Youth MOVE Massachusetts Newsletter

Youth MOVE Massachusetts is a program of the Parent/Professional Advocacy League

January 21st, 2026 | Issue 16

How Faith Has Impacted My Mental Health

Written by a Youth MOVE Massachusetts Youth Advocate

Disclaimer: Youth MOVE Massachusetts values all religions and religious beliefs. YMM recognizes that everyone has different ways of coping with mental health challenges. This blog reflects one young adult's lived experience and personal belief system. Please be respectful:)

When I was 11 years old, and I first began to struggle with my mental health, I felt very lost. I couldn’t pinpoint what was happening to me, so instead I bottled it all up and kept it to myself. Then, there was one day at the end of my fifth-grade year when keeping it inside felt impossible, and I came undone in the middle of class. I remember my teacher taking me outside the classroom and comforting me. She was trying really hard to understand what was going on, but even I didn’t know why I was crying. I just knew what I was feeling, which was an all-consuming worry and fear. I felt like an empty void had opened up inside my chest, and it hurt too much to breathe. The sadness and fear I felt had become so overwhelming that I could no longer ignore them.

I didn’t quite understand why or even how this was happening to me. So, when I went home that day and tried talking to my parents, I couldn’t find the words to tell them what had happened. Instead, I acted like I was fine and that this was just a one-time thing. However, a few months later, it became clear to them that I wasn’t fine. I tried talking to them. At the time, I believed that they just couldn’t understand what I was feeling. Maybe it was my inability to fully communicate my thoughts and emotions, or maybe it was our mutual lack of knowledge about the significance of mental health. Nonetheless, I had hope that my parents would help me feel better. Unfortunately, they were not equipped to. Although it was incredibly frustrating to me then, looking back now, I understand that not being able to rely on my parents was crucial to my healing. I realized that the peace I was seeking was not something my parents could provide me; it was something only God could satisfy...

Young Adult Resources: Socializing

In an era when many of our daily interactions take place online rather than in person, it can feel harder than ever to form friendships and socialize with others. Socializing may feel challenging, uncomfortable, anxiety-inducing, or all of the above. But socializing is a skill that you can practice, just like drawing or doing math. And just like any other skill, some tips and tricks can help make it easier!

Improving Your Social Skills is Easier Than You Think

How To Be A Better Friend to Others

Figuring it out: how autism helped me make friends

21 Tips to Socialize With People

Social Media Spotlight

YMM's social media accounts are made by youth for youth! We share tips and educational content about mental health, youth, and advocacy to create a safe space for young people to learn and connect. Check out some of our posts:

Mental Health Mini Activity

Sensory Shock

One of the most widely accessible and helpful emotional regulation techniques involves “shocking” your nervous system with strong sensory input. When one of your five senses (smell, taste, sound, touch, etc.) is exposed to an intense external stimulus, it can trigger your brain’s "orienting" response. Basically, this forces your attention to shift away from overwhelming emotions. This can help interrupt spiraling thoughts and bring your body back into the present moment. Luckily, there are many simple and safe ways to do this!

Smell: Use something with a very concentrated scent, such as an essential oil or a strongly scented lotion. Just a few whiffs can help ground you and slow things down. Certain scents, like lavender, have even been linked to increased relaxation. Strong smells work especially well because your sense of smell is directly connected to the parts of the brain involved in emotion and memory.

Touch: Splash cold water on your face or hold an ice cube in your hand. Intense cold activates what’s known as the “dive reflex,” which can slow your heart rate and signal your nervous system to calm down. This can be especially helpful during moments of panic or extreme stress. If it's accessible, a brief cold shower can provide a full-body reset, but even a few seconds of cold exposure can make a difference.

Taste: Suck on a strong-flavored candy, such as a peppermint, sour candy, or something spicy. Intense flavors demand your attention and can help pull you out of emotional overload. This is an especially accessible option in public or social settings, since it’s subtle and easy to carry with you.

Shoutouts!

At the end of 2025, Youth MOVE Massachusetts was selected as Chapter of the Year by Youth MOVE National! Each year, the Chapter of the Year award is presented to a chapter in YMN’s chapter network that has demonstrated exceptional dedication to youth programming. Youth MOVE Massachusetts is so grateful to be recognized for our hard work, and we look forward to continuing to serve youth across Massachusetts in 2026!

From Youth MOVE National: It’s safe to say Youth MOVE Mass has been all over the map - in a good way. There hasn’t been a month when we didn’t see a fantastic newsletter, or a youth-led training, or a youth leader helping us with external opportunities like being a panelist on our American Academy of Pediatrics project. Youth MOVE Mass is one of our longest-standing Chapters - and this type of engagement is why!