As a teenager at Hoover, I’ve always found comfort in my plushies since I was little. Some people might find them childish but to me they represent something way more important.
Plushies represent a tangible connection to my emotional well being. My point is that the power of comfort objects like plushies are overlooked and deserve more recognition, especially within the context of mental health in our school community. Many teenagers, myself included, struggle with the pressure of school, social life, and personal life. Sometimes the weight of these pressures feels overwhelming. In these types of situations, squeezing a soft familiar plush provides a sense of comfort and calmness. It’s a simple act yet it means a lot to me. Offering a physical manifestation of comfort during stressful times. Anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed, stressed, or lonely can connect to that type of comfort. It isn’t childish if it’s a self-soothing mechanism.
The point of view is rooted in my personal experience and a growing understanding of the role of sensory regulation in managing stress and anxiety. My plushies aren’t just toys for me. Pushies are my comfort items that I can cry into, hug when I feel overwhelmed or when I have an anxiety attack. They represent a simple, accessible way to cope with difficult emotions. We shouldn’t dismiss these seemingly small things. Instead we should find a way to normalize comfort objects within our school community, maybe even incorporating them into a mindfulness of self reduction initiatives. Perhaps even a quiet corner in the library with a collective of plushies for students to use when they feel overwhelmed. It’s a small but significant step toward building a more supportive and understanding school environment.
A lot of students might benefit having a quiet corner where they can feel safe, when they feel overwhelmed. It’s all about acknowledging that mental health is multifaceted and that sometimes, even the simplest things can make the biggest difference.Some other stuff that can provide
