• Residential Treatment Program for Teens 12-18

Depression

social media addiction
  • Clinically Reviewed by Rod Russell MS, SUDC and Blake Taylor MCoun, CMHC
  • No Comments

Screen Addiction in Teen Girls: When It Signals a Deeper Issue
Screen Addiction in Teen Girls: When It Signals a Deeper Issue 2560 1707 Clinically Reviewed by Rod Russell MS, SUDC and Blake Taylor MCoun, CMHC
Clinically Reviewed by Rod Russell & Blake Taylor

What Is Screen Addiction in Teens?

Screen addiction or tech addiction in teens is a pattern of compulsive digital use that a teen struggles to control, even when it causes problems in daily life.

It may involve social media, gaming, short-form videos, messaging, streaming, online shopping, pornography, or constant phone checking. It isn’t concerning that a teen enjoys technology, but it becomes a concern when teens keep returning to screens even when it affects sleep, school, relationships, mood, safety, or family trust.

Researchers and clinicians describe this using terms like problematic screen use, addictive screen use, tech addiction, or digital addiction. No matter the term, these share a similar pattern: loss of control, emotional distress when unable to use, and continued use despite consequences.

We think it’s important to note that “screen addiction” is not an official DSM-5 diagnosis. The DSM-5 includes Internet Gaming Disorder in Section III as a condition for further study, while gambling disorder is the only behavioral addiction currently recognized as a diagnosable DSM-5 disorder. Still, many clinicians use a behavioral-addiction or process-addiction framework when screen use becomes compulsive, hard to stop, and harmful to daily life. 

In this article, “screen addiction” is used in that practical, parent-friendly sense. It describes a concerning pattern, not a formal diagnosis.

Screen Addiction in Teen Girls: When It Signals a Deeper Issue


Your daughter says she is “just checking one thing,” but an hour later, she is still scrolling. She promises she will go to bed soon, but the light from her phone is still under the door at midnight. When you set a limit, she doesn’t just get annoyed: she panics, shuts down, begs for more time, or explodes. School, sleep, friendships, and family trust start to suffer.

At first, it may look like a screen-time problem, too much access. But for some teen girls, the issue is not only how many hours they spend online, but the pattern of it, the pull of their devices. The issue is what happens when they try to stop. From a different angle, it is what the screen may be helping them avoid, numb, or control.

This is why experts are paying closer attention to addictive screen use, not just total screen time. A 2025 JAMA cohort study found that high or increasing addictive use of social media, mobile phones, or video games was associated with suicidal ideation, suicidal behaviors, and worse mental health outcomes among youth. The study also noted that total screen time alone did not explain the same risk pattern, supporting a more nuanced focus on compulsive use rather than minutes alone.

This study’s distinction matters. A teen can spend time online in creative, social, or educational ways, but when screen use becomes compulsive, secretive, emotionally intense, or tied to unsafe choices, families may need to look deeper.

For families considering IOP, residential treatment, or other structured support, screen addiction may be one part of a larger picture. Tech addiction can overlap with process addictions, substance use, anxiety, depression, trauma, school refusal, self-harm, and family disconnection.

Screen Time vs. Screen Addiction: Why the Pattern Matters

Concerns around screen time focus on one question: “How long was she on the device?” 

That question can be useful, especially when sleep, school, or family time is being crowded out. But it does not tell the whole story. A better question is, what happens when she has to stop?

Parents can look for patterns like: 

  • Can she stop when she needs to?
  • Does she become panicked, furious, or hopeless when offline?
  • Is she using screens to escape anxiety, shame, sadness, loneliness, cravings, or trauma reminders?
  • Is screen use replacing sleep, school, hobbies, meals, movement, or face-to-face connection?
  • Does she keep using despite serious consequences?

Distinctions like this matter because not all screen use is harmful. People commonly use technology to create art, learn new skills, connect with friends, research a school project, play games to unwind, or participate in a supportive community. These behaviors are different from doom-scrolling until 2 a.m., gaming to avoid school, checking social media every few minutes to manage social anxiety, or hiding online behavior after repeated family conflict.

The American Academy of Pediatrics now emphasizes quality, context, and balance rather than simple fixed time limits for all youth, especially as digital life has become more complex. For parents, that means the goal is not to panic over every hour online. The goal is to understand whether screen use is helping or hurting your daughter’s life.

How App Design Keeps Teens Coming Back

It’s worth remembering that teens are not setting limits in a neutral environment. Many technologies are actually designed to grab and hold our attention. Apps, games, and social platforms often use persuasive design features like infinite scroll, autoplay, notifications, streaks, likes, and algorithmic recommendations. These features can make it harder to stop, especially for adolescents whose brains are still developing skills for impulse control, emotional regulation, and long-term decision-making.

This does not remove personal responsibility around habits, but it can add some context.

The American Psychological Association has recommended that teens receive social media literacy training to better understand how platforms may influence attention, behavior, and well-being. 

Compulsive screen use is not simply a “willpower problem.” Teens –– and adults –– may be trying to set limits while also pushing against platforms designed to pull them back in.

Signs Your Daughter’s Screen Use May Be Compulsive

One warning sign does not imply addiction. Teens need privacy, social connection, and independence. They may also resist limits as part of normal development.

The pattern becomes more concerning when screen use starts to change your daughter’s sleep, mood, school performance, honesty, safety, or interest in offline life.

1. She Feels Anxious, Angry, or Panicked When Offline

Many teens dislike being away from their phones, but compulsive use often brings a stronger emotional reaction.

You may notice:

  • Panic when the phone dies.
  • Anger when Wi-Fi is unavailable.
  • Intense fear of missing out.
  • Crying, yelling, or threatening when limits are set.
  • Restlessness when she cannot check messages.
  • Feeling “unsafe” without the phone.

Reactions attached to compulsive behavior aren’t usually just about the device. For some teens, the phone represents connection, control, distraction, reassurance, or escape. When it is removed, the underlying emotion may rush forward.

2. Screens Interfere With Sleep, School, or Relationships

Sleep disruption is one of the clearest warning signs. A teen may stay up scrolling, wake during the night to check messages, fall asleep with videos playing, or intentionally hide a device under her pillow. Over time, lack of sleep can worsen mood, attention, irritability, and impulse control.

Parents may also notice:

  • Falling grades.
  • Missed assignments.
  • School avoidance.
  • Skipping meals or family time.
  • Less interest in sports, art, music, or friendships.
  • More isolation in her room.
  • Increased conflict when asked to stop.

AACAP notes that children and adolescents spend significant time with screens and encourages families to set healthy limits, choose quality content, and create balanced routines. 

3. She Hides Use or Breaks Rules Repeatedly

Secrecy can be a sign that your daughter feels ashamed, afraid, or unable to control her behavior around screens.

You may find a hidden app, a second account, deleted messages, or a device being used after bedtime. You may make an agreement together, only to discover the same behavior again a few days later.

This does not mean your daughter is “bad.” It may mean the behavior has become powerful enough that rules alone are not working. At that point, more rules may create more hiding unless the family also addresses what the screen is helping her manage.

4. She Uses Screens to Escape Emotional Pain

This is often the most important sign.

A teen may turn to screens every time she feels rejected, anxious, bored, ashamed, lonely, angry, or sad. She may not know how to calm her nervous system without scrolling, gaming, messaging, or watching videos.

Parents may hear:

  • “It’s the only thing that helps.”
  • “I can’t deal with school without my phone.”
  • “I need to know what people are saying.”
  • “I feel worse when I’m alone with my thoughts.”
  • “I don’t care about anything else.”

