Anxiety can feel like a nonstop background hum that you can’t turn off. Maybe it’s the racing thoughts before a test, the pit in your stomach before a social event, or the endless “what ifs” that make you question everything. If you’re a teen or college student trying to manage all the noise—grades, friendships, family expectations, figuring out who you are—you’re not alone. Anxiety is incredibly common at your age, but that doesn’t make it any less exhausting. Let’s talk ho

👻The Ghosts That Follow You Around Campus You know that feeling when your mind won’t stop replaying every awkward moment you’ve ever had? That’s not a ghost haunting you—it’s anxiety doing its favorite Halloween trick. For teens and college students, October can bring midterms, social events, and a heavy dose of “Am I doing enough?” fear. Add costumes and crowds to the mix, and your nervous system might feel like it’s trapped in a haunted house. But here’s the good news: lik

Adolescence is a time of rapid change and growth. Teens face many challenges, from academic pressures to social dynamics and personal identity struggles. These hurdles can sometimes feel overwhelming, but with the right support, teens can develop resilience and confidence to navigate life’s ups and downs. One effective way to empower teens is through teen coaching , a focused approach that helps young people build skills, set goals, and overcome obstacles. Understanding the R

Be honest: How many times have you put in three solid hours studying, but still felt like you barely absorbed anything? You were likely trading quantity for quality . You're not a machine meant to sit and suffer; you are a brilliant individual, and your time is valuable. The old method of "cramming" and long, grueling study sessions is ineffective because it ignores how your brain actually learns. Long hours lead to fatigue, diminishing returns, and high-stress memory retriev

Have you ever stared at a blinking cursor until 1 AM, feeling a pit of dread because you just can't start ? It's a common struggle. We call it procrastination, but it's rarely about being lazy. For high-achieving students, it’s fear dressed up in distraction —fear of failure, fear of this anxiety leads to paralysis. You push through hours of distraction, only to end up more stressed and less productive. Today, we're not talking about willpower or pushing harder. We’re talking

Crush Procrastination You’ve been told to "just start," but it never works. That cycle of waiting until the last minute, rushing through the work, and then hating yourself for it is exhausting. Here’s the truth: Procrastination isn’t laziness—it’s fear.  It’s the fear of failure, the fear of not being perfect, or the fear of the sheer size of the task. Your brain is trying to protect you from pain by making you busy with less important things. I  don't teach you how to "work

Midterms can feel like a tidal wave. Exams, papers, group projects, sleepless nights—suddenly everything hits at once. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or like you’re sprinting on a treadmill that won’t stop. The good news? Midterms don’t have to break you. With a clear plan, realistic strategies, and small moments of grounding, you can navigate this season with less stress and more focus. Whether this is your first semester or you’re a seasoned upperclassman, these st

https://jessica50f.substack.com/p/local-social-media-body-shaming-thighs Tri-State Lookout Subscribe Sign in Local Social Media "Body Shaming": Thighs, Noses, Moles and More Warwick social worker Jennifer Rowe says she has been encountering many teens coping with body shaming. JESSICA COHEN JUL 16, 2024 Share Warwick social worker Jennifer Rowe. Contributed photo. When social worker Jennifer Rowe first heard about high school girls taunting a peer by showing photos of her on

by CHJ Fellow Donna C. Moss https://centerforhealthjournalism.org/our-work/insights/kids-i-see-have-been-flattened-lifeless-listless-bored January 7, 2022 The phone rings at least three times a day with the same message from a distraught parent: my daughter needs someone to talk to (and it’s usually a daughter in middle school or high school). I ask what’s going on. They say she wants therapy, she is depressed and anxious. I say there is a wait list. For the first time in m

Warwick social worker Jennifer Rowe discusses pandemic mental health patterns she sees in teens and suggests some remedies. Anxiety stalked youth pre-covid and has become a common presence in Covid’s wake, according to Jennifer Rowe. a licensed clinical social worker. “Fear is a driving force with 13 to 21-year-olds that I see,” she said. “They feel unsafe, and they can’t say why.” She gleans what drives the feeling from her counseling encounters with youth, mostly girls,