Understanding Mental Health: A Guide for Teen

Hello and welcome to The HEAL Blog!

Did you know that 1 in 5 teens has a diagnosed mental health disorder? And that nearly 60% of adolescents have experienced at least one episode of deep sadness or low energy? These numbers are surprising, but they’re real. The truth is, struggling with mental health is a common part of being a teen today.

But what exactly is mental health? And why does it matter so much?

Mental health is all about how we think, feel, and handle life’s ups and downs. It affects how we cope with stress, connect with others, and make everyday decisions. That’s why understanding mental health is so important—it helps us recognize when something feels off, when we might need support, or when we’re showing signs of a mental health condition. Taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body.

Here are some of the most common mental health conditions, the symptoms, how they are treated, and ways to cope with them and stay stable. Hopefully by learning about these conditions you can recognize and help yourself and those around you in the future.

1) Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

GAD is more than just feeling nervous once in a while. It’s when you experience constant worry about everyday things, school, friendships, your future, even when there’s no obvious reason. Common symptoms include feeling restless, tired, having trouble focusing, getting irritated easily, or struggling to sleep.

Treatment can include therapy, medication, or learning techniques to manage stress.

Coping strategies that can help:

• Write down your worries to get them out of your head

• Stick to a daily routine to create a sense of stability

• Try to limit caffeine, since it can make anxiety worse

🧭 Tip: To stay grounded, try deep breathing, break tasks into smaller steps, and remind yourself: anxiety is a signal, not a truth. Just because you're feeling it doesn’t mean something bad is actually happening.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder is an intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or rejected in social situations. You might avoid speaking up in class, dread group hangouts, or feel physical symptoms like blushing, sweating, or a racing heart. It can also take a toll on your confidence and self-esteem.

Treatment often includes therapy, medication, and social skills training to help you feel more comfortable over time.

Coping strategies that can help:

• Practice what you want to say ahead of time (like for a presentation or conversation)

• Bring someone you trust to social events when you can

• Shift your focus from yourself to the people around you—it helps reduce self-conscious thoughts

🧭 Tip: To stay steady, work on challenging those negative thoughts with facts, give yourself credit for even the small wins, and take breaks when you need them. Progress takes time, and that’s okay.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder involves sudden and intense panic attacks that seem to come out of nowhere. During an attack, you might feel like your heart is racing, your chest hurts, you’re dizzy, or like you’re losing control or even dying. It can be a scary experience, but you're not alone, and it is treatable.

Treatment usually includes therapy and sometimes medication to help manage the frequency and intensity of the attacks.

Coping strategies that can help:

• Learn to “ride the wave” of a panic attack

• Focus on slow, deep breathing to calm your body

• Track your triggers so you can understand what might be setting off your anxiety

🧭 Tip: To stay grounded, avoid skipping meals or cramming your schedule too full. Try keeping a journal to notice patterns in your panic attacks, and make mindfulness a daily habit—even when you're feeling okay. Practicing when you’re calm helps build strength for the tough moments.

2) Depressive Disorders

Major Depressive Disorder

Feeling down sometimes is normal, but when the sadness sticks around, makes everything feel heavy, and drains your energy or interest in things you used to enjoy, it could be something more. You might sleep too much or not at all, stop eating or overeat, and even have thoughts that life isn’t worth it. It can feel isolating, but you're not alone and it is treatable.

Treatment usually includes therapy, medication, or school-based support to help manage symptoms and build healthier habits.

Coping strategies that can help:

• Set small goals, like getting out of bed or taking a short walk

• Stay connected to people who feel safe and supportive

• Do one thing that brings a tiny spark: music, art, or even a favorite show

🧭 Tip: Try to keep a consistent sleep schedule and gently question harsh thoughts when they show up. Depression lies, it tells you things that aren’t true. You’re not lazy or weak. Healing takes time, and that’s okay.

Bipolar Disorder

Sometimes, moods swing from super high energy and feeling unstoppable, to deep lows that feel heavy and hopeless. The “ups” might involve racing thoughts, risky choices, or little need for sleep. The “downs” can feel like a crash, tiredness, sadness, and losing interest in everything. These shifts can be confusing, but you’re not alone and help is out there.

Treatment usually includes medication and therapy to help balance the highs and lows.

Coping strategies that can help:

• Track your moods with a journal or app to spot patterns

• Avoid alcohol and drugs—they can make mood swings worse

• Talk to someone you trust when you feel a big shift coming on

🧭 Tip: Keeping a regular sleep schedule, taking your meds consistently, and learning your early warning signs can make a huge difference in staying balanced and in control.

3) Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa

Struggling with food, body image, or the fear of gaining weight can take over your life. It might look like strict food rules, skipping meals, obsessively checking your body, or pushing yourself to exercise even when you're exhausted. These patterns are hard to break, but recovery is possible, and you’re not alone.

Treatment often includes therapy, medical support to help with any physical effects, and working with a dietitian to rebuild a healthy relationship with food.

Coping strategies that can help:

• Keep a gentle food journal to track how you're feeling, not just what you eat

• Write letters to your body thanking it for what it does, not how it looks

• Stay away from toxic diet culture and “fitspo” content online

🧭 Tip: Eating regular meals (especially with support), practicing body neutrality (not loving or hating your body, just accepting it), and surrounding yourself with body-safe people and media can make a big difference.

