Stress: The Good, The Bad, and The Benefits You Never Knew Existed
While it might be difficult to accept, stress is a part of our everyday life. You might think that all types of stress are bad, but that isn’t true! In most cases, we believe that stress is a negative thing that wreaks havoc on our physical and mental health, but it can actually provide us […]
Teen Therapy: 5 Steps for Parents
Teen therapy for mental health can be a tough situation to handle. Kids are already reluctant to talk to their own parents, so the suggestion of talking to a professional may be less than enthusiastic. If you’ve already been struggling with your teen and have noticed signs they may be depressed, anxious, or suicidal, then it’s time to […]
The Luck of the Irish and Good Teen Parenting
As a parent, we often have incredibly full schedules. We are so busy with work, driving our teens everywhere, making dinner, making sure the homework is being done, all while preparing for everything related to college applications. We don’t have enough time in our lives to be closely acquainted with our teens. At least, we think we don’t […]
Mask Mandates and Teen Mental Health: What to Look Out For
We are just finishing out a record high year for teen suicide rates, teen stress, and teen depression. Adolescents aged 12-17 years old had the highest rate of major depressive episodes this year, followed by young adults 18 to 25 years old. With these numbers, virtually every teen knows someone close to them who is experiencing […]
Why do people cut themselves? Understanding teen self-harm
Many teens struggle with anxiety and depression. Some turn to self-harm to deal with their intense feelings. Self-harm and self-injury describe a group of behaviors in which you deliberately hurt yourself — not as a suicide attempt, but as a way to release painful emotions. Cutting is one of the most common ways that teens […]
“My Teen plays sports. No reason to worry now…”
I had always believed that if my children played competitive sports, then the endorphins would kick in and they would generally be happy and protected from feelings of depression. Most parents believe this. Boy was I wrong! My youngest son played on two ice hockey teams at college, went to the gym on a […]
Schools and Life are Re-Opening: Talk With Your Teen
I received three phone calls in the last two weeks from parents whose teen recently took their own life… suicide. As you can imagine, the parents are messes with thousands of unanswered questions and a lifetime of second-guessing. The most recent suicide was of a local teen football player who was hoping for an Ivy […]
I Love My Family to Death
Valentine’s Day in Quarantine? Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14. It’s the day we show our love to our spouses, our boyfriends and girlfriends, our moms, and grandmothers. Some of us even buy our pets a cute gift for this special holiday. It is also the month that we forget that our teens need […]
Reducing the Risk of Teen Suicide (for Parents)
Suicide is the act of intentionally taking your own life. Sadly, it’s among the leading causes of death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 24. Thinking about suicide, also known as suicidal […]
When to Get Help for Depression
Everyone feels sad every now and then. And sometimes, it can be unclear whether you have depression or a different ailment. For instance, one common misconception is that depression is simply a state of mind. However, many people experience debilitating physical symptoms, like chest pain and brain fog. That being said, how are you supposed […]
