Parenting Tips Archives - Polaris Teen Center: Premier Adolescent Treatment Center in Los Angeles

Distinguishing Between Signs of Depression or “Moodiness” in Teens

February 27, 2019

Polaris Teen Center

Depression, Parenting Tips, Resources

Parents often wonder how to distinguish normal teenage mood swings and rebellions from actual symptoms of depression. Fortunately, there are several ways to tell. As many as 1 in 5 teenagers will experience depression at some point during adolescence. Unfortunately,…

Social Anxiety in Teens: Signs, Symptoms, and How to Help

February 27, 2019

Polaris Teen Center

Anxiety, Parenting Tips, Resources, Treatment

What is Social Anxiety? Social anxiety disorder (SAD) affects 1 out of 3 adolescents between 13 and 18 years old. Over 19 million people across America suffer from social anxiety disorder (SAD) today. It is the most common anxiety disorder and…

Prevention of Teen Depression: Parent, Friend, and Support Tips

February 15, 2019

Polaris Teen Center

Depression, Parenting Tips, Resources, Treatment

At any given time, one out of every five teenagers is experiencing major depression. If you are a parent to an adolescent or teenager, you are likely familiar with the moodiness inherent to this age group. Mood swings are common, as…

How to Talk to Your Teen About Depression

February 8, 2019

Polaris Teen Center

Depression, Parenting Tips, Resources

Talking to your teen about depression can be a difficult and intimidating task. The adolescent and teenage years are some of the most difficult, due to the immense amount of changes going on in both the brain and the body. …

Managing Expectations With Your Adolescent

January 21, 2019

Polaris Teen Center

Depression, Parenting Tips, Resources

As a parent of an adolescent, your attitudes, actions, and beliefs can have a tremendous impact on your child’s well-being. Your teen is experiencing the challenging process of transitioning from childhood to adulthood and, as someone who has gone through…

How to Know If Your Child Is Transgender

December 28, 2018

Polaris Teen Center

Parenting Tips, Resources, Transgender

There is no simple test to tell if a child is transgender. Experts often refer to the idea of insistence, consistency, and persistence in terms of gauging whether a child is just going through a phase or not. This means…

What is A Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility?

December 28, 2018

Polaris Teen Center

Parenting Tips, Resources, Treatment

A psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) provides out-of-home psychiatric care to children, adolescents, and young adults in a non-hospital, highly structured setting. PRTF’s serve clients whose mental health needs require more intensive treatment than can be provided in a community…

What Causes Thoughts of Self-Harm in Teens

October 16, 2018

Polaris Teen Center

Parenting Tips, Resources, Self Harm

What Is Self-Harm? Self-harm (sometimes called self-injury or self-mutilation) is the act of intentionally harming oneself in a physical manner. Self-harm is an expression of personal distress and often a coping mechanism. Self-harm is not a mental illness itself (but…

Can Anxiety Cause Depression in Teens?

September 10, 2018

Polaris Teen Center

Anxiety, Parenting Tips, Resources

When a person suffers from two or more mental health conditions, they are referred to as “comorbid” or co-occurring disorders. Anxiety and depression are the two diagnoses most closely related, and for adolescents and teenagers, the two mental health disorders…

Treatment for Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Adolescence

September 7, 2018

Polaris Teen Center

Mental Health, Parenting Tips, Resources

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, often when interacting with authority…

When to Seek Residential Treatment for Your Teen

September 5, 2018

Polaris Teen Center

Mental Health, Parenting Tips, Resources, Treatment

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 disorder(s) Personality and mental disorders Low…

ADD in Teenage Girls

August 23, 2018

Polaris Teen Center

ADD, Parenting Tips, Resources

Symptoms of ADD in Teenage Girls Images of boys being impatient, loud, or climbing on things often come to mind for many when talking about attention-deficit issues in youth. Because attention-deficit disorders are frequently associated with males, girls with attention…

How Many Teens Suffer With Depression?

August 14, 2018

Polaris Teen Center

Depression, Parenting Tips, Resources

Why Today’s Teens Are More Depressed. Depression is a serious mental illness that can affect anyone. Depression causes ongoing sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest, and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts. Adolescents and teenagers are one of the populations most affected…

Borderline Personality Disorder in Teens: What You Need to Know

June 14, 2018

Polaris Teen Center

Parenting Tips, Personality Disorder, Resources

What is Borderline Personality Disorder? Teens with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have particularly negative and distorted views of themselves, including a lack of self-worth. This contributes to feelings of inadequacy, and makes it difficult to create and maintain relationships with…

A Guide for Parents: Supporting Transgender Teens

June 6, 2018

Polaris Teen Center

Parenting Tips, Resources, Transgender

This article will attempt to answer common questions that parents may have about teen transgenderism. Though the subject of being transgender has recently gained increased attention due to various social movements and media coverage, transgenderism is something that has existed…

