Facing depression is never easy. It’s hard to see the good things around you when your brain’s chemistry isn’t allowing it. For those who have depression and are watching all of the worrisome events playing out in the world today, it’s even harder to get through the day. With the…
For adolescent males needing substance use, mental health or dual diagnosis treatment, we can help. We have the skills and the trained professionals to provide what you need. You may also be asking yourself, does insurance cover substance use treatment? In many cases, insurance will cover the cost of treatment.…
Family members play a crucial role in helping a loved one with an alcohol or substance use disorder get on the road to recovery. But where do you begin? How can you really help? When do you back-off? How do you prevent enabling? What tools are effective in keeping your loved…
One of the most compelling games to come onto the market in a while is Fortnite. This phenomenon of zombies has been taking adolescents by storm since its release in July of 2017. While Fortnite is normally stated as a free battle royal game, the reality of this virtual game…
According to a recent report, people on average only keep their new year’s resolution until January 12th, so continuing to maintain any lifestyle changes past 2 weeks is a difficult for most. Your teen who is getting sober may find some their recovery being obstructed by the triggers and cravings…
Meditation has gotten a bad rap at times because of its religious affiliation with religious groups thinking it may mean one thing when they believe another. Due to this misconception there have been legions of people who missed out on the benefits that meditation brings especially teens who typically would…
One of the characteristics that makes someone want to retreat to drugs and alcohol is feeling unloved. Sometimes this happens from feeling insecure in the relationship with their parents and other times feeling unloved comes through their suffering self-esteem from not doing the right thing. Part of the problem when…
Teenagers usually repel at the thought of their parents being in their life. With their new sense of independence, most teenagers think they know everything and do not want to be told what to do. Add substance abuse to that equation and you will most likely find a teen who…
In December, the United States Surgeon General issued a warning stating that vaping has become a national epidemic amongst teens. Vice Admiral Jerome Adams quoted in his speech, “More than 3.6 million U.S. youth, including 1 in 5 high school students and 1 in 20 middle school students currently use…
There may come a time when you have come to the end of your rope with your teen and you just do not know what to do. Your first inkling may be to put your head in the sand and not deal with it or you may realize in a…
Victims of cyberbullying have a tough time dealing with the impact the abuse has on them. Bullying in any capacity will lower self-esteem and create unnecessary fear to cause significant psychological and emotional distress, but cyberbullying can cause even more chaos. Anxiety, depression, struggling academics, and physical ailments also become…
Now that you are aware of the problematic behavior your teen has exhibited, you may be wondering if this is just your family’s destiny or if there is something which could be done to solve the problem? Dealing with the issues that your teen is going through may have you…
You may have heard of teenagers being antisocial and that it is just a phase that they are going through. Then when you see your teen being antisocial, you start to get afraid that something is really wrong although you may not know what being antisocial really means. The words…
With screen time becoming more prevalent for adolescents with each passing day, there is more research that is being conducted in regard to how on-screen violence invokes them. Finding out the effects that teens and younger kids are experiencing is important because the aggressive nature that follows many of them…
Teens tend to be more dramatic and over-the-top with their emotions due the physical and mental changes that their hormones cause in them. With that being stated, each passing year has brought increasing rates for all teens who commit suicide with white males from the ages of 14-21 being the…
A whole market of Cannabidiol (CBD) products have recently been unleashed into the public to make way for natural relief from health ailments especially in states that have legalized marijuana. In fact, by the year 2020 CBD sales are predicted to increase to over $1.9 million. When you hear about…
With the opioid crisis still being at the forefront of drug abuse news, the misuse of other drugs often gets overlooked. Adderall has made the headlines in recent months though with political allegations, student overdoses, and in celebrity news that shows that it is still as destructive and as deadly…
You had a suspicion that your teen was using drugs and alcohol, so you searched their room and car to see if your intuitions about their behavior was right. Along the way, you found some paraphernalia that made you fearful about what could happen to your teen. The next indicated…
If you have noticed some peculiar changes with your teen lately, you may be a little concerned about what the cause may be. Drug and alcohol abuse are often the first things that come to mind, but how do you prove it? Since there has not been any solid proof…
Depression and suicidal thoughts are the most prevalent mental issues that affect adolescents today. The increase of depression in teens is growing at an alarming rate with as many as 1 in 5 teens being diagnosed with clinical depression. The question we all want to know is how could this…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a ruling recently on the way that e-cigarette flavors will be sold going forward. In the past, underage vapors could pretty much get their hands-on flavored e-juice as easy as getting regular candy which the manufacturers of e-cigarettes, including JUUL, marketed as such.…
A stumbling block for parents who have adolescents struggling with substance abuse is what to do when they flat out refuse to go to the rehabilitation facility that you picked for their specific needs. How do you make someone go to treatment even if they are underage and under your…
Teens are often known for their over-the-top dramatics and impulsiveness, but if your teen is talking about suicide, you should always take them seriously. Regardless of their past actions, if your teen is threatening suicide, you may only have one shot to save them from their own death. You may…
People still claim that marijuana is not addictive because for some reason they just do not believe it is a drug. Since marijuana is a plant, people are certain that it is better than prescription pills or street drugs and they are correct in their assessment. Cannabis is widely known…
Teens are full of curiosity in life and wish to experience more and more that comes their way. Discovering new things and having more freedom to do so with age can be a disaster waiting to happen when it comes to the likes of drugs and alcohol. Peer pressure runs…
Sixty-three percent of all households have one gamer living under their roof, according to the 2017 Essential Facts about the Computer and Gaming Industry report released by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). Computer and video games are a popular way for people of many ages to spend their time. There…
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a terror induced condition that happens to people who have experienced a terrifying event that usually includes violent acts. PTSD is often debilitating to those who endure it and can last for long periods of time if not treated. Many cases of PTSD have a…
Having your teen finally get the help they need in treatment can stir up a few different emotions as their parent. On one hand, you feel at peace knowing that they are safe in getting assistance with their addiction, but on the other hand you may be experiencing anxiety of…
When you think of Anorexia Nervosa, you may automatically think super skinny and emaciated as a telltale sign. The truth is that there are teens who are anorexic that do not show the outside physical characteristics and clues towards the manifestation of an eating disorder. A report that has come…
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently recognized gaming addiction as a real mental health disorder. Parents may oftentimes not understand if their teen actually has a gaming addiction, or if they are just being a teenager, and here are some precepts to go by. Social Issues Without having human contact,…
One of the most daunting parts of substance abuse recovery is figuring out what your role is as the parent of an addicted teen. Parenting a teen can already be difficult to figure out but adding recovery to the mix can make things even more complicated. Anyone who is getting…
Getting sober during adolescence can be a difficult experience for teens to endure. Addiction brings on a battle that is hard to overcome and that battle continues into their recovery. There are many situations in recovery that could cause your teen some undue adversity. Roadblocks will occur from time to…
There comes a time in a parent’s life where they have to deal with their teenager driving for the first time. The sheer panic of driving with a novice driver while trying to find your “air brake” on the passenger’s side of the car is enough to cause you some…
Teen vaping has become a well-known story parents have been following in the news for the last few years. As the e-cigarette industry has continued to evolve into a billion dollar a year business, so has the method and means that teens use. With all the different flavors being marketed…
Drugs and alcohol can cause bodily harm to teens in a variety of different ways including through their diet. Substance abuse can take away your teen’s appetite to eat creating malnutrition or causing them to have the munchies and eat everything in sight while they are under the influence. Whatever…
Sometimes it can be terrifying to determine whether a teen will act on their suicidal thoughts. Rule number one when it comes to dealing with these thoughts is to take them seriously every single time even if you think they are just trying to get your attention. Whether these thoughts…
Your teen may have gotten caught up with drugs and alcohol and you understand that they will need help for long-term cessation. Substance abuse is a serious condition that takes recovery tools for relief. You may have your teen situated in their recovery, but what about you? Although your teen…