When screens become the main coping tool, the teen may lose practice with other ways of managing distress.

5. Offline Life Starts to Shrink

A teen struggling with addictive screen use may slowly disconnect from activities that once mattered. They may stop attending events or avoid meeting friends in person. They may lose interest in hobbies that once filled their free time. Essentially, their world gets smaller while the online world gets bigger.

This is especially concerning when the teen seems more distressed after being online but still cannot stop. Screen addiction in teen girls is often not just about the device. It may be a sign of deeper emotional pain, process addiction patterns, substance use risk, trauma, anxiety, depression, or disconnection from family and offline life.

Why Teen Girls May Be Especially Vulnerable

Teen girls often experience online life through relationships. Delayed replies can feel like rejection, group photos can feel like proof she was left out, and comments about appearance can stay with her for days. 

Social media can intensify comparison, body image pressure, fear of exclusion, friend conflict, and the pressure to respond immediately.  A daughter may not say, “I’m addicted to my phone.” She may say:

  • “Everyone will forget about me.”
  • “I need to know if they posted without me.”
  • “I look terrible.”
  • “I can’t ignore the group chat.”
  • “If I don’t answer, they’ll be mad.”
  • “The algorithm won’t show my posts if I take a break.”

For girls with anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, low self-worth, or rejection sensitivity, online connections can feel both comforting and painful. It gives reassurance, but the reassurance fades. It distracts from distress, but the distress returns. It creates connection, but it may also deepen comparison and loneliness.

That cycle can be hard to break without support, especially when online identity has started to feel more manageable than real-life connections.

How Screen Addiction Overlaps With Process Addictions

Screen addiction is often discussed as a type of process addiction or behavioral addiction. Process addictions involve compulsive engagement in a behavior despite negative consequences. They may include gaming, social media use, online shopping, gambling-like behaviors, exercise, or other rewarding behaviors.

Compulsive screen use may include patterns that resemble other addictions:

  • Cravings or urges.
  • Loss of control.
  • Secrecy.
  • Emotional withdrawal when unable to use.
  • Needing more time or intensity to feel satisfied.
  • Continued use despite harm.
  • Repeated failed attempts to cut back.

For teen girls, the behavior may begin as a method to self-soothe. It may help her avoid painful emotions, peer rejection, trauma memories, family conflict, or school stress. But over time, it can become one of the main ways she copes.

That is when the problem is no longer just the app, game, or phone. The deeper concern is the underlying emotional pattern.

The Connection Between Screen Addiction and Substance Use Risk

Screen addiction and substance use are not the same thing. One does not automatically cause the other, but for some teens, they can overlap. A teen may use screens and substances for similar reasons: to numb, escape, feel accepted, reduce anxiety, or avoid distress.

Recent research has examined links between screen use patterns and substance use experimentation in early adolescents. One prospective study using ABCD Study data found associations between several screen modalities and later substance use experimentation among early adolescents. 

Online spaces may expose teens to substance-related content, risky peer groups, normalization of drugs and alcohol, or social situations where substance use is encouraged. This does not mean parents should assume the worst. It does mean that if compulsive screen use appears alongside vaping, cannabis use, alcohol use, secrecy, school problems, or unsafe peers, the family may need a broader assessment.

Consider asking: “What role are screens and substances playing in her emotional life?” If both are helping a teen avoid pain or seek relief, it’s likely that the deeper coping pattern needs to be supported through therapeutic treatment.

When Screen Addiction May Need More Than Parental Controls

App limits, device-free bedrooms, and screen-free family routines can all be helpful tools for reducing screen time. But parental controls alone may not be enough when screen use is connected to larger safety or mental health concerns.

Professional support may be needed if your daughter’s screen use is connected to:

  • Suicidal thoughts or self-harm.
  • Substance use.
  • School refusal.
  • Severe depression or anxiety.
  • Trauma symptoms.
  • Unsafe online relationships.
  • Aggression when limits are set.
  • Eating disorder behaviors.
  • Major sleep disruption.
  • Repeated failed attempts to reduce use.
  • Family conflict that feels unmanageable.

The 2025 JAMA study found that youth with high or increasing addictive screen use trajectories had worse mental health outcomes and higher risk patterns related to suicidal ideation or behavior, especially around social media and mobile phone use.

Studies like this are helpful to guide families toward the right question: “Is this behavior becoming compulsive, harmful, and emotionally necessary?”

Outpatient, IOP, or Residential Treatment: What Level of Care May Fit?

Parents often wonder whether their daughter needs therapy, IOP, residential treatment, or something else.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. A licensed professional should help assess safety, functioning, substance use, family dynamics, and co-occurring mental health needs.

Still, the following framework can help families think about next steps.

Level of Care May Be Appropriate When Primary Goal
Outpatient therapy Screen use is concerning, but safety, school, and home routines are mostly stable Build awareness, coping skills, and family boundaries
Intensive outpatient program Screen use overlaps with anxiety, depression, early substance use, school problems, or family conflict, but the teen can remain safe at home Provide structured therapy while the teen practices skills in daily life
Residential treatment Screen use is part of a larger crisis involving substance use, self-harm, suicidal ideation, unsafe behavior, trauma symptoms, or repeated failed attempts at home Create safety, reduce triggers, stabilize mental health, and rebuild coping skills

Concerned that screen use is part of a larger safety, substance use, or mental health concern?

Speak with our admissions team about whether residential support may be appropriate.

When IOP May Help

An intensive outpatient program may be a good fit when a teen needs more than weekly therapy but does not need 24-hour care.

IOP may support teens who:

  • Are struggling with compulsive screen use and emotional dysregulation.
  • Have early substance use concerns.
  • Need structured skills practice several days per week.
  • Can stay safe at home.
  • Have caregivers who can maintain boundaries.
  • Are still able to participate in school or daily routines.

IOP can be especially helpful when the goal is to practice new coping skills in real-life settings.

When Residential Treatment May Help

Residential treatment may be appropriate when home-based limits and outpatient support are not enough.

This may include situations where screen use is connected to:

  • Substance use.
  • Self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
  • Unsafe online contact.
  • Severe family conflict.
  • School refusal.
  • Running away.
  • Aggression.
  • Trauma symptoms.
  • Serious mood instability.
  • Repeated failed attempts to stop or reduce use.

In residential treatment, a teen has space away from daily triggers. She can build emotional regulation skills, address co-occurring concerns, and reconnect with life outside of screens.

How Solstice West RTC Supports Teen Girls and Families

Solstice West RTC supports adolescent girls whose screen use may be part of a larger pattern of emotional distress, process addiction, substance use, trauma, anxiety, depression, or family disconnection.

The goal is not to shame the use of technology, but to understand what the behavior is doing for the teen. Is this pattern helping her avoid grief? Is it numbing anxiety? Is it replacing face-to-face connection? Is it keeping her tied to unsafe peers? Is it part of a broader process addiction or substance use pattern?

In a residential setting, girls can step away from the patterns they have built alongside constant digital pressure to begin practicing healthier ways to manage discomfort. Here, they can rebuild sleep routines, strengthen emotional regulation, repair family trust, and rediscover meaningful offline activities.

For many families, treatment is also a chance to move from daily power struggles to clearer communication. Through family work, we help parents learn what their whole family needs to feel safe, connected, and capable in the modern world.

What Parents Can Do Before Things Escalate

If you are worried about your daughter’s screen use, you do not have to solve everything in one conversation. 

Start With Curiosity, Not Accusation

Try saying:

“I’ve noticed it seems really hard to be away from your phone lately. I’m not trying to shame you. Honestly, I know how easy it is to get pulled into my own screen, too. I’m wondering what your phone is helping with right now.”

