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…

According to popular belief, depression is one of the main causes of substance abuse and addiction in teenagers.  It is thought that depressed youth tend to self-medicate with things such as drugs and alcohol, which, over time, leads them to…

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”…

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…

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”…

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…

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…

The adolescent and teenage years are a time of growth and transformation, physically, mentally and biologically. In moving towards adulthood, young people begin to discover who they are independent of parents, establish friendships, and go through puberty. And while there…

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…

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…

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…

Self-harm affects millions of people in this country.  Yet the population with the highest number of self-harmers is adolescents and teenagers.  Sadly, the topic of self-injury continues to be a carry a stigma, and thus, is rarely talked about.  This…

Worrying from time to time is a natural part of life.  Yet, if the worry feels out of control, unmanageable, or negatively impacts your overall health and wellness, it is likely you are experiencing a more significant anxiety disorder.  Anxiety…

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 increased.  Nonetheless,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

  According to some recent studies, as many as 20 million American women and 10 million American men have suffered from some sort of clinically diagnosable eating disorder in their lifetime. Though many of these individuals have recovered, the fact…

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…

The topic of residential treatment is something very few parents talk about with any sense of enthusiasm. But when n the instance of teens who are struggling with various psychological conditions, residential treatment programs can be the most important thing…

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 disorders are among the most common form 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 things that…

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,…

What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder in teens? Bipolar disorder is a condition that can impact both the individual who is diagnosed and their families. In fact, as many as 3% of all Americans will experience symptoms of bipolar…

Naturally, getting any sort of surgery is a complicated process that carries with it a unique risk of further complications. But one common complication that is often overlooked by many individuals in the medical field doesn’t come from the actual…

  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,…

  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…

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…

Today, more and more teenagers are suffering from depression.  It is estimated that, at any time, between 10-15% of teens encounter some level of depression. Many parents have teens that struggle with depression, and if you are one of them,…

While some individuals are able to come out as queer to their families and be embraced with a tremendous amount of support, others are immediately ridiculed, rejected, and made to feel unloved. Individuals with non-binary gender identities or non-hetero sexual…

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…

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, psychologists,…

  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…

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 simply some things that we must do in order to survive. We know need to drink water. We know we need to eat food. We know we need to sleep. But while we all may…

Unfortunately, the topic of sexual identity is still largely taboo in our society, and for individuals who are LGBTQ, it can sometimes be difficult to confide in the people they normally trust. Having a sibling with an LGBTQ identity can…

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.…

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…

The Epidemic Behind Gender Dysphoria Imagine for a moment you’re an insecure teenager and your body is rapidly going through changes. When you look in the mirror you don’t like it because your outsides don’t seem to match your insides.…

Experiential treatment methods are proven to be incredibly 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. Art,…

Fidget spinners have become one of the most popular new products on the market. What is obvious at first glance is that—like a top, or a yo-yo, or a variety of other similar toys—fidget spinners can provide a fun diversion…

The negative effects of the internet use are being researched more and more everyday. Talking with your teen can help to determine whether or not the internet has a negative impact within their life. The internet and technology of today is constantly evolving…

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…

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 have been years since the trauma…

Tips for Overcoming An Anxiety Attack Raising a teen with an anxiety disorder can feel like a constant struggle. As a parent, you may be facing some extraordinarily difficult moments, and may be unsure of how to effectively approach this complex, widely varying…

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…

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%…

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…

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…