Listen to this podcast episode from Lynn Lyons, Psychotherapist, Anxiety and Children​ that answers two listeners questions:

A mom discovers her 15 year old has been thinking of drinking to manage her stress. What are the conversations parents should be having with their teens around stress, substance abuse and peer pressure?

And another mom raised by an anxious parent is trying to break the cycle with her daughters. She asks Lynn how to know when the voices inside her head are generational patterns of worry repeating or intuitive warnings. How does anxiety filter the decisions we make and the information we receive?

Listen here!

Tip of the Week: Regularly drinking alcohol before your teen brain is fully developed can impact impulse-control and the memory and learning areas of the brain.

Brain development is still occurring between the ages of 12-26 and scientific research has shown that binge-drinking or regularly drinking alcohol as a teen can result in irreversible brain change.

5 Tips for Monitoring Your Teen to Help Prevent Underage Drinking

• Limit Access
  If you have alcohol in your home, keep track of it and lock it up
• Network
  Get to know the parents of your pre/teen’s friends
• Enforce Rules
  Enforce your rules consistently and tell your pre/teen what behavior you expect from them while they are out
• Check in Often
  Ask your pre/teen where they will be and check in with other parents
• Be Up and Be Ready
  Wait up and look for signs of use

To view more resources on youth alcohol prevention visit our website here

It’s never too early to discuss how underage drinking can impact their developing brains.

How alcohol affects your kids’ brains (VIDEOS)

Tip of the Week: Managing stress does not have to include the use of alcohol or drugs. The best way to handle stress is through healthy habits.

Exercise, healthy eating, sleeping well and maintaining close relationships are important in stress management. These key actions can help reduce stress levels and improve your quality of life. Quick fixes like drugs or alcohol may temporarily mask stress but the long-term effects are unhealthy.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month! Check out this short 3 minute video to learn 5 Tips To Help Your Teen Stay Safe And Substance Free!

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a substance use prevention campaign, “Talk. They Hear You.” that helps parents and caregivers start talking to their children early about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs. Read about the 5 conversation goals to have with your teens below.