This approach does not remove the need for limits. It gives your daughter a better chance of staying in the conversation long enough to tell you something useful

Track Emotional Triggers

Notice when compulsive use spikes. Some common triggers may be:

  • After school.
  • Before bed.
  • After a conflict with friends, family, or partners.
  • During homework.
  • After therapy.
  • When alone.
  • When feeling rejected, bored, or ashamed.

Once you understand the trigger, you can support the underlying need.

Protect Sleep First

Sleep affects mood, focus, impulse control, and emotional regulation. For many families, protecting sleep is the most important first boundary.

Consider:

  • Charging phones outside the bedroom.
  • Using an alarm clock instead of a phone.
  • Creating a screen-off wind-down routine.
  • Keeping school-night rules consistent.
  • Modeling similar habits as adults.

Expect resistance! Resistance does not mean the boundary is wrong, but it can show that the phone has become emotionally important.

Replace the Function, Not Just the Device

Taking away a phone or device without replacing the function it serves can lead to more conflict. Think of that starter conversation when you ask to understand what the phone is helping her with. This answer can help guide healthy replacements for devices.

If your daughter uses screens to calm down, she needs other ways to calm her body. If she uses screens to feel connected, she needs safer forms of connection. If she uses screens to avoid boredom, shame, cravings, or anxiety, she needs help tolerating those feelings without escaping every time.

Offline replacements may include movement, art, music, photography, writing, time with animals, volunteering, cooking, baking, nature-based activities, in-person friend time, or family rituals that are not centered on correction.

In this day and age, the goal is not a screen-free life. A healthy goal is a life where screens are no longer the main coping tool.

Encourage Creative and Educational Tech Use

Not all tech use is equal! A teen creating music, learning design, nurturing healthy friendships, researching a passion, or using technology for school is engaging differently than a teen caught in endless comparison, conflict, or avoidance.

Ask reflective questions:

  • “Do you feel better or worse after using this app?”
  • “Are you creating or consuming?”
  • “Can you stop when you planned to stop?”
  • “Is this helping your goals or pulling you away from them?”
  • “What feeling are you trying not to feel right now?”

These questions build awareness without turning every conversation into punishment.

What to Do Next

If your daughter’s screen use feels compulsive, start with one calm conversation and one practical change.

You might say: “I don’t want to punish you for struggling. I want us to understand what is going on and help you feel more in control.”

Then choose one next step:

  • Move phones out of bedrooms at night.
  • Track emotional triggers for one week.
  • Ask her therapist or pediatrician about problematic screen use.
  • Assess whether screen use is connected to substance use, self-harm, school refusal, or unsafe online behavior.
  • Seek a higher level of care if home limits are not enough.

If your daughter’s screen use is connected to substance use, self-harm, school refusal, emotional outbursts, unsafe online behavior, or repeated failed attempts to cut back, Solstice West RTC can help your family explore whether residential treatment may be the right next step.

CONTACT OUR TEAM 

FAQs

Is screen addiction a real addiction?

“Screen addiction” is not an official DSM-5 diagnosis. Still, clinicians and researchers often use terms like problematic screen use, addictive screen use, digital addiction, or gaming-related addictive behaviors. The concern is not the label alone. The concern is whether a teen feels unable to stop and keeps using screens despite harm to sleep, school, relationships, mood, safety, or family trust.

How do I know if my daughter has screen addiction or just likes her phone?

Look at the function it serves and the consequences it’s bringing. If she can easily remove herself from her phone, sleeps well, keeps up with school, enjoys offline life, and uses screens in balanced ways, it may not be addiction. If she cannot stop, hides use, becomes highly distressed offline, loses sleep, avoids “real life”, or uses screens to numb emotions, the pattern may be more concerning.

Can screen addiction be treated in IOP?

Sometimes. IOP may help when screen addiction overlaps with anxiety, depression, family conflict, early substance use, or school problems, but the teen can remain safe at home. IOP gives teens structured support while they practice healthier habits in daily life.

When does screen addiction require residential treatment?

Residential treatment may be appropriate when screen addiction is connected to serious safety concerns, substance use, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, unsafe online relationships, school refusal, aggression, trauma symptoms, or repeated failed attempts to reduce use at home. A licensed professional can help determine the right level of care.

Is screen addiction connected to substance use?

It can be. Screen addiction and substance use are different concerns, but both may function as ways to escape distress, seek reward, or manage painful emotions. Digital spaces may also expose teens to risky peer groups or substance-related content. A clinical assessment can help determine whether both issues need treatment.

Crisis and safety note

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, mental health, or crisis care. If your teen may hurt herself or someone else, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Families outside the U.S. should contact local emergency services or a regional crisis hotline. For diagnosis or treatment recommendations, consult a licensed mental health professional.

References

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (2026). Screen time and children. https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Children-And-Watching-TV-054.aspx

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2025). Screen time guidelines. Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/qa-portal/qa-portal-library/qa-portal-library-questions/screen-time-guidelines/

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Substance-related and addictive disorders. https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Practice/DSM/APA_DSM-5-Substance-Use-Disorder.pdf

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Internet gaming disorder. https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Practice/DSM/APA_DSM-5-Internet-Gaming-Disorder.pdf

Basenach, L., Renneberg, B., Salbach, H., Dreier, M., & Wölfling, K. (2023). Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of treatment interventions for Internet use disorders: Critical analysis of the methodical quality according to the PRISMA guidelines. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 12(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2022.00087

Prospective association between screen use modalities and substance use experimentation in early adolescents. (2024). Drug and Alcohol Dependence. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871624014297

Xiao, Y., et al. (2025). Addictive screen use trajectories and suicidal behaviors, suicidal ideation, and mental health in U.S. youths. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.7829

  • The Solstice Team
  • No Comments

Trauma‑Informed Schools: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Your Child Learn Again
Trauma‑Informed Schools: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Your Child Learn Again 1000 667 The Solstice Team
What this guide covers:
Trauma can make even a “good” school feel overwhelming for a child. This guide helps parents understand what a trauma-informed school actually looks like, why it’s often a better fit for kids who’ve been through hard things, how to tell when school isn’t enough, and when a therapeutic program like Solstice West RTC may be the right next step.
On this page

Trauma-Informed Schools & Therapeutic Programs: A Parent Guide

If your child has been through something hard—a serious accident, medical trauma, family violence, loss, or ongoing stress—school can suddenly feel like a minefield. You might see more stomachaches, school refusal, meltdowns over small changes, or calls from the nurse that “they just don’t feel well.”

It’s easy to wonder:
Is this just teen behavior… or is it a trauma response? Can school actually help?

This guide will help you:

  • Understand what a trauma-informed school is (and why it can be a better fit for kids with trauma)
  • Recognize how trauma shows up at school
  • Know when a therapeutic school may be needed
  • See how Solstice West RTC builds trauma-informed classrooms within a therapeutic program

Large national surveys show that about three in four U.S. high-school students report at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE), and nearly one in five report four or more—and higher ACE counts are strongly linked with mental-health symptoms and school-related risks like substance use and suicidality.

Teachers can build positive relationships with students and often notice changes in behavior.

Quick answer: What is a trauma-informed school?

A trauma-informed school is one where adults understand how stress and adversity affect learning and behavior, and use that knowledge to shape the entire environment. Core elements include:

  • Safety and trust (clear rules, predictable routines, emotionally safe staff)
  • Awareness of trauma and how it affects attention, emotions, behavior, and health
  • Strong relationships and co-regulation between adults and students
  • Student voice and choice in age-appropriate ways
  • Family partnership and culturally responsive practices

Behavior is seen as communication, not just “good” or “bad,” and responses focus on skill-building and avoiding re-traumatization instead of relying only on punishment.

