulted.
Want to have an idea of the effects on the woman who was sexually assaulted? This woman wrote this to the 19 year old man who sexually assaulted her while she was passed out. He was convicted because of a couple of good Samaritans who happened on him assaulting her behind a dumpster outside a college party. I think they were heroes. I think she is brave and brilliant.
What if it IS someone you know?
My friend, the rapist (who otherwise seems like a great guy)
and who everyone “knows” and they are still tolerated
or a creepster (creepy dude who is WAY to close to actual assault by being to touchy feely and making inappropriate sexualized comments
Oh, you’ll love this site. Idealistic, unrealistic and just plain wrongheaded kids trying to make arguments for kids rights (to vote, drink, not have curfews). What’s not to love; if you’re under 21 years old.
http://www.youthrights.org/
Brief guide to the rights of minors (under age 18) in Tennessee
http://www.state.tn.us/tccy/om-rr-08.pdf
If you get stopped by the police and they want to search your vehicle, think about these issues first.
http://www.tennesseecriminalattorneyblog.com/2007/06/bonnaroo_2007_1.html
(and this does not mean that I support kids just trying to get away with things. It is one thing for your parents to make your life miserable for doing drugs or drinking or messing up, it is another when the juvenile court system gets involved.)
And, finally, while it is difficult to acquire in Tennessee, here is some information about becoming an emancipated minor.
http://www.tennlegalaid.com/Library/Documents/1196697113.02/Emancipation.pdf
Or you can plan an adventure doing cool stuff through Action Quest
Are You a Risk Taker? | Psychology Today
http://selfmutilatorsanonymous.org/
Guttmacher Institute collects stats on sexual and reproductive health. This is on teens.
http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-ATSRH.html
Sex and Sexuality-Educating Yourself
What’s normal? Check out these resources on healthy sexuality and sexual development
If you are looking for info on Rape and Sexual Assault, here is the link Rape and Sexual Assault
OK, this is a really good site with honest and accurate information about sex, sex issues and relationships.
An online resource developed by the California Family Health Council, is to improve the health and well being of young people in CA by providing non-judgmental, accurate, and reliable sexual and reproductive health information and resources.
http://teensource.org/pages/
Sexuality and Relationship info you can trust from Planned Parenthood® — teenwire.com
Baby Cost Calculator | Tools | BabyCenter
Scarleteen | Sex Education For The Real World
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/may-8-2009/hooking-up/2896/
http://www.stayteen.org/how-do-you-stay-teen
Sex addiction? Internet sex problem? Here’s some tests to let you know.
Here is MTV’s site
http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/
Sex & Sexuality-Sexually Transmitted Infections
Planned Parenthood, Take Care Down There
HIFY: Health Initiatives for Youth
PAY ATTENTION! This is a recent report on the occurrence of an antibiotic resistant gonorrhea. If you get it, there is nothing they can do about it if the ONE antibiotic left that works happens to not work (and it will soon be resistant to that antibiotic).
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/08/here-it-comes-super-gonorrhea/260937/
Quiet magazine. Excellent
Caring for Your Introvert – Magazine – The Atlantic
Introverts: strength in (a lack of) numbers | Blog | Ode Magazine
This is a series on the young Menace skateboarders who were the subject of some documentary work when they were teens. It is showing where they have ended up. It is worth thinking about. (Note: there is some crude language on this and references to drugs and other kinds of sinful behavior.)
http://www.vice.com/epicly-later-d/menace-part-1
http://www.vice.com/epicly-later-d/ricky-oyola-1
OK, you can continue to follow the series from here. They are linked at the bottom of each segment.
Skateparks: Come on. If you have a skateboard then you have talked to some else who has a skateboard and they know all the places in our area. OK, Rocketown, in Nashville of course; Brentwood YMCA has a respectable park (here’s a review). There is one at Jim Warren Park in Franklin. Then there is the Nashville Skate Park off Briley Parkway close to Opry Mills. WEAR A HELMET!
The military cure for getting to sleep in 2 minutes.
Healthy Sleep from the National Institutes of Health and the National Heart Blood and Lung Institute
Here is more technical information about what goes on during sleep
healthy_sleep.pdf Guide to healthy sleep
healthy_sleep.pdf (application/pdf Object)
World’s Biggest, Most Annoying Alarm Clock Video
CoolPeopleCare | Saving the World, Five Minutes at a Time | Information, Inspiration & Local Events
How do I make a difference? — Social Edge
Be the Change. | HandsOn Network
Adbusters Culturejammer Headquarters | Journal of the mental environment
Columns | Never Get A “Real” Job
Welcome to the Giraffe Heroes Project
Here’s a collection of documentaries and short films on ecological issues about everything from food to the death of the honey bee. The 11 most inspiring eco movies available online from Ode Magazine.
Don’t believe everything you see (or everything you post) on your social media account!
Here’s a book by an LA prosecutor who went after stalkers. Could be helpful
What if someone sends pictures of you to be posted on the internet (revenge porn sites)? This woman went to war with one of them and won.
