Self-Injury Awareness Day: March 1
Updated on 2/13/2023 Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD), is an international awareness day that takes place every year on March 1. This day is meant for learning about self-injury behaviors and for providing resources to those who are in need of help. An orange ribbon, representing a sign of hope for a misunderstood problem, symbolizes this […]…
National Drug and Alcohol Week
National Drug and Alcohol Week is an awareness week that was started by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in 2010 to raise awareness for teenagers about the myths and dangers of alcohol and drugs. This campaign focuses on using science to educate young minds how drugs and alcohol affect both the mind and […]…
Panic disorders and Their Tie to Valium Addiction
Valium, diazepam, is a long-acting benzodiazepine, that is often used, against recommendation, to treat anxiety disorders such as panic disorder. Benzodiazepines commonly referred to as “nerve pills” have been widely used since the 1960’s for alcohol withdrawal, anxiety, insomnia, and seizures, however are now known to be extremely dangerous and addictive and therefore are recommended […]…
Co-occurring Disorders in Teenagers: Cocaine and Anxiety
Updated 4/16/25 Anxiety commonly occurs in the teenage population due to the many changing factors associated with this life stage. Hormonal changes, physical changes to the body, the stressors associated with academic performance, peer pressure, and trying to balance family obligations with maintaining a social life are all common events that teenagers are faced with […]…
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 […]…
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 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 […]…
Depression and Self-Medicating with Food
Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa are closely linked to depression, which is a common mood disorder. Eating disorders often develop as an avoidant coping mechanism that distracts the individual from feelings of depression. Depression can also be the underlying cause for the development of an eating disorder as […]…
World Aids Day: Mental Health Disorders Associated with HIV/AIDS
Globally, there are an estimated 36.7 million people who have the virus. Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history. December 1st is known as World AIDS Day and is celebrated throughout the world […]…
Understanding Xanax Addiction: What Does Xanax Do?
Xanax, formally know as alprazolam, is a short-acting benzodiazepine, that is used to treat anxiety disorders including panic disorder. It is also used to help wean individuals from alcohol dependence in order to avoid alcohol withdrawal, which can lead to seizures. Benzodiazepines are also known for their strong addiction potential and have resulted in approximately […]…