Mental Health

Is My Teen Suffering with School Stress

Posted by Sue Scheff on September 03, 2021 / Posted in Mental Health, Teen Help

Ways Teens Can Prevent School Stress

Help Your Teens PexelStudyTeen-300x205 Is My Teen Suffering with School Stress Teenagers often face a lot of challenges at this part of their lives, especially with school. They’re growing, studying, learning, and so on.

But with that said, the daily pressures of school can cause stress, which can affect how your teen is sleeping at night. While the lack of sleep is normal for teenagers, it doesn’t have to be this way.

This quick guide will explore why sleep is important for teens, and how they can get a good night’s sleep despite the stresses that can come from school.

Why So Sleepy?

“Believe it or not, a teenager’s life can be very hectic, even in school,” says Zachary Hincks, a health writer at Boom Essays. “The problem is, there’s an obvious need for ‘downtime,’ so that teens can rejuvenate and be more alert and relaxed during their school days. The Centers for Disease Control and Protection, or the CDC, suggests that teens should sleep between 8 and 10 hours per 24 hours. However, late nights are tempting for teens, whether they’re hitting the books, cramming for a test the next day, or out with friends.”

Why Does Sleep Matter?

Help Your Teens PexelSleepingTeen-300x200 Is My Teen Suffering with School Stress Sleep is crucial for teens, because the lack of it can lead to the following:

Trouble in school
Impaired memory
Lack of motivation
The inability to concentrate
Prone to accidents (i.e. car crashes)
Depression and or anxiety

With sleep, teens will be able to gain more energy for the next day, even when they’ve had a rough day at school the day before.

Tips For Teens To Sleep Well

So, now that you know how important it is for your teen(s) to get a good night’s sleep, here are some helpful tips on how you can ensure that they’re resting well. With these tips, you can help them prevent the stresses of school from eating away at them:

- Having a bedtime routine should consist of the following:
  - Having a consistent bedtime (say, 8:00 PM every night)
  - A light snack before bed
  - Keeping the room dark, cool, and quiet at night
  - Turning the lights on (or open the curtains) right after they get up in the morning
- The bed should be for sleeping only. That means teens should do their homework, be on mobile devices, etc. off and away from the bed.
- Limit your teen’s naps to 30 minutes or less.
- Make sure your teen is exercising every day.
- Limit your teen’s caffeine (i.e., coffee, soda, tea, energy drinks) intake.
- Don’t heavily rely on over-the-counter sleep aids to help your teen sleep.
- Don’t ever let your teen aid their sleep with drugs or alcohol.
- Limit your teen’s screen time before bedtime.
- Have your teen keep a sleep diary to keep track of:
  - What time(s) they’ve been going to bed
  - What’s causing them to have difficulty sleeping
  - Any upcoming tests and or events that they might be worrying about, etc.

What Teens Can Do If They Can’t Fall Asleep

“Sometimes, despite taking the necessary steps in getting ready for bed, teens may still find it hard to simply fall asleep,” says Jamie Sambell, a psychology blogger at Paper Fellows. “The best thing for them to do is to get up and distract themselves with reading or drawing until they get tired. This allows your body to prep for sleep naturally.”

When Teens Should See A Doctor

Seeing a doctor can be a last resort, if your teen(s) are still having trouble sleeping at night. You may want to take note of your teen’s sleep habits as you take them to the doctor.

With that said, contact your teen’s doctor, if they’re experiencing the following:

- Waking up during the night, and can’t go back to sleep
- Waking too early in the morning
- Lack of energy despite getting enough sleep
- Not doing homework
- Not attending school
- Having excessive feelings of sadness, depression, and or anxiety
- Lack of focus
- Other illnesses or ailments (i.e., loss of appetite, headaches, etc.)

Conclusion

As you can see, sleep is essential for teen(s). While school is extremely important, so is a good night’s sleep.

We hope that this guide was helpful in understanding why sleep is important to your teen(s), and how you can ensure that they’re sleeping well at night. With this guide in mind, you can help them prevent the stresses of school from eating away at them.

If you feel you have exhausted your local resources, please contact us for information on residential therapy options.

Contributor: Elizabeth Hines

Tags: Teen Help,Teen Stress

Does My Teen Smoking Pot Need Teen Help

Posted by Sue Scheff on September 03, 2021 / Posted in Mental Health, Teen Help

When Good Teens Decide Pot is “Good” for Them

Is your good teen now smoking pot?

