Someone today will need to hear this. Is that you? Overcoming challenging emotional feelings and persistent negative thoughts is hard. But it's not impossible. You are capable of empathy and compassion. Your ability to help another human in need despite all that may be happening in your own life is a testament to your ability to relate to and empathize with others. The … [Read more...]
Back to School Anticipation Anxiety and How to Deal
Going back to school after three months of summer is one of the most anxiety-provoking times of the year for me personally. Back in high school, I remember feeling a mix of emotions about going back to school: part of me was excited to start exercising my brain again and begin learning new, exciting things every day while the other part of me was incredibly anxious to see … [Read more...]
Acceptance
Accepting that you may have or even do have a mental illness is, in my opinion, one of the hardest things about the illness itself. On the outside, I come across as this girl that has everything together. To my friends, I’m this goofy, funny (or at least I think I am), super outgoing, and happy girl. To my parents, I am involved in everything, smart, have a lot of friends, … [Read more...]
Just for Today Poem
Just for Today Just for today I will hold my head high, and forget my problems. I can smile and make everyone else's day better, even if behind that smile I crỵ. Just for today I will walk away from a fight, though I may feel hurt insidẹ. I will ignore what is said, and continue on peacefullỵ Just for today I will set an example, when I feel the need to hurt. I … [Read more...]
How the Arts Can Help You Ease Anxiety and Depression
I always had a thing for the arts growing up. I would pretend I was Shirley Temple and memorize every song, tap dance, and line in each of her movies. I would “mock” her characters, but put my own flare to it. My parents caught me doing this and wanted to put me in theater. I did theater in Elementary School and it felt so free to be on that stage and doing whatever was needed … [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...]
Four Ways to Get Past Guilt and Blame and Help Your Struggling Teen
It is one thing when the individual suffers from a mental illness themselves. It is something else entirely when a parent or loved one is going through a similar turmoil by watching that individual suffer. Attempting to help the person suffering from anxiety is exhausting in every shape and form. Mental, physical and emotional exhaustion is present with a parent who has a young … [Read more...]
Exclusive AiT Interview: How to Deal with Bullying with Anti-Bullying Author Erin Frankel
Bullying is a serious epidemic, now pervasive on and off the Internet. Bullying has a direct impact on young adults' mental health and well-being, but there are strategies to help educate and empower young people to take charge. Anxiety In Teens is pleased to present an exclusive interview with Erin Frankel, M.A., a speaker and author of Weird! series, including books Dare! … [Read more...]
Tips for Convincing Your Parents That You Need Help
As someone who spent a solid chunk of time convincing my parents to take me to a psychiatrist, I know firsthand how tough it can be to get the ‘rents on board with seeking help. Every family is different, and one situation is never the same as the next, but here is some food for thought that might help you tackle the problem head on and get the treatment you need. For this … [Read more...]
Rejecting The Need For Control In Anxiety
Perhaps one of the most common feelings that we experience every day is being anxious. In a world that constantly demands productivity regardless of any other current pressing stresses, it is easy to succumb to anxiety. Some of us however, may easily reject this hypothesis and claim that they don’t experience anxiety, but anxiety doesn’t have to exemplify the commonly … [Read more...]
Anxiety From Election Results – How To Cope On Inauguration Day
January 21st. It is an important day in United States history, and one that is causing a lot of stress and anxiety for Americans. If you are particularly nervous about your future, review some of these tips to reduce anxiety on Inauguration Day: Find some space to breath alone. In the midst of all of the madness on social media, take some time to disconnect and breathe. I … [Read more...]
Social Media, Others’ Perceptions of Mental Illness, and Coming Clean
I'll be the first to admit it. My Instagram persona is not me. This persona is a bad ass chick who is always looking tough, dressed awesome, and at fabulous places. You'll never catch her in a vulnerable state of crippling anxiety or depression. She is me, minus all the parts of me that I don't like. I use Instagram to create my "brand," and that is a brand/image that hides … [Read more...]
How To Stop Social Anxiety At School
Hi, everyone! Anxiety in Teens is starting a new section, every Monday, called Mention it to Morgs. Mention it to Morgs will be a question and answer section, where I will post the questions that I receive via email each week and answer them to my best ability! In case you are wondering who you’re writing these questions to, my name is Morgan (but everyone calls me Morgs), and … [Read more...]
Eating Disorders in Teens – Q&A with Morgan
Hi, everyone! Anxiety in Teens is starting a new section, every Monday, called Mention it to Morgs. Mention it to Morgs will be a question and answer section, where I will post the questions that I receive via email each week and answer them to my best ability! In case you are wondering who you’re writing these questions to, my name is Morgan (but everyone calls me Morgs), and … [Read more...]