As family therapists, we are seeing more and more young people who are suffering from various degrees of teenage depression, childhood anxiety, addictions and social isolation as they try to mask all of the emotions and negative consequences associated with these self-defeating behaviors. We also see many concerned and baffled parents who struggle with trying to find ways to help their wounded and isolated kids.

It’s true that hormones, like estrogen and progesterone, can and do wreak havoc on women’s mental health. Unfortunately, most of us were never taught the facts of how hormones affect our moods and emotions, facts that can help us take charge of our own mental and emotional health.

There is a scene in No Country for Old Men in which an old man, a wizened retired law man, is reflecting on the troubles facing the world in which he lives. Lamenting these intractable and persistent problems, he says “This country is hard on people.” A more concise and prescient epidemiological statement could scarcely be made.

I developed school refusal in eighth grade. It wasn’t sudden. Over several months, I went from a straight A student who was reluctant to miss school even when sick, to a near dropout. First, my schoolwork suffered. I hid the cause of my academic decline behind rebellion and dyed black hair, so my school blamed hormones and started handing out detentions.

Alcoholism relapse prevention is an important part of recovering from active using whether it is alcoholism or another type of addiction. Any person who has entered any type of drug or alcohol treatment center or twelve-step program will have at least a general idea of what this alcohol relapse prevention program looks like for them. This plan might include the activity of doing a daily inventory to keep an eye out for increased irritability or other red flags that will help them know they are at a high risk of using again. This way they can reach out for help or increase their recovery efforts before it’s too late. Family of Alcoholic Needs Relapse Prevention Program Too Families and loved ones of an alcoholic or addict also need a relapse prevention plan and this is one key element that is missing in many recovery programs.

A noticeable absence in the mental health community's mentioning of the debilitating condition is agoraphobia. This same pattern has been found in so many other areas: in books, in therapy, and in cultural society. Like many mental illnesses, agoraphobia can be a very lonely, misunderstood, and hushed condition. Not only offline, but online as well.

Welcome to the "Your Mental Health" blog. I’m Natasha Tracy, Blog Manager at HealthyPlace. The "Your Mental Health" blog addresses concerns that are important to those dealing with mental health disorders. Our writers will be covering topics ranging from diagnosis and treatment issues to how to deal with mental health stigma and maintaining balance in your life. Whether you are living with a mental health condition or you are a spouse, parent, or loved one of someone who does, we’ll have mental health information that will be of interest to you.