One of my biggest fears entering college was: am I going to fit in? This was my biggest fear for numerous reasons. I came from a really small school where everyone knows each other and even there I didn’t fit in with everybody. I was wondering if it was going to be the same way in college. I was afraid that I wasn’t going to make any friends. I had a small group of friends in … [Read more...]
10 Reasons to Recover From Your Eating Disorder This Holiday Season
For me, mid-October to early-January is terrifying. Absolutely petrifying. There’s Halloween and Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, and that’s not even counting the pumpkin-spiced-everything and the sudden increase in carb-heavy foods as the weather gets colder. But I’ve spent too many autumns hiding in big sweaters and pretending I’m “just not hungry”. I can’t be the … [Read more...]
Going To Therapy for The First Time: 3 Different Experiences
Let’s face it: sometimes it’s difficult to clue your family or even some of your closest friends in during times of great stress or turmoil. Perhaps you may have reason to believe your loved ones will misunderstand you, or maybe you would feel more comfortable talking to someone who isn’t involved in your situation. Whatever your reason is, it’s perfectly okay to reach out for … [Read more...]
Start Loving Your Reflection
Some days, I look in the mirror and I see unbounded potential and greatness staring back. Other days, I look into that same mirror feeling hideous and insecure. Most teens struggle with insecurities, but seven years ago I stared into the mirror and absolutely loathed the girl looking back at me. I remember sitting in the corner of my bathroom bawling, wishing with my entire … [Read more...]
Good is Better Than Perfect: Managing Perfectionism Anxiety
Teenagers are faced with an immense amount of pressure to outperform their peers in academics and extracurricular activities. As students, they are encouraged from a young age to perform well in school, so they can attend a prestigious university and go on to lead a successful life. This mentality has been exacerbated by academic institutions putting students on the honors … [Read more...]
The Renovation of a Home
“Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays, 'cause no matter how far away you roam, if you want to be happy in a million ways, for the holidays - you can't beat home, sweet home.” - Carpenters If home doesn’t feel the way that it used to, does this classic line still hold some value and truth? Sometimes going home for the holidays is more stress-inducing than it is … [Read more...]
Being Vulnerable Is The Door To Confidence And Self-Acceptance
There’s that familiar feeling again. The sweaty palms. The butterflies in my stomach. The constant overthinking in my mind. I was always taught to be self-sufficient and have my own. As a result, I consider myself to be a strong and independent woman. So it came as a surprise when asked one day, “why are you troubled waters in the ocean of life?” In the back of my … [Read more...]
Small Goals to Ease Depression
From my own experience, I know that depression and anxiety can be downright tiring. Oftentimes you might just want to stay at home or curled up in bed in order to avoid potentially distressing situations. Your energy and motivation might be low and the day feels utterly hopeless. Because of this, doing anything to make yourself feel better or get some relief from the … [Read more...]
7 Ways to Reduce Your Anxiety by Getting in Touch with Nature and Your Community
Throughout my teenage and adult life, I’ve found nature and working within my community to be a great way to alleviate stress. Exercise can lead to a healthy heart and lessen anxiety due to gaining a higher-level of endorphins, and in the long run, help you feel better about you. Take your friends with or go solo. Some examples of how venturing into the great outdoors may help … [Read more...]
Summer is Here! Get Outside
The sun and the warm weather have finally arrived after the long stints of rain, snow, and just overall dark, dreary days. It is important that you take this time to recharge your body's batteries by getting outside and enjoying the weather. Not only is it fun to be outside in this weather, it is actually biologically important to keep hormones levels in check. Most people … [Read more...]
How I Found Help and Improved My Mental Health in College
When I was growing up, illnesses only existed if they could be seen. I was raised in a family that emphasized the importance of being tough and plastering a smile on your face, no matter the situation. At nine years old, I had my first panic attack. I recall tearing the house to pieces in search of a book that hadn’t even crossed my mind in months. I remember the tight … [Read more...]
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, How Will You Celebrate?
Mental health awareness month is a big month for us at Anxiety In Teens. So many stories, advocacy, laughing and crying, but most of all - GIFs! Here are just a few ways we like to celebrate this month of reducing stigma and spreading awareness about mental health issues. Tell Our Stories So Others Can Be Heard Baking Some Courage Cupcakes for a Friend Read … [Read more...]
Listen, Sharing & Comparing: Advice for Parents on How to Help Their Teens with a Mental Health Disorder
This week I want to give some guidance to parents whose children are dealing with mental health problems, how to approach them and help them cope. I think it is interesting to talk about it from my point of view, because the depression and eating disorders that I’ve had my family isn’t really aware of even now, since I never managed to tell them the truth. I was always too … [Read more...]
Supporting My Sister with Anxiety: What I’ve Learned
Personally, I have conflicting feelings about labelling mental health conditions. On the one hand, mental health conditions are health conditions - they have signs and symptoms, medications, and health risks. How can you expect to treat a health condition if it remains a nameless entity? What’s more, labelling it can offer a sense of closure and community - finally, you are … [Read more...]
Your Scars Don’t Define You: One Parent’s Story of Supporting Their Teen with Self-Injury
As we battled these last weeks through a particularly rough patch, I found myself thinking that it was time for me to revisit therapy again. Sometimes the skills fade or get sloppy, sometimes I forget to take care of myself, sometimes I just crave an outsider’s voice on our challenges. My family often struggles during the transition time from school to summer and summer to … [Read more...]