Help Your Teens BigstockTeenDrugUse-300x199 Does My Teen Smoking Pot Need Teen Help We are regularly contacted by parents when they hit their wit’s end — not only because of behavioral issues of their teenager, but they find out they have been smoking pot (marijuana).

Whether it’s on a regular basis or for recreational purposes, the fact is, since marijuana has become legal in some states, many teens assume this means it’s a safe drug for them too.

Some parents are confused to how serious it can be. Not only for their health, but it’s having ramifications on their future too.

Is your teen being scouted for an athletic scholarship? Or are they considered for an academic one? Maybe applying for a job where drug testing is done.

Today the majority of colleges that are handing out scholarships are hiring third parties to monitor up to 4 years of social media background on their potential student. How will your teen stand-up to a Google rinse cycle?

Are there any images or content of them at parties with substances? Remember, it’s not only about your GPA or athletic ability anymore — it’s about your online reputation. It’s equal to your offline character.

If you find your teen is actively using marijuana, you have won half the battle because you know what’s going on. This is a great benefit as many parents are in the dark. But what are the next steps to immediately take?

The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids advises that the following actions can help:

Be clear that drug use will not be tolerated, and set the terms of any ramifications to follow, such as grounding or earlier curfew. It is critical to then implement any such repercussions, in order to underline the severity of the situation.
Provide opportunities to re-establish the bond of trust, such as supervising homework and chores but also recognizing a job well done.
Be responsive to the child’s efforts to correct the behavior, as a punishing attitude alone can jeopardize or damage the emotional bond between parent and child.
If a friend is involved, consider contacting the parents. First, it will send a message that drug use will not be tolerated. Second, it can help the other parents to take measures to prevent their children’s drug abuse. Third, it creates a dialogue around drug use between concerned parents.

The following are some ways parents can determine if their child is using marijuana:

Understand and watch out for the physical and psychological signs of marijuana use, which includes side effects of use, severe reactions/side effects of marijuana toxicity, and withdrawal symptoms.
Learn about the behavioral signs associated with substance abuse.
Consider searching for potential hiding places for marijuana and related paraphernalia.

The physical and psychological signs of marijuana use are the same as the side effects the user will experience. Most often, these effects are temporary and may only last up to a few hours. For this reason, parents may not have an opportunity to notice the physical side effects of marijuana use when children use marijuana away from home.

Some children may use marijuana at home or return home before the effects have fully worn away.

It is important to know the physical side effects, which range in severity, but can include:

Red eyes
Increased blood pressure
Forgetfulness
Dizziness and headaches
Laughter without a reason
Nausea or vomiting
Panic or anxiety
Hallucinations

We’re not condoning teen’s smoking pot, but we also recognize that sadly it’s becoming a new normal. Parents need to intervene before it escalates. This is not your generation’s marijuana.

If you’ve exhausted your local resources for help, such as therapy and other avenues, it may be time for residential therapy.

It’s important to find the right school or program for your teen. Not a program that populates an element of addicts or hard-core gang members. It’s likely your son or daughter is a good kid starting to make some bad choices — probably trying to fit in or struggling with other emotional issues that’s driving them to escape their feelings. It’s important to determine why.

Don’t get sucked into the programs that are punitive or primitive. We believe in finding the right fit for your individual needs. Building them up to make good choices.

Tags: Teen Drug Use,Teen Help

Anxiety Relief for Teens: Essential CBT Skills and Mindfulness Practices to Overcome Anxiety and Stress

Posted by Sue Scheff on September 02, 2021 / Posted in Featured Book, Mental Health, Parenting Books, Parenting Teens

Anxiety Relief for Teens: Essential CBT Skills and Mindfulness Practices to Overcome Anxiety and Stress

By Regine Galanti, PhD

Is anxiety disrupting your life? With proven CBT-based skills and mindfulness techniques, this book can be your guide out of the spiraling stress of anxiety and get you back on track to living a happy and healthy life.

Getting good grades, keeping up with social media, maintaining friendships… you have a lot on your plate and it’s more difficult when you add anxiety to the mix. You may even be avoiding situations, events, or people that could trigger your anxiety. So, how do you stop yourself from missing out on life?

With Anxiety Relief for Teens, Dr. Regine Galanti teaches you how CBT-based skills and mindfulness techniques can help you manage your anxiety and reverse negative patterns. Through simple and effective exercises that help you change your thoughts, behaviors, and physical reactions, this helpful guide gives you the tools you need to navigate all of life’s challenges.

