How Much Stress is Too Much? A Caregiver’s Guide
As a parent, you may be wondering how to help your child manage their stress better and improve their mental health. After all, we live in some of the most stressful times in human history. Even putting aside the global pandemic, rising anxiety rates in children have been reported for decades. But we want to make something very…
Read MoreHow to Parent a Teen with Anxiety
If you’re a parent struggling to raise a child with anxiety, you’re not alone. Teen and adolescent anxiety has been on the rise for years, and many parents are unsure how to cope with this dynamic. Approximately 4.4 million children in the U.S. are currently diagnosed with anxiety, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And, anxiety is contagious. “Children’s anxiety often results…
Read MoreAutism in Teens: A Holistic Treatment Perspective for Parents & Caregivers
Every person on the autism spectrum is a phenomenal human being worthy of the best care and support available. And there are many in need of this care and support – one in 54 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), meaning serving…
Read More8 Ways to Manage Anxiety as a Family
There is no shortage of stressors on our families today. A global pandemic, adjusting to working and schooling from home, the grief of losing typical life experiences, plus daily stress from work, finances, and more, are all coming together to create an incredibly anxious moment. Simply put: Humans have never been more stressed. All of this stress…
Read MoreHow to Bolster Your Teen’s Mental Health During the Pandemic
It’s not your imagination: Many parents have noticed their teens struggling with the pandemic shutdown. There’s even new research to back this up. The University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital released a survey of over 900 parents, and 45% reported new or worsening mental health behaviors in their teens (ages 13 to 18). Also, FAIR Health reports that insurance claims…
Read More6 Ways to Help Your Teen Make Smarter Decisions About Alcohol
Teens often encounter alcohol in middle and high school. They may come across it at parties, friends’ houses, or even your own liquor cabinet. While it’s easy to find and access, parents have more influence than they think when it comes to helping teens make choices about alcohol use. The reasons why teens choose to drink can vary: Peer pressure and social drinking Curiosity Boredom Rebellion Increased independence Depression, overwhelming stress,…
Read MoreHealing from Self-Medication
Are you concerned that your teen is using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate? Self-medication is more common among teens than most realize with nearly 46 percent of adolescents reporting self-medication habits. It is a normal response to seek relief from pain and how people choose to self-medicate varies widely. Self-medication can take the form of intense exercise,…
Read MoreUnderstanding Common Mood Disorders
Mood disorders affect people of all ages and can have a profoundly negative impact on a person’s quality of life. Mood disorders impact far more than emotions. They can impact sleeping and eating habits, the ability to do daily tasks, relationships with other people, and even become a threat to health and safety. According to…
Read MoreWorld Bipolar Day 2021
World Bipolar Day is an international collaboration to bring awareness to those living with bipolar disorders and to fight the social stigma surrounding it. World Bipolar Day is celebrated each year on March 30, the birthday of artist Vincent Van Gogh who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after his death. Learn more about bipolar disorders…
Read MoreUnderstanding Teenage Alcohol Use
Alcohol use among teens is nothing new. Testing boundaries and pushing limits is a normal part of teen behavior but continual substance abuse for teens is not. Teenage substance abuse can have negative consequences including a lifelong battle with addiction. For many teens, drinking goes beyond social behavior and is used to mask or suppress…
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