NicoleC

What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder? Oppositional defiant disorder, or ODD, is a mental health condition that affects many teenagers in the United States. In fact, the Cleveland Clinic reports that as many as 16% of teens meet the diagnostic criteria for this mental health condition. It often begins as early as age 8, and it can progress into adulthood, in many cases. Parents are often unaware that their child has ODD. Instead, they may assume that they are just being difficult or rebellious. They may exhibit behaviors that seem odd or uncharacteristic of them, and

March is Self-Injury Awareness Month, and teen self-harm has never been as big a problem as it is today. So many teenagers struggle with the compulsion to hurt themselves in some way, and sadly, many parents are completely unaware of it. The latest statistics tell us that: 1 in 7 males and 1 in 5 females self-harm every year. 90% of people who self-harm start when they are teenagers or pre-teens. Close to 50% of people who self-harm have endured some type of sexual abuse. 60% of those who engage in this behavior are females.

Teen trauma and PTSD are just two of the mental health issues that young people often face. Traumatic events are typically associated with soldiers in active combat, or veterans who have witnessed unspeakable horrors on the battlefield. But it is time for us to recognize that this problem reaches much farther. So many teenagers are victims of trauma too, and they need help. Parents also need guidance so that they can learn the best ways to help their children. For many parents, this is unchartered territory. PTSD and trauma can be life-altering, and they can