When people think of meditation, there are often a wide variety of images that come to mind. One of the most familiar or common is that of monks using meditation as a part of their routines or ritual practices. The art or practice of meditation is not new. The practice has been used by cultures…

The concept of the mental health day is not necessarily new, but the act of physically taking time away from one’s daily stressors and obligations to care for their mental health is a little less common than some believe. Many people talk about taking a mental health day or needing a mental health day, but…

Depression and mental health challenges related to depressive disorders have grown in prevalence among American teens in recent years. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, as many as 13% of US teens between the ages of 12 and 17 reported experiencing at least one episode of major depression in the previous year. This number represented a 5%…

The holiday season is generally considered a happy and joyous time of year, so it may be surprising to learn how many youth and adults alike experience elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Reports from the American Psychological Association indicate that between 48% and 64% of people experience heightened stress levels during the holidays. …

Sex addiction (hypersexuality, compulsive sexual behavior, etc.) is a term used to describe frequent and excessive urges, desires, thoughts, or behaviors that focus on sexual acts or other factors related to sex. Someone with a sex addiction cannot control their thoughts and behaviors. In time, they lead to emotional harm, challenges, and damage to relationships,…

People vape for many reasons. One of the primary reasons teens (and adults vape) is because they believe it is safer or less addictive than smoking cigarettes. Some may also feel that vaping is an ideal way to quit smoking because the properties of vape liquids are perceived as less addictive than smoking. There are…

When the conversation turns to teen learning disabilities, people often think of familiar conditions such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, or perhaps dyslexia. But there are several other, less familiar (or uncommon) types of learning disabilities diagnosed in teens and youth. No matter the diagnosis, learning disabilities can make it difficult, sometimes excessively…

The internet has wide-ranging impacts on our daily lives, regardless of age. People of all demographics and from all age groups use the internet in some form to communicate with others. Despite the dramatic effect the internet has on people worldwide, there is little research available on the effects of regular or excessive internet usage…

Despite many common misconceptions and beliefs, illnesses related to mental health do not selectively target only adults. Mental health conditions are becoming increasingly common among youth and teens throughout the United States and worldwide. Recent studies suggest that approximately one in five teens have symptoms of at least one diagnosable mental health condition. A study…

Substance use disorder in teens often starts as recreational or casual. Over time, an occasional social drinker starts to binge drink regularly, or someone who occasionally uses prescription pain medication for pain control takes more than the prescribed dosage or progresses to harder drugs such as heroin and methamphetamine. If this sounds familiar to you…