I grew up in a household that was generous when it came to holidays and birthday occasions. My grandparents were always quick to remember the milestones. They let me know they were thinking of me during the holidays. Something my parents always instilled in me was to write thank you notes no matter how big…
Have you ever had the feeling of being bogged down, each week feeling tedious and long? How about wondering why you even try to continue each week with the same routines and stressors? Let me tell you, life can be difficult at times. There are going to be days, weeks, or even months that may…
Do you remember the first time you fell in love? Chances are if you are an adult, you do. You remember the rush of feelings, the anticipation of seeing that person, shared laughter, and the moments of pure joy. Do you remember when you fell in love with yourself? Chances are you don’t. There is…
Have you ever been in a situation in school where you feel like you’re asking everyone around you about their test score? Do you find yourself feeling more at ease or prideful when you find that you did better than someone else? You may be joining in a competition of who’s getting the better grades….
With the recent Valentine’s Day holiday, it is important to bring up what in fact makes a relationship healthy versus unhealthy. Many teens and young adults do not think about the expectations they have for relationships when they begin to feel attraction to peers. It is important to educate teens about understanding what they want…
I was a particularly anxious teen when I was in high school. I was afraid of new experiences and doing anything outside of my comfort zone. I remember each day going home from school and feeling disconnected from my peers. I felt bored with doing my usual homework. I really wanted to join activities at…
Mindfulness for teen anxiety is one of the most practical tools a teenager can have, and it does not require a perfect setting, a lot of time, or any prior experience. If your teen is carrying a storm of worry that no one on the outside can see, this post is for them, and for…
Ever feel like Garfield the Cat and dread the ever dreadful day of the week, better known as Mondays? I’ve been there, and even experienced the feelings of dread today. It starts with my thought process of what do I have that needs to get done this week, and where do I start? It can…
Valentine’s Day is a holiday that is set up for couples to show their love to one another. At least, that’s the message that teens are given. When you are in elementary school Valentine’s Day you were expected to give everyone a card and bring some type of snack or gift for the class. Yet,…
Change can be difficult for many individuals due to the uncertainty about the future. To change often means that the things one was once used to are going to be different. This can push people out of their comfort zones. The thing with change is that it cannot be avoided no matter how much someone…
Let’s face it, there are always new styles, “In” ideas for fashion, makeup, and societal expectations. What if I told you that in a world that tells people how to dress, how to talk, and how to express yourself on social media that it is ok to be different? You may have been feeling like…
We live in a world of social media and stardom. It’s constantly flooding our televisions, phones, magazines, and computers. It is hard to go anywhere and not hear about celebrity deaths, overdoses, breakups, and drug use. Did you know that reading about these celebrity headlines could be affecting your mental health? Don’t get me wrong,…
Struggling to feel happy? Feeling blah, or downright negative lately? Finding it hard to see any positive things about your day? You might be having a depressed mood. Life can be difficult at times. It can cause us to become an Eeyore with the raincloud constantly hanging overhead. You can Find the Positives What if…
“I have time, college is still a few years away, or even a few months away.” You may feel you have your ducks in a row and know everything you have to do to prepare. Yet where do you start? It is possible you feel you don’t know where to start your college search or…
Holidays can be a fun time of celebrations, family, friends, and cheer for many! Yet for others, the holidays can bring sadness, a depressed mood, fear, guilt, stress, and even anxiety. Holidays can be difficult for a number of reasons. Maybe you have to deal with difficult family members. Maybe your mom or dad get…
It is that time of year again, getting ready for the holidays, getting excited about all the celebrations. Yet there are those ever-daunting finals in the way of all the excitement. Are you starting to feel worried, calculating all your points in class, or worrying you may not get the GPA you want? I urge…
Have you ever been in an argument with a friend or other peers, and not known how to handle it? Many fear conflict and avoid it at all costs. Many times people don’t know what to say or do if they disagree. The opposite can also happen where things are said that are hurtful, and…
Many of us have had times where it was our worst-nightmare, excuse the pun, to fall asleep at night. We would sit and count the hours we had left until we needed to wake up, or worse get up to work or go to school on little sleep. The worried thoughts circle through our heads, …
Have you ever felt like you can never disconnect from technology? It could be work, school, your teen calling/texting you, or demands from other family members. Teens are particularly attached to their phones. Sometimes phones are an outlet for friendships, social media, and games. The Disadvantages of Technology for Teens The problem with technology is…
Teens are the ever-growing population that many parents and teachers struggle with knowing how to help. Teens are suffering more and more from anxiety and depressive disorders than ever before. Teens frequently are uncertain how to manage and experience emotions, and deal with everyday life stressors. Resiliency is a must, and there are steps than…
