Depression

Smartphones–one is practically in every American teen’s pocket. Nearly 3 in 4 teens own or have access to a smartphone. So, you’re probably thinking: “What does this have to do with treatment for depression?” Well, it seems like smartphones could be linked to causing depression in the first place. We have never experienced the level…

Teen social isolation isn’t always abnormal. Sometimes we just need some time alone to think, process, and work through things–sometimes it’s more dubious. For many struggling with issues like depression, they aren’t sure what to do so they isolate themselves and don’t reach out to anyone for help. They retreat into themselves hoping to figure…

Adoption is one of the most emotional, joyful experiences some parents will ever experience. However, if your adopted child is struggling with attachment issues related to their childhood experiences, it can feel very difficult to establish the close parent-child bond you’ve been yearning for young people struggling with behavioral and emotional challenges related to adoption…

Your child is suddenly having issues in school. Their grades are plummeting. They won’t speak to you about what’s going on. How do you react to these teen academic struggles? Many parents feel lost at this point–which is understandable. There’s no handbook telling a parent exactly how to deal with these types of situations. You…

While mental illness is never easy, bipolar disorder in teens can hit especially hard. As if puberty alone isn’t enough, a child struggling with bipolar disorder must deal with the pressures of severe mood episodes, from depression one moment to mania the next. During such an important phase in your teen’s life, it is crucial…

In a new review, published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers examined more than 36 studies about the adverse effects of cyberbullying on teen mental health. What they found was a strong link between those cyber-bullied and teen depression. They also found that most cyberbullying instances happened through Facebook, a common social media site. This emphasizes the need…

If your teen has lost desire to hang out with friends, has difficulty concentrating or remembering, loses appetite, or can’t seem to go to sleep at night, you may write it off as normal teenage behavior. However, if these or other anti-social behaviors continue for any length of time, it may indicate a more serious issue. Teenagers with depression are often times categorized as “just going through changes” or being “overly hormonal,” but when the sadness and retraction do not go away within a few weeks, it is more likely your teenager is suffering from depression and may not know how to cope.