With technology being such a massive entity in our society nowadays, there is always talks about how digital media affects our adolescents. Certainly, there are advantages of computers and tablets for use in an educational manner since children are able to learn subjects in a different method that provokes their…
Recovery is dependent on finding a Higher Power that is meant to direct your teen in their sobriety. Since what they were doing in their addiction proved that they were powerless over drugs and alcohol, they need a power greater than themselves to restore them to sanity and to turn…
Teens can be rather quizzical when they are trying to find out dirt on their parents. One day after school, they may come home and straight up ask you, “Have you ever smoked weed before?” You may be thrown off guard with how to answer this question although you know…
Your teen may become stressed out with their schoolwork, extracurricular activities, peer pressure, love relationships, or issues at home. As a parent, you might be taking for granted the stressors that your teen has to deal with because you have to deal with financial burdens, pressures with work, and making…
The internet can be a scary place to let your teens interact online. With 95 percent of teens having access to a smartphone according to the Pew Institute, 45 percent of these teens state they are online constantly. There are many different platforms that may test your knowledge because you…
Chapman University published research earlier this year about the adverse effects that energy drinks cause teens. Their research was a compilation of information from studying why teens consumed energy drinks, how often, what age they started, and what happened to them afterwards. Although one may think that energy drinks are…
When Apple added a location tracker as a feature on their phones, parents everywhere jumped for joy. Having full access to their teen’s constant whereabouts has become a game changer for some parents to relax while their teen is out with their friends. This feature on your phone may be…
Everyone makes mistakes as some point in their life that is a fact. Parents tend to beat themselves up about making mistakes with their teens especially when it comes to substance abuse. Mistakes are expected to occur because with substance abuse, there is no clear way on how to navigate…
Many families unfortunately have to deal with divorce and the most important thing to consider during this tumultuous time is making sure every family member has a coping strategy including your adolescent. Divorce is a big change for a teenager. The foundation that they thought they were standing on has…
There could be dissention in thinking that meditation for adolescents is a good idea. Whether the perception that meditation embodies religious beliefs or is a wacky practice for tree huggers, meditation is beneficial for people of all ages including adolescents. The truth is that meditation is whatever your adolescent makes…
Most teenagers desire to be part of a group and will do just about anything to fit in. This is a tale as old time due to the stage of life that the teenage years represent. Teens are in the beginning phases of finding out who they are which mostly…
Recovery is something that must be carried on for all 365 days of the year with a one-day-at-a-time mentality. For a teenager who struggles with substance abuse, sometimes staying sober on the daily can be a tall order to fulfill, especially during the holiday season. After Thanksgiving, the feeling of…
The biggest upset you have to face in your teen’s recovery is finding out that they have relapsed. You have prayed for them, supported them, and would have stood on your head for their sobriety, but the only way they can stay sober is if they are willing to do…
Each year on the third Thursday of November, Thanksgiving is celebrated for the delicious menu and the thankfulness that the day stands for. For a teen who has gotten sober, this day could be a difficult time to stay on track with their recovery. You could be instrumental in assisting…
Fortnite has become all the rage in the last year with 2.4 billion views on YouTube in a single month. With engaging graphics, the desire to acquire new weapons every game, and the epic victory dances, it is no wonder that teenagers everywhere, including yourself, have become obsessed with this…
The number of adolescents who have developed a gaming addiction has risen in astounding numbers over the last few years. So much so that the World Health Organization (WHO) has dubbed gaming addiction as a viable mental health disorder. With games such as Call to Duty, Grand Theft Auto, Minecraft,…
Last month, an investigation was opened to build a case against PAX Labs, the manufacturer of the e-cigarette known as the JUUL. One of the main concerns that was under fire was to regulate whether JUUL was marketing to teens or not. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally…
As your teen grows more into their independence, often times so does your level of communication. Instead of them letting you know what is going on or relying on you for anything, they would much rather isolate to their room or be with their friends. While this is a seemingly…
When we look back on the opioid epidemic, there was point when we asked ourselves, “How did we get here?” Before we knew it, approximately 53,000 people overdosed from opioids in 2016 causing us to scrambled to protect our loved ones. Teenagers make up around 4200 of the opioid overdoses…
Although anxiety is blind to gender, there have been some recent revelations that show that adolescent girls may be suffering from anxiety more prevalently. Girls have felt more pressure to break the glass ceiling into new dimensions of success for some time now. With the women’s liberation beginning in the…
The first 12-Step program was devised back in the late 1930’s by two middle aged men who could not stop drinking without the admission of an addiction and helping others. Although they did not fathom their vision being something that turned into a fellowship that would go onto help millions…
No parent ever wants to find out that their adolescent is suffering from depression because the road ahead can look pretty bleak. Although depression poses negative aspects on a teen’s life, the recovery process can bring some relief to everyone who is involved including you as a parent. This may…
Teachers are the backbone to our education systems. Without teachers, there would be no one to pass necessary information onto adolescents that will help them to succeed in their future. In a classroom setting, the teachers get closely acquainted with their students and have to deal with a myriad of…
Alcohol is socially accepted in the United States causing billions of drinks to be consumed each year. According the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 7.3 million Americans between the ages of 12 to 20 are reported to drink alcohol. 11 percent of all alcohol that is consumed…
As a parent of a newborn, you took care of that child when they could not take care of themselves. You had to, or they could not survive on their own. As that baby continued to get older there were different stages that took place in which you had to…
The teenage years can be rough for teens who have substance abuse or mental health issues that prevent them from expressing themselves in a positive or healthy manner. Your first inkling may be to sign your adolescent up for traditional therapy. While this gesture is one of love and support,…
Teenagers no doubt ask questions about themselves to themselves on a regular basis. This age group is likely to be in the mindset of trying to figure out who they are as they continue to expand their mental and physical capabilities. Questioning what they want for their life, why they…
When thinking about inhalants around the house, the last thing you probably thought of when you placed this household product in a cabinet is that your teen would ever use this poison to get to high. Think again. Although inhalants are not as common as alcohol, prescription drugs, or street…
With the endless amounts of apps and websites for use, you may be concerned with how your teenager actually uses them. Words like trending, going viral, gifs, memes, or microblogging will continue to come across as new digital knowledge that you may not have been privy to just yet. Although…
With the holidays coming up, you may be afraid of what you will be faced with regarding your teenager’s eating disorder. Thanksgiving is all about eating as much as you can for that day and all the days after that you have leftovers. The holiday is wrapped about turkey, stuffing,…
Bullying is nothing new in our society although there is a new platform around that can be just as dangerous. Cyberbullying has added a whole new dimension to how mean girls and trolls can get to those they wish to intimidate. Instead of pushing around someone in person, there are…
Drinking and using can be the very thing that takes away some of the normal activities that teenagers experience. What may start out as experimentation could turn into unimaginable consequences that could change the outcome of their once fun-filled and influential teenage years. No one is ever safe from what…
There is a misconception that teenage experimentation of drugs and alcohol is relatively harmless. That to innocently try a drug or drink alcohol is a normal rite of passage into adulthood. The fact of the matter is that there is nothing innocent or safe about someone in adolescence trying drugs…
Kids growing up these days seem to show more behavioral problems than before thanks to the internet. With videos and blogs profoundly displaying the truth about what really goes on during childhood, parents can be informed and not feel ashamed thinking they have the only kid who acts that way.…
Every year there seems to be new ways that teens come up with to use and drink without letting their parents, teachers, or other authority figures find out. Some of these methods are certainly “creative” with the intent is to be sneaky but can wind up doing more harm than…
The legalization of marijuana in states across the United States has raised some questions that are directly related to effect that marijuana could have on teenagers. Statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) provides data that proves there has been no real increase on teens taking up cannabis…