Put simply, a trauma-informed school is designed so that a child’s nervous system can calm down enough to feel safe and learn.

Why trauma makes school so hard

Trauma can change how a child’s brain and body handle:

Even normal school environments can overwhelm a sensitized nervous system.

  • Attention and working memory
  • Sleep and energy levels
  • Emotion regulation and impulse control

National guidance notes that after trauma, many children struggle with concentration, become more easily startled, and are more likely to experience physical complaints and sleep disruption—all of which interfere with school tasks. 

In a busy school day with bells, crowds, tests, and social pressure, that can show up as:

  • Big reactions to small changes (a substitute teacher, a seating change)
  • Trouble starting or finishing multi-step tasks
  • Withdrawing from friends or refusing certain classes (presentations, PE)
  • Frequent visits to the nurse or calls home to be picked up

None of this means your child is broken or “just being difficult.” It usually means their body and brain are working extra hard to stay safe in an environment that feels unpredictable or overwhelming.

Children’s responses to trauma: emotional, behavioral, and physical

Major organizations like NIMH, SAMHSA, and CDC describe a wide range of normal responses after trauma, which can vary by age and may last for days to weeks. 

Emotional responses

Patterns of behavior can show deeper connection to trauma.

  • Increased fear, anxiety, or worrying about safety
  • Sadness, guilt, or shame about what they did or didn’t do
  • Irritability, anger, or feeling emotionally “numb”

Behavioral responses

  • Clinginess (younger children) or withdrawal (older kids and teens)
  • Regression (bed-wetting, baby talk, needing more help)
  • Trouble concentrating and forgetfulness
  • Regression in academic skills or work quality
  • Risk-taking, including substance use (especially in teens)

Physical responses

  • Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep; nightmares
  • Sleeping much more than usual
  • Ongoing headaches, stomachaches, or GI issues without a clear medical cause

NIMH emphasizes that many of these reactions improve over time with support and routine, but that persistent symptoms beyond about a month, or severe reactions at any time, are reasons to seek professional help. 

In the classroom, this may look like late or missing work, zoning out, skipping class, drama with peers, or constant nurse visits, layered on top of either withdrawal or acting out.

What makes a school truly trauma-informed?

You’ll see “trauma-informed” on a lot of websites now. The question is whether it matches evidence-based frameworks like those from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN).

Here’s what to look for and ask about:

1. Routines and predictability

  • The day’s schedule is posted and reviewed.
  • Staff preview changes (assemblies, drills, substitute teachers).
  • Transitions have clear, consistent steps.

NCTSN’s system framework highlights predictable routines as a core part of trauma-informed school environments because predictability helps regulate students’ stress responses.

2. Relationships and co-regulation

  • Teachers model basic regulation skills (brief breathing or stretch breaks).
  • When a child escalates, the first move is connection and calming, not punishment.
  • Adults greet students by name and notice when something is off.

SAMHSA’s guidance for children and youth after traumatic events stresses that supportive, calm adults are the key factor in helping kids cope, which is exactly what good co-regulation provides. 

Teen girls can be good at masking symptoms. Teachers who prioritize relationship-based teaching can help spot changes in behavior. 

3. Voice, choice, and agency

  • Students get small but real choices (order of tasks, project format, partner options).
  • There are clear ways to ask for a break or support without being shamed.

Choice increases a sense of control, which is especially important for kids whose control was taken away during trauma.

4. De-escalation spaces that teach skills

Some classrooms or schools use a “calm corner” or quiet space. In a trauma-informed school, this space is:

  • Taught like any other routine (when to use it, how long, what to do there)
  • Filled with tools that build skills (visual timer, movement, sensory supports), not just a place to escape work

5. Instruction that lowers overload

  • Directions are chunked into smaller steps with visuals.
  • Lessons include short regulation breaks (stretch, breathe, stand and talk).

For a dysregulated brain, this can be the difference between “I can’t” and “I can try.”

6. Restorative, not purely punitive, discipline

Instead of “What’s wrong with you?” a trauma-informed school asks:

“What happened? Who was affected? What do you need to repair and move forward?”

NCTSN and other school safety organizations encourage restorative approaches to reduce exclusionary discipline and keep kids connected to learning, which is protective for mental health.

How parents can support their child right now

Even in a great trauma-informed school, home routines matter.

Co-regulation and structure

After trauma, kids need more connection and consistency, not fewer rules. Best practices emphasize keeping routines as normal as possible while offering extra reassurance and support.

  • Keep wake times, bedtimes, and school routines as steady as you reasonably can.
  • Use calm, clear limits: “It’s okay to feel angry. It’s not okay to hit. Let’s find a safe way to let it out.”
  • Pair correction with connection: “That wasn’t okay, and I’m still right here with you.”

Quick script before school

“Let’s do two slow breaths together, then we’ll walk to the car. You don’t have to like everything about today. You just have to take the next step. I’m with you.”

Teacher greeting family before school.

Talk with teachers in a way that builds partnership

You don’t have to share everything. Focus on what teachers need to know to respond well:

  • One line about what’s hard
  • One or two things that help
  • A clear ask

Email template

Hi [Teacher’s Name],

[Child] recently went through a difficult event. Since then, they’ve been more anxious and may struggle with changes in routine or loud settings.

What helps: a brief heads-up before big changes and a 2–3 minute break to reset.
Could we set up a simple plan and a quick check-in in a few weeks to see how it’s going? I appreciate your support so much.

When school supports aren’t enough: signs your child might need a therapeutic school

Sometimes, even with solid trauma-informed practices and outpatient therapy, a child’s needs go beyond what a traditional school can safely provide.

Consider talking with your child’s providers about a therapeutic school (day or residential) if you see patterns like:

  • Safety concerns at school (frequent crisis events, running away, serious self-harm or aggression)
  • Ongoing school refusal despite consistent efforts and supports
  • Multiple suspensions, alternative placements, or “soft pushes” to leave
  • Trauma symptoms thataren’t improving after several months of therapy and school accommodations
  • Your child needing intensive therapeutic work that can’t fit into evenings and weekends
  • School staff saying, “We’re trying, but we don’t have the level of support they really need.”

These are the situations where a therapeutic school—integrating academics, intensive therapy, and 24/7 milieu support—may offer the level of containment and treatment your child needs.

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ policy on trauma-informed care points out that systems often need to adjust intensity and environment to match the level of adversity and symptoms; sometimes that means a more specialized setting for a period of time.

What to look for in a therapeutic school

Whether you’re considering Solstice West RTC or another program, look for:

  • Trauma-informed classrooms
    • Routine and predictability
    • Co-regulation and strong teacher-student relationships
    • Skill-focused de-escalation spaces
  • Licensed teachers and a clear academic plan that can coordinate with your home district
  • Integrated clinical support (individual, family, and group therapy)
  • Family involvement and transition planning back to home or a less intensive setting

This mirrors what NCTSN describes as a tiered, trauma-informed school system: universal practices for everyone, plus more intensive interventions for students with higher needs. 

How Solstice West supports students with trauma at school

At Solstice West RTC in Layton, Utah:

  • Instruction is provided by Utah-licensed educators in small, trauma-informed classrooms.
  • Our academic program is listed on the California Department of Education’s out-of-state nonpublic school directory and on Washington’s OSPI-approved nonpublic agency list for education placements (districts can verify current status on those official sites). 

