Our teens and young adults are living in incredibly complex and confusing times. They are saturated by an often hostile media (including social media) and inundated by contradictory messages on every side. No wonder our young people are in the midst of a mental health crisis, struggling with anxiety, depression, and questions about personal identity and belonging as never before. Mental illness is off the charts, substance use and abuse has skyrocketed, and the mental and physical health of our youth has plummeted. If you are looking for a mental health therapist for teens and young adults, Lifepaths Counseling is here to help. We offer both in-person or remote therapy sessions. Contact us today to find out how we can help.

The research clearly shows that some of the most common emotional challenges those in or entering into young adulthood are struggling with are:

• Depression—Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, and/or emptiness
• Generalized anxiety—Excessive worry about everyday matters
• Social phobias—Severe feelings of self-consciousness, fear of shame/embarrassment, and insecurity in social settings

Understanding the specific needs of your child and getting the help and support they need is essential, whatever the age.

Below are some of the danger signs to look for and some resources that you or your child may find helpful.

Depression in Teens and Young Adults

Prolonged stress can lead to feeling mentally and physically overwhelmed for anyone; adolescence and young adulthood can be especially difficult.

Sometimes, though, chronic feelings of low energy and depressed mood may be signs of clinical depression, a serious mental health condition. These signs include:

• Feeling persistently sad, anxious, or empty
• Experiencing hopelessness or chronic pessimism
• Persistent or more than usual irritability
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Losing interest in hobbies or activities that used to be enjoyable
• Struggling with persistent fatigue or lack of energy
• Moving and/or talking more slowly than usual
• Feelings of restlessness
• Having difficulty with concentration, memory, and/or decision-making
• Experiencing unexplained changes in appetite or weight
• Unexplained aches or pains that don’t go away even when treated
• Thoughts about death or suicide

While at least some of these symptoms generally have to be present for weeks or months before a diagnosis of major depressive disorder can be made, even just 2 weeks’ worth of symptoms is enough to consider a diagnosis and means you should talk to someone sooner than later.

For a person to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD), doctors generally look for depressed mood or a lack of interest in hobbies or other activities as described above, but in teens, these signs might show up as changes in grades, a disinterest in friends, or out-of-character listlessness or irritability. We also look for five out of following seven symptoms for diagnosis:

• Changes in sleep
• New onset of feelings of guilt
• Changes in energy level
• Changes in concentration or task completion
• Changes in appetite
• Changes in motivation
• Thoughts of suicide

If a person has experienced five of those symptoms nearly every day for at least two weeks, he or she might be diagnosed with major depressive disorder and needs to be assessed right away. Unfortunately, obtaining mental health services seems unobtainable for too many. Psychiatrists and many therapists seldom see people in face to face appointments and mental health care is no longer readily available as counseling offices are often overwhelmed with calls for help. Remember, too, that depression in teens displays itself differently than it does in adults.

The lesson: If your teen has occasional episodes of anger or stays out late sometimes, it’s probably not a reason to be worried. On the other hand, if those feelings persist and there are other unusual symptoms, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.

Some ways you can help relieve your depression:

• Exercise is the natural way to raise your serotonin levels and improve your mood. If depression is severe, however, medication may be needed until it improves.
• Getting enough rest and eating a balanced and healthy diet is also essential in relieving depression. For most people, overeating and loading up on carbs is what happens, but for others, appetite loss is the problem. Either way, starving the brain of the vital nutrients it needs will only worsen the problem.
• A healthy amount of sleep really matters here. Depression definitely interrupts the sleep cycle, however.  People commonly describe wide disruptions in their sleep patterns as a result of anxiety and/or depression.  Lack of sleep (or even too much of it) will only worsen the problem. This is another reason depression absolutely must be treated. If necessary, please seek medical advice from you primary care physician or family doctor for help if you are struggling with long-term insomnia.
• A therapist can help you with the flood of negative thoughts that is common in depression. Left unchecked, these can overwhelm and lead to other mental health problems and illnesses.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is defined as “excessive, intense and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations.” Anxiety is a normal reaction, usually brought on by stressful situations, to many life events. When anxiety becomes more frequent and unrelenting, however, it can result in the kind of anxiety that harms your child’s overall mental health and absolutely should not be ignored. While not all anxiety qualifies as an actual disorder, it may help to understand the different type of anxiety disorders that do exist. Either way, ongoing, persistent anxiety should be treated.

Anxiety can become so disabling that it takes on a life of its own, resulting in a variety of mental and physical health issues.

Symptoms of Anxiety in Teens

Anxiety disorders in teens can be difficult to identify in young people, especially since there are already so many changes that teens and young adults are navigating at this time in their lives. Anxiety becomes a disorder when it begins to cause other problems and is disabling. Symptoms may include:

• Avoiding extracurricular activities
• Avoiding social interactions
• Changes in eating habits
• Changes in weight, both loss and gain
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty falling asleep
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Eating disorders
• Elevated heart rate
• Fatigue
• Feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork
• Missing school assignments
• Poor self-esteem
• Quitting extra-curricular activities
• Restlessness and trouble sleeping
• Self-isolating from friends
• Shaking and cold sweats
• Spending increased time alone
• Unexplained emotional outbursts
• Unexplained phobias, such as agoraphobia

While many of these symptoms certainly can be dismissed as normal teen behavior, anxiety disorders can lead to poor mental health to such a degree that it will have a profound and negative effect on a person’s academic life, family life, friend relationships, as well as on their daily level of functioning.