Being a teenager is a time for young people to find their way in the world and learn about what they want to do when they grow up. You as the parent can be instrumental in helping your teen find their purpose in life. Although they may still be too…
Mental health disorders are prevalent in people around the world. This year’s World Mental Health Day (WMHDay) which is observed on October 10th every year will focus its efforts on young people worldwide and their mental health. With social media and streaming devices, teens see more of the world’s problems…
Over the last 15 years there has been a decline in the teenage use of Xanax which is a sedative that is mostly used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Xanax has been abused by teens over the years for its calming properties and its ability to produce a euphoric…
As long as the sun has been shining on the earth, teens have had to endure peer pressure as a normal rite of passage. Whether it be sex, drugs, alcohol, stealing, or whatever teens are going for in the moment, most teens have been pressured with doing something that they…
This Halloween may be a really scary holiday for you. Since you are now sober and wanting to hang with your friends who are not, you may be haunted with deciding if you want to stay sober. Trying to imagine yourself not partying with your friends seems lame, but there…
Your teenager finally got sober this year and you thrilled although Halloween is on the horizon which makes you nervous. In the past years, your teen has participated in Halloween loaded. You fear that there may experience triggers that could jeopardize their sobriety when they have worked so hard for…
If you suspect your teen is using drugs and alcohol, you should stage an intervention immediately and do what you can to help them. The longer and heavier your teenager abuses drugs and alcohol, the harder it could be to get them to stop in the future. One of the…
Teenagers are infamously known for talking back, contemptible attitudes, and their salty way of knowing more than you do. Going from hot to cold is typical everyday behavior for an adolescent who is experiencing a shift in their hormones. Not only are they enduring continuous growth spurts, they have nonstop…
Anxiety is a common reaction to the stressors of daily life. For many teens, things like public speaking, school exams, dating, and athletic competitions can stir feelings of anxiety. Teens may not have bills to pay, a taxing job, or other “adult” stressors that are usually linked to anxiety, but…
One of the heartaches you may have to endure is seeing your teenager struggle with the lengths they will go to with their drug and alcohol abuse. You may feel helpless to see them in the lowest moments of their life and wonder when will will they finally hit their…
The running joke in your house may be that “no one can date until they are 35” to try and keep your teenager as innocent as possible. The truth is that teenagers usually begin to date in high school whether they go to school dances together, get asked to Sadie…
You may hear teen mom statistics that provide some insight into what they go through, but what about the 750,000 teens who become dads each year? The stereotype of a teen dad is often that he is a deadbeat father who will not contribute financially because he is too busy…
Trying to provide a better life for your kids than what you had is a universal characteristic for many parents. In the process, you may find yourself spoiling your adolescent here and there for good grades, helping around the house, or just because. While this kind of behavior is good…
Nick Boynton, a former NHL player who won the Stanley Cup in 2010 with the Chicago Blackhawks, has recently brought his addiction and his mental health issues to the forefront of the media. In an article that was published in The Players Tribune in June titled “Everything’s Not Ok”, Boynton…
If you are thinking about Juuling because your friends are, you should think again. Juuling is not good for you for many different reasons that could instead just simply be passed off as something that “everyone does”. Get some facts about Juuling before you get addicted or possibly sick from…
One of the best events you can attend sober is the fireworks show on 4th of July. Being under the influence of drugs and alcohol may make you think that each burst of light is more psychedelically epic than the next but viewing the firecrackers with sober eyes can make…
School is an important aspect in a teenager’s life because the brain of a teen is like a sponge. Learning the necessary subjects in school is something they can carry into their future endeavors. While attending high school, there are graduation requirements students must accomplish before they can walk in…
Being the parent of an adolescent means that you must be in the know with all of the latest lingo if you want to keep tabs on what your kid is doing especially where drugs and alcohol are concerned. Although the term “crossfade” is not completely new, the use of…
The Journal, Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, devised a study based off the reactions underage drinkers had to the exposure of ads, photos, videos, and posts that promoted alcohol. Social media gives teens the ability to view other teens at parties drinking alcohol, read advertisements for alcohol that are meant…
You have been looking forward to the summer coming for the last few months. Kids are out of school, vacations will be taken, and the weather conditions yield tons of sunshine during the summer. However, by day three of summer break, your kids are already bored. You fear that you…
Therapy in today’s world has become more extensive in what has been offered professionally in the past. The general image of therapy usually consists of a patient lying on a couch trying to articulate their feelings while a therapist sits close by listening. While that traditional model of therapy has…
Whether your teenager is a male or a female, many teenagers battle body image due to the judgmental opinions that other classmates, friends, or social media may offer them without any regard to their feelings. The teenage years are heavily influenced by what others think which can carry into their…
Playing outside for hours or letting your kid ride their bike through the neighborhood with a gang of their friends seems to be an activity of the past generations of adolescents. With all the crime that has become more prevalent, busier schedules, and the ease of technology, physical activity has…
Chris Herren is a basketball player who played ball in college and then professionally for several teams in the NBA such as the Denver Nuggets and the Boston Celtics. Before he even played collegiately or professionally, he was already making a name for himself as one of the top basketball…
Teenage pregnancy has been a problem in the United States for decades including the 1970’s, 1980’s, and an all-time high in the 1990’s that has steadily declined in all states over the last decade and a half. The decrease of teen pregnancies has been derived from either having less sex…
Addiction is a very lonely disease which makes people want to isolate and refrain from doing anything productive. People who are addicted to drugs and alcohol tend to hang out with other people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, so they can justify their addictive behaviors with someone who…
Throughout the years, cannabis has been a constant controversy in the United States on whether the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana is harmful or helpful for medicinal purposes. If you were to do research on the effects of the THC, you might conclude that both sides are relevant within their findings…
Parents may be worried about will happen to their teens after treatment. The fear that they will not want to go back to high school to get their degree could be at the top of the list. Whether this anxiety accelerates from the student worried about the response from other…
If you are experiencing addiction in your life, most likely you are affecting your children in a negative light with no intention to do so. Your family may be walking on eggshells trying to stay out of your way due to your addiction to drugs or alcohol. Addiction has a…
Not all parents take an interest in paying attention to the ratings for shows that are being watched by their teens, especially with older teenagers. 13 Reasons Why show on Netflix in its second season, with a third season in pre-production. This relatively new show earned a rating of MA…
Your son is thriving with his schooling and has even managed to make a few A’s on his report card this academic year. He appears to be social by going out with his friends regularly and participating in a few extracurricular activities after school. Everything seems to be under control…
Drugs and alcohol have damaging effects on the person who abuses them and becomes dependent on them. Once the body does not sense the effects of drugs or alcohol any longer, withdrawal can set in making the person extremely uncomfortable. Withdrawals can be deadly with alcohol and excruciatingly painful with…
Looking into alternative ways to help your teen get through the initial stages of withdrawal can be gut wrenching for a parent to have to watch their adolescent go through to say the least. One of the up and coming methods to helping someone withdrawal safely and comfortably is called…
From toddler to teenager, getting your kids to eat a healthy diet can be a daunting task to endure. You want them to eat broccoli and spinach. They want is pizza and Lucky Charms. One of the reasons that teenagers want to eat processed foods with high sugar and fats…
There may be times that you wonder why your teenager does not want to participate in the activities they once were devoted to. They may be exhibiting some typical teenage moodiness, or they could be very easily suffering from depression. One in five teenagers suffer from some form of depression…
Self-care can be thought of taking bubble baths with aromatherapy candles lit in the corners of the tub, getting a manicure and pedicure at the salon, or practicing yoga. While this may seem feminine due to social impressions, there is nothing wrong for a guy to experience these same examples…
The world is full of phobias. Some them you may have heard of and others represent a lengthy unit in terminology that really has no reference to the word. Nomophobia is not being able to use a cellphone. While this fear may seem rather irrational, this is a real condition…