In the classroom, that looks like:

  • Daily routines and previewed schedule changes
  • Teachers trained in trauma-informed practices and co-regulation, not just content
  • Calm, structured spaces for students to practice regulation skills without losing dignity
  • Voice and choice in assignments and projects, so students rebuild a sense of control
  • Close collaboration between therapists, teachers, and families on goals and accommodations

Our team also works with home districts to plan:

  • Credit transfer
  • 504/IEP coordination
  • Step-down options and re-entry plans, so gains made here transfer back home

The overall approach aligns with AAP’s trauma-informed care recommendations—strengthening relationships, buffering adversity, and promoting healthy development.

When to seek professional help (beyond school changes)

Reach out to your child’s healthcare provider or a licensed mental-health professional if: 

  • Symptoms last longer than 2–4 weeks or are still strong after about a month
  • Reactions get worse instead of slowly improving
  • Problems interfere with school, friendships, or family life
  • There are ongoing physical complaints without a clear medical cause

Reach out immediately (same day; emergency services if needed) if you notice:

  • Talk of self-harm or suicide
  • Dangerous risk-taking or substance use
  • Severe school refusal combined with major withdrawal
  • Behavior that makes you fear for your child’s safety or someone else’s

For urgent emotional support in the U.S., you can call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) any time.

What to do next

  1. Spot patterns, not one-off bad days. Use the emotional/behavioral/physical lists above.
  2. Ask your child’s school: “What trauma-informed supports are already in place for my child, and what else could we try?”
  3. If school struggles continue, request a 504/IEP evaluation in writing and set a date to review progress.
  4. If your child’s needs are beyond what school and outpatient care can safely hold, talk with your child’s providers about therapeutic school options, including whether Solstice West RTC might be an appropriate next step.

You don’t have to figure this out alone. A good trauma-informed school or therapeutic program will treat you as a partner, not a problem.

Talk With Our Team About the Right Next Step

If your teen is struggling with trauma symptoms, our admissions team can help you understand options and whether Solstice West may be the right fit.


Contact Our Team

Call Now
Confidential support for families. We’re here to help you get clarity.

Crisis and safety note

If you or your child is in immediate danger or is considering self-harm, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

For 24/7 support in the United States, you can call or text 988 or chat via the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you are outside the U.S., please contact your local emergency number or national crisis service. This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical or mental-health advice.

References

  1. National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Helping children and adolescents cope with traumatic events. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 2025. (National Institute of Mental Health)
  2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2012). Tips for talking with and helping children and youth cope after a disaster or traumatic event: A guide for parents, caregivers, and teachers (HHS Publication No. SMA-12-4732). (SAMHSA Library)
  3. National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2017, updated 2021). Creating, supporting, and sustaining trauma-informed schools: A system framework. (NCTSN)
  4. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021). Trauma-informed care in child health systems. Pediatrics, 148(2), e2021052579.https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-052579 (AAP Publications)
  5. Swedo, E. A., et al. (2024). Adverse childhood experiences and health conditions and risk behaviors among high school students—Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2023. MMWR Supplements, 73(4), 39–49.https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su7304a5 (CDC)
  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (2019). Helping children and adolescents cope with traumatic events. (ATSDR)
Out of Control Teenager
  • The Solstice Team
  • No Comments

Out of Control Teenager: What to Do to Gain Control Back
Out of Control Teenager: What to Do to Gain Control Back 0 0 The Solstice Team

Parenting a teenager can often feel like a power struggle. Adolescence is a time in one’s life filled with hormonal changes, the pressure to fit in, and discover who one is. These kinds of factors can cause emotions to be at an all-time high and sometimes everything just seems to be your fault. As a parent, this can become overwhelming and stressful. When you feel on edge, it is critical that you do not act on your immediate feelings. This will end badly for everyone. Keep calm, take a breath, and know that there is hope for managing your out-of-control teenager.

An “out of control teenager” can fit the profile of many different types of situations. The following actions may indicate that your teenager fits this profile.

  • Experimenting with drugs and/or alcohol
  • Having violent outbursts toward family
  • Repeatedly running away
  • Threatening others
  • Stealing
  • Getting in legal trouble

Teenager Control: The Top 3

Once you identify troubling behavior in your teen, it is important that you address the situation immediately. Remember the way you react to these types of situations plays a large role in how they choose to react. If you do nothing, they will continue to be out of control. If you react in an angry outburst, they are likely to respond in an angry way as well. Remember the goal is to restore peace within your family, relieve tensions, and get your teen on track to a happy, healthy, and successful life.

Here are 3 tips for helping your teen calm down:

  1. Lay down the law. Do not allow places in your expectations that are free for interpretation. You should set clear expectations and household rules for your teen to follow. With these expectations should come consequences when your child chooses not to follow your standards. If they are warned and well aware of the expectations pressed upon them, there is no room for argument later. Establishing boundaries is the first and most important step.
  2. Communicate calmly. You should initiate a conversation with your teen about their troubling behavior. Ask them why they are acting out. You should definitely come at this conversation as a concerned parent. Never assume. Investigate and confirm that there are no other personal struggles going on, with friends, peers, or elsewhere.
  3. Focus on follow-through. Leaving room for leniency in your disciplinary efforts is a no-go. By showing consistency with your ability to uphold the consequences you set in place, you are avoiding manipulation from your teen. They will learn that you are serious about your rules and that there is no bending them. While you want to be a superhero parent all the time, sometimes swooping in and saving your teen is not the best idea. When they learn from their actions, they will grow and improve going forward.

Solstice West Residential Treatment Center can help

Solstice West is a residential program for teen girls and assigned female at birth ages 12-18 who struggle with issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and/or relationship struggles. This program provides three types of therapy: individual, group, and family therapy. Solstice Residential Treatment Center is dedicated to teaching teens how to incorporate healthy habits into their lives. Students will leave with the skills they need to transition into the world feeling confident, happy, and healthy. We can help your family today!

Contact us at 866-278-3345

 

suicidal ideation in teens
  • The Solstice Team
  • No Comments

Suicidal Ideation in Teens: Knowing the Signs
Suicidal Ideation in Teens: Knowing the Signs 2560 1707 The Solstice Team

The adolescent years can be especially challenging for teens. Their bodies are changing at a rapid rate and they have to deal with new emotional behaviors as their brains continue to develop. In addition to the physical and mental changes, they are also experiencing changes in peer dynamics. Friendships may become more complicated as peer pressure increases, and they may be dealing with their first experiences with romantic relationships as well. It is not surprising that all of those big changes and emotions can trigger mental health struggles for teens. During this time in their lives, some teen girls and assigned females at birth begin to show signs of depression or even suicidal ideation. 

What is Suicidal Ideation?

Suicidal ideation, also known as suicidal thoughts, exists in two forms – active and passive. Active suicidal ideation means that the person is actively planning their death. In passive suicidal ideation, the person has thoughts of death but no plan to kill themselves. Most people experiencing this struggle don’t follow through with committing suicide. However, it’s considered a risk factor for suicide and must be taken very seriously.

Many teens who experience suicidal ideation also have mental health conditions. As a result, they have trouble coping with the stress of being a teen, such as dealing with rejection, failure, breakups, and family turmoil. They may not be able to conceptualize that there are ways that they can solve their problems or get back on track. That feeling of hopelessness can lead to suicidal ideation. Suicidal thoughts can take an emotional toll. For instance, teens may be so consumed by suicidal thoughts that they can’t function in their daily life. 

