A sense of dread before speaking in front of a crowd. A feeling of fear before going on a job interview. Unrelenting worry that something bad will happen ahead of an important event. This is anticipatory anxiety — a feeling of fear, worry, or unease in the days, weeks, and hours leading up to a…
Does your teen often ask the same questions over and over, especially about topics like their health and safety or the well-being of loved ones? If so, they may be engaging in compulsive reassurance-seeking behavior. This type of behavior is a pattern where an individual looks for constant and repetitive validation of their anxieties, beliefs,…
Mental Health Resources for Teens For teens, opening up about or even just identifying what they’re feeling can be challenging. So many changes are happening in their bodies and minds, and they’re still figuring out who they are and what they believe in. However, one way to advance the conversation about youth mental health is…
Anxiety is one of society’s most commonly reported mental health issues, with one in five people reporting that they experience chronic anxiety disorders. Anxiety is a unique condition because it’s not caused by one set factor. Rather, anxiety is caused by a combination of physical and mental responses. What most people don’t realize is that…
If you’re a teen struggling with your mental health, there are many ways to find help. Therapy and medication are incredibly useful and effective tools, but they’re not the only ways to improve mental health. At Ascend, we believe that experiential therapy and passion projects can help you process difficult feelings outside of the constraints…
Teen years can be challenging for both adolescents and their parents. Hormones are raging, emotions are running high, and everyone involved seems at a loss for what to do. A teen’s poor attitude may prompt parents to inflict punishments for misbehavior when it’s actually mental illness that’s the root of the problem. Learning how to…
You’ve probably already heard about therapy. But not all therapy is the same. There’s talk therapy, family therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and so much more – each with its own focus and benefits. When it comes to how we help your teens, one of the most effective types of therapy we use is called CBT. CBT,…
Negative self-talk is a stressful and often involuntary form of self-criticism. These are thoughts that can be self-deprecating and may even contribute to or stem from mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. If your teen often expresses negative thoughts about themselves, their inner monologue is likely destructive. In this post, we’ll discuss…
Whether you’re a teen or an adult, if you’re struggling with your mental health, having support is crucial. However, getting started can be challenging if you haven’t talked about mental health issues with your friends before. If you want to talk about mental health concerns in a positive, supportive way, explore these tips to help…
Several anxiety symptoms are common enough that even those who don’t struggle with anxiety can recognize them. Panic attacks, excessive worry, and an inability to sit still can all be signs of an anxiety disorder. However, many uncommon anxiety symptoms exist, and you might not realize that these seemingly unrelated issues could be indications of…