Medical marijuana is spreading, as is the marketing for it. Teens are exposed to medical marijuana ads through emails and spam email. While they may have just deleted the spam and moved on, studies have shown that teens who have viewed similar ads tend to be misled into using the…
The electronic cigarette has been gaining momentum in becoming hip and popular with teens for years. The aftermath of use has been shown to be dangerous and habitual. Vaping has become more prevalent among teens because they think they are “cool” by using an electronic cigarette. Vaping uses an apparatus…
You may be spending more of your time trying to get your adolescent off their iPad, a cell phone or gaming device instead of being able to inspire them to complete their school work or socialize in person with their friends. Kids of today are found to be less happy…
Addiction can affect every aspect of your life and your family’s life. When there are children in your life, you will need to talk to them about substance use if another child or teen in the family is struggling with that. You may be dreading this conversation already. Maybe you…
Many popular songwriters and musicians write lyrics with references to drug and alcohol use. Teens listen to music constantly and are easily influenced by their favorite artists. A teen who constantly listens to the songs that reference drug and alcohol use could eventually try the substances, which can then lead…
When your loved ones struggle with addiction, it can be hard not to want to help make their life a little easier. We often do whatever we can to help them, even giving them money or trying to help with bills or groceries if they’re behind. We help them because…
When you have a loved one battling addiction, often all we want to do is help that person. Many times, however, helping someone turns into enabling the person to continue with their drug or alcohol use, even if we’ve asked them to stop using before. There comes a time when…
Teens experience a wide range of emotions and changes in adolescence. Teens can also be very impulsive and engage in risky or dangerous behavior. The brain is developing during the adolescent years and is receiving huge amounts of information. Peer pressure is typically a major factor in a teen’s decision…
Most teens have cell phones with unlimited availability to the Internet. There are dozens of social media websites and apps that can be downloaded to cell phones. Social media allows a person to accept requests from followers or friends, which provides access to the person’s profile, photos, and posts. For…
When a loved one has an addiction, many lives are affected. The person with the addiction is at risk of severe physical problems and mental health complications. A person can become addicted to more than drugs or alcohol. Many people become addicted to non-substance related things. Some people suffer from…
Children of parents with alcoholism are at risk of experiencing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, and drug or alcohol abuse. Children of parents with an addiction to alcohol can feel uncertain, unstable, neglected, disorganized, and lonely. Bottom line: growing up in an alcoholic home is growing…
Drug and alcohol addiction affects grown ups’ mental and physical health, finances, job productivity, and relationships. Loved ones suffer the consequences of drug and alcohol addiction when they are related to a grown up with addiction in any form. People with loved ones addicted to drugs or alcohol struggle with…
Many teens experiment with drugs and alcohol, which often leads to addiction. There are many harmful effects from a teen’s substance abuse. A teenager’s brain is still growing, and important processes in development are hindered from drug and alcohol use. Teens are vulnerable to peer-pressure, which is a major factor…
Grief and loss are a natural part of life. Boys in the first few years of recovery from addiction might find the experience of grief distinctly challenging after a loss. These symptoms are signs that your boy might be struggling to cope with loss and get through the process of…
Parents around the country have been facing one of their worst, inconceivable nightmares: their child in a school shooting. Tragically, for some parents, the nightmare has turned for the worst as the precious life of their beloved child has been lost. Parents are living with a fear they’ve never had…
The brain is in a developmental stage until the mid twenties. For those decades, the child’s brain needs to be fed nutritionally dense food which supports brain development. Whole foods are the better bet than processed foods containing high amounts of preservatives. Your child’s brain needs plenty of vitamins, minerals,…
What did I do wrong? Most parents who have a son addicted to drugs or alcohol has thought this to themselves. Haven’t I been a good parent? Where did I go wrong? What could I have done differently? Our sons are always our children, no matter how old they get.…
Relapse prevention can include many skills and lifestyle changes. When the moment comes and relapse is on the table, teens can follow five easy steps for preventing relapse. Pause Alcoholism and addiction are diseases of impulsivity among many other things. Teenagers and adolescents who become addicted to drugs and…
Sound sleep is not common for those in the early stages of recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Sleep is constantly disrupted by ongoing symptoms of withdrawal, nightmares, using dreams, uncomfortable bodies, and busy minds. Those in treatment are often prescribed sleep medications which can cause drowsiness or other sleep…
Triggers for relapse aren’t always obvious. Our teen’s intention might seem like they are in the right place with these unsuspecting triggers but they could be leading our teen to relapse. Getting Back to “Normal” Recovery is the new normal for teens and adolescents who go to treatment for…
Trauma changes the way you see yourself, the world around you, and your place in the world around you. Research into PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder, is still new and developing. However, it is clear that trauma changes the way the brain works, starting with the brain’s interactions with the…
Oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder are the two kinds of disruptive behavior disorder. Between 2%-16% of youth struggles with oppositional defiant disorder and anywhere from 6% to 9% of youth lives with conduct disorder, especially young boys. Disruptive behavioral disorders can have severe negative consequences in a young person’s…
We certainly aren’t going to put bars on the windows and doors just because our teen is sneaking out of the house, though we might have thought about it. Our teen clearly doesn’t care about our rules, our consequences, or our boundaries. Curfews mean nothing for our household, or the…
At just 19 years old, South Carolina teenager Kaylee Murhart is blind. Her blindness isn’t genetic, the side effect of a disease, or the symptom of a freak accident. Tragically, Kaylee’s blindness is the result of a bad interaction with drugs which resulted in her entering a severe state of…
Research on the effects of marijuana on the teenage brain has revealed enlightening information in recent years. For example, teenage marijuana use inhibits progress in the prefrontal cortex area of the brain. Some newer research suggested that marijuana use among teenagers could be a catalyst for psychotic episodes. Marijuana use…
Published in Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, an Oregon State University study examined the effect of both religion and spirituality on a teen and a teen’s mental health. Both religion and spirituality play a different role in helping teens regulate themselves. Religion seemed to help teens regulate their behaviors while…
The origins of the international ‘marijuana holiday’ are vague, but may have started somewhere in northern california in the 1970s. For the past few decades the use of the term “420” has evolved and become a thematic part of marijuana counter culture. Every year on April 20th, marijuana users around…
Teenagers need much more physical exercise than adults do. Adults can get away with anywhere between twenty to thirty minutes of exercise a day. With their high energy, raging hormones, and need for mental stimulation, teenagers need at least sixty minutes of exercise every day, preferably outdoors. Getting a teen…
More than 2,000 young people who had graduated high school within the last one to two years took part in two national surveys, the data of which was analyzed by researchers at Colorado State University. Young people in the surveys answered questions about driving with other people who were under…
We are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis in our children, from elementary school age kids all the way to college. Increasingly, we are becoming aware of the many factors which are contributing to a decline in our children’s mental health. Modern issues like social media, phone, and technology addiction…
The fixation on an event which caused trauma or anxiety is quickly remedied through EMDR practices and then transformed through the unique application of EMDR. Until that transformation can take place, you are at risk for being ‘stuck’ in the painful moment of the past. EMDR works because a skilled…
Dialectical behavioral therapy was created as an alternative therapeutic approach to cognitive behavioral therapy. As CBT was gaining renown and praise for its efficacy in treatment, a small population of individuals were not finding any support from it. Individuals with mental illnesses which include extreme mood swings or intensified experiences…
Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered the gold standard of therapeutic practices for recovery from addictions and mental health issues. Many teens and adolescents who are seeking treatment for addiction are experiencing secondary, co-occurring mental health disorders like an anxiety disorder. Numerous research studies are emphasizing that teens’ chronic interaction with…
The opioid epidemic which has spread among teens and adolescents has proven one thing to be certain: addiction belongs to nobody. Addiction is a disease which does not discriminate. Race, color, heritage, academic achievements, sports, social standing, socioeconomic bracket, and neighborhood don’t make a difference when it comes to addiction.…
