dedwards

Protecting your child from harm is the most important duty you will face during the teenage years. Research from Columbia University reveals that parents who exert their parental authority by taking a “hands-on approach to raising their children not only have a better relationship with their children, but also reduce their child's risk of harming themselves with drugs and alcohol.

The wonder and innocence of childhood is a fragile and fleeting thing. The turns and tangles of the world beyond their parent's arms can be harsh and complex. The cultural pressure on children to abandon their innocence, grow up fast is enormous--and wrought with countless trials and tears. Self-esteem is the consequence of how we cope, what we believe, how we were raised and, most importantly, how we live.

Nathan was changing. He was becoming increasingly irritable, bored, sad, and just plain angry. When his mother would ask what was wrong, he'd snap, "I'm just having a bad day." For a few months Nathan's mother assumed that the pressures of school and just being a young teen were the cause of »

I have been smoking weed for 6 years and want to quit and go back to school. When I try to quit I feel horrible. What is going on? How can I quit? --Reggie, age 21. You are not alone. Approximately 14 million teens and adults use marijuana on a »

In short, yes. The best available scientific evidence shows that teens who smoke marijuana are 40 percent more likely to develop psychosis and/or schizophrenia when compared to teens who do not use this drug. This finding was recently reported in Lancet, one of the most prestigious medical journals in the »

National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity has defined sexual addiction as “engaging in persistent and escalating patterns of sexual behavior acted out despite increasing negative consequences to self and others. Signs and Symptoms of Internet Sexual Addiction include: Frequent use of the Internet to visit sexually oriented sites Binging—hours »

Some characteristics or family traits associated with anorexia include: excessive concern within the family with outward appearances, including body shape and weight parental focus on perfection and performance; harsh criticism for mistakes and inappropriate ways of dealing with conflict family history of sexual abuse strained relationship between husband and wife »

Anorexia Nervosa is a chronic, potentially life-threatening eating disorder. It is characterized by deliberate restriction of calories to the point of starvation. Anorexia usually begins at during puberty. Over a lifetime it will affect 1-2 percent of females in the US. Anorexia is most common among adolescent girls and young »

Having drunken sex is not only risky--it can also be humiliating and produce intense feelings of guilt and shame. Here is an excerpt from an American Council on Drug Education report on alcohol and sex in which a young woman recounts a drunken sexual encounter. I was at a party »

Genuine self-esteem is the result of an intricate conspiracy between what we think about ourselves, how those we love think and feel about us, and how we live our lives. Previous generations did not believe that esteeming the “self was all that necessary. On the contrary, one’s actions were of »

“I used to think it was cool to be a party girl, drink and hook up with cute guys--but what I really want is for someone to want to spend time with me and try to get to know me. After the sex, the guys are never interested in anything »

Most addicted teens don’t consciously intend to kill themselves. But many become so depressed that they just don’t care one way or the other. I had been smoking marijuana for 2 years but pot wasn’t doing it for me anymore. II was failing school, lost all my real friends--I hated »