is for Addiction

Addiction means a person has no control over whether he or she uses a drug or drinks. Someone who is addicted to cocaine has grown so used to the drug that he or she has to have it. Addiction can be physical, psychological, or both.

is for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness marked by extreme shifts in mood. Symptoms can include an extremely elevated mood called mania. They can also include episodes of depression. Bipolar disorder is also known as bipolar disease or manic depression

is for Claustrophobia

 Claustrophobia is the fear of having no escape and being closed into a small space. It is typically classified as an anxiety disorder and often times results in a rather severe panic attack.

is for Depression

Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel also the way you think, and how you act. Thankfully, it is treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.

is for Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are illnesses in which the people experience severe disturbances in their eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. People with eating disorders typically become pre-occupied with food and their body weight.

is for Feeding Disorders

seen in infancy or early childhood, this disorder reflects a constant failure to eat, also with a significant failure to gain weight, for at least one month. Medical abnormalities with the child need to be ruled out, and parents are warned not to wait to seek medical attention.

is for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

 Children or adolescents with generalized anxiety disorder often worry a lot about things such as future events, past behaviors, social acceptance, family matters, their personal abilities, and/or school performance.

is for Hallucinations

a strong perception of an event or object when no such situation is present; may occur in any of the senses (i.e., visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory, or tactile).

is for Identity

 self knowledge about one's characteristics or personality; a sense of self.

Fun Facts:

- One in five children and teens between the ages of 13 and 18 have or will have a serious mental illness.

-Roughly 11% of teens have a mood disorder (Depression, Bipolar Disorder, etc.)

-Approximately 10% of teens have a behavior or conduct disorder (Oppositional Defiant Disorder).

-About 8% of teens have an anxiety disorder (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, etc.)

• Hotlines if you are in need of help or just someone to talk to:
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline -- 1-800-273-TALK
• Trevor HelpLine / Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ+ Teens -- 1-866-488-7386
• Crisis Text Line -- Text HOME to 741741
• Gay & Lesbian National Hotline -- 1-888-THE-GLNH (1-888-843-4564)
• IMAlive -- online crisis chat
• National Runaway Safeline -- 1-800-RUNAWAY (chat available on website)
• Teenline -- 310-855-4673 or text TEEN to 839863 (teens helping teens)

is for Learning Disorders

Learning disorders are characterized by difficulties in an academic area (either reading, mathematics, or writing skills) such that the child's ability to achieve in the specific academic area is below what is expected for the child's age, schooling, and level of intelligence.