Anxiety Relief for Teens features:

•  Quizzes and self-assessments to better understand your anxiety and emotions and discover their respective triggers.
•  30+ CBT-based tools to manage your anxiety along with practical strategies for dealing with challenging emotions such as anger and sadness.
•  30+ mindfulness practices to cope with your anxiety in the present moment through visualizations, breathing, meditation, and other exercises.

Take a peek inside the book:

About the author:

Regine Galanti, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of Long Island Behavioral Psychology in Long Island, New York, where she brings warmth, sensitivity, and a tailored problem-solving approach to her practice. She specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and has expertise in obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, parenting, and behavior problems.

She applies short-term, evidence-based strategies to help young people change their thoughts and behaviors. Specifically, she uses exposure and related behavioral therapy techniques to help those living with anxiety face their fears so they can live happier, healthier lives.

Order on Amazon today.

Tags: School Stress,Teen Anxiety,Teen Help,Teen Stress

Help Your Teen Beat School Stress: 8 Proven Strategies

Posted by Sue Scheff on September 01, 2021 / Posted in Featured Article, Mental Health, Parenting Teens, Teen Depression, Teen Help

School: New stressors

Our teens will experience stress many times in their lives. Short-term stressful situations are part of the normal course of life: they are natural and generally useful. But there is also stress that paralyzes the child, pressures him, and does not allow them to live and develop.

Excessive demands when the program does not correspond to the child’s abilities.

Stressful tactics of pedagogical influence. The too-fast pace of work, hurtful nicknames and mockery; reprimanding a child in front of the whole class can become a childhood trauma.

Inadequate pedagogical methods.

Problems with the organization of the learning process. If a child has to reread what they were taught in class, if they don’t understand how to do the homework – then the lessons at school are ineffective.

Conflicts. Unfortunately, some conflicts last not for a couple of days, but much longer. They become chronic and turn into the factors of toxic anxiety.

Lack of psychological support in school. Teachers and parents may lack sensitivity to notice that the child does not cope with stress. There always must be a school psychologist.

A few words about emotional abuse

It is a special stress factor that a child can face at home, at school, and even on the street. That is not only threats and insults, not only fear of punishment but everything that destroys the friendly environment around the child. That is adults’ shifted eyebrows or their tense silence.

The quiet threatening prophecy: “You’ll never be able to write the best essays”. The indifferent tone, the frightening facial expression: “I look at him, he immediately begins to obey, and he starts to be afraid of me”.

Emotional violence cannot strengthen the child or make him stronger. It deprives him or her of a feeling of safety and the possibility of making a mistake without serious consequences. More often than not, adults do hurt children emotionally because they are simply tired and on the verge of emotional burnout.

A teacher is a profession with a high risk of burnout, so parents should take a closer look at the teacher’s well-being if the child clearly “brings” traces of severe stress from school. Being in a stressful situation for most of the week poses a threat to the mental and physical health of the child.

If you notice that the teacher treats children aloof, indifferent, and cold – try not to stir up conflict, but protect the child. If it is not possible to establish contact with the teacher and soften the pressure, for the sake of the child it is better to change the school.

Develop the stress-resistance of the students:

It is worth remembering: the brain does best what it does most often. It is in our power to train a child’s brain for success, for an even alternation of tension and rest, a calm attitude toward difficulties and a keen search for solutions.

Here are tips from an adolescent psychologist

Maintain, support, cultivate a favourable, calm, friendly atmosphere in the family. In difficult situations there is no need to panic, you should remember that “it’s always darkest before the dawn.”

Try to communicate regularly, talk to the child about topics related to his or her experiences, feelings and emotions. Be sure to discuss the near and distant future. Try to build (but not impose) prospects together. Share your experiences, thoughts, suggest how to write a paper in an hour if needed. Sympathize, tell him that you understand how difficult it is for him now. Children who feel support and sincere sympathy from parents cope with stress more successfully.

Teach the child to express emotions in socially acceptable forms (aggression – through active sports, physical activity that can be done at home or outdoors; emotional distress – through a trusting conversation with relatives that brings relief). It is often difficult for a child (especially a teenager) to talk about experiences. Suggest that the child have a notebook. By putting their emotions on paper, they will feel relieved to be free of possible negative thoughts.