Stats on Teens (Find out where you fit)
This is one of the premier sources of statistics on teens and risk behavior, including alcohol and drug use.
http://monitoringthefuture.org/
YRBSS – Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System – DASH/HealthyYouth
Guttmacher Institute: Adolescents
Teen Survey: What’s the Responsible Age for Smoking, Drinking, Sex?
National Survey of Student Engagement
Tennessee’s Adolescent and Young Adult Health Program
Mentally.pdf (application/pdf Object)
The American Institute of Stress has a lot of good information. This is a great place to start in finding out about stress and what you can do about it.
http://mystressmanagementskills.com
Relaxation exercises
Meditation. The basic form of relaxation is sitting in a relaxed position, in a quiet place and clearing your mind for about 20 minutes. The scope of benefits meditation brings is becoming down right amazing. And, of course, it can help with stress. Here is an inexpensive, simple recording of alternate chimes of a bell. You breathe in on one and out on the other. It can help you stay focused on breathing and keep your mind from wandering. Here is a free mindfulness bell video that gives you something to focus on while you are meditating.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation. Here and here are two good recordings of guided progressive muscle relaxation. This is really helpful if you find yourself chronically tense. Progressive muscle relaxation has you first tense each of your muscle group and then relax them. For some people, this is the first time they realized what it was like to relax their muscles. The exercise moves through each of your major muscle groups. You will be like a limp rag after (but without the exhaustion). It is a great technique.
Guided imagery. The Dartmouth College Student Wellness website has these great recordings of relaxation exercises. Their guided imagery ones are excellent. Guided imagery approaches relaxation by creating an image of a very relaxing situation. It could be sitting on the beach, listening to the rain, walking through a cool, green forest. There are as many locations as there are places people find peaceful and relaxing. Find your “happy place” and spending time imagining yourself there there can be extremely relaxing.
Here are some meditation timers that are highly rated by PCWorld (my favorite place to go for reviews on electronic stuff)
OK, this has some dicey language in it but I think you will find it useful.
What’s going on? Are you looking at this section because of casual interest? Do you have a friend in trouble? Or is it you? If it’s you I’m glad you are starting here. Read through these sites. Then, go right now and find someone to talk to. An adult. Someone you trust. Tell them what’s going on. If it isn’t a counselor, then y’all go and find a counselor you are comfortable talking to. They can help. Seriously. It isn’t that bad. Part of the problem is when YOU look at it all you see is dark and despair. There’s more. Talk to someone. Now. (And, take care of yourself.)
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/default.aspx
To Write Love on Her Arms > Home
And read this:
http://www.livingissobig.com/modules.php?name=Top
And look at this
and this is a really beautiful sincere response to someone who was feeling suicidal
http://mattfraction.com/post/63999786236/sorry-to-put-this-on-you-but-i-have-an-honest-question
http://www.tnyouthconnections.net/resources/supportgroups.html
Find an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting schedule for middle Tennessee here by entering your zip or city and them put in teens or yp (young people)
http://www.aanashville.org/cgi-bin/meetingdb/mtgsearch.cgi
Or for eating disorders
http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/treatment-support-groups.html#tn
Oh, how could texting influence me . . . WAKE UP AND SMELL THE 263333
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110216123539.htm
Texting while driving?
http://www.break.com/index/impossible-texting-while-driving-test-2322439
Wonder how you can be fooled by the way you think? Here are 20 examples of cognitive bias that seriously effect decision making.
How to keep from being stupid (because you wanted to believe something in the first place)
Don’t completely believe you really know what’s going on
Most People Are Not Observant Video
If you can’t be vulnerable you can’t be fully alive
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/15/brene-brown-vulnerability_n_1150976.html?ref=email_share
Too much self-esteem will hold you back!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20756247
Meditation is good for EVERYTHING
http://io9.com/how-meditation-changes-your-brain-and-makes-you-feel-b-470030863
Tobacco Facts – Spit and Chew Tobacco
Anti smoking site from Ontario
Look what they found now. It’s even worse than you thought.
Tourette Syndrome Association TSA Home Page
Tourette Syndrome Plus – Home Page
Welcome to the Trichotillomania Learning Center
Beautiful video by a very talented young woman who also happens to have trich. Here is another video of hers that follows her from 16-21. Lovely and compelling.
Here is a web-based self-help program for Trichotillomania.
The TLC Foundation for Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (Trichotillomania and other related behaviors) is also a great resource.
Video game reviews
http://www.ign.com/
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews
http://www.esrb.org/about/news/downloads/ESRB_PTA_Brochure-web_version.pdf
How video game developers hook kids on the games
http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/games_egomaniacs_play/
Want to know the arguments for and against?