Walk into a room of a twelve step program meeting like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous and you will likely hear at least one person recount how they started “drinking and drugging” before middle school. Everyone grows up differently. Everyone starts engaging in adult activities at different times. Before their…
Life skills are critical for a teenager to have a full and happy recovery. Here are three life skills your teen needs to know before you send them to college to be on their own. Your teen needs to know how to cook for themselves. Diet and nutrition are…
Teenagers aren’t known for taking wild and crazy trips to Mexico on their spring break. However, if teens are going on international trips to areas where the drinking age is 18, they might be faced with a temptation. Temptation isn’t exclusive to international spring break trips. At home where your…
“We are without a defense against the first drink,” wrote the authors of Alcoholics Anonymous in describing the ‘insanity’ alcoholics face when they seem to forget how devastating drinking quickly becomes after taking just one drink. “The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power…
A study published in the journal Pediatrics found that the number of children and teens in the United States experiencing opioid overdose and opioid ‘poisoning’ is rising, according to Associated Press. Thirty-one children’s hospitals were used for data collection to conduct the survey. Some of the findings are included below:…
Today, the story is sadly common about an athlete who is injured, gets treated, and becomes addicted to drugs. Sports are a highly celebrated part of teenagers’ lives. Participating in group sports has numerous mental health and physical health benefits. Sports teach teenagers good sportsmanship, team work, discipline, dedication, hard…
In our previous blog, we looked at the way kids are distracted in the modern digital age and some steps we can take to help our kids maintain their focus in order to sharpen their mind. We talked about meditation and mindfulness as tools we can use with our kids…
Kids today are being brought up in a world full of distractions. Previous generations witnessed the development of real life, real time notifications. The only notifications and distractions we’ve had before was music, a phone call, or a pager. Getting a notification for an email only happened in real-time when…
More than a million kids in either eighth, tenth, or twelfth grade participated in a longitudinal study called Monitoring the Future. These students were asked about the amount of times they spend on their digital devices, about their social interactions, and about their happiness, according to Science Daily. Researchers took…
Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center is located in the rolling countryside of Mississippi. Our estate home sits on a beautiful property surrounded by endless greenery. Adolescent and teenage boys who come to our program are met with the refreshing presence of green nature and the clean air that nature provides. Our…
Taking a teen to their routine check up usually doesn’t involve a screening for mental health issues like depression. With a growing number of teens experiencing mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, as well as a growing number of teens turning to drug and alcohol abuse, primary care physicians…
Body image is a growing concern for boys between the ages of 15-19. Some boys don’t feel they fit in to the group of male peers around them as a result of the way their body looks. In order to fit in and feel welcomed, boys might turn to attention…
A recent survey conducted by the Butterfly Foundation for Eating Disorders found that boys between the ages of 15 and 19 are just as likely as girls to have body image issues. Body image issues are often thought to be a girls-only problem as girls’ body image is more widely…
Parents of adolescents or teens who have been actively addicted to drugs and alcohol identify with three kinds of crying displayed by their children. First, is melodramatic, over the top, often manipulative crying which seems to have no end. Second is frantic, nervous crying. Third is no crying at all,…
As parents, we receive a lot of advice on how to teach our children what not to do. We learn how to effectively enforce consequences, give our children choices, and set healthy boundaries. Teaching our children how we don’t want them to behave is only as good as far as…
Children have temper tantrums. Children get frustrated. Teens can be moody, irritable, restless, and discontent. When a beloved child in the family has struggled with addiction and is working through recovery, emotional emergencies can be even more of a challenge. Parents aren’t always in tune with their own emotions. Without…
Boys who develop an addiction to drugs and alcohol at an early age suffer in their ability to make healthy social connections or operate from a place of emotional regulation. Drugs and alcohol are chemical substances which affect the brain. All of our daily functions, from our thoughts to our…
One of a parent’s many worst nightmares is their teenager developing a life threatening addiction to drugs and alcohol. A parent likes to think that their teenager is going to be okay, that nothing is threatening their health, their livelihood, or their potential for a full and successful future. Addiction…
What if there was a social media app that encourages kids to connect somewhere offline? What if an app intentionally told its users to go do something engaging which didn’t include continuing to stare at a screen? What if social media didn’t include advertisements, manipulative marketing, addictive design, and purposeless…
We think the best of our children. We hope, in the hours they are at school, at practice, at friends’ houses, or alone in their own space, they are making good decisions. Most parents never dream that they will find their child with alcohol at a young age. Children should…
At first, they were in the shape of cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes looked like cigarettes, smoked like cigarettes, but were not cigarettes. Suddenly, there was a boom of “vapes”. Today, vape shops seem to occupy at least one storefront of every strip mall. Much less inconspicuous, vapes can be big, boxy,…
Some parents can tell when their child is struggling with their mental health. Other parents are shocked to discover that their child has been living with a mental health condition. One of the difficulties in overcoming mental health stigma is recognizing that mental health doesn’t look a certain way. There…
Over a few short years, electronic cigarettes turned from an alternative to smoking cessation into a trendy frenzy. The small cigarette imitations turned into an entire culture of custom built vaping machines that look like anything from a pen to a small box. Vaping has become a trend, a culture,…
Parents have been complaining about their kids’ smartphone use for quite some time. Before smartphones, it was video games. Before video games, it was computer games. Before computer games, it was television. For decades, technology has been stealing kids’ attention and preventing them from spending time outdoors. Today, technology ‘addicted’…
In an extensive article about teenagers and marijuana addiction, Macleans of Canada cites a study conducted by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse which was published in 2017. Canada has been a leader in radical drug policy, offering many controversial and alternative treatment options to its citizens in an effort…
When your adolescent or teenage son goes to treatment for addiction and/or alcoholism, he is going to learn about nutrition. Addiction is a disease that affects the mind as well as the body in addition to the spirit. An increasing amount of research is proving that the health of the…
In our last blog we discussed ‘impostor syndrome’ and why it might come up for your teen who is in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Impostor syndrome was coined by two psychologists to describe the feeling of being phony or a fraud when it comes to one’s accomplishments. Becoming…
Addiction does not discriminate. Alcoholism does not discriminate. There are no deciding factors which organize between who will become addicted to drugs and alcohol and who will not. Likewise, there seems to be little law of the land when it comes to recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. How is…
Parents have different approaches to trying to keep their kids safe from the potential dangers of underage drinking. The best way to encourage kids to make good decisions when it comes to alcohol and their health has never found a single definition. Each family has different values, morals, ethics, and…
Just as the country is settling down from learning about the Tide Pod Challenge in which teens across the country started consuming laundry detergent, a new troubling challenge has risen. Teens and kids are running away from home for the Scandinavian minimalism of Ikea warehouses. For now, the challenge has…
Convenient stores started carrying questionable beverages a few years ago which raised alarm in treatment centers around the country. Clients who were recovering from opioid addiction started acting like they were on opioids again though their urinalysis tests were negative. Behaviors changed. Personalities changed. Drinks that had the substance “kratom”…
The 2017-2018 flu season has claimed the lives of dozens of individuals across the country this year, with some counties having extremely high cases of the flu, and deaths due to the flu. News headlines from across the country cry that this is the worst flu season in decades and…
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) released a warning letter against energy drink consumption in children and teens through a published statement in the journal Current Sports Medicine Reports. Children and teenagers are still relatively small in body size and their metabolism is especially high, which makes consuming energy…
A strange phenomenon swept the country in early 2018 as teenagers from coast to coast started consuming Tide laundry detergent pods as part of a viral trend called the “Tide Pod Challenge”. Parents, professionals, and commentators alike were stunned by the trend. For kids to become so willing to interact…
Step eleven of the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous reads, “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.” Alcoholics Anonymous, also called “The Big Book” writes,…