Encourage the child to be physically active. Stress is, first of all, a physical reaction of the body. Any activity which requires physical effort will help the child to struggle effectively with it. It can be house cleaning, physical exercises, singing, dancing etc. Try not to force the child to spend energy on something that is not interesting. Determine together what kind of active activity they would like to do while at home.

Support and encourage your child’s creative handiwork (drawing, weaving “braids”, working for cheap writing services, glueing models). Even if it seems to you that the teenager does nothing useful. All this is a kind of “discharge”. Through the work, the teenager gets distracted from negative experiences and everyday problems.

Encourage the child to take care of neighbours (elderly people, younger children, pets). Pleasant duties, feeling that someone depends on them is an additional resource for coping with possible stress.

Maintain family traditions and rituals. It is important that a good family tradition is interesting, useful and loved by all generations of the family. So that the youth enjoy participating in them and do not perceive them as an unavoidable, boring, useless pastime.

Try to support the child’s daily routine (sleep, eating habits). Give the child more often the opportunity to get joy, satisfaction from everyday pleasures (a tasty meal, taking a relaxing bath, talking to friends on the phone, etc.).

Tags: Teen Depression,Teen Help,Teen Stress

Mental Health and Teen Pregnancy

Posted by Sue Scheff on August 18, 2021 / Posted in Mental Health, Teen Depression, Teen Help

How Teen Pregnancy Can Affect Mental Health

Help Your Teens UnSplashTeenPreg-300x202 Mental Health and Teen Pregnancy Life as a teenager in modern America is, to put it mildly, a difficult endeavor. Not only do teens struggle with a torrent of hormones that are simultaneously changing them physically while changing the way they think about and view the world.

Most teens had a year of in-person schooling taken away from them due to the pandemic, meaning they missed out on important social interactions that previous generations benefitted from.

The situation alone is enough to affect a teen’s mental health; however, for teens who are pregnant, it is just that much harder as they have more on their plates than most will have in their lifetimes at such a young age.

How Pregnancy Can Affect Mental Health

Both boys and girls will experience serious physical changes to their bodies during puberty. While many young people are excited by the prospect of “growing up”, others may find it upsetting as they are dealing with a rush of hormones that they are not yet used to. Teens feel their emotions much more strongly than they did when they were younger, both those of elation and sadness.

As soon as a teen begins ovulating, their body is prepared to become pregnant whether that teen is emotionally prepared to make the life-changing decision or not. About 750,000 teenage girls become pregnant annually in the United States, many of whom are not ready to take on the emotional, physical, and financial responsibility that comes with motherhood at that age. For teenage girls, even the act of telling their parents that they are pregnant can be a serious stressor on their mental health.

While more research needs to be conducted, a correlation between teen girls who are diagnosed with mental illnesses like depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder and the increased likelihood that they will give birth versus their counterparts without diagnosed mental illnesses has been found. The stresses caused by pregnancy while a teen is still developing can compound mental health issues, increasing the likelihood that they will suffer from depression, anxiety, or increased intensity of a previously diagnosed mental illness.

Struggling Postpartum

The effects of teen pregnancy on mental health do not begin and end during the pregnancy itself. Teen mothers are much more prone to depression than older mothers and non-pregnant teens at a rate of 16-44%. There are a few different factors that play into this, from inadequate social support to poverty and lower education levels.

It doesn’t help their mental health that teen mothers should avoid taking antidepressants during their pregnancy as they can cause several birth defects like spina bifida, cleft lip, and heart defects. Even after pregnancy, teen mothers should take caution when looking into starting a prescription for antidepressants as there is a link between antidepressant use and an increase in suicidal ideology in teens.

Despite the risks, antidepressants can be an effective method to treat depression in teen mothers. Teen moms are a uniquely vulnerable population, and due to the social stigma of teen pregnancy, the conversation around their mental health isn’t as widespread as it ought to be. The best approach is a holistic one, combining the services provided by clinicians, schools, primary care providers, and obstetricians to develop an appropriate plan for each mother.

How to Get Help

If you have a child or loved one experiencing teen pregnancy or you are a pregnant teen, there are ways to help prevent the negative mental health effects that pregnancy can bring about for teens. First and foremost, find a qualified family nurse practitioner who you can trust to help you develop a plan of action in dealing with depression and other mental health issues. Having a skilled medical professional explain everything clearly can be enough to relieve a huge amount of stress and pressure.