Risk Factors and Causes

Suicidal ideation, according to researchers, is caused by a combination of risk factors that come together to influence suicidal thoughts. These risk factors and causes can include:

  • Environmental factors: Being caught in a stressful situation such as expulsion, a parental divorce or moving to another place can trigger suicidal ideation in teens who already struggle with their mental health. 
  • Genetic factors: Psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia, are passed down to teens through the genes of family members. These disorders are known to cause suicidal ideation in those suffering from them. Substance abuse is also genetically linked, which also causes suicidal ideation.
  • Trauma: Left untreated, a history of physical or sexual abuse or exposure to violence can lead to suicidal ideation. These teens may be dealing with post traumatic stress disorder, flashbacks, or emotional and physical triggers. 
  • Physical factors: Lower levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin have been found in people with suicidal ideation. Additionally, people with terminal diseases may experience suicidal ideation.
  • Exposure to suicidal behavior of loved ones: Seeing the suicidal behavior in a familiar setting may influence some people to experience suicidal ideation themselves.
  • A lack of healthy coping skills: People with poor coping skills might turn to suicidal ideation as a way out of whatever struggle they are dealing with.

This article published by The US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health further explains these risk factors and possible causes. 

Symptoms of Suicidal Ideation

Watching out for symptoms of suicidal ideation in your teen is important in preventing them from taking further steps towards suicide. According to an article published by the American Psychological Association, depressive symptoms that relate to suicidal ideation can include:

  • Talking about death excessively. This could also include consuming media such as books, tv shows, or movies that center around death or suicide. 
  • The desire for isolation. Withdrawing from friends and family is a way to hide their struggles from the people around them. They may feel that they are not worth anyone else’s attention, or that they don’t deserve help. 
  • Sense of calm or happiness after a period of depression. Highs and lows can mask symptoms of depression. That sense of calm may come from the fact that they are thinking about suicide as an option to “solve” their problems. 
  • Changes in sleeping and eating habits. Sleeping or eating habits can be excessive or it can be a deprivation of one or both. 
  • Feelings of helplessness and desperation. They may feel that there is no solution to their problems. If you try to problem-solve with your teen and they are despondent or hopeless, it could be a sign of suicidal ideation. 
  • Depressed mood. Depression is often related to suicidal ideation. 
  • Negative self-evaluation. A lack of self-esteem can lead teens to believe that they are not important or worthy of help. 
  • Anhedonia. Without the ability to feel pleasure, it is difficult for teens to find joy in their life. 
  • Poor concentration. If your teen is excessively distracted it may be a sign that there is something deeper happening. Intrusive, suicidal thoughts could be distracting them during everyday events. 
  • Indecisiveness. The inability to make seemingly simple decisions may be caused by a lack of self-esteem. They may not believe that they can make the “right” choice because they’re always wrong. 
  • Lack of reactivity of mood. Experiencing a full range of emotions is normal and healthy. If your daughter is not reacting to anything either negatively or positively, it is a warning sign. 
  • Psychomotor disturbance. Slowed movements, facial immobility, mental slowing, or a delay in motor activity. 
  • Alcohol and drug abuse. Teens experiencing suicidal ideation are often also feeling overwhelmed by their emotions. They may lack the coping skills to deal with these emotions, so they instead turn to alcohol or drug abuse. They may be trying to “self-medicate” by numbing themselves with substance abuse.

Teen girls struggling with suicidal ideation may feel overwhelmed and completely alone. They may feel completely unable to reach out for help, or they may even make “jokes” about how the world would be better without them. It is important to take the signs and symptoms of suicidal ideation seriously. Warning signs aren’t always obvious, and they may vary from person to person. Some people make their intentions clear, while others keep suicidal thoughts and feelings secret.

Helping Teens with Suicidal Ideation

Dealing with suicidal ideation can be scary, but there are ways that you can support your daughter during this difficult time. Encourage your teen to express her emotions and help her build her emotional vocabulary. She may express that she’s feeling sad, but having terms, even scary ones, like “depressed” or “suicidal” can help her clearly and directly communicate her struggles. When your daughter is going through a depressive episode or having those suicidal thoughts, she may begin to withdraw from family and friends. That isolation can make those feelings even worse. Encourage your daughter to stay connected to the people who make her feel loved and supported. 

In cases of suicidal ideation, it is crucial for you and your daughter to seek out help. Her doctor may suggest working with a mental health professional. A therapist may recommend psychotherapy, medications and lifestyle changes that can help reduce the risk of suicide. Once you have met with a therapist and created a treatment plan, make sure you follow the plan. If your daughter is undergoing treatment for suicidal ideation, remind her that it might take time to feel better. Help your daughter follow her doctor’s recommendations. You can also encourage your teen to participate in activities that will help her rebuild confidence and reconnect. 

Solstice RTC Can Help

If your teen is experiencing suicidal ideation, sending them to a residential treatment center may be the best option. Our therapists have a caseload of six students, which enables them to provide a greater deal of personal contact and involvement in the teens’ everyday lives. Guided by our relationship-based approach, the therapists understand the clinical value of spending time with the students beyond the walls of the therapist office. The ability to build rapport outside of the office setting is critical to the development of a therapeutic alliance, which is necessary in the healing process.

Solstice RTC  is a residential treatment center that provides a therapeutic holistic approach for teen girls and assigned female at birth ages 14 to 18. Instead of treating specific problem areas such as suicidal ideation, Solstice treats the entire individual. With a road map influenced by the archetypal Hero’s Journey, each student walks a unique and very personal path towards discovering the hero within. Students and families progress through the stages of this journey at their own pace. Although the journey is their own, they do not travel it alone. This journey is about people, discovery, growth and mastery. “Of course there is gold at the end of the rainbow, everyone knows that,” the poet wrote, “but the secret of secrets is in the cave.” It’s in the cave, the dark abyss, that we must go to face our “dragons” of fear, insecurity and self-doubt. In the slaying of those dragons, unrealized power is discovered and heroes are born. Solstice students may not realize they are heroes when they enter Solstice, but the heroes emerge during their journey, and the child you once knew returns home stronger than ever before.

For more information on how Solstice RTC can help combat suicidal ideation and other mental health issues, please call us today at (866) 278-3345.

severe depression in teens
  • The Solstice Team
  • No Comments

Getting Treatment for Depression in Teen Girls
Getting Treatment for Depression in Teen Girls 2560 1707 The Solstice Team

While depression can occur in both genders during adolescence, teen girls and assigned female at birth are more than twice as likely to develop depression than their male counterparts. If your child is experiencing depression, it can negatively affect how they thinks, feels, and behaves, and it’s crucial to seek treatment to get their back to feeling like herself.

What depression treatment can look like and where to start

The first step in seeking treatment is getting a depression diagnosis from a mental health professional. If a doctor suspects your teen may be experiencing depression, they will typically do a physical exam, run labs, and perform a psychological evaluation to determine a diagnosis and identify related complications. During this assessment, the doctor may also offer specifiers to clarify which type of depression your child is experiencing, such as anxious distress, melancholic distress, or atypical depression features.

Once a diagnosis has been made, there are many different treatment options that could be recommended based on the severity and type of your child’s depression. One of the most common treatment options for teens with depression is to put them on medication. Medication like Prozac and Lexapro can help to mitigate your daughter’s depressive symptoms, but you’ll want to discuss the possible side effects and pros/cons with your child and their doctor.

If you decide on the medication route, it can take some time and trial and error to find the right medicine and dosage, so encourage your teen not to give up if it’s not helping right away. You also want to make sure you are monitoring your teen’s use of their medications. In order for these medications to work as they are intended, they need to be consistently taken with the correct dosages at the correct times.

