Previously thought of as a type of anxiety disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is now considered its own category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). As many people who have been diagnosed with OCD struggle with intense anxiety, they may first be diagnosed with anxiety...
Overall, the prevalence of cannabis use disorder has decreased over the last decade among frequent users, according to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. As the perceived risk of smoking marijuana has decreased, teens struggling with depression are actually more likely...
Your teen may claim “new year, new me” at the start of every new year as they promise to cut back on unhealthy behaviors and make safer decisions. Getting any teenager to follow New Year’s resolutions can feel like an uphill battle, but making and...
Many parents think of crisis as a life-or-death situation; however, teens experience emotional crises more often than they experience situational crises. There are times when a parent needs help quickly – when children are struggling to regulate their emotions, their behavior is out of control,...
Most people associate the phrase “addiction” with dependence on a substance, such as drugs or alcohol. However, many people are addicted to behaviors, not necessarily substances, and have similar experiences as they would if they were dependent on a substance. Some people argue that “getting...
Many teens turn to substances to self-medicate undiagnosed mental health issues, like bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety. As medication is one of the most common and effective forms of treatment for bipolar disorder, it can influence teens’ attitudes towards prescription pill use and other drugs....
Humor can be an effective defense mechanism when it’s used to reduce the intensity of a situation. Some parents worry that following social media accounts that post depression memes might make their teen more depressed by planting negative thoughts in their heads. However, when teens...
Practitioners of holistic medicine claim that most “diseases” are born during the changing of the seasons. As the temperature, humidity, and length of days start changing as a new season begins, teens with mood disorders may notice shifts in their energy and stress levels. Some...
According to the Center for Disease Control, teen boys are three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than teen girls. This disparity isn’t necessarily because girls are less susceptible to the disorder. Symptoms of ADHD present differently in girls as they are often...
Social anxiety has almost become normative in our society. Canceling plans, awkward interactions, and shyness are all described as signs of being “socially anxious.” While rates of social anxiety are increasing across all age groups, the average onset is much earlier than in previous generations....