When it comes to mental health conversations with friends, many of us can relate to this Ad Council video. Broaching the topic of mental illness with even close friends can be awkward and uncomfortable. Having a group of supportive friends is great resource to have when battling a mental health disorder. They can take your mind off whatever it is you are going through, yet … [Read more...]
Weathering the Scrupulosity Storm: A Story of OCD, Faith and Healing
My brain was a vortex. Thousands of thoughts, like drops of water, flowed together in a harsh rush of unwelcome emotions. They crashed together, circling down toward an uncertain conclusion, a dark place deep inside of me, from which I believed I could never come up for air. But I was wrong. As real as my feelings of fear, anxiety, sorrow, and hopelessness were, the reality … [Read more...]
Help for OCD in Teens: AiT Exclusive Interview with Author Alison Dotson
Welcome to another awesome AiT Exclusive Interview, this time with Alison Dotson, author of Being Me with OCD: How I Learned to Obsess Less and Live My Life! Join us as we talk through her book, her personal journey with OCD, and advice share has for young adults struggling with OCD. AiT: You had, of course, experienced OCD yourself. Sharing about OCD isn't exactly easy, … [Read more...]
Is OCD Ruling Your Life? KEEP BUSY!
Do constant, bothersome obsessive thoughts overpower your mind? Do you have to follow these horrible thoughts with a particular behavior or compulsion, or else your world might fall apart? Join us as we ask our most common OCD questions to Dr. Laura Kauffman, licensed child psychologist & expert contributor to Education.com: AIT: Why is that when teens with OCD try to … [Read more...]
Symptoms of OCD – Exclusive AiT Interview with Shala Nicely, MS, LAPC, NCC
Curious about what OCD symptoms really feel like? Wondering where to turn next? We're pleased to share this exclusive AiT interview with OCD expert Shala Nicely, MS, LAPC, NCC where she tells us her riveting story of her own challenges with OCD, treatment, and finally becoming a clinician to help others with this frustrating and debilitating disorder. Shala is the Co-Founder, … [Read more...]
Part 2: Q&A On My #PANDAS Storm: My Story of Triumph Over OCD Terror
Join us as Anxiety In Teens sits down with one of our AiT Contributors for a special Q&A section following her PANDAS and OCD testimony. This is a continuation from "Part 1: Finding Sunshine In A #PANDAS Storm: My Story of Triumph Over OCD Terror." AiT: How did you find out that PANDAS was the correct diagnosis? KR: My mother was discussing my symptoms with a close … [Read more...]
Part 1: Finding Sunshine In A #PANDAS Storm: My Story of Triumph Over OCD Terror
If I could describe the last four years of my life in one word it would be storms. There were storms ranging from some short-lived scattered showers to severe storms that threatened to obliterate everything in its path. My storms did not come with a loud alert message from my cell phone warning me of the upcoming inclement weather. It was not that simple. I had to brave out the … [Read more...]
AiT joins Dr. Shari Manning, an Expert in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Teens
Anxiety In Teens joins Dr. Shari Manning, an expert in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and founder of Treatment Implementation Collaborative. Here, she shares more about exactly what DBT is and how dialectic behavioral therapy for teens could be helpful. AIT: What exactly is DBT? How is it different from other therapies such as CBT? What is the goal? SM: DBT … [Read more...]
How to Overcome Anxiety: Stories of Hope and Help
We all have a story. And yours is a special, important one that matters. Below are the courageous stories from our readers which show, from their experiences, how to overcome anxiety and depression. The submissions are from teens, college students, parents, family members and more. They are completely unedited. To submit your own story, Just Fill It Out Here Right … [Read more...]
Top Picks for #MentalHealthAwareness Month #MHM2015
If you haven't already heard by now, May is Mental Health Awareness Month! We think mental health month should be EVERY month, but I digress... Here are some of our top choices for organizations who led stellar campaigns this month to draw lots of attention towards understanding mental health disorders and their impact in our … [Read more...]
ANXIETY Definition
(n) -- 1. The feeling where you stay up at night, stare at your ceiling, ask yourself an infinite number of questions, then sit there and debate on whether or not you actually want to know the answer. (Click to Tweet this) 2. The feeling where you wonder who truly cares about you and who is just using you; who is there for you and who is so desperately waiting for you to fail. … [Read more...]
It’s Not Cancer…It’s Trichotillomania
It is normal to trim or pull out a few split ends once in a while, but some people impulsively pull our their hair to the point of noticeable hair loss. Many people may assume that these individuals are going through chemotherapy simply because they have bald patches of hair. That, however, is not the case. These people suffer from trichotillomania. Trichotillomania … [Read more...]
Photos Reveal What It’s Like to Have Anxiety Issues
Photographer John William Keedy's photo series It's Hardly Noticeable demonstrates various aspects of anxiety- he has suffered from an anxiety disorder himself for nearly a decade. Each photo is an intriguing and insightful example of one who has to live with anxiety, as well as underlying pain and struggle that goes along with a life like this. The series serves as an … [Read more...]
Test Your Boundaries with Exposure Therapy
It’s true that everyone has something they are afraid of or might cause them some stress. But for individuals with anxiety disorders or phobias that fear can become paralyzing. Phobias are strong and irrational fears of object ts and situations that realistically pose little to no danger. Some common phobias include fear of snakes, fear of heights, and fear of social … [Read more...]
What It Is Like to Live With A Hoarder
Many of you may have heard of the show Hoarders on A&E. According to the show's physician, Dr. David Tolin, one may have a hoarding problem if you meet all three of these criteria: 1. You regularly hang onto a large number of possessions that most other people would not consider to be very useful or valuable. 2. Your home, or parts of your home, is so cluttered that … [Read more...]