Adolescent Mind Lab

03/09/2025

EMOTIONAL FIRST AID QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Do boys need Emotional First Aid?
Absolutely — but we do it differently.
Details on Rise Back Up coming Friday!

03/09/2025

💬💙 Love Chat Reminder 💙💬

Tonight I am continuing with my Emotional First Aid Q&A series with a question that really matters:

👉 Why do we support adolescent boys separately from girls in our workshops?

If you’ve ever wondered about the unique challenges boys face — and why our Rise Above workshop is girl-focused — this is the video you don’t want to miss. 🌟

✨ Stay tuned right here for tonight’s chat!

02/09/2025

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far is that it’s not just about telling our sons or daughters what we value in them—their STRENGTHS—it’s also about helping them SEE how those strengths can SUPPORT their FUTURE SUCCESSES.

For example, one of my son’s strengths is his KINDNESS to younger children. When I validate that strength, I don’t just say, “You’re really nice to younger kids.”

I say: “The kindness you show to those younger than you isn’t only important now—it will help you in LEADERSHIP one day. When you treat people with less power, or those ‘below you,’ with kindness, you BUILD TRUST—people know it’s safe to follow you. You INSPIRE LOYALTY—people stand with you, not because they have to, but because they want to. And you ENCOURAGE MOTIVATION—when people feel valued, they give their best.”

When adolescents begin to understand that the STRENGTHS they display TODAY are the very strengths that will help them succeed in the FUTURE, it EMPOWERS them to embrace those qualities and feel deeply valued in who they already are.

💡 WHAT STRENGTH DO YOU SEE IN YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER THAT YOU KNOW WILL CARRY THEM INTO ADULTHOOD? 💬👇

01/09/2025

Emotional First Aid Tip #4: Strong + Wise – The Proprioception Reset

Not all boys like breathing exercises… I know my own son looks at me with absolute horror when I suggest them! That’s why I created this simple, body-based alternative.

It uses proprioception — our body’s hidden GPS that tells us where we are in space and how much force we’re using. Science shows that when we activate this sense through pressure and movement, it can calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and ease emotional pain.

This approach is especially effective for adolescent boys, but it’s powerful for girls too.

👉 Try it with me in this Reel:
Strong on the inhale. Wise on the exhale.

31/08/2025

✨ Last week, our Emotional First Aid focus was on girls.

This week, it’s all about the boys (and men).

Here’s what’s coming up:
💡 Monday – A self-compassion tip I use with adolescent boys to help them calm and find relief after emotional pain.
💡 Tuesday – A lesson I’ve learned about validating your son’s strengths.
💡 Wednesday – Why we separate Emotional First Aid for girls and boys (and why it matters).
💡 Friday – The neuroscience behind how boys process social injuries.

Stay tuned — it’s going to be an insightful week of tools, science, and stories to support our boys.

30/08/2025

VIDEO 2: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN AMY’S BRAIN

In this video, we explore the Attention Network and the Default Mode Network — and how Amy’s brain gets stuck in loops that intensify the pain. We also highlight why the very first step in Emotional First Aid is always PAIN RELIEF.

📌 Note: These are only a few brain factors behind why social injuries hurt. In our Emotional First Aid programs, we go deeper.

👉 Link in comments to join.

29/08/2025

29/08/2025

THE NEUROSCIENCE BEHIND AMY’S RESPONSE TO A PHOTOGRAPH OF HER FRIENDS AT A PARTY SHE WAS NOT INVITED TO

Why can something as simple as seeing a photo feel SO painful?
In this first video, I break down what happens in Amy’s brain and body — and why exclusion isn’t “just in her head,” but experienced as a REAL THREAT.

👉 Watch the full story here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1LLxzmWkaK/

And don’t miss Part 2 — dropping on SATURDAY — where I’ll share what happens next inside Amy’s brain.

28/08/2025

Hi everyone, Sarah here from Adolescent Mind Lab 👋

On Wednesday, I shared a video about how a social injury — like seeing a photo of friends at a party you weren’t invited to — can hurt so deeply.

Tomorrow I’ll be sharing the neuroscience behind it, to help parents and teens understand why this happens. It’s not because something is “wrong” with us — it’s because of how the brain is wired for survival.

👉 Watch tomorrow’s post if you’d like to see why exclusion feels so painful, especially in the teen years.

27/08/2025

Week 3 Emotional First Aid Question:
👉 Why is exclusion a social injury — and why does it hurt?

Today’s video shares Amy’s story to show how exclusion can feel.
On Friday, I’ll share the neuroscience behind why it hurts so much.

If you’ve ever felt this, or if you relate to Amy’s emotions, thoughts, or physical reactions — give this video a 👍