There’s a stigma surrounding the idea of therapy. People hesitate to use say the word or to admit that they are in or are even considering therapy. Therapy tends to be a closely guarded secret. And that could be because mental health is a medical condition and one’s medical information tends to be private information. However, I think it’s more than just an issue of privacy. … [Read more...]
After College Blues: Turning a Time of Anxiety into Self-Exploration
It is a feeling of pride and joy when one goes up on stage and receive their college diploma. Our minds dream of the ideal future where a career will start right after obtaining that paper of certification that has caused sweat and tears for the last 4 years of higher education. However, that is a scenario that is too good to be true and in reality can cause the recent college … [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...]
A SAD Story: Seasonal Affective Disorder
When I first moved to Minneapolis from California, my boyfriend who has been living here for most of his life warned me about something that can start to happen when the days get shorter and colder. SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, is a type of depression that can come and go just like the seasons themselves, and it is much more common to develop SAD when living in an area … [Read more...]
Your Need-To-Know College Campus Mental Health Resources and Accommodations
I don’t think that there is a single person who doesn’t have at least a little difficulty when it comes to managing certain elements of college life. But when you’re also dealing with a mental health condition, some of the changes and challenges that college brings can feel even more overwhelming. It is important to know that many colleges have accommodations and resources … [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...]
College Mental Health: Should I Transfer Closer to Home?
College life is a very big transition for many students. Especially those who are already dealing with other life problems, like a mental health disorder. Trying to learn how to live and navigate on your own can take awhile. For our whole lives, we have lived with our parent's support. Now, in an instant, we are out on our own away from home. We will come across some situations … [Read more...]
Get To Know AiT: Interview with Katie Haddad, AiT Contributor
Learning to take care of yourself, understanding which coping strategies work for you and what kind of support systems you need is critical on the path to managing and living with mental health issues. And, as we can all likely agree, it isn't a one-size-fits-all kind of solution. Each person has a unique set of strategies and support that works specifically for them. For some … [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...]
21st Birthday and Peer Pressure: My Story
My birthday is coming up soon. When I first realized it was so close I was shocked at how fast the past year went by and I started to think about what I was doing this time last year. After thinking for a couple of minutes I remembered exactly what I was doing. I was extremely frustrated and stressed out from trying to plan the perfect 21st birthday. Turning 21 should be … [Read more...]
Love, Me & My Mental Health: 4 Steps to Dating with a Mental Health Disorder
As a teen or young adult, a romantic relationship can become one of the most sacred things to you. These partnerships can often be a clear representation of what one desires in another individual, expose them to the feeling of unconditional love, or quite honestly turn out to be their biggest mistake. Since most relationships are ever-changing it can be difficult … [Read more...]
3 Steps to Managing the Transition to College
College life is a very big transition for many students. Especially those who are already dealing with other life problems, like a mental health disorder. Trying to learn how to live and navigate on your own can take awhile. For our whole lives, many of us have lived with our parents' support. Now, in an instant, we are out on our own, away from home. We will come across some … [Read more...]