Another treatment option instead of, or in tandem with, medication is talk therapy or psychotherapy. These therapy sessions allow your child to talk through their depression and related mental health issues with a mental health professional. Talk therapy is recommended for those looking to learn about depression, how to make changes to unhealthy behaviors or thoughts, how to find better ways to cope, how to regain a sense of happiness and control, and how to ease depressive symptoms.

If medication and therapy haven’t had the positive outcomes you were hoping for, a residential treatment center could provide the all-encompassing and integrative care they needs. These programs, like Solstice RTC, provide a homelike environment that allows your child to focus on their healing journey in a comfortable, safe environment.

Solstice RTC Can Help

Solstice RTC is a leading residential treatment program for young girls and assigned female at birth ages 14-17 that has been specifically designed to help teens struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationships by utilizing a unique blend of therapeutic techniques based on traditional and holistic methods.

Your child will be supported by a passionate team of therapeutic experts who have specific training and experience in working with depression, trauma, loss, and addiction. Our goal is to provide them with a nurturing and welcoming environment that allows them the chance to heal from their past and become the best version of themselves. For more information about how Solstice RTC can help your child through their depression please call (866) 278-3345.

family relationships and depression
  • The Solstice Team
  • No Comments

Close Family Relationships Protect Against Depression
Close Family Relationships Protect Against Depression 1707 2560 The Solstice Team

We know that social support can be a buffer against feeling overwhelmed by stress and experiencing symptoms of depression. While we typically think of social support as having a close group of friends to vent to when problems arise, a recent study of more than 18,000 teenagers has found that positive family relationships are the most effective form of social support for teens with depression. This suggests that teens who feel isolated from their peers or who have been bullied at school are less likely to develop unhealthy relationships in adulthood if they have social support from their families growing up.

How Family Support Affects Mental Health

Secure attachment to family members set the foundation for all other social relationships, as teens learn that they can rely on others for their emotional and physical needs. Cohesive family relationships provide social support and resources that help teens manage the stresses of adolescence and open up conversations about personal problems and coping strategies. 

This cohort study conducted by the Carolina Population Center used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health that followed up with participants over 25 years. 

In this study, positive family relationships during adolescence were measured by:

  • Family Cohesion
  • Frequency of communication
  • Mutual understanding of emotions
  • Engaging in fun family activities together
  • Absence of parent-child conflict in the past month over the child’s behavior

What Constitutes Social Support?

Different types of relationships offer different types of support. Families play a unique role in their daughter’s support system by offering multiple types of support. 

  • Emotional Support involves physical comfort, listening and empathizing. Close friends offer hugs and to listen to your problems, letting you know that they’ve felt the same way, too. 
  • Esteem Support is shown through encouragement. People may point out your strengths or remind you that they care about you or that they believe in you. Close friends and mentors help build confidence when you’re feeling insecure.
  • Informational Support refers to advice-giving or gathering and sharing information that can help people know of potential next steps that may work well. They may either speak from personal experience or share suggestions they’ve heard from others. Professionals can answer a lot of questions you may have about the direction you want to take in life. 
  • Instrumental Support includes taking on responsibilities for someone else so they can deal with a problem or offering to help deal with whatever problems they’re struggling with. Someone who offers instrumental support may take care of you when you’re sick, help you brainstorm concrete solutions to problems, or offer financial assistance. 

The Lasting Effect of Secure Family Relationships

According to this study, family cohesion and the absence of parent-child conflict were associated with a lower risk of depression from adolescence into midlife. The reduction in depressive symptoms associated with positive adolescent family relationships was greater for females and assigned female at birth than males during adolescence and into the early 20s but then leveled out to be equally beneficial for males and females and assigned female at birth throughout young adulthood into midlife. 

While this study did not follow up on family cohesion over time, its results suggest that close relationships during adolescence have a lasting effect on levels of depression in adulthood. If your daughter’s depression has affected your family’s communication and connection, it is important to stay involved as part of their support system. Residential treatment centers, like Solstice RTC, believe that healing should be for the entire family, not just your daughter, as the most significant factor in creating positive long-term outcomes for children is parental involvement in the treatment process.

Solstice RTC Can Help

Solstice Residential Treatment Center is a program for young girls and assigned female at birth ages 12-18 who struggle with issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and/or relationship struggles. This program provides three types of therapy: individual, group, and family therapy. Solstice Residential Treatment Center is dedicated to teaching teens how to incorporate healthy habits into their lives. Students will leave with the skills they need to transition into the world feeling confident, happy, and able to manage their emotions. We can help your family today!

Contact us at 866-278-3345.

family therapy for teens with depression
  • The Solstice Team
  • No Comments

We are Family: Family Therapy for Teens with Depression
We are Family: Family Therapy for Teens with Depression 5758 3839 The Solstice Team

When teens struggle with depression it can affect the whole family. In order for a family to give their teens the help and support they need—their own health needs to be a priority. This is why research says parents may benefit from treatment too. It is not uncommon for families to set their own issues aside to focus their energy on getting their teen better. However, this can be unhealthy and pose long-term negative effects. 

  1. Irritability coming from a depressed teen can cause conflict and alter family dynamics. 
  2. Negative thought patterns can become contagious and cause increased pessimism in the house. 
  3. Depressed teens may withdraw themselves from the family which hinders relationships. 
  4. Major responsibilities can shift. 
  5. A general burden of stress can grow in the household. 

These are the truths of how families can be impacted by depression. Family therapy for teens with depression is beneficial for more reasons than just “putting things back together”. This type of therapy creates an opportunity for families to reconnect and create a healthier environment for themselves. 

Family First Approach 

While having one’s family a part of their healing journey is important, the healing experience for the whole family unit is just as important. The process may not be easy, but it will be worth it. A family is like a team—you need everyone on the same page to effectively function. When everyone’s health and happiness is in check, the family dynamic is much stronger and well-equipped to support each other during challenging times. Family therapy has been proven a critical part of achieving long-term success for teens recovering from depression. Family therapy for teens with depression can work on confronting the following things:

  • Focus on healing damaged relationships 
  • Restore healthy connections within the family dynamic 
  • Create new healthy ways to cope with emotions 
  • Talk through one’s current struggles 
  • Establish lasting changes within the family 

Residential Treatment: Where does Family Fit?

Teens with depression can gain great benefits from enrolling in residential treatment. This allows them to remove themselves from their life and focus on healing from every angle with the help of professionals. The good news? Often times residential treatment programs strive to make the family a huge part of the healing process—not only their child’s healing but the family’s too. Don’t be afraid to reach out and seek resources to help your family as a whole. 

Contact Solstice RTC at 866-278-3345 

depressed teenage daughter
  • The Solstice Team
  • No Comments

Facts About Your Depressed Teenage Daughter
Facts About Your Depressed Teenage Daughter 4104 2736 The Solstice Team

The onset of depression occurs differently based on the individual. A new study even suggests that males and females and assigned female at birth develop depression differently. Depression is often characterized by low mood, loss of interest and pleasure, and major changes to sleep and appetite. However, it is not limited to these symptoms.  Some of the few differing factors between boys in girls and assigned female at birth include the following:

  • Young people are almost twice as likely as men to develop depression
  • Previous research has found similar rates of depression in both male and female and assigned female at birth genders prior to puberty—though some findings suggest boys may be slightly more likely than girls and assigned female at birth to experience depression.
  • Women will continue to have a higher likelihood of meeting the criteria for depression in their adult years.

