With the high stress, high demand world we live in, the experience of burnout is not limited to adults. When you combine the demands of academics, extracurricular activities, social pressures, both on and offline, you have a recipe for complete and total burnout. As a licensed therapist who specializes in working with teens, I see this every day in my practice. The intensity and disconnection of the pandemic has made teens even more vulnerable to the effects of stress. In this blog, I’ll explore how teens experience burnout, its causes, signs, and how the effects of the pandemic continue to reverberate, increasing chances of mental health challenges. 

If you feel like your teen might be experiencing anxiety, depression, or some other mental health issue, you’ve probably considered seeking a teen therapist. You might feel your teen would benefit from therapy but you worry they’d be resistant to the idea. Many teens may not talk with their parents about what they’re feeling but with some encouragement and support, they’re often relieved to have a space to talk. Here are some tips on how to approach your teen about starting therapy.

When it comes to anxiety and parenthood, our culture communicates to all of us that we’re expected to handle things alone. The message is if something doesn’t come to you naturally, you are the problem and not the lack of supports or the problematic systems around you. This message is especially loud when it comes to parenting. We were not meant to raise children in isolation. But our culture of disconnection often leads parents to feeling isolated and alone. So these are the messages that I hope all mothers and parents will take in when it comes to raising children and experiencing anxiety.

You may have heard you need to “feel your feelings” in order to overcome anxiety or depression or to process trauma. But what if your feelings feel too overwhelming? For many people the idea of feeling their emotions is terrifying. Perhaps you’re flooded with too many emotions at once and the sensations become too much to manage. If you’re feeling this way, it makes sense that you’d want to avoid tuning in to your body and emotions. It is your body’s way of protecting you.

So how do we get into this state? How do we get ourselves to a point where we feel just enough, but not too much. If you find yourself either too overwhelmed or feeling numb and disconnected, here are some tips to help you find more balance and connect with your emotions more clearly.

For many people, anxiety is most intense first thing in the morning. You may find yourself waking with symptoms of anxiety as soon as you wake up, even before your feet hit the floor. If you find yourself feeling the most anxious in the morning hours, here are some strategies to find relief.