Help Your Teens PexelSadTeen2-300x204 Mental Health and Teen Pregnancy Learn to recognize the symptoms of postpartum depression along with signs of depression during pregnancy. A sense of detachment and disconnection, unfounded feelings of guilt, loss of interest in hobbies once held dear, and extended periods of sadness can all be signs of depression or postpartum depression. In severe cases, postpartum depression can result in thoughts of self-harm or harming the infant, so it is important to be able to catch things before they become worse.

Finally, be open to having frank discussions regarding pregnancy. Asking questions never hurts, and the more that a teen knows about safe and healthy sex, the less likely it will be that any additional unexpected pregnancies occur. Additionally, when we shed the stigma of talking with teens about sex, it can help them to become more confident in themselves and more likely to reach out should they find themselves at odds with what they want to do and what they know that they should do.

Teens get pregnant. We are living in an era where we need to accept that fact and start to work collectively on making sure that teen mothers land on their feet, regardless of what decisions they make.

Guest contribution.

Tags: Teen Depression,Teen Help,Teen Pregnancy

Ways to Create a Healthy Interior Design for Your Teen

Posted by Sue Scheff on August 18, 2021 / Posted in Mental Health, Parenting Teens

Redecorating Bedroom For Teens: When Teens And Parents Disagree

You love neutrals. Your daughter loves color with a capital C. How can you find common ground when redecorating your teenager’s bedroom? Karen Rutman-Weiss, owner of Cleveland-based Karen Rutman-Weiss Interiors. offers some sound advice.

3 Tips for Redecorating a Teen’s Bedroom:

1. If it’s not permanent, let it go.

Help Your Teens UnSplashParentTeenPainting-300x211 Ways to Create a Healthy Interior Design for Your Teen “Remember, paint is just paint,” says Rutman-Weiss. “Compromise on the more permanent choices.” Like carpet. Look for a color that complements your teenager’s decorating scheme but also works with a toned-down palette for when she moves out.

Explaining your reasoning to your daughter and providing examples of some colors that might work for both you might help the conversation along. “For example, chocolate brown can look amazing with bright red or pinks, pale lavenders, greens, and blues,” she notes. “But it’s also lovely with sage, taupe and camel.”

2. Let your teenager pick her bedding and accessories.

Again, bedding and accessories (think pillows and throw rugs) don’t need to be a major expense. If your daughter’s leopard-spotted black and purple sheets are not your style, then send them off to college when she goes and replace them with more adult patterns after the big move.

3. Keep wall decor on the neater side.

“Consider poster frames, which look a bit more polished, or large bulletin boards covered in patterned fabric,” Rutman-Weiss recommends. “Wall decals are another inexpensive, nice-looking option for redecorating a bedroom.” All of these help minimize damage and contain what is being hung up, which will make things appear neater and more organized.

Most importantly, though, let the decorating process be a learning experience for your teen – one that encourages her to express her tastes and make lasting decisions. “Letting your teenager redecorate their bedroom and create the room of their dreams is a wonderful thing,” says Rutman-Weiss. If her tastes and yours totally diverge? Remember, you can always shut the door.

By Karen Rutman-Weiss, Your Teen for Parents

Tags: Interior Design,Mental Health,Parenting Teens,Teen Health

How Social Media Is Emotionally Impacting Your Teen

Posted by Sue Scheff on May 12, 2021 / Posted in Featured Article, Internet Addiction, Mental Health

The Effects of Social Media on Teens and How to Prevent Them

Help Your Teens PexelGirlOnlineCellPhone-195x300 How Social Media Is Emotionally Impacting Your Teen Social media was created to make people socialize virtually, and that has been possible to some extent. There are multiple other benefits of social media as well, but the question is do the pros outweigh the cons of social media.

If you aren’t wise enough, things can get worse while using social media platforms. Especially with teens, with a lot of free time and the lack of proper guidance, things can go south for them.

Impact of Social Media on Teens

Not Social

We all have heard of so-called “Social Media platforms,” but are they really social? Some people use social media purely for socializing, but not everyone has similar intentions. The internet is harsh, and people with bad intentions make social media not social at all. Social media doesn’t depict real human interaction and doesn’t help with the social skills of teens. People on the internet are narcissists and are there to promote themselves instead of caring about others.

Increased Teen Depression

Social Media has taken many teens with its toxicity. Different studies support the fact about social media causing depressive symptoms in teens or everyone in general. A study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania found out increased loneliness and depression with the high usage of social media. It’s hard to handle the negativity, racism, body-shaming, and harassment going online. Cyberbullying and fake expectations that are way difficult to meet also contribute to added depression or anxiety in teens.

