Although it is often assumed that young people are more carefree than adults, their lives are full of emotional ups and downs. This is hugely evident in the statistics regarding adolescent and teen mental health, with as many as one out of every five adolescents and...
Entering residential treatment can be a difficult, confusing, and stressful time for both the parents and the adolescent or teenager going to treatment. Before physically entering a residential treatment program, patients will learn what to expect from their stay in...
Mental illness is hugely common in adolescents and teenagers. In fact, approximately one in five young people meet criteria for at least one mental illness. Mental health issues can affect all areas of a teen’s life, from school performance to socialization and how...
Oppositional defiant disorder in teens (ODD) is one of the more common mental health disorders and falls under the umbrella of disruptive behavior disorders. Adolescents with oppositional defiant disorder demonstrate disobedient, defiant and/or hostile behavior,...
Residential treatment centers provide individualized mental and behavioral health care for youth struggling with a variety of issues and struggles. Residential treatment often addresses the following: Trauma and abuse Depression and/or anxiety Eating...
TEENAGE MENTAL HEALTH STATISTICS Mental illness is a disorder of brain function. There are many different classes and categories of mental health disorders, and those who suffer from mental illness do not do so by choice. Various factors can cause and/or contribute...
The adolescent and teenage years are a challenging phase of life. During this time, it is fairly common for youth to develop certain habits and quirks in an attempt to manage the various stressors. Yet for some, these individual “quirks” can indicate the presence of...
Post-traumatic stress disorder (or PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop following a traumatic event. PTSD can occur in teens who experience a traumatic event personally, are witness to a traumatic event, or in rare cases, hear about a trauma that has...
As human beings, our bodies have a natural, built in “fight-or-flight” response when danger is sensed. The brain activates adrenaline in the body to trigger the response to either “fight” the danger or to escape (the “flight”). Although this “fight-or-flight”...
Social media is a constant in life for most people, especially teenagers. According to the research, 90% of teenagers are on at least one social media site. Adolescents and teens today are the first generation to have grown up with social media, and do not know the...
Excessive use of social media, smartphones, and other technologies has had a demonstrably negative impact on the mental health of America’s teenagers. For better or for worse, many of these technologies seem to have established themselves as a permanent component of...
LGBTQ Youth Today, adolescents are coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) at higher rates than ever before, and at younger ages. With this trend, public awareness and therapeutic services for LGBTQ individuals have significantly...
When most people hear the term “drug abuse”, they immediately think of substances that can be bought on the street. Most of our educational and national dialogue efforts are focused on these drugs, and these are the drugs you hear about most often in the news. But...
No matter who you might be, the teenage years are inevitably a difficult time. You are constantly feeling the pressures of the outside world demanding you to form an identity, figure out your life, and conform to your surroundings while still remaining unique. But if...
The Relationship Between Transgender Identity Affirmation & Mental Health Whether we are willing to admit it as parents or not, gender and sex can both be very complicated subjects. Both gender and sex can complicate the life of a teenager, and if they identify as...
There is no denying the fact that mental health conditions are present in a significant number of American teenagers. But while some teenagers are able to find healthy ways to cope with their condition—whether it is with counseling, meditation, or taking their...
Psychology is a field of study that is constantly changing. Over the past century, the relentless research efforts of psychologists around the world have transformed the discipline from one that was once largely based on subjective analytics to one that now...
For anyone, having access to a community of supportive people and environments are crucial aspects of healthy living. This is especially true when it comes to teenagers. This is because adolescence is a crucial time in development in terms daily habits, balanced...
The teenage years are difficult for both parents and teens alike. As a teenager, you are still trying to figure out who you are and how you want to display yourself to the world. As a parent, you want to give your teenager enough space to express themselves. Although,...
Though teenagers now have more access to mental healthcare resources than they have ever had before, there is currently a major problem facing many Americans. Teenage depression rates have been gradually increasing over the past few decades, and parents,...
One of the problems with treating mental health in the United States is the weight of the stigmas associated with receiving a diagnosis and treatment. Though our collective understanding of mental health conditions has tremendously improved over the past few...
As human beings, there are simple, every day things we must do to survive. We have to drink water, eat food, and sleep. While we all may seem to innately know what to do in response to these physiological needs, responding to them can be a more difficult, easily...
In a nation that is just 300 years past believing that if a woman floated in water that means she is a witch, there is no denying that our society has quite frequently had a problem with incorrectly labeling things. When people are confronted with something that is...
To parents whose teens seem to be obsessed with a particular band, TV show, book/movie series, or character, it may be surprising to learn that this apparent ‘obsession’ is something that may be beneficial for their mental health. Fandoms—a portmanteau of the words...
Experiential treatment methods are proven to be effective in helping teenagers combat the hopeless feelings experienced when suffering from mental illness. Creative therapies can help adolescents engage in the world around them, regaining control of their own lives....
The negative effects internet use has on teen mental health is being researched more and more every day. Talking with your teen can help to determine whether or not the internet has a negative impact on their life. Today, the internet and technology are constantly...
Bringing up the subject of drinking can be uncomfortable. That is why it is important to know what to avoid when opening up a discussion with your teen. When your child becomes a teenager, the role of being a parent can take a dynamic turn. Rather than helping them...
Trusted Mental Health Care in Los Angeles Polaris Teen Center in Los Angeles, California, stands out when you’re looking for an effective mental health care. There are a number of reasons we’ve had success working with teens who suffer from anxiety disorders, eating...
Underage drinking is considered a serious health issue in this country. Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance when it comes to American youth, despite the legal drinking age being set at 21. In fact, in 2015, more than 30% of teens reported they had consumed...
As difficult as it can be to sometimes address, self harm in teenagers has become a major issue. In fact, according to some studies, patterns of self harm occur in as many as 1 in 5 females and 1 in 7 males each year. Because the teenage years are associated with high...
grat·i·tude noun: gratitude the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. With the Santa Monica Mountains in the background, I gaze out my bay window, in the early morning hours. The sun is breaking through the clouds and...
There are many Los Angeles mental health facilities, including several that focus on teen treatment. So, what sets Polaris Teen apart? Why send your teen to Polaris Teen when he or she is struggling with depression, anxiety, OCD, Asperger’s, anxiety disorders or any...
Teen Mood Disorders Adolescence has always had its challenges. It's a time of transition, a time of rapid growth, a time when changing bodies and changing hormones collide full speed with peer pressure. There's an increasing need for independence and a desire to...
Imagine for a minute, your teenager comes home from school, stomps off to their room without saying hello or uttering a single word. Naturally you would be concerned and want to know why are they so upset. So you knock and they yell through the door, for you to leave...
If you believe your teen has a drinking problem, finding the right teen treatment center could be a lifesaver. It can be hard to admit that your teen’s drinking problem has gotten out of hand – and it can be even harder to admit that help is needed. Choosing a teen...
Top Treatment Centers Are you a parent or guardian whose teen is struggling with drug or alcohol abuse and want to find the top teenage residential treatment center Los Angeles has to offer? There are many teen programs available in Los Angeles, but you need to do...