Treating Anxiety in Teens and Young Adults

Anxiety should always be treated, an left alone it only increases the risk in adulthood for depression and other mental illness. It also has been shown to correlate with a two-fold increased risk for substance use and suicide. Therefore, it is important to seek treatment for anxiety as soon as possible.

Untreated anxiety disorders can result in the following:

• A myriad of ill health and destructive psychiatric behaviors
• A significant decline in social activities
• Considering suicide as a way to escape the constant anxiety of daily life
• Low academic performance
• Substance use disorders or substance abuse as a means to self-medication
• Trouble sleeping
• Chronic fatigue
• Poor concentration

The good news is that anxious feelings are highly treatable. Good mental health is possible when teen mental health is taken seriously.

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for anxiety, therapy can certainly help as a way of learning healthy coping for the stresses and strains of life. Checking in with your primary care physician is also a good first step to rule out any other potential physical health issues that may be contributing to your child’s emotional health concerns.

If you suspect someone you love is coping with ongoing anxiety, here are some things you can do now to help:

1. Avoid long lectures and questions. Show you are actively listening to their answers.
2. Discuss a flexible schedule for your teen to follow and plan ahead. Avoid surprises.
3. Let them know they are in a safe place and talk in-person, not via text or email.
4. Praise often and choose specific things that make you proud of him or her.
5. Recognize that overcoming anxiety is a process, and it will take time. Praise strengths and avoid high expectations for a teen struggling with anxiety, especially if the teen struggles with panic attacks.
6. Seek the help of a mental health professional. An outsider’s perspective and someone unrelated to the teen may be able to help in ways someone inside the family cannot.
7. Talk with your teen about anxiety. Let your loved one know it’s a common condition, and you want to help

A therapist who understands anxiety can help you combat it. Some of the things you will learn in counseling might be:

• Cognitive-Behavior therapy
• Learning about the triggers to your anxiety and how to manage them
• Specific breathing techniques to keep your physiology in check
• Practicing a healthier lifestyle to help you reach your goals
• Eating well-balanced meals
• Getting on a regular sleep schedule
• Establishing a daily exercise routine
• Finding ways to get plugged in and keep your thoughts in check

Social Anxiety

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) affects one out of every three adolescents between 13 and 18 years old. In fact, it is the most common anxiety disorder type and the third most common mental health disorder in America.  SAD, also known as Social Phobia, is a persistent fear of social interactions and/or situations. While everyone experiences some anxiety in new social situations, individuals with this disorder feel overwhelming fear of embarrassment, are highly self-consciousness, feel terrible distress in social situations, and fear judgement in day-to-day social interactions. This fear prevents them from having normal relationships and interactions and can also negatively affect normal daily activities. Those who suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder often experience such intense worry about upcoming social situations that they feel distress about them days or even weeks in advance and so will avoid them altogether.

A multitude of mental health problems can stem from this type of anxiety and it becomes quite disabling when left untreated.

Social anxiety disorder symptoms include:

• Feeling very anxious at the thought of being around others, and struggling to talk to other people
• Experiencing extreme self-consciousness and fear of humiliation, embarrassment, rejection, or offending people
• Worrying about being judged
• Feeling anxious days or even weeks ahead of a social event
• Avoiding places where other people will be
• Struggling to make and keep friends
• Blushing, sweating, or trembling around others
• Experiencing nausea around other people

Social anxiety disorder, if left untreated, can result in isolation that leads to depression or other serious mental health concerns, lost relationships, and increased social withdrawal.

Like other anxiety disorders, those struggling with social anxiety may realize and acknowledge that their anxiety is often unreasonable but still find themselves held captive by the fear of potential social humiliation or embarrassment. Physical symptoms such as nausea, trembling, and sweating are common.

Anyone suffering from such crippling anxiety needs and deserves proper care and help from a health care professional who can assist in alleviating social anxiety symptoms.

Thankfully, there are a range of treatment options, including:

• Identifying stressors, such as not getting enough sleep, skipping meals, or generally lacking a healthy day-to-day routine—and remedying them
• Counseling, which is often paired with medications when needed
• Learning with the help of therapist who understands anxiety disorders stress-reduction skills
• Getting enough physical exercise and staying active
• Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet
• Keeping a regular, healthy sleep schedule
• Avoiding alcohol and too much caffeine or energy drinks
• Participating in positive social interactions with friends you enjoy and with whom you feel comfortable

Areas Served: In-Person and Remote

For in person sessions, we serve all of the Inland Empire, including Yucaipa, Redlands, Riverside and San Bernardino. However, we can provide remote sessions via Zoom anywhere in the world.