Depression and Teenagers : A parent's guide to understanding teen depression

Depression is the most common mental health disorder among adults and adolescents in the United States. The Mayo Clinic defines depression as a mental health condition that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest and in some cases it can cause physical symptoms. Depression is a chronic mental illness and requires long-term treatment such as psychological counseling, medication, or a combination of both. It can be difficult for parents to distinguish between normal teenage moodiness and genuine depression. Pressure to succeed in school, social difficulties, coming to terms with self-identity, and new thoughts of independence causes undue stress for many teenagers. However, persistent symptoms can help parents identify depression. Most experts agree that feelings of sadness or any of the symptoms listed below lasting longer than 2 weeks at a time is a red flag for depression.

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Sexting And Teenagers

In case you are not familiar with his new problem among teenagers let’s start with a basic definition. Sexting is defined as the act of sending sexually explicit images or text messages between cell phones. Sexting between adults carries its own risks. To me it can be tantamount to posting a naked picture of yourself on Facebook. Something most of us would prefer to avoid. Of course for teenagers the problem becomes more complicated and potentially much more damaging. Three things come to mind.

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Bullying And Teenagers

Bullying has gotten a lot of attention in the past few years. News agencies have run stories, researchers have published articles and governments have taken action. We know more about bullying and its effects on teens now than at any other time in our history. I collected the following information on bullying while I was working at the University of Miami and I present it below to inform parents, teenagers and families about bullying in more detail than the press can afford. It includes tips on what to do if your teenager is a bully or being bullied.

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Back To School For Teenagers, Easier.

Getting started with school again after a nice long summer break can be a bittersweet time for teens. On one hand summer days can seem endless and boring. On the other hand its difficult to welcome back hard work and responsibilities with open arms. Its a trade off that can be difficult for some teens to adjust to. There are several common problems that teenagers tend to experience during the back to school season. Among them are sleep disturbances, increased social anxiety, and education/responsibility related stress. Let's talk a little about each one and what you can do as a parent to help your kids out.

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The Worst Thing About Weed - Perspective Of A Teen Specialist

What the worst thing about smoking weed? I've been working with teens for 10 years, I have a masters in marriage and family therapy from U.M. and I've been involved in various research studies focusing on teenagers with substance abuse issues. So here is my professional opinion for what it's worth. This is the worst thing about weed: When you're high it makes it OK to be bored. It makes your anger, anxiety, shyness, shame and sadness go away for a while. You get hungry, you laugh, food tastes great, you sleep, you wake up feeling strung out and a little less sensitive to life's troubles. It's an escape from the painful and the mundane. And it works immediately, at least for a while. In short, smoking weed becomes how you deal with life's problems.

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