A Guide for Parents of Teens with Gender Dysphoria

June 6, 2018

Polaris Teen Center

Gender Dysphoria, Parenting Tips, Resources

Being a parent of a teenager with gender dysphoria brings many challenges. Not only is it difficult to watch your child struggle with their identity, but it is often hard to know how to best support them. What is Gender…

Parenting Guide – Teens and Bipolar

April 10, 2018

Polaris Teen Center

Bipolar Disorder, Parenting Tips, Resources

What is Bipolar? Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder characterized by dramatic or abnormal mood changes (or swings). The estimated number of teenagers with bipolar disorder is currently 2-3%. The mood changes typically fluctuate between major depression and extreme elation, or mania. The…

How to Help a Teen With Depression

March 14, 2018

Polaris Teen Center

Depression, Parenting Tips, Resources, Treatment

Depression is a very real condition and it is something that is uniquely likely to have an impact on teenagers. If you are a parent who believes that your teenager may be suffering from depression, it is important to get…

Your Guide to Understanding Teen Rehabilitation

November 15, 2017

Polaris Teen Center

Parenting Tips, Resources, Treatment

The topic of residential treatment is something few parents talk about with any sense of enthusiasm. But when teens are struggling with various psychological conditions, residential treatment programs can be the most valuable experience for long-term healing. If you are…

Warning Signs of Bulimia in Teens

November 15, 2017

Polaris Teen Center

Eating Disorders, Parenting Tips, Resources

Statistically, the teenage years are the time in people’s lives that they are most likely to suffer from an eating disorder. These years are characterized by a tremendous amount of change. As teenagers struggle to establish their sense of self…

Eating Disorder Recovery Tips

November 10, 2017

Polaris Teen Center

Eating Disorders, Parenting Tips, Resources

Eating disorders are amongst the most common forms of teenage mental health disorders. The constant stress of establishing one’s identity, the external pressures to satisfy an impossible beauty standard, and the hormonal changes associated with puberty are all possible factors…

Building a Community Around Mental Health – Finding a Support System for Your Teen

September 8, 2017

Polaris Teen Center

Mental Health, Parenting Tips, Resources

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…

Important Things to Know as a Parent of a Teenager with Bipolar Disorder

August 30, 2017

Polaris Teen Center

Bipolar Disorder, Parenting Tips, Resources

Being a teenager with any sort of long-term psychological condition can be a difficult and frustrating experience. If you are a teenager with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or bipolar disorder, doing even the most mundane tasks—like getting out of bed…

Why Parents Need To Talk to Their Teens About Internet Addiction

April 21, 2017

Polaris Teen Center

Mental Health, Parenting Tips, Resources

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…

How to Talk With Your Teen About Alcohol

April 21, 2017

Polaris Teen Center

Mental Health, Parenting Tips, Resources, Substance Abuse

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…

7 Ways Parents Can Help Teens with PTSD

April 21, 2017

Polaris Teen Center

Parenting Tips, PTSD, Resources

Parenting Tips for Teens with PTSD Teenagers who have been exposed to traumatizing events are not immune to the effects of these events, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is no exception. PTSD is something that, even though it may…

Alcohol and Your Teen – Identifying Alcohol Abuse

January 20, 2016

Polaris Teen Center

Mental Health, Parenting Tips, Resources, Substance Abuse

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%…

Teen Eating Disorders

December 23, 2015

Polaris Teen Center

Eating Disorders, Parenting Tips, Resources

What Parents Need to Know about Teen Eating Disorders Despite the fact that many teens suffer from eating disorders, body image issues, and numerous other related problems, these issues often go entirely unaddressed. But just because talking about the current…

Talking About the Teen Depression Epidemic

December 9, 2015

Polaris Teen Center

Depression, Parenting Tips, Resources, Treatment

If you are a parent of a teenager who is currently suffering from depression, it can be very difficult to know what to do or where to turn. Even though you may offer your teenager unconditional love and support, overcoming…

What Parents Need to Know about Teen Eating Disorders

November 25, 2015

Polaris Teen Center

Eating Disorders, Parenting Tips, Resources

Imagine for a moment, you’re an insecure teenager struggling to fit into the world and a parent tells you that you need to loose ten pounds. Afterwards, every time you look in the mirror you see your body as being…

Talking With Your Teens

November 21, 2015

Polaris Teen Center

Mental Health, Parenting Tips, Resources

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…

Teen Alcohol Abuse: Finding the Right Treatment Center

October 30, 2015

Polaris Teen Center

Mental Health, Parenting Tips, Resources, Substance Abuse

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…