Misinformation and Self-harm Content

Social Media being unregulated, carries tons of misinformation and harmful content. Although social media platforms have their guidelines and rules, people still find a way to spread harmful content. The misinformation has been on the internet for a long time, be it about fat loss, height gain, or even the COVID-19 vaccine. Teens are becoming vulnerable and trying to take their lives by getting addicted to the self-destructive content on the internet.

Avoiding adverse impacts of Social Media on Teens

Set Limit and Monitor the usage

Most of the social media problems are caused by the overuse and the addiction of the platforms. While spending more time on social media, we tend to forget the real world and get lost on the internet. A 2019 study suggests that people who spend more than three hours a day on social media might be more at risk of mental health problems. Now, most platforms also have a “your activity” feature where you can check the total time you’re spending there. It can help you keep track of your social media usage.

Encourage more face-to-face and live interactions

Like we said, social media isn’t social, so we encourage you to spend more time on live conversations. That way, you get to socialize and learn more from different people and perspectives. Having face-to-face interactions with people in real life helps you deal with loneliness and reduces the isolation factor from your life.

Follow people who inspire you more on Social Media

Now in the generation of the internet, everything is there at the tip of your finger. You could get the best out of social media by following influencers that inspire you. You can also use social media to learn, as ample pages share informative content that adds value to people’s lives.

The impacts of social media on teens can get horrific, but things can also get better if you get smart and monitor the usage. People have even lost lives due to social media, so be aware of its usage and negative impact.

Read about how removing your teens’ devices doesn’t always work.

Check out our parenting book – Raising Humans In A Digital World, helping you become a smarter digital parent.

Tags: Teen Help,Teen Internet Addiction,Teen Online Safety

RESET: Summer Digital Detox Program for Teens

Posted by Sue Scheff on December 28, 2020 / Posted in Digital Parenting, Featured Article, Mental Health, Summer Camps, Teen Help

RESET SUMMER CAMP

Serious Help for Technology Addiction

Help Your Teens BigStockTeensOnline-300x189 RESET: Summer Digital Detox Program for Teens Looking for a summer digital detox program that is both affordable and effective?

Welcome to Reset.

Digital Addiction

Today we are facing a time when teen depression is on the rise. Young people are struggling with anxiety, stress and overwhelmed by peer pressure. They are isolating themselves – completely immersed in their screens without considering their emotional or physical health.

Symptoms:

-An obsession with being online
-Frustration, anxiety, and irritability when not able to get online
-Abandoning friends or hobbies in order to stay digitally connected
-Continuing to spend time online even after negative repercussions (such as failing grades, deteriorating relationships, and even health issues)

Getting Help

Reset Summer Camp offers a fully immersive, clinical program hosted on a university campus, providing a fun-filled summer camp atmosphere. Participants are able to detox from their screen addiction and learn how to self-regulate, as they participate in individual and group therapy.

Life Skills

The Life Skills program cultivates responsibility and builds self-confidence, so campers will be prepared to handle their real-world obligations. Everything from healthy meal-prep and laundry skills to basic vehicle upkeep and a healthy sleep schedule.

Therapeutic Setting

Their staff includes experienced youth-development professionals, clinical interns, registered nurses, and private-practice mental health PhDs who work daily with those suffering from problematic use of technology, including gaming addiction and other unhealthy screen-time habits.

With 4-weeks of intensive therapeutic intervention, a full Family Workshop weekend and 12-weeks of individual follow-up with every camper, Reset Summer Camp stands alone as the leader in summer digital detox programs.

Aftercare

Reset Summer Camp isn’t done when your teen goes home. What sets them apart from others is their therapeutic after-care. Counselors will be available to help you, your teen and your family find a healthy relationship at home with technology.

Dates and rates

Click here.

RESET also offers kid sessions (8-12 year-old) at their Santa Barbara location for two weeks.

Contact RESET at 1-775-771-3171 to learn more or email at info@resetsummercamp.com and visit them on Facebook.

Apply now.

As featured on the Today Show:

P.U.R.E. is not compensated by RESET Summer Camp.

Tags: Digital Detox,Gaming addiction,Internet Addiction,Screen time addiction,Summer Camp,Teen Help

How Do I Recognize If My Teenager Is Using Drugs Or Alcohol?

