Contact us today to learn more about our treatment programs and how we can help you or your loved one recover from addiction. In addition to detox and medication, you will also participate in therapy while in treatment.

Whenever you take any https://ecosoberhouse.com/, your body will typically build tolerance to it, and will likely exhibit withdrawal symptoms when the use of the drug is stopped. In short, you can be physically dependent on a drug without being addicted to it. If you or someone you know identifies with the symptoms of physical and psychological dependence, you might need addiction treatment. Our staff at Comprehensive Wellness Centers is here to help you every step of the way.

The Difference Between Physical and Psychological Dependency

Anecdotally, Marijuana users say that smoking “weed” isn’t addictive. Conversely, research has shown that there are physical and psychological consequences that are reached when a person does have a dependence on Marijuana. Physical dependence is a physical condition caused by chronic use of a tolerance-forming drug, in which abrupt or gradual drug withdrawal causes unpleasant physical symptoms. The higher the dose used, the greater the duration of use, and the earlier age use began are predictive of worsened physical dependence and thus more severe withdrawal syndromes. Protracted withdrawal syndrome can last for months, years, or depending on individual factors, indefinitely. Protracted withdrawal syndrome is noted to be most often caused by benzodiazepines.

• You’re suffering from an illness, and you need to get treatment for it as soon as you possibly can.
• “Typically, you’ll have significant cravings, loss of control, and difficulty stopping even when you want to.
• By modifying the required response (e.g., increasing the number of lever presses required before the alcohol is delivered) researchers can determine the motivational value of the stimulus for the animal.
• Overstreet DH, Knapp DJ, Breese GR. Modulation of multiple ethanol withdrawal-induced anxiety-like behavior by CRF and CRF1 receptors.
• Physical dependence is, in some cases, an essentially inevitable result of regularly ingesting a given substance.

As noted above, with prescription physiological dependence on alcohol, for instance, developing a plan of action with your doctor in the event dependence develops is paramount . Anxiety as a predictor of relapse in detoxified alcohol-dependent patients. Valdez GR, Zorrilla EP, Roberts AJ, Koob GF. Antagonism of corticotropin-releasing factor attenuates the enhanced responsiveness to stress observed during protracted ethanol abstinence. Miller NS, Gold MS. Dissociation of “conscious desire” from and relapse in alcohol and cocaine dependence.

How Physiological Dependence Can Be Treated

Treatment for psychological addiction may include therapy, support groups, and medicine. Treatment for psychological dependence may include therapy, support groups, and medication. The signs and symptoms of a physical and psychological dependency are difficult to separate at times. Depression and anxiety can cause an individual to have heart palpitations, feel pain, and make them faint. Physical symptoms can make a person lose sleep, feel depressed, and feel anxious. One might lead to another, which is why it’s important to treat both as they appear. To put it another way, physical vs psychological dependence means mental vs physical symptoms.

Backstrom P, Hyytia P. Ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists modulate cue-induced reinstatement of ethanol-seeking behavior. 3In operant procedures, animals must first perform certain response (e.g., press a lever) before they receive a stimulus (e.g., a small amount of alcohol). By modifying the required response (e.g., increasing the number of lever presses required before the alcohol is delivered) researchers can determine the motivational value of the stimulus for the animal. Rimondini R, Sommer WH, Dall’Olio R, Heilig M. Long-lasting tolerance to alcohol following a history of dependence. Rimondini R, Arlinde C, Sommer W, Heilig M. Long-lasting increase in voluntary ethanol consumption and transcriptional regulation in the rat brain after intermittent exposure to alcohol. The effects of carbamazepine and lorazepam on single versus multiple previous alcohol withdrawals in an outpatient randomized trial. 1In operant procedures, animals must first perform a certain response (e.g., press a lever) before they receive a stimulus (e.g., a small amount of alcohol).

Many believe chiropractic care is only for seniors or victims of car accidents. However, kids’ chiropractic care can make a world of difference in a child’s life. Gentle adjustments help the child’s cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. Afterwards, be sure to drink lots of water afterwards to continue to help flush toxins out. Detox Baths are relaxing and soothing and help draw the toxins out from the skin to ease the toxin burden on your body. Is there anything worse than a child (or a house full of them) who is under the weather?

The most important step in protecting children from heavy metal exposure is prevention. Avoiding contaminated water sources is one way to reduce the need to detoxify heavy metals. We need to remember that our bodies, and our children’s bodies, are designed to eliminate toxins –through sweat, pee, and poop, and even through our breath and our thoughts. If toxins enter our bodies faster than our elimination routes can get rid of them, they’ll fill up our so-called “Inflammation Bucket,” until our bucket eventually overflows. These specialists can create individualised treatment regimens, track development, and offer direction on nutritional and lifestyle adjustments. Their expertise guarantees the effectiveness and safety of therapies.

Best Practices for Fashion Brands

Working together with medical professionals is crucial to protect a child’s health, provide the best prospects for recovery, and reduce any potential long-term effects of heavy metal exposure. Before reaching out for fancy supplements or vitamins, I believe in supporting children’s bodies’ innate wisdom to detoxify naturally. Our bodies detoxify at the cellular level and through the liver, digestive system, kidneys, lungs, skin, and lymphatic system. If you’re able to implement several of these simple but effective suggestions in your children’s day to day routine, “detoxing” daily becomes part of a healthy lifestyle. Stances Orchard Sea Moss Gummies provide a delicious and convenient way to support detoxification and overall health.