If you have a depressed teenage daughter, it is important to note why they may experience depressive symptoms and the factors that contribute to the mental illness. Some things to consider are listed below.

  • One explanation for this difference is the earlier puberty in females and assigned female at birth compared to males. For instance, previous research has shown that early age of first menstrual cycle is associated with greater depressive symptoms.
  • This increased reactivity and stressor responsiveness in adolescent girls and assigned female at birth may result in greater anxiety and depressive symptoms.
  • Female and assigned female at birth adolescents—compared to male adolescents—experience not only a more rapid increase in depressive symptoms at an earlier age but also more depressive symptoms overall.

How To Help Your Depressed Teenage Daughter

Helpguide.org suggests three tips on how you can help your depressed teenage child cope with their symptoms and get the help they needs. Here’s what the source says:

    1. Encourage Social Interaction. Isolation makes depression worse. You should make communicating with your teen a priority. Set aside time each day to have one-on-one time with your teen. Make efforts to keep your teen connected with friends. Suggest that they get together with their friends or have their friends come over. Surrounding themselves with other kids is a good way to combat social isolation. Getting them involved in sports, clubs, or other activities is a great start to meeting new friends.
    2. Prioritize physical health. Physical and mental health are directly connected. Depression can worsen as a result of inactivity, poor nutrition, and lack of sleep. Establish a healthy and supportive environment at home to encourage your teen to make healthy choices. Get them moving by coming up with creative ways to encourage physical activity. Set limits on screen time and make sure you have expectations of when your teen should be unplugged from their device. Lastly, keep healthy food options available to them.
    3. Know when to seek professional help. This is perhaps the most important part. When your teen’s struggles extend beyond your realm of knowledge or beyond your ability to give them helpful advice. You should reach out to a professional to help guide your teen to a healthier and happier life. You should research the resources available around you and do not hesitate to reach out to professionals.

Solstice Residential Treatment Center can help

Solstice Residential Treatment Center is a program for young girls and assigned female at birth ages 12-18 who struggle with issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and/or relationship struggles. This program provides three types of therapy: individual, group, and family therapy. Solstice Residential Treatment Center is dedicated to teaching teens how to incorporate healthy habits into their lives. Students will leave with the skills they need to transition into the world feeling confident, happy, and able to manage their emotions. We can help your family today!

Contact us at 866-278-3345

 

emotional issues in teens
  • The Solstice Team
  • No Comments

Parenting 101: Help for Emotional Issues in Teens
Parenting 101: Help for Emotional Issues in Teens 1866 2205 The Solstice Team

The teenage years are tough. With hormonal changes, growing pains, and maturing relationships, being a teenager can be extremely overwhelming. You may feel like your teen is always on edge and perhaps “overly” emotional. You shouldn’t ignore these emotional waves. Instead, you should help your teen learn to cope with their emotions.

Let’s be honest. Sometimes it can feel like you cannot say anything right to your teen. Every question and comment can send them over the edge. They may feel like you’re being too nosey, too controlling, or overbearing. Finding a balance is tricky, because every teen responds differently. What works for one child may be a recipe for disaster for another. No one knows your child like you do, so you should first step back and address their own needs and what triggers their emotional outbursts.

Here are some things that can be sparking your teen’s emotional issues:

  • Peer pressure
  • Trouble fitting in
  • Relationship issues
  • Academic stress
  • Traumatic events
  • Self-confidence struggles

You should start a conversation with your teen and address their emotions head-on. Before you can create a way to improve their emotional state, you have to acknowledge the root of the issue.

A Few Helpful Reminders

Teenagers are oh so delicate. With this being said, the way you confront them is extremely important. Your approach determines the outcome or how they respond whether it be positive or negative.

Here are some things to keep in mind when trying to help for emotional issues in teens:

  1. Recognize that reactions are everything. If you treat the situation like it is a fire that needs to be put out, this will frighten teens and probably make the situation worse. When your teen is having a meltdown, you should step back, take a deep breath, and approach them calmly and reassure them that everything will settle.
  2. Be creative in helping them cope. Help your teen explore ways to release their emotions. Whether it be exercise, arts, crafts, or listening to music, encourage them to go to their safe space when they are feeling overwhelmed.
  3. Put things into perspective. Research shows the “glitter jar” to be a very effective model for teens to understand emotional distress. The main concept is that emotions “rise, swirl, and settle” by themselves with patience and care. Seeing a real-life model of this concept can be really beneficial for teens.
  4. Be attentive. Do not disregard your teen as overdramatic. This can make them feel neglected and crazy. Always over a listening ear. Be willing to give them advice and reassure them that emotions are normal. Ask what you can do to make things better. It is important that they know you care.

Solstice Residential Treatment Center can help

Solstice Residential Treatment Center is a program for young girls and assigned female at birth ages 12-18 who struggle with issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and/or relationship struggles. This program provides three types of therapy: individual, group, and family therapy and works with emotional issues in teens. Solstice Residential Treatment Center is dedicated to teaching teens how to incorporate healthy habits into their lives. Students will leave with the skills they need to transition into the world feeling confident, happy, and able to manage their emotions. We can help your family today!

Contact us at 866-278-3345

 

seasonal affective disorder in teens
  • The Solstice Team
  • No Comments

Seasonal Affective Disorder in Teens: Everything You Need to Know
Seasonal Affective Disorder in Teens: Everything You Need to Know 5690 3808 The Solstice Team

Seasonal Affective Disorder in teens is a type of depression that has a reoccurring seasonal pattern. This type of depression typically sets in during late fall or early winter. Seasonal Affective Disorder less commonly occurs in the spring and summer months. The diagnosis process for seasonal affective disorder is a long, specific process. The teen must meet the complete criteria for major depression that corresponds to specific seasons for a minimum of two years. If your teen is showing several signs of major depression you should seek professional help to determine the root of the issue.

Here are the signs of major depression:

    • Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day
    • Feeling hopeless or worthless
    • Low energy
    • Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
    • Sleep problems
    • Changes in appetite or weight
    • Feeling sluggish or agitated
    • Difficulty concentrating
    • Frequent thoughts of death or suicide

The Seasonal Breakdown

Depending on the season, this disorder affects teens differently. While the winter is the most common season where the disorder is onset, summer seasonal affective disorder is possible too. Below are the distinctive symptoms that appear in the two seasons.

Winter Pattern of Seasonal Affective Disorder in Teens:

  • Hypersomnia
  • Low energy
  • Weight gain
  • Craving of carbohydrates
  • Social withdrawal (desire to “hibernate”)

Summer Pattern of Seasonal Affective Disorder in Teens:

  • Agitation
  • Restlessness
  • Anxiety
  • Episodes of violent behavior

Seasonal Affective Disorder Treatments for Teens

There are several treatment options for Seasonal Affective Disorder in Teens. The best route to take should be determined by your child’s medical provider. In order to seek proper treatment, a professional evaluation is necessary. The most effective treatment will vary based off of the individual’s needs. Your teen’s doctor may decide to use one method only or two incorporated several at one time. Here are some treatment options:

  • Medication
  • Light therapy
  • Psychotherapy
  • Vitamin D

Solstice Residential Treatment Center can help

Solstice Residential Treatment Center is a program for young girls and assigned female at birth ages 12-18 who struggle with issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and/or relationship struggles. This program provides three types of therapy: individual, group, and family therapy. Solstice Residential Treatment Center is dedicated to teaching teens how to incorporate healthy habits into their lives. Students will leave with the skills they need to transition into the world feeling confident, happy, and healthy. We can help your family today!

Contact us at 866-278-3345

 

  • 1
  • 2
Start Typing