HOW TO COPE WITH ANXIETY
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HOW TO COPE WITH ANXIETY

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association(1), 31.9%, or about one in three, teens experience anxiety. Given that 49.5% of all adolescents ages 13-18 experience some form of mental illness(2), anxiety seems to be the most prevalent. What is anxiety? Anxiety is an uneasy feeling we have in reaction to perceived stress. Anxiety can have…

First Annual Wellness Mental Health Staff Retreat
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First Annual Wellness Mental Health Staff Retreat

In January 2023, Clinical Director Dr. Angelica Soto hosted Plan-It-Life’s first ever Mental Health Staff Retreat in downtown Riverside.  Participants included therapists, mental health specialists, and case managers from all four facilities. Opening with team building activities, the team learned about various mental health topics as it relates to our adolescent client population.  This targeted…

What Is the Difference Between Self-Care and Self-Love?
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What Is the Difference Between Self-Care and Self-Love?

Self-care and self-love are often used interchangeably, but there is a distinct difference between the two. Self-care is the practice of taking care of oneself, both physically and emotionally. It can include activities like eating healthy, getting enough sleep, exercising, and spending time with loved ones. Self-love, on the other hand, is about valuing and…

The Difference Between Hearing and Listening
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The Difference Between Hearing and Listening

You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.” —M. Scott Peck Merriam-Webster defines hearing as the “process, function, or power of perceiving sound; specifically: the special sense by which noises and tones are received as stimuli.” On the other hand, listening means “to pay attention to sound; to hear…

Social Anxiety Disorder in Today’s Teenagers
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Social Anxiety Disorder in Today’s Teenagers

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a mental illness that is more prevalent than many may think. The condition is also referred to as “social phobia.” According to the National Institute of Mental Health, SAD affects one-third of teenagers aged 13-18 in the United States alone. This disorder generally appears when the youth is between 10-13 years…

Teen Suicide Warning Signs and Prevention Tips
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Teen Suicide Warning Signs and Prevention Tips

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing thoughts of suicide, please call 1-800-273-8255 immediately for help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day. You may also text 741741 to reach The Crisis Text Line. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide affects all ages. It is the…

National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness
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National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness

What is homelessness?  Being homeless is defined as “the state of having no home.”  It is estimated that 150 million people worldwide are homeless, and a staggering 1.7 billion people lack adequate housing. According to homelessness by states, California ranked highest with an amount of 129,000 people while North Dakota ranked the lowest at 542 individuals. …

Working Towards Emotional Wellness
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Working Towards Emotional Wellness

Since 2004, wellness advocates in the United States have recognized October as Emotional Wellness Month. With the ever-increasing fast-paced lifestyle of hectic schedules, beeping devices, and, how could we forget, the uncertainness of 2020, there is a good reason for focus on Emotional Wellness.  Stress is the most significant catalyst towards emotional unrest, so it’s…

Child Abuse: What Counts, What’s Adjacent, and What’s Expected of Mandated Reporters
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Child Abuse: What Counts, What’s Adjacent, and What’s Expected of Mandated Reporters

Anyone under 18 years old is a child. Each year, the United States receives at least three million child abuse reports. It is essential to make people understand the widespread child abuse and the causes and reasons for its occurrence. At the state level, child abuse or neglect can be defined by both criminal and…