Teenage Addiction and Self-Harm: Co-occurring Disorders
Nonsuicidal self-injury disorder, better known as self-harm, is characterized by the purposeful actions of causing physical harm to oneself without the intention of committing suicide. Cutting and burning are the two most common types of self-injury behavior. This behavior is more common in teenagers and adolescents and occurs due to severe underlying emotional pain and […]…
When Typical Teen Behavior Becomes Troubled Teen Behavior
Updated 5/5/25 As teenagers begin to assert their independence and find their own identity, many experience behavioral changes that can seem bizarre and unpredictable to parents. Your sweet, obedient child who once couldn’t bear to be separated from you now won’t be seen within 20 yards of you, and greets everything you say with a […]…
Why is my Child Sad All the Time?
As a parent, it can be heartbreaking to see your child sad or upset, even if it is momentary. Most children will go through all stages of emotions but when your child is sad for the majority of the time, this can mean that something is troubling them and there is a bigger underlying issue […]…
Can the Holiday Season Trigger My Child’s Depression?
Just like adults, children and teenagers often exhibit signs of stress around the holidays. If a child is known to have depression, the holidays can be triggering and may contribute to holiday depression and anxiety. Children are like sponges; they can absorb the stress and anxiety from other around them and will react to their […]…
Is My Teenager Depressed?
Teenagers face a host of pressures, from the hormonal changes of puberty and building their self-esteem, to facing peer pressure about sex, drugs, and alcohol. With all this turmoil and uncertainty, it isn’t always easy to differentiate between normal teenage growing pains and depression. Many parents expect some trouble from their teenagers and believe that […]…
Teen Depression Help: A Parent’s Guide on How to Seek Help With Teenage Depression
Updated 4/16/25 Studies have shown that approximately one in five teenagers suffer from depression at some point in their life. Depression is highly treatable. However, if treatment is not sought in a timely manner, it can lead to unhealthy behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders and violent and angry behavior potentially resulting […]…
How Can I Tell if my Teenager is Suicidal?
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 41,000 individuals die by suicide each year, making suicide the 10th leading cause of death among adults in the United States and the second leading cause of death among individuals 10-24 years of age. According to the CDC, suicide is the third most common cause […]…
“My Teen is Cutting: Please Help.”
Updated on 2/10/2023 Cutting is a form of self-harm behavior that is used to relieve inner stress and anxiety. Cutting refers to taking a sharp object to the skin to make small cuts in the body, usually on the arms and legs. Like other forms of self-injury behavior, when a teen is cutting, it is […]…
How to Seek Help for my Teenager Who is Cutting?
Cutting refers to using a sharp object such as a razor blade or a knife to cut into the skin. This form of self-harm behavior is used to relieve underlying stress and anxiety in individuals who feel they have no other way to escape from their feelings. Teenagers who engage in cutting may be suffering […]…