Articles containing: teens

What If My Child Has A Drinking Problem?

By far, the most commonly misused drug among teens is alcohol.  This makes sense, as alcohol is legally available throughout the United States, it’s heavily advertised and glorified in the media, and frequently used in celebratory activities.  The effects of alcohol in terms of reducing inhibition are quite real.

Advice for Parents on Talking About Tattoos

When it comes to tattoos, it’s always fun, if possible, to inquire.

Last week I saw a snarling demon with drooling teeth moving around on a teenager’s arm. The teenager wasn’t my patient, so rest assured that I am not writing about someone under my care.

What If My Child Has Depression?

“Depression” is a funny term.  Like lots of diagnoses in psychiatry, the word “depression” has both common and specific uses.  Kids might complain of “feeling depressed” after a break-up, or not making the school team, but they tend to snap out of whatever funk they’re in relatively quickly.

Reality TV: What’s Really Real?

In 2014, Dr. Holly Peek published an article on the MGH Clay Center Website discussing the strange world of reality TV. She began with a description of Kim Kardashian’s preparations for the birth of her first child.

Why Activism Is Good For Teens — And The Country

When I was a ninth grader in 1964, I was suspended from school for selling peace buttons for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

I was a tad anxious about how my mom would react, but when I came home that morning, she was beaming.

Shrinking It Down: Political Angst in America? (Season 1, Episode 6)

You can also listen to this podcast on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and iTunes. 

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According to a 2017 report by the American Psychological Association, 2/3 of Americans feel stressed about the future of our nation, including a majority of each Democrats and Republicans.

Shrinking It Down: The Importance of Pets (Season 1, Episode 4)

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, SoundCloud, and most podcast apps – just search for “Shrinking It Down.”

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Whether they have fur, scales, tail or no tail, pets can improve the mental and emotional health of children and teens.

“You would do it if you loved me.” Teens, Coercive Relationships, and Digital Media

You would have to be completely unplugged to have missed the heightened reports of sexually coercive behavior among celebrities, prominent media figures, and politicians. Indeed, the seemingly sudden explosion of public knowledge of these deplorable actions might lead you to believe that we are encountering a new phenomenon.

Shrinking It Down: Our 1st Episode! (Season 1, Episode 1)

You can also listen to this podcast on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and iTunes. 

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Mental health made simple? Phpht. Who are we kidding? It can be really complicated. Which is why we’re psyched to launch Season 1 of our new video podcast Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple, to begin to wrapping our brains around it all.

How to Be “Smart” in the Time of Smartphones

If you were born more than a couple of decades ago, the chances are pretty good that you’ll remember the family dinner where there were five conversations at once.

“I got a lousy grade in math today,” you might have said.