It was 2 am in the bedroom of my aunt's cabin a few hours north of the city where I grew up. With my heart pounding and my hands shaking, I turned to my mother and said, "I think I need to see a therapist, I cannot keep living like this." I was 12 years old at the time. This realization came to me while in the midst of another frightening panic attack. At the time I did not … [Read more...]
What to Say (And What Not to Say) to Someone with a Mental Illness
Despite the prevalence of mental illness in our society, it’s still incredibly misjudged, and because there is such limited public understanding, there are countless myths and stereotypes penetrating our thoughts, behaviors, and discourse. The truth is, the way we talk about mental illness perpetuates stigma and negative stereotypes, and can be detrimental to those vulnerable … [Read more...]
Parenting a Teen with Mental Illness: A Parent’s Grief
What is the hardest thing about parenting children with mental illness? Some things are harder in the moment, while other things are harder to bear over time. For parents like myself whose struggling children do not respond to treatment and/or accommodations relatively quickly, ambiguous grief can be especially devastating. Precious childhoods are lost forever to endless … [Read more...]
Fear of Flying, Fear of Vacationing
One thing that always increases my anxiety is travel. This is a common issue with people going to new places or staying in a strange place. I usually have to leave a light on my first night in a hotel just to get some sleep! Many people are in motion towards the end of the year. Holidays make for not only travel anxiety, but the anxiety of dealing with or even staying with … [Read more...]
What is Therapy and Why Should I Go? An Interview from Three Different Perspectives
I’ve always been interested in learning more about therapy and counseling. What it is, how people feel venting to a professional to help them, and the benefits of it. I believe that, in a way, it coincides with self-care. But it wasn’t until college that I decided I wanted to delve into the world of psychology and therapy. While I studied Communications in college, I took a … [Read more...]
9 Key Points When Finding a Therapist for Your College Kid
“Hey, do you know of any good therapists near campus?” That was the gist of an email I received from my friend Kate, whose child, a freshman, will be attending college with my daughter—on the other coast of the U.S. I wrote back: “You’re in luck, sugar!” attaching a file I’d put together two years ago, when we flew cross-country to deliver our daughter Grace to her new … [Read more...]
Body Over Mind: How Moving Your Body Can Decrease Anxiety and Lift Your Spirits
It’s been a long time since I myself was an anxious teen – over forty years now. Therapy wasn’t a commonly available tool in the seventies, and in my family, the unspoken rule about difficult emotions was not to feel them. So I ate mine. When anxiety roiled up, as it was bound to do in my chaotic and charged family, I soothed myself with globs of peanut butter, handfuls of … [Read more...]
7 Things We Know Now That We Wish We Knew Then About Therapy
If you've experienced anxiety, depression or any other mental health issue, you may be thinking about seeking therapy. But, perhaps you've been too nervous to take the plunge. What if the therapist doesn't understand me or judges me? What if I don't know where to start? Our Anxiety In Teens Summer 2018 Fellows are here to clear the air and give you the confidence you need to … [Read more...]
Why You Shouldn’t Hate Yourself for Needing a “Mental Health” Day
No matter who you talk to, we all have had them. Days where we just don’t feel ourselves, even when we don’t feel physically sick. For the average person, this is just a sporadic event that doesn’t typically occur more than once or twice a year. And often times these words are tossed around like confetti, as it is normal for one to crave a day just for themselves. But for … [Read more...]
Together, Let’s Clench Anxiety
The sole thing that surrounded my disheveled mind in high school were the bathroom stalls. Crouching in a puzzled state, the palms of my hands pooled with sweat, but for no particular reason at all. The room would spin while my hands tingled, my body attempting to frighten me with the possibility of fainting. My heartbeat grew abnormal; from a rapid pulse to palpitations, in a … [Read more...]
AiT Exclusive Interview: Marie @ Mxiety and Telling Our Mental Health Stories
Mental health stories are a critical ingredient to reducing stigma and getting needed resources into the hands of teens and families everywhere. One individual we’re super excited about who is doing great work in this space is Marie @ Mxiety.com! Join us for this exclusive AiT interview! AiT: Tell us a little bit about your personal journey with mental health? It’s … [Read more...]
You Are Strong Enough For Therapy
At a young age, I experienced basic anxiety symptoms, specifically time anxiety and coping with other friends with severe mental illness which began my involvement in psychotherapy. Later, I developed a plane phobia and went to hypnotherapy to alleviate intense symptoms while flying. I resumed psychotherapy after my abusive relationship and through my struggle with … [Read more...]
Soiling The Nest – What a Parent Can Expect When Your Teen Goes Off to College
Look Out – Bumpy Road Ahead Congrats to your high school grad! He/she might be ready to head off for college – immediately – even though it’s only June. The feelings begin before graduation, of course. Not only will your teen be ready to go, but you may also be really ready for him/her to leave. It’s commonly referred to as “soiling the nest” and – yes – it's a real … [Read more...]
Why You Need to Help Yourself By Going to Therapy
The topic of therapy can often times be a tricky one. Many feel like it is the “last straw” or the route that you take when your situation becomes uncontrollable. But when it comes to dealing with symptoms of mental illness, often therapy can be one of your best friends and the start to your road to recovery. This negative view is one that I believe is dominating our society … [Read more...]
This Is Why Mental Health Is So Hard To Talk About
In society’s eyes, I don’t have a mental health story. I’m “normal”, which is to say that I am damaged in ways that society deems acceptable and manageable. I bottle up emotions and feelings; I bury thoughts and ideas; I build up walls around the parts of me that frighten me and keep them isolated and hidden. I lie to myself - I hide from myself - I bite my tongue and keep up … [Read more...]