How 13-year-old Milena from Bilohorodka copes with stress during the war

Milena is a 13-year-old girl from Kyiv, who has been living in Bilohorodka for the past few years. In her free time, she finds comfort in her favorite hobbies — reading, drawing, and listening to music.

“I feel calmer when I read,” Milena shares.

Fantasy books make up most of her personal library, which she proudly talks about.

“I recently bought a few collector’s editions,” she says with excitement.

Living with War and Constant Tension

When the full-scale war began, Milena’s emotional state — like that of many Ukrainian teenagers — changed drastically.

“At first it was really hard. It felt like some kind of dream. Over time, I got used to it, but the fear never really goes away,” she admits.

Constant tension has become a part of her daily life. Even in ordinary moments, thoughts about danger are always present.

“When I go to bed, I catch myself thinking about what I’ll do if there’s an air raid alert. The tension is always there,” Milena says.

Her Ways of Coping with Stress

To deal with stress, Milena turns to music or talks with her friends — it helps her feel supported and understood. Unlike many of her peers, she doesn’t bottle up her feelings; instead, she opens up to her friends about what’s bothering her.

Finding Support Through the Dobrodiy Club Event

Recently, Milena attended the event “How to Support Yourself in Today’s Reality”, organized by the Dobrodiy Club. Her homeroom teacher told the class about it, and Milena immediately wanted to go.

At first, she was mostly excited to see the invited celebrity guest, but what truly impressed her was the psychologist’s session, which included practical exercises for emotional balance.

One activity that especially stood out to Milena was a breathing exercise designed to calm anxiety — something she now plans to use in stressful situations.

“I’d love to attend similar events again,” she says. “They really help teenagers feel better emotionally in today’s difficult conditions.”

Milena’s Message to Her Peers

At the end of our conversation, Milena shared her heartfelt advice for other teenagers who are struggling with stress:

“Never shut yourself off! Parents or friends will always listen and support you in hard times. Remember — you’re not alone in your feelings.”