Parents who spend too much time on their phone ignore their children. Moreover, their children feel ignored, research has revealed, and feel they have to fight for their parents’ attention. Simultaneously, parents and children feel the other spends too much time on their phones. Meanwhile, ongoing interactions with digital devices…
Many articles and topics of research focus on the effect that technology addiction has on children. Likewise, there is a vast amount of information on how technology affects teenagers, young adults, grown ups, and romantic relationships. The Macquarie Dictionary coined the term “phubbing” to describe a growing phenomenon in romantic…
Before technology was the phenomenon that it is today, when kids were getting cell phones that weren’t even smart, many parents were worried. The AOL generation was growing up connected to the web and patterns of ADHD, technology addiction, as well as other problems were developing. Now we are faced…
Relapse is what happens when someone in recovery loses his ability to say “no” to picking up a drink or a drug again. Whether it is one hit, one drink, one day, or one year, relapse happens when a child abandons his program of recovery. It is said that relapse…
Our kids are glued to their phones every moment that they can be, unless we have enacted strict digital device rules and regulations in our households. Without parental controls programmed into their phones, there is little control that we have over what our children watch. Until our children talk to…
If you’re the parent of a child anywhere between the ages of 7-17, there’s a chance you’ve caught your kid flashing a sign with their hands that looks like an M. You might have heard catch phrases coming out of their mouth like “savage,” “dent the universe,” or “be a…
When a parent catches a child in an elaborate lie there is at least one split second where the parent may be thinking two distinct things. First, a parent is probably angry with the child for lying and going to such great lengths to perpetuate the lie. Second, somewhere deep…
Parents of teens can have it rough. Hormones, social pressures, academic pressures, and a changing identity can leave teens moody, demanding, rude, restless, irritable, and discontent. Bring drugs and alcohol into the equation and parents are faced with an even tougher challenge. Drugs and alcohol change the way a teen…
Mindfulness is a term we come to hear often when our adolescent or teenage male is in treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. In the last few years, mindfulness has become a sweeping trend in the United States and around the world. Popular smartphone apps like Headspace have made the…
Addiction can bring out the worst in our children. Drugs and alcohol are mind altering substances which change the structure of the brain. If our children already have a tendency toward emotional hysterics, their abuse of drugs and alcohol, as well as the habits they develop, can exacerbate those emotional…
Recovery can be defined as “a return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength” as well as “the action or process of regaining possession or control of something stolen or lost.” Recovery is not defined as “a cure for drug and alcohol addiction ensuring total immunity from relapse.”…
Teenagers love their smartphones. Most parents of modern teenagers know that the majority of the time teens are checking their phones, engaging with apps on their phones, talking to friends on their phones, listening to music on their phones, or frantically searching for their phones because it has been absent…
Marijuana can inhibit the development of the prefrontal cortex in teenagers who abuse the drug. The adolescent mind is still developing until the early to mid 20s, researchers have concluded. Marijuana, a mind-altering drug, can impair the existing prefrontal cortex while halting its development. Brain changes associated with marijuana use…
Many parents have watched the psychological toll that highly competitive contact sports take on their sons. Coaches put immense amounts of performance pressure on young boys who are supposed to be involved in sports for fun. Pee-wee football should be fun. Middle school football should be fun. Hockey, soccer, lacrosse,…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report which examined the rate of drug overdose death in teenagers over a 16 year period. Looking at teenagers between the ages of 15-19, the report found that overdose rates doubled between 1999 to 2007. For a period of about…
Gustav Ahr, known as rapper Lil Peep, died on Wednesday, November 15, 2017. The rapper was found dead in his tour bus after what officials suspected as an accidental overdose. The night in question, Lil Peep posted videos to his Instagram which showed him taking “bars,” the street name for…
Philip Seymour Hoffman lost his life to a combination of drugs in 2015, a foreboding illustration of what was to come in the next two years. In 2016, it was Prince to fentanyl, George Michaels to opioids, and Carrie Fisher to a combination of drugs which included MDMA. When 2017…
New Year’s Eve is a fantastic celebration for a teen who is in recovery. Every year that a teen completes sober is a celebration of many hours, days, weeks, and months spent in recovery. New Year’s Eve celebrations are exciting and exhilarating in sobriety, but they can be triggering and…
We live in a society of more. When our teen is recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, their concept of more is different from anyone else’s. Addiction is a disease of more. Drugs and alcohol alter brain chemistry in such a way that the brain develops an obsession of craving.…
Sending a beloved teen to treatment for drug and alcohol addiction is one of the most difficult, but best decisions we can make for ourselves, our child, and our families. When our teen comes home, there are certain behaviors we have to learn to relinquish in support of their fostering…
What are we supposed to say, as parents, to our adolescents and teenagers who are recovering from drug and alcohol addiction to let them know what a great job they are doing? Some of us might start with just that sentiment, you’re doing a great job. Some of us might…
We might know that our child is a bully because we experience the bullying personally or with other immediate members of the family. Some of us receive phone calls from schools, coaches, and organizations. Others may not realize that some behaviors are indicative of bullying and though a child may…
You could be right. You could be wrong. Knowing the best thing to do when it comes to parenting a teen in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction doesn’t have to be a challenge. Here are four suggested ways to provide positive encouragement. Don’t inhibit them from taking healthy risks:…
Vulnerability is hard for most people. Being emotionally raw and open is challenging for most people. Most people go through their lives at a hindered level of emotional intimacy with themselves and with others. Part of the reason is that people are under the impression emotional vulnerability is a form…
Recent research has found that a single exposure to cocaine creates the phenomenon of craving in the brain. Scientists used brain imaging studies to test the activity of the reward system in the brains of people who had either no exposure to cocaine or a single exposure to cocaine. Just…
Passive aggression is not about one person taking out their emotions on another person. Most often, passive aggression is really the result of one person not letting out their emotions at all and consequently taking that out on another person. Parents of adolescents and teens in recovery should be wary…
Shame is more than humiliation. Humiliation can sting for a second, ache with the strain of a belly laugh, and even haunt for a day or two until it passes. Shame is defined as the painful feeling of humiliation or distress which is caused by the consciousness of doing something…
You might find yourself saying emotional abuse with the high pitched tone of questioning curiosity. Emotional abuse? You ask, wondering if there is some way you may have emotionally harmed your child without realizing. Parents learn patterns from their parents and the pattern repeats until a new generation breaks the…
Confronting a child on something they have said is always an interesting encounter as a parent. Parents sometimes resort to a trope like “Because I said so” to exact their authority when it comes to common and not so common knowledge. Children, on the other hand, are in a great…
Asking for help is one of the most brave and courageous things our child can do when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction. We go on quite the roller coaster ride of experience and emotion while our child is in treatment. Coming upon our first holiday with our sober…
As the holiday season approaches, we find ourselves in reflection of everything that has happened in our lives and the lives of our children this year. If our child made the decision to seek residential treatment for a drug and alcohol problem, we are deeply grateful. During that time, they…
Treatment and recovery are two of the greatest gifts we could give our children and that our children could give themselves. Throughout the month of December, we can count with every step of the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, the things we are grateful for because our child is in recovery.…
The twelve days of Christmas bring us many gifts. Our child who has gone through residential treatment for a drug and alcohol addiction has likely encountered the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, which has brought them, and us, many more gifts in life. This holiday season, our child’s sobriety and safety…
By dictionary definition, according to dictionary.com, addiction is “the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming…to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.” The website actually lists ‘narcotics’ as an example. This definition could be applied to…
We like to think that when our teen comes home from residential treatment, they will be an entirely different child than the one we knew before treatment. Mostly, this is true. The drug addiction, the alcoholism, and the other varying forms of self-destruction our child was participating in are gone.…
A new online trend is spreading among adolescents in America, raising concern among psychological professionals and parents alike. The Journal of Adolescent Health released a study that found six percent of teens have participated in this behavior called ‘self-trolling’ or ‘self-bullying’ and professionals are considering it a form of self-harm.…