Bulimia Nervosa

Sometimes, food becomes a cycle of eating a lot at once and then trying to “undo” it through purging, like vomiting, over-exercising, or using laxatives. It can come with guilt, shame, and physical signs like swollen cheeks or stomach problems. If this sounds familiar, know that you’re not alone and there’s help that works.

Treatment usually includes therapy, medication, and regular medical checkups to keep your heart and body safe.

Coping strategies that can help:

• Learn what triggers the urge to binge or purge and write them down

• Create a “safe plan” for when urges hit, like texting a friend or using grounding techniques

• Practice self-forgiveness; slip-ups don’t erase your progress

🧭 Tip: Eat balanced meals regularly to keep your body steady, avoid being alone right after eating when possible, and find healthy emotional outlets like art, journaling, or movement that feels good, not punishing.

Binge Eating Disorder

Sometimes, eating becomes a way to cope and you might find yourself eating large amounts of food quickly, even when you’re not hungry. It can feel out of control and leave you with a lot of guilt or shame. If this sounds like you, know that you’re not alone and you can get better.

Treatment often includes therapy, support groups, and sometimes medication to help manage patterns and emotions around food.

Coping strategies that can help:

• Practice mindful eating; slow down and check in with how you feel

• Notice your emotions before and after eating without judging yourself

• Set up support for vulnerable times, like texting a friend or stepping outside

🧭 Tip: Be kind to yourself. Find hobbies that don’t revolve around food, and try to break the habit of secrecy. You’re not “bad” for struggling, healing is possible, and you deserve it.

4) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Sometimes, your brain gets stuck on certain thoughts or worries that won’t go away, and you might feel the need to do certain actions over and over to try to feel better. These repetitive thoughts and behaviors can be exhausting and confusing, but you’re definitely not alone and there’s help.

Treatment usually includes therapy and medication to help manage those thoughts and actions.

Coping strategies that can help:

• Try delaying the urge to do a compulsion by a few minutes each time

• Write down your obsessive thoughts to create some space between you and them

• Avoid constantly asking for reassurance, it can actually make things harder

🧭 Tip: Practice mindfulness when obsessions show up; notice the thoughts without judging them. Don’t feel like you have to hide your compulsions from people who support you, and remember to celebrate every bit of progress, no matter how small.

5) Personality disorders.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Sometimes emotions feel like a rollercoaster, with intense fears of being left alone, messy or unstable relationships, sudden mood swings, and impulsive choices. It can be really tough to manage, but help is available and things can get better.

Treatment usually includes therapy and sometimes medication.

Coping strategies that can help:

• Use skills learned in therapy to manage intense feelings

• Create a “crisis kit” with calming things like music, stress balls, or notes to yourself

• Write down your emotions before reacting to them

🧭 Tip: Keep going to therapy, even when it’s hard. Build a stable group of people who support you, and try to avoid thinking in extremes like “all good” or “all bad.”

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)

Some people struggle with lying, stealing, being aggressive, or not feeling much empathy for others. This is rare in teens.

Treatment involves therapy, medication, and structured environments to help guide behavior.

Coping strategies that can help:

• Learn how actions have consequences

• Reflect on how your behavior affects others

• Find better ways to handle emotions or situations

🧭 Tip: Stay consistent with therapy, build trust with adults and mentors, and try activities that promote teamwork and understanding other people’s feelings.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)

This can look like needing a lot of attention, exaggerating accomplishments, not really understanding how others feel, and getting hurt easily when criticized.

Treatment includes therapy, self-awareness training, and learning how to manage emotions better.

Coping strategies that can help:

• Write in a journal about feelings like shame or rejection

• Explore where your need for approval comes from

• Practice gratitude and humility every day

🧭 Tip: Be open to honest feedback, focus on building real connections (not just image), and work on building confidence from inside, not from outside praise.

Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD)

If you feel super shy, scared of criticism, and avoid social situations even though you want to connect, this might be what you’re experiencing.

Treatment usually involves therapy and social skills training.

Coping strategies that can help:

• Challenge negative thoughts about yourself

• Take small steps in social settings—baby steps count!

• Reward yourself when you try, no matter what happens

🧭 Tip: Remind yourself that you’re worthy of love and connection. Practice kind, honest self-talk, and hang out with people who encourage and support you.

Why do these disorders happen?

There isn’t one single cause. Mental health disorders can come from a mix of things, like:

Genetics

• Family history can make someone more likely to develop a disorder

Brain Chemistry

• Imbalances in chemicals that regulate mood and emotion

Trauma

• Bullying, abuse, neglect, or loss

Environment

• Stress at home, school pressure, poverty, or social media

Final Thoughts

If you want to learn more about why mental illness happens in a way that’s easy to understand, Psych Hub and Kati Morton are both great YouTube channels. Kati Morton is a licensed therapist and breaks things down for teens in a way that doesn’t feel boring or overwhelming.

Mental health struggles can feel incredibly isolating, but millions of teens go through the same thing. Talking to someone about how you feel isn’t weak, it’s brave. If you’re struggling, reaching out to a therapist, school counselor, or even a parent or friend can be the first step toward healing. You don’t have to figure it all out at once. Just take one step at a time.

Written and researched by Brycen W

2025 The HEAL Project