Have you ever felt like you cannot concentrate no matter how hard you try? It seems like life is passing you by, but all you can think of is your worry. Let me be the first to tell you that I have been there. There have been several things on my to-do list as well…
Ever feel like Garfield the Cat and dread the ever dreadful day of the week, better known as Mondays? I’ve been there, and even experienced the feelings of dread today. It starts with my thought process of what do I have that needs to get done this week, and where do I start? It can…
Valentine’s Day is a holiday that is set up for couples to show their love to one another. At least, that’s the message that teens are given. When you are in elementary school Valentine’s Day you were expected to give everyone a card and bring some type of snack or gift for the class. Yet,…
Change can be difficult for many individuals due to the uncertainty about the future. To change often means that the things one was once used to are going to be different. This can push people out of their comfort zones. The thing with change is that it cannot be avoided no matter how much someone…
Let’s face it, there are always new styles, “In” ideas for fashion, makeup, and societal expectations. What if I told you that in a world that tells people how to dress, how to talk, and how to express yourself on social media that it is ok to be different? You may have been feeling like…
We live in a world of social media and stardom. It’s constantly flooding our televisions, phones, magazines, and computers. It is hard to go anywhere and not hear about celebrity deaths, overdoses, breakups, and drug use. Did you know that reading about these celebrity headlines could be affecting your mental health? Don’t get me wrong,…
Struggling to feel happy? Feeling blah, or downright negative lately? Finding it hard to see any positive things about your day? You might be having a depressed mood. Life can be difficult at times. It can cause us to become an Eeyore with the raincloud constantly hanging overhead. You can Find the Positives What if…
“I have time, college is still a few years away, or even a few months away.” You may feel you have your ducks in a row and know everything you have to do to prepare. Yet where do you start? It is possible you feel you don’t know where to start your college search or…
Holidays can be a fun time of celebrations, family, friends, and cheer for many! Yet for others, the holidays can bring sadness, a depressed mood, fear, guilt, stress, and even anxiety. Holidays can be difficult for a number of reasons. Maybe you have to deal with difficult family members. Maybe your mom or dad get…
It is that time of year again, getting ready for the holidays, getting excited about all the celebrations. Yet there are those ever-daunting finals in the way of all the excitement. Are you starting to feel worried, calculating all your points in class, or worrying you may not get the GPA you want? I urge…
Have you ever been in an argument with a friend or other peers, and not known how to handle it? Many fear conflict and avoid it at all costs. Many times people don’t know what to say or do if they disagree. The opposite can also happen where things are said that are hurtful, and…
Many of us have had times where it was our worst-nightmare, excuse the pun, to fall asleep at night. We would sit and count the hours we had left until we needed to wake up, or worse get up to work or go to school on little sleep. The worried thoughts circle through our heads, …
Have you ever felt like you can never disconnect from technology? It could be work, school, your teen calling/texting you, or demands from other family members. Teens are particularly attached to their phones. Sometimes phones are an outlet for friendships, social media, and games. The Disadvantages of Technology for Teens The problem with technology is…
Teens are the ever-growing population that many parents and teachers struggle with knowing how to help. Teens are suffering more and more from anxiety and depressive disorders than ever before. Teens frequently are uncertain how to manage and experience emotions, and deal with everyday life stressors. Resiliency is a must, and there are steps than…
Many times life can get busy, out of hand, and overwhelming… or so our minds tell us. Many struggle with facing recurrent thoughts of worry and stress that can get in the way. For others, it is extreme fear, panic, and even anxiety attacks. Many feel that they cannot get away from the thoughts and…
The Body – Mind Connection What if I told you that there might be a connection between your anxiety and your body? Sometimes anxiety can manifest in the body as physical aches and pains. It also can show up as stiff muscles, tension headaches, and exhaustion. The good news is there is a way you…
Do you find yourself frequently saying “Yes” when others ask for something (time, favors, money, etc.) from you? Do you find it hard to say no? Do you feel guilty if you do? You’re probably having trouble with people pleasing.What does it mean to be a people pleaser? According to an article written by Amy…
The pressure to bring home good grades can lead to constant tension and frustration in the home for both the parent & the teen. We know that poor grades can lead to low self-esteem in students, and, as a parent, it’s easy to get caught up worrying about your teen’s future when they aren’t performing…
Life is this incredible, beautiful journey of trying to find out who we are, what we want, and the people we want in our lives. We may search our entire life to find out who we are and still never recognize our strengths. In counseling, I focus on building and uplifting teens to know…
We all have those friends that seem to always be in relationships. When you’re the only single friend, it can be difficult to be around friends who seem so blissfully happy in their relationships. If you’re constantly surrounded by couples, it’s easy to slip into the “What’s wrong with me?” line of thinking. Even if…