Writing off the entire holiday season is tempting when your child’s recovery is fragile and new. You want to protect them and their sobriety as much as you can. Getting out into the world and experiencing life’s challenges is what their recovery is truly about. They cannot learn to live…
Having difficult conversations while your teenage or adolescent son is in treatment for drug and/or alcohol addiction is a challenge. You know that there are important subjects to be discussed, plans to be made, and more. You also know that despite his troubled past, he is diligently working in the…
Bipolar symptoms can develop in adolescence, follow into teenagehood, and persist into young adulthood, until it becomes the manifestation of adulthood. Science Daily reports that previous studies found a link between adolescent bipolar and the development of substance abuse issues has been revisited and made a new discovery. Researchers have…
Most parents of teenagers have encountered the situation of brand loyalty. No population might be as adamant about brand loyalty as teenagers who are trying to fit in- or stand out. Brands have defined teenagehood for many generations, as their marketing strategies target teens. The teenage experience is shaped with…
According to The Secrets of Happy Families: Improve Your Mornings, Rethink Family Dinner, Fight Smarter, Go Out and Play, and Much More, it can be beneficial to cognitive development for a child to set their own schedule, goals, and even their discipline. Barking Up The Wrong Tree, a popular blog…
Parenting a teenage boy in recovery is an adventure full of new lifestyle choices, conversations, and a structure different from most of his friends. There are still the nuances of male adolescence that any parent of a teenage boy, even one in recovery, gets to enjoy. Their hygiene won’t be…
When a beloved child brings addiction into the home, the home can be torn apart. The fault is not on behalf of our child. We learn that addiction is a disease, one that happens to our child and robs them of the ability to make healthy, proactive decisions. As our…
Parenting a teenage boy in the height of an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol can be a nightmare. When your teenager enters recovery, everything changes, for the better. You will have more meaningful conversations than you ever have Adolescent and teenage boys who go through treatment experience for recovery from…
Leadership can be defined as “the action of leading a group of people or an organization”. To lead can be defined as to “be in charge or command of” or to “be superior to”. Parents have a conflicting role as leaders in their children’s lives. A parent is expected to…
Anxiety is one of the most prevalent problems in adolescents and teenagers in America today. Even after attending a treatment program like the ones offered at Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, your child might still struggle to cope with anxiety. What can a parent do? Encourage Action Over Avoidance: As parents,…
“…’Boys will be boys’ is a logical tautology: It is always true,” writes The Good Men Project contributor Paul Harzer. “This is true semantically, but we don’t function solely in the realm of semantics. Semantics involves the precise definition of what words mean, while pragmatics refers to what people intend…
Parents are as disgruntled and aware as teens are of how early in the morning school starts. While teens are hitting the snooze button over and over or sleeping straight through the alarm, parents are cursing the fact that they have to wake up extra early for work in order…
Boys do not process information the same way that girls do, especially as teenagers. Parents are all too familiar with the scenario: trying to talk to a teenage boy who seems to listen, only to realize they have heard nothing. Teenage boys are more prone to tuning out voices to…
Addiction and substance abuse in children, teenagers, and adolescents is not always obvious. Behavioral signs can indicate that something is off with a beloved child and quickly reveal that substances are playing a part. Loss of interest Passion and a vertigo of focus are common characteristics of children. A child…
Over 1,400 adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18 were studied for a massive research effort on the part of the Brain Foundation of the Netherlands, conducted by Leiden University and other academic participants. A longitudinal study, which is too rare when it comes to studying the effects of…
Depression in children, teenagers, and adolescents is similar to depression in adults. Problematically, mood and emotional changes in younger people are often overlooked because adults think depression in youth is not the same as depression in adulthood. However, depression can be severe and elevate the risk for substance abuse. Hopelessness…
You clean everything out. You search every corner of the house. You put locks on medicine cabinets and liquor cabinets. Time after time, your kid continues to find drugs and alcohol. Here are some of the most common places your kid is making their discovery. Your medicine cabinet Most kids…
Teenagers face tremendous pressure in each avenue of their lives. Without healthy outlets, willing ears from parents, and time to just simply be teenagers. Teens can take on physical stress as well as mental stress which can lead them to maladaptive coping behaviors. Striving to maintain all of their pressures,…
Bouncing knees. Squirming in their seat. Tapping their toes. Tapping their fingers. Tapping their pencil. Looking one direction then abruptly looking another direction with an audible sigh. Fidgeting. Asking to get up. Losing focus in class. Getting reprimanded for not listening. Getting disciplined for not doing something the right way.…
Michael Potegal explains to The New York Times that a temper tantrum is made up of anger and what he calls ‘distress’ or ‘sadness plus’. “In studies of typically developing children, anger is most likely shown at the beginning of a tantrum, and then declines, while distress behaviors tend to…
Over half of parents in a report produced by Common Sense Media in 2017 believe that their teens are “addicted” to their digital devices, especially their mobile ones. Typically, teenagers aren’t quick to agree with their parents, especially when it comes to something their brain prefers. The teenage brain is…
In 2015 more people died from overdose on opioid drugs tan they did from car crashes and gun violence combined. Estimations for 2016 were at 64,000 individuals as of September of 2017. Over 20,000 individuals died as a result of Fentanyl overdose, a synthetic opioid considered to be nearly 100…
In 2015, the Journal of Youth and Adolescence published a study that examined over 200 parents and their teenage children. Researchers sought to understand where communication gets lost between a parent and a teen leading to a growing amount of aggression on both sides. Teens don’t feel understood. Due to…
The brain is in a constant stage of development until about the age of 25. For some time there has been controversy as to whether or not marijuana use can harm the development of the brain during adolescent and teenage years. An increasing amount of neuroscience and brain imaging studies…
Kids today are consumed by their digital devices. Parents joke about the “good old days” when there wasn’t a television, there weren’t video games, and as a child, there certainly wasn’t a phone in their pocket. Recent controversies overseas revealed that video game companies designing games for kids were intentionally…
There is little mystery left when it comes to the treats of tricks and treats. Sugar has been tried and convicted, found to be as ghoulish as the many tricks which circulate on Halloween. Trick or treater’s usually look forward to their giant bags of candy, for which there is…
Depression can be caused by a number of life experiences and circumstances. For young children, there usually have not been enough significant life events to cause depression, though it can happen. In younger children and adolescents, the occurrence of depression is usually the result of a genetic predisposition for depression…
Tattoos and piercings have become mainstream in today’s culture and society. What used to be an arsenal of threatening warnings from parents about not being able to secure a job, find a romantic partner, or fit into society at large has fallen wayside. Visible tattoos and some piercings are widely…
Maybe they’ll grow out of it, we often tell ourselves. Maybe it’s just a ‘phase’. Such is the tragic state of discount teenagers and adolescents regularly have to face. Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, addiction, and alcoholism are frequently overlooked by grownups. Passed off and turned over as “kids being kids”…
We hear it all the time. Don’t post that. Why did you post that? Oh God, did you have to post THAT? Kids are embarrassed. By a certain age, it seems as though our kids are primarily embarrassed by us. Showing off baby pictures to friends when they came over…
You are finally coming up on the first year of your teenager or adolescent’s sobriety. Celebrations are in order! Your teen has worked hard to create a new lifestyle for himself that liberates him from the need to abuse drugs and alcohol. Together, you have grown as a family, overcoming…
Vanderbilt University conducted a meta-analysis of more than 80,000 young people and the over 200 different coping as well as emotional regulation skills they use. As research pours in that teenagers are more anxious, more depressed, and more likely to attempt suicide than before, empowering kids with adequate coping skills…
Snapchat is one of the most popular social media platforms used by teenagers and adolescents today. The app became quickly popular because of a unique feature- when a user sends an image to a friend, that image is quickly deleted. Challenges arose as people tried to take screenshots- at one…
Every state has a unique “age of consent” and a distinct set of laws that determines what rights a teenager under the age of 18, the federal age of legality, has in regards to their life. For parents who have a child entering treatment for substance abuse, knowing what rights…
We relish the idea of being able to have a drama-free, drug-free life when our teenage boy enters treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. Quickly we learn our time of enduring patience has not reached its end. As our boys grow through treatment, we have to continue meeting them exactly…
