Teenagers and Thanksgiving

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Teenagers and Thanksgiving
As adults we look forward to Thanksgiving in a way that most teenagers cannot really grasp.  We have so many obligations, sacrifices and responsibilities that a day of giving thanks and spending a nice time with our families can be something to look forward to all year!  You may have nice thoughts in your mind about your teenager wanting to spend time with his or her family, having fun doing it, and being involved in the preparations.  However, teenagers may see Thanksgiving as exactly what we are trying to get a break from – tedious obligations.  And trying to mold their emotions and behaviors to fit your ideal thanksgiving fantasy could turn into setting yourself up for a disappointing and frustrating thanksgiving.
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Divorce and Teenagers

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Divorce and Teenagers
Teenagers thrive in stable, safe and structured environments.  Life changing events such as the divorce of parents creates inevitable emotional and change-related pain.  To successfully cope with the divorce of parents teenagers should: Have a deep emotional understanding that the divorce was not their fault. Be allowed to mourn the loss of their old life. Be free to continue positive relationships with both parents while adjusting to a new stable, safe and structured environment.
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Anxiety Disorders and Teenagers : Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

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Anxiety Disorders and Teenagers : Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment for Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is a normal part of the human psyche.  Everyone has felt the effects of temporary anxiety. Moments before giving a big presentation, taking a tough exam, or other stressful events can temporarily raise your heart rate, make your stomach turn, and make you sweat. Anxiety is a necessary mental reaction to help prepare you for anticipated difficult situations. It can help keep you focused, alert, and motivated to solve problems. These reactions to stress are very common but what is the difference between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder that requires professional help? Much like the difference between occasional sadness and depression, anxiety becomes a disorder when a person is chronically displaying anxiety symptoms and interferes with common day activities and responsibilities. Anxiety disorders can develop at a young age and increase as teenagers get older according to National Comorbidity Survey Replication – Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A).
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Miami Counseling : How To Find the Right Adolescent Counselor

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Choosing a therapist or counselor for your teenager is an important decision that should not be taken lightly. Therapy can help teenagers develop problem-solving skills, overcome emotional or behavioral problems, improve self-esteem, cope with stress, and improve communication skills with family members and friends. This report contains professional advice on choosing a therapist compiled from trusted authorities in adolescent mental health such as kidshealth.org, psychologytoday.com, and goodtherapy.org.
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Back To School For Teenagers, Easier.

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Getting started with school again after a nice long summer break can be a bittersweet time for teens. On one hand summer days can seem endless and boring. On the other hand its difficult to welcome back hard work and responsibilities with open arms. Its a trade off that can be difficult for some teens to adjust to. There are several common problems that teenagers tend to experience during the back to school season. Among them are sleep disturbances, increased social anxiety, and education/responsibility related stress. Let's talk a little about each one and what you can do as a parent to help your kids out.
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Nurturing Mothers Boost Their Teen's Brain Power

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Finally! Scientific evidence that supports what mental health professionals have been saying for decades. When you nurture your child it is good for their brain. According to the article below children with nurturing mothers have a significantly larger brain structure, called the hippocampus, compared to children with less nurturing mothers.
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Who Should Teach Your Kids To Drink?

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Parents in Florida that are not opposed to their children learning to drink alcohol responsibly are faced with a dilemma. Should I teach my kid to drink at home and break the law or should I forbid it and hope that when my kid does start drinking that he/she will be responsible. It is indeed illegal for anyone under the age of 21 in the state of Florida to drink alcohol under any circumstances. Most states have exceptions to this rule, for example, in Georgia kids have the right to drink alcohol at home with parental consent.
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Affluent Teenagers - Privilege and Risk

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I recently read an article published by the National Institutes of Health about the mental health characteristics of affluent teenagers as compared to teenagers living near poverty. Before I read the article I assumed that teenagers with the stresses of poverty would have more significant mental health issues than the teenagers of affluent parents. According to this research I was wrong. Here is the link to the article:
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