Against: http://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2003/10/anderson.aspx
For: http://www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/myths.html
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/769/769093p1.html
Try these arguments on your parents for why playing video games is important for your development (watch out, there are cuss words in this link!)
http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-real-skills-video-games-have-secretly-been-teaching-us/
The National Center for Victims of Crime has a youth initiative that provides a number of bulletins for dealing with various kinds of violence against teenagers: Assault, Bullying, Harassment, Robbery, Stalking as well as info for friends and parents of someone who is a victim of a crime. Check out this site
Here is a link to a BMI calculator that gives you info compared to countries all over the world
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18770328
This is a great video of a guy who went from obese to healthy. It is HARD but it can be done.
YouTube – My 120 pound journey.
If you are trying to lose weight (or think you know why other people don’t lose weight), read this.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/magazine/tara-parker-pope-fat-trap.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
Womanhood and Femininity Issues
This is a really cool site that promote women of color getting into technology fields Black Girls Code
Found this reading list of issues related to girls (and women) and STEM careers.
A woman reflects on how some people (actually, quite a few people including her) want more than just hookup sex. And alcohol doesn’t help in realizing it.
Sorry, not sorry? Read this by Lena Dunham about the problem of apologizing for everything as a woman.
This is a great online magazine for girls that focuses on writing, photography and other forms of artwork by and for teens. Rookie
Women leaders are still in the minority. Here are some words of wisdom and insight from the women who HAVE made it to leadership positions. They talked at the Aspen Ideas Festival
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is an inspiration. Listen to what she has to say about not having to focus on likeability and telling YOUR story.
Ever wonder whether real princesses did anything but be rescued by a big, strong man? Check out this GREAT site called Rejected Princesses. An illustrator decided to go find some real princesses who did awesome things (when he got frustrated at the Disney princesses who kept getting movies made about them).
This is a powerful speech by comedian Amy Schumer on being strong and confident and how hard that can be to accomplish (by talking about bad it felt to allow a guy to use her). This had some profanity and references to sex though that isn’t the point.
Really cool site addressing the injustice of gender stereotypes (and the ways in which females suffer for it). They are expanding to also address the ways in which males also suffer from gender stereotypes).
This is a very technical report on the sexualization of girls in our culture. It affects you. It is worth wading through.
http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx
The Respect Institute is dedicated to helping kids learn about, give and require respect
http://www.respectrx.com/
Here is a site to get health information geared toward young women
http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/
You should know the 100 women who changed the world!
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/a-century-of-distinction-100-women-who-changed-the-world-1917427.html?utm_source=Ode+Newsletters&utm_campaign=5b46199c55-good-news-weekly-rss&utm_medium=email
This is a great magazine for younger teen girls. Lots of good stuff.l
https://www.newmoon.com/
Would you like to know how women are presented in mainstream movies? Here is a really cool test (that is quite an eye opener). How many movies have 1) at least 2 women who 2) talk to each other about 3) something other than an man?
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/07/22/the-bechdel-test-for.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29&utm_content=LiveJournal&utm_source=Ode+Newsletters&utm_campaign=e0ce7957e8-good-news-weekly-rss&utm_medium=email
Here is part of the description of the host of this website “Anita Sarkeesian is a feminist pop culture media critic who produces an ongoing web series of video commentaries from a feminist/fangirl perspective.” She has an agenda but even if you don’t agree, she has things worth thinking about.
http://www.feministfrequency.com/
Jean Kilbourne has lots to say to and about girls and women. You need to know about her and the things she reveals about the ways our culture shapes how women are viewed
http://jeankilbourne.com/
Girls Incorporated is a nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. nuff said.
http://www.girlsinc.org/resources/fact-sheets.html
Remember Barbie’s Dream Home? In the real world . . .
http://imgur.com/gallery/dkYiZ
Being a woman professional can still be marked by sexist and dismissive remarks. Here is a site that collects remarks made to female journalists. Some people still don’t get it.
http://saidtoladyjournos.tumblr.com/
Really good list of all kinds of books about strong, ambitious girls
How do you see yourself?
http://realbeautysketches.dove.us/
Being a girl doesn’t mean you can’t kick some ass.
Make a declaration and then look around this site.
See how outdated views limit how you view your possibilities
And this site is harsh but inspiring (though taking the “women have a right to be as vile as guys” view a little too far)
Dealing with street harassment? See this.
Sexism. It’s still around (and other girls are as likely to promote it as guys are!) Very cool video short about how insidious it is.
Being your own self (and the difficult road to get there)
Annnnd. Street Harassment (aka cat calls). Here’s how one woman addressed it (by video taping the cat calls and talking to the guys who did it-really sad, actually). Then she came up with some cards you can pass out to people who harass you on her site Cards Against Harassment.
Maya Angelou-brilliant, breathtaking, profound, deeply moving. All women, all men need to have read and heard what she has to say.
Phenomenal Woman. THE paean to womanhood
On evil. An interview with Bill Moyers about racism, prejudice and poverty and one of the most powerful statements (in rhyme) as she reads one of her poems on the effects of racism and oppression on African Americans. It will make you weep.
On hope. This is an written interview on her past and the possibilities everyone has for a future.
On the time in her life when she was a prostitute and rising up (not graphic)