Teenagers are on their way to college. Parents are often conflicted in how much pressure they put on the prospect of college or the workforce after high school. Somewhere between the remarkably ripe and adolescent ages of 17-18 years old, the previously high school seniors who become college freshmen are…
Biofeedback therapy is an emerging therapy process in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction as well as mental health. Though the technology has existed for quite some time, its efficacy in treating addiction and mental health is becoming a more popular conversation among professionals. Combining cutting edge technologies like…
“Being a part of” instead of being “apart from” is a critical focus of social interactions and emotional well-being in recovery. Many adolescents and teenagers who find themselves in the grips of addiction started that path by wanting to fit in. When they didn’t fit in with other peers, family…
Stomach aches are a recurring problem for adolescents and teens. When your teen or adolescent is having a stomach ache, always investigate a little bit further. There could be hidden signs of mental health distress. It could be heartburn or a digestive issue: Heartburn and indigestion aren’t reserved specifically…
We discuss often the amount of stress and anxiety adolescents and teens are facing today. Mental health disorders are developing at younger ages, substance use disorders are developing at younger ages, and our children seem to be struggling. Many parents shrug off the idea of stress sitting on their children’s…
Parents might anticipate one day coming across a bag of marijuana in their adolescent or teenager’s sock drawer. Normalized as less harmful, the discovery of marijuana warrants a conversation about substance use, experimentation, and new rules. Marijuana addiction is a real problem that adolescents and teens can face. Heroin addiction…
From treatment plans to 12-step programs, there is a lot for parents to learn when it comes to addiction treatment. Understand your child’s treatment plan: Treatment for addiction and co-occurring disorders takes many different forms. Your child’s treatment plan will be based on a variety of information including a…
Every summer, thousands of teenagers across America try drugs and alcohol for the first time. Summer adventures into substance experimentation can be the hallmark of a youthful summer, and the beginning of addiction for many teens. Without the daily routine of school, homework, and extracurricular activities, teens are left with…
Supporting a beloved teen or adolescent through addiction treatment can feel like a whirlwind. Navigating the uncharted course of treatment is daunting to first time families. Every part of the treatment process has a clinically-backed reason for existing. The more informed you are, the better equipped you will be to…
Meth use runs through phases. The initial phase is made obvious by signs of intoxication or being high on drugs. Meth is a central nervous system stimulant, meaning it impacts the brain and body more quickly than other substances do. Unlike other drugs which can last a long period of…
Most medications prescribed for ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, are stimulant medications like amphetamines. In the past, it has been widely believed that putting young children, adolescents, and teenagers on these medications makes them more susceptible to substance abuse in the future because of the harsh effects of the medications.…
According to The Centers for Disease Control, high-school drinking has significantly reduced. The study looked at data trends between the years of 1991 and 2015 based on information provided by high school students themselves. Drinking has cut nearly by half in some regards. For example, in 1999 half of high…
Adults are meant to guide children and help them pick up clues for finding out who they are. Rather than tell children who they are or aren’t, adults are supposed to support children in the discovery process. When children are appropriately supported in their personal and emotional development, they build…
“At-risk” youth is a term we hear often when we discuss the youth at risk for domestic violence, drug addiction, and substance abuse. Most often, the term “at-risk” refers to specific demographics based on race, environment, culture, and socioeconomic status. What fails to be understood too often is that all…
Nervous breakdowns are not reserved for adults. Substance abuse or no substance abuse, a teen or adolescent can reach a peak of what they are capable of handling in their life. Substance abuse might develop as a nervous breakdown begins to build as a child tries to control, manage, and…
The World Health Organization, WHO, recently released a report outlining the leading causes of death to adolescent’s worldwide. On average, more than one million adolescents die every single year. Adolescence, according to this study by WHO, is quantified between the ages of 10-19 years old. 3,000 deaths per day of…
When we think of body image issues, we often think of girls. As a culture, we place a higher emphasis on body image on the feminine form than we do the male form. However, males of all ages face body image expectations as well as body image discriminations. The heavy…
When an epidemic of the proportions the opioid epidemic is ravaging the world, the youth have to be taken into consideration. Losing friends, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, schoolteachers, and other critical adults in their lives to opioids takes a toll. Experiencing the opioid epidemic second hand has an…
A limited but interesting research study conducted by the University of East Anglia found that early interventions to PTSD with the use of cognitive behavioral therapy as treatment can have positive and lasting effects for young people. Many parents wait to provide treatment or therapy of any kind for post…
Teens and adolescents need a nutritional breakfast. Breakfasts of the past which might have included sugary cereals, microwave meals, pastries, and other non-nutritional foods become a thing of the past. Whole food breakfasts centered on nutritional and dietary principles for mental health becomes part of the normal daily routine for…
Teens who eat too much of a non-nutritionally balanced diet and exercise too little are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression compared to their peers. Teens who have a balanced diet that includes highly nutritional foods and regularly exercise or participate in some form of physical activity have…
Depression is more than a passing phase of teenage angst- a point which cannot be emphasized enough. Hormones, mood, social changes, and an emerging identity can all be contributing factors to a demonstrative change in personality and demeanor. Chemical imbalance, poor coping skills, or even a presence of hidden substance…
I never know what to say. I don’t seem to say the right thing. I don’t know if I could handle another blow up from my teen. I don’t want to hurt them anymore than they are already hurting. All parents have these thoughts when they are approaching an emotionally…
Video games are often scrutinized for being violent, inciting violence, and causing anger problems in youth. Young boys, especially are described as being vulnerable to the angry, violent narratives in video games. The angrier these boys get, consumed by the violence in the games, the more violent the game becomes.…
Stress is felt more widely by children, adolescents, and teens. Treatment and recovery does not guarantee immunity from stress but instead provides a working relationship with tools for managing stress effectively. Listen Listening is a skill and a practice in communication. Learning to listen without interruption, judgment, or qualifying…
What are you afraid of? We might ask this question innocently, attempting to understand the strong reactions coming from our teens about something they are resisting. Is there any fear coming up for you? Our teens don’t like talking about fear. Fear, experiencing fear, and being honest about being…
We want our children to think highly of themselves. Encouragingly, we share sentiments urging them to believe in themselves, never doubt themselves, know their worth, and not let anyone tell them differently. When children bully or pester our children, we tell them it’s due to jealousy. Children today are given…
We either tell our children about our pasts or we don’t. If we choose to tell them, we have to be careful in how we curate our stories to benefit our children by empowering them to make their own decisions. Do we want to encourage their substance abuse as part…
Trauma is not something that we ever want for our children. Unfortunately, millions of children experience trauma at young ages. Either at the hands of their own parents or in a situation out of their parent’s or guardian’s control. An estimated 16% of children who experience a traumatic event in…
Teenage boys get hurt. Mothers, fathers, and care providers for adolescent males know that another injury is just one decision away. Trips to the emergency room and doctor’s office are common for another stunt, athletic injury, or mindless repercussion of a poorly thought out decision. As parents, we expect this…
In the 1990s, “Big Tobacco” came under fire. The lawsuits were heard around the world as companies like Camel were criticized for creating characters and advertisements directed toward young people. “Joe Cool” was a camel-character that advertised cigarettes as being cool. A landmark lawsuit, the tobacco industry lost and had…
Not my child. It’s a sentiment that is easy enough for any of us to think when it comes to the idea of self-harm. Our children wouldn’t, couldn’t do that to themselves. Where would they learn it from? Why would they hurt themselves? What can we do to make it…
Meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and associated twelve step program fellowships are primarily for adults. Attend a designated “young people’s” meeting and you’ll find middle to late aged teenagers, those in their early twenties, and still find a littering of grown up adults. Family members of adolescents and teens who are…
Marijuana has declaratively had the title of “gateway drug” taken away from it as science has revealed that alcohol is more inspiring to alternative forms of substance abuse. However, that doesn’t change the large quantities of adolescents and teens recreationally experimenting with or abusing marijuana. Marijuana is popular among youth…