Posted by Sue Scheff on May 24, 2020 / Posted in Featured Article, Mental Health, Parenting Teens, Teen Drug Use, Teen Help, Troubled Teens

How Do I Recognize If My Teenager Is Using Drugs Or Alcohol?

This is a difficult question that many parents have to face on a daily basis.

By Shawnda P. Burns, LMHC, CAP

Parents who spend a great deal of time with their teenagers are often tuned into what is normal behavior and what is not. However, even parents who are actively involved in the daily activities of their teenagers may overlook – or subconsciously deny – the earliest signs of a substance abuse problem.

Some of the clues that your teenager may exhibit when using drugs or alcohol are fairly subtle, but others are rather obvious:

*Many hours spent alone, especially in their room; persistent isolation from the rest of the family. This is particular suspicious in a youngster who had not been a loner until now.

*Resistance to taking with or confiding in parents, secretiveness, especially in a teenager who had previously been open. Be sure that your teenager is not being secretive because every time he tries to confide in you, you jump on him or break his confidence.

*There is marked change for the worse in performance and attendance at school and/or job or other responsibilities as well as in dress, hygiene, grooming, frequent memory lapses, lack of concentration, and unusual sleepiness.

*A change of friends; from acceptable to unacceptable.

*Pronounced mood swings with irritability, hostile outbursts, and rebelliousness. Your teenager may seem untrustworthy, insincere or even paranoid.

*Lying, usually in order to cover up drinking or drug using behavior as well as sources of money and possessions; stealing, shoplifting, or encounters with the police.

*Abandonment of wholesome activities such as sports, social service and other groups, religious services, teen programs, hobbies, and even involvement in family life.

*Unusual physical symptoms such as dilated or pinpoint pupils, bloodshot eyes, frequent nosebleeds, changes in appetite, digestive problems, excessive yawning, and the shakes.

These are just a few of the warning signs that can be recognized. Be careful not to jump to the conclusion that your teenager may be using when you see such behavior.

Evaluate the situation. Talk to your teenager. Try to spend time with her so that she feels that she can trust you. By creating a home that is nurturing, she will understand that despite of unhealthy choices that she will always get the love and moral support that she deserves.

Building a strong relationship with your teenager now will mean that in time of crises your love, support, wisdom, and experience won’t be shut out of your teenager’s decision making.

If you have a suspicion that your teenager is involved in the use of drugs or alcohol, don’t hesitate to bring the subject up. The sooner the problem is identified and treated, the better the chances that your teenager’s future will be safeguarded. Raising the subject will be easier if you already have good communication in the family.

Discuss the ways in which you can seek help together. An evaluation by a substance abuse professional may be the key to understanding what is really going on with your teenager.

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If you have exhausted your local resources, such as therapists, out-patient and possible short-term in-patient, and still find that your teenager is struggling with behavior issues, it might be time to consider residential therapy. Contact us for more information.

Tags: Teen Alcoholism,Teen Drinking,Teen Drug Use,Teen Help

Boys & Sex: Young Men on Hookups, Love, Porn, Consent, and Navigating the New Masculinity

Posted by Sue Scheff on January 12, 2020 / Posted in Featured Book, Mental Health, Parenting Teens

Young Men on Hookups, Love, Porn, Consent, and Navigating the New Masculinity

Author Peggy Orenstein’s new book, Boys & Sex, is based on extensive interviews with more than 100 college and college-bound boys and young men across the U.S. between the ages of 16 and 22 on intimacy, consent and navigating masculinity. They spanned a broad range of races, religions, classes and sexual orientations.

In Boys & Sex, Peggy Orenstein dives back into the lives of young people to once again give voice to the unspoken, revealing how young men understand and negotiate the new rules of physical and emotional intimacy.

Drawing on comprehensive interviews with young men, psychologists, academics, and experts in the field, Boys & Sex dissects so-called locker room talk; how the word “hilarious” robs boys of empathy; pornography as the new sex education; boys’ understanding of hookup culture and consent; and their experience as both victims and perpetrators of sexual violence.

By surfacing young men’s experience in all its complexity, Orenstein is able to unravel the hidden truths, hard lessons, and important realities of young male sexuality in today’s world. The result is a provocative and paradigm-shifting work that offers a much-needed vision of how boys can truly move forward as better men.

Listen to Peggy Orensten on NPR talk about her recent book, Boys & Sex.