Photo of various vaping products.

Teen Vaping: What Parents Need to Know About the Health Risks

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Thanks to aggressive anti-smoking public health campaigns, the number of teens who smoke regular cigarettes has fallen to less than 1% over the past 20 years. While this is great news, it doesn’t account for the fact that nicotine use in teens is on the rise again, they simply use it in a different form.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.gov) reports that the most popular form of tobacco use among today’s youth are electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vapes.

As of 2019, nearly 1 in 3 high school students use vapes, prompting the surgeon general to declare youth vaping an epidemic. Read more

Teen sitting on a couch scrolling on a smartphone.

How Social Media Affects Teens: Understanding Its Impact on Mental Health and Well-Being

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Social media is woven into the fabric of modern life, especially for teenagers and young adults. Social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube allow teens to connect with friends, share ideas, explore trends, and shape their identities. But as parents and guardians know, these digital spaces can be a double-edged sword.

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High school student getting frustrated while trying to do homework.

8 Mental Health Tips for Students: A Guide for Teens & Their Parents

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Maintaining strong mental health is just as important as staying physically healthy, especially for students facing academic pressures, social challenges, and personal growth all at once. Whether you’re a teen navigating high school or a parent trying to support your child, understanding how to prioritize mental well-being can make a lasting difference. Read more

Patient and physician during an annual physical exam.

Your Annual Physical Exam Checklist: What to Expect at Every Age

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Routine physical exams with your primary care provider are essential for detecting health issues early, managing chronic conditions, and ensuring overall well-being. Regular checkups help establish a baseline for your health, making it easier to identify changes over time. By staying proactive, you can address potential risk factors before they become more serious and receive tailored advice based on your age, lifestyle, and medical history. Read more

A trauma-informed therapist helping a mother and daughter work through family trauma.

Understanding How Family Trauma Affects Children

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Family trauma refers to deeply distressing or disturbing experiences that disrupt the stability, well-being, and relationships within a family unit. This type of trauma can stem from a single traumatic event or a series of traumatic experiences, significantly impacting family members.

Children and teens are especially vulnerable, as family trauma often affects their emotional, mental, and physical health during critical developmental stages. A trauma-informed approach is essential to supporting families in navigating the impact of trauma and rebuilding healthier family dynamics. Read more

A mental health professional helping a teenager work through their mood swings.

When Should You Be Worried About Teenage Mood Swings?

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Watching your child change over time can be challenging. One moment, they’re open, full of life and laughter, and suddenly, almost overnight, everything feels different. Before you know it, they seem distant, overwhelmed, and hard to reach. They’re more withdrawn, prone to tears, and shout unexpectedly, making every conversation feel like walking through a minefield.

The teenage years are a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving you wondering what’s normal and when to worry. Teenage mood swings are a natural part of child development, but for some teens, these emotional fluctuations may indicate more significant mental health issues.

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A mother talking with a doctor about her child’s pediatric bipolar symptoms.

Spotting Pediatric Bipolar Symptoms in Your Child

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Your child’s mood can be unpredictable. Sometimes, they’re full of energy and giddy to the point of being reckless — then suddenly, they’re sad and withdrawn. It’s only natural for these mood swings to cause you to worry.

While those changes can be completely normal, they can also represent several mental health conditions including pediatric bipolar symptoms. If you’re a parent or caregiver concerned about your child’s symptoms, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the different ways mental health disorders present themselves.

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A woman who suffered relationship trauma forming new relationships in a support group.

How Relationship Trauma Affects Your Mental Health

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Relationship trauma, especially in your youth, can severely disrupt your well-being and ability to form new relationships. Through adulthood, it can affect your emotional responses and potentially lead to trust issues, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or mental health conditions.

When a child or adolescent goes through toxic relationships during their formative years, it can affect them throughout their entire life if not addressed.

With the right coping strategies and professional help, it is possible to overcome the traumatic experiences caused by toxic relationships.

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A chiropractor administering an adjustment, one of many holistic healthcare approaches.

Explaining Holistic Healthcare: What Does It Really Mean?

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Holistic healthcare has become synonymous with alternative medicine or non-conventional medicine – but is that actually what it means? There are a lot of misconceptions about the term “holistic,” and, as a result, people may avoid certain practices labeled “holistic therapies.”

However, many of these practices are widely accepted as an effective way to treat underlying causes of disease and manage chronic pain. Let’s explore what holism actually means when it comes to the medical system and your well-being.

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An adolescent girl looking at her phone next to the words “How Does Social Media Impact Mental Health?”

Let’s Talk about the Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health

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Online socialization is part of everyday life. Thanks to smartphones, the internet is always just a tap or two away, leading to a drastic increase in the amount of time adolescents and young adults spend online. According to the Pew Research Center, nine in ten U.S. teens use social, with close to half admitting to high levels of screen time.

There’s no two ways about it – social networks impact the mental health of teens and young adults who are constantly online. It’s now a regular part of young people’s lives, so it’s important to understand the real-life consequences when it comes to excessive use of social media (and how to support those who are feeling the effects).

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