Irritability is common in adolescence, especially amongst adolescents suffering from anxiety disorders. Several studies have shown that levels of irritability amongst youth are higher when they also suffer from anxiety disorders. If you are concerned that your child’s irritability may be a sign of a greater underlying mental health disorder, speak with a mental health professional to determine the best course of treatment.  Can Anxiety Cause Anger? Feelings of anxiety can sometimes lead to defensive outbursts of frustration or rage. This occurs when an individual’s anxiety is triggered an ..read more

Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that acts as a stimulant, depressant, and hallucinogen. Its impact on the brain poses serious risks to a person’s mental health. Those who use marijuana more frequently and youth whose brains are still developing are put at the greatest risk. If you are concerned that marijuana may be contributing to your child’s depressive state, it is best to speak with a mental health professional. How Does Marijuana Affect Mental Health? Marijuana contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive chemical that reaches the brain and can alter a person’s mental stat ..read more

Teens are often the primary users of social media platforms. While social media can be useful for staying in touch with family and friends, it can also increase risk of overexposure to stressors, such as cyberbullying or negative posts and comments, that contribute to anxiety or depression. According to one poll from Boston.com, 67% of Massachusetts readers think that social media should have restrictions for teens. What Percentage of Teens Use Social Media? Across social media platforms, teens are often the primary users. According to a survey from the Pew Research Center, 97% of teens age 13 ..read more

It is not always easy to head back to school. Sometimes, you may notice your child feeling emotional stress or trying to avoid returning to school. They may even make excuses not to attend or act out and refuse to go to school. While this does not always signify anxiety, it is important to take school refusal seriously and invite open conversation with your child. School refusal could be a sign of a deeper anxiety. Physical symptoms of anxiety, emotional distress, crankiness, or a strong emotional response could indicate a need for further treatment from a mental health professional. Identify ..read more

The number of teens diagnosed with anxiety has increased over the years. According to the CDC, the number of children between ages 6-17 who have ever been diagnosed with anxiety has increased since 2003. Between 2016-2019, 9.4% of children suffered from a diagnosed anxiety condition. Back in 2003, 5.4% of children had diagnosed anxiety. Massachusetts saw a 50% increase in anxiety and depression diagnoses between 2016-2020. Mental health struggles can be triggered by a multitude of factors in teens from academic work to interactions with their peers. Anxiety is not always easy to spot. But, the ..read more

If your child or a loved one is suffering with substance abuse or mental health, it may be time to prepare for an intervention. The CRAFT approach is typically used by family members to intervene with someone struggling with alcohol or drug abuse. In these cases, those struggling with substance abuse may not be interested or willing to make changes in their life. This method helps families approach communication in a supportive way.  What Is the CRAFT Approach? CRAFT stands for Community Reinforcement and Family Training. This method helps families understand how to interact with their lo ..read more

Famous neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud famously theorized that depression is “anger turned inward”. Repressed anger could have negative impacts on one’s body and mental health. For adolescents, unexpressed anger can result from hidden trauma, shame, or even the fear of not fitting into cultural norms.  As youth experience new emotions and life experiences, they must learn how to emotionally handle them as well. When feelings are ignored or avoided, it could cause further harm to their mental health down the road. With depression amongst youth on the rise in Massach ..read more

Unless you have been living under a rock, you have most likely noticed the sheer amount of young people vaping nowadays. Is this interest in vaping just happenstance, or is there a more nefarious explanation for this dramatic rise in adolescent vaping? Many people believe that vape companies are purposefully targeting youth, attempting to make life-long customers of this young and impressionable demographic.  An Overview of the Youth Vaping Epidemic There has long been a battle to stop youth from using nicotine. It seemed that it was close to being won, with teen smoking at a record low a ..read more

Teenagers have a lot on their plate. Each day, they have to deal with pressure from academics, sports, friends, and everything else going on in the world. With all of this going on in their lives, it is not surprising that teenagers are increasingly prone to developing anxiety. Anxiety is a normal human emotion, but can become an intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Anxiety can cause poorly school performance, loss of interest in activities, and can harm friendships. How Many Teens Have Anxiety? Anxiety has become extremely common in teens. Studies have ..read more

Everyone in the world struggles with the state of their mental health at some point. After a particularly large failure, you may even feel like there is no point in trying anymore, that you should just give up. One of the best ways to rid yourself of these feelings is by developing a growth mindset. People who develop this particular mindset find that their mental health has improved greatly and learn coping skills that can be used throughout daily life.  What Is Growth Mindset? Having a growth mindset means understanding that your abilities are not set in stone, and taking a curious appr ..read more