Drugs & Supplements

1. For me, what is perhaps the hardest part of the “toxins conversation” is that toxins aren’t going anywhere.
2. Active time outside in the sun (with sun protection), on a playground, or playing sports helps support the lymphatic system and the detoxification function of the skin.
3. Elements like lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic are examples of heavy metals.
4. However, it is undeniable that we are living in a world that is more toxic than ever.

The supplement supports digestive health and overall well-being, making it suitable for daily use. It’s vegan, non-GMO, and free from artificial additives, ensuring a clean and natural detox experience. Ideal for those seeking a holistic approach to detoxification, this supplement promotes a healthy gut environment while aiding in the elimination of harmful substances. How much of a difference do adjustments in lifestyle—like spending less time in polluted areas or encouraging more outdoor activity—make in facilitating detoxification? If so, how much of a particular supplement or herbal remedy should a child take if they choose to utilise it? By answering these questions, parents can better safeguard their children from the effects of heavy metal exposure and safely detoxify heavy metals.

Top 10 Tips for Making Detox a Lifestyle for Your Children:

Rashes, headaches, and fatigue can also be signs of heavy metal exposure. Elements like lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic are examples of heavy metals. They are also typically toxic and there are several sources of them. Mercury is prevalent in some fish, whereas lead can be found in paints and water pipes.

A helpful way to add vitamins to their diet is by giving them a smoothie. Additionally, gummy vitamins are a quick and easy treat that most kids don’t fight. However, be sure to read the back of the nutrition label for any unhealthy diet, additives, or chemicals. They also help absorb a variety of vitamins and play a role in hormone balance. You hear about fat-free foods all the time, but our bodies need fats to survive since they also insulate the body.

Ideal for those seeking a comprehensive detox solution, this product helps maintain optimal health and well-being. In 2017 I ditched typical store-bought cleaning, haircare and skin products and switched entirely to plant-based and non-toxic products. This is also the time when I discovered the natural healing properties of a detox bath to help my kids detoxify their bodies from toxins, relax, sleep better and boost their immune systems. Because of how xanax vs ambien susceptible developing bodies are to heavy metal poisoning, frequent testing is an essential part of pediatric treatment. To protect their children’s health and overall development, parents and other caregivers should collaborate closely with healthcare professionals to ensure that children undergo routine testing.

An approach that focuses on supporting optimal elimination, replenishment of key nutrients, and adequate hydration is a pragmatic, safe, and gentle way to address the issue of toxicity. Arrange and attend routine pediatric check-ups to keep track of your kid’s growth and health, including screening for heavy metal poisoning. Dental fillings can release mercury, necessitating the need to detoxify heavy metals.

The key to a healthy, happy child who can thrive in our modern “toxic” world is to understand the many different ways to keep our children’s Inflammation Bucket from overflowing. For the sake of both the earth and our health, keeping our homes clean and sustainable is crucial. Consider adopting environmentally beneficial behavior to achieve this. First, accutane and alcohol interaction reduce trash as much as possible and encourage recycling initiatives by adhering to the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” mantra. To decrease pesticide exposure and lower the danger of heavy metal contamination from traditional farming practices, choose organic produce. We NEED to be educating ourselves NOW as parents and healthcare providers, for the health of our children and our grandchildren.

Doctors can conduct blood or urine tests to what is benzo belly evaluate metal levels if there is a suspicion of heavy metal exposure. It is crucial to schedule and attend routine checkups as part of comprehensive pediatric care since early detection enables rapid action and lowers the risk of long-term health problems. Natural detoxification techniques are meant to aid in the body’s removal of poisons and impurities. These include remaining physically active to encourage sweating and circulation, drinking lots of water, and eating fibre-rich meals like vegetables and fruits, doing so regularly.

The theory posits that some people are born with a predisposition toward emotional vulnerability. Environments that lack solid structure and stability can intensify a person’s negative emotional responses. They can also influence patterns of interaction that become destructive. These patterns can harm relationships and functioning across all settings.

• These patterns can harm relationships and functioning across all settings.
• If this completed Work Product adheres to DBT standards, and the practitioner has demonstrated the ability to effectively provide DBT, the practitioner can obtain certification as an Individual Therapist in DBT.
• At present, eight published, well-controlled, randomized, clinical trials (RCTs) have demonstrated that DBT is an efficacious and specific2 treatment for BPD and related problems.

Dialectical thinking influences many aspects of the therapist’s approach and style. For instance, the therapist continually seeks to balance and synthesize acceptance and change-oriented strategies in the most effective possible manner. Within each session, the therapist works to provide a balance of acceptance and validation with problem solving/behavior change strategies. Finally, in DBT, there is an emphasis on movement, speed, and flow within therapy sessions. Therapists use a variety of therapy strategies and also vary their style and intensity from lively and energetic, to slow and methodical, and from reciprocal and validating to irreverent and off-beat.

Sleep Study

Some of these, like self-isolating or avoidance, don’t do much help, though they may help you temporarily feel better. Others, like self-harm, substance use, or angry outbursts, might even cause harm. With DBT, you’ll learn to use four core skills, sometimes called modules, to cope with emotional distress in positive, productive ways.

Common exclusion criteria to all the RCTs1–5 were psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, or on-going violent or aggressive behaviours. Bohous et al. enrolled 74 women with childhood sexual assault (CSA)-related PTSD referred by their local psychiatrists for residential treatment due to treatment-resistant PTSD. About half (44.59%) of the patients in the RCT by Bohus et al.6 had co-occurring BPD, distributed evenly across study arms.

Things to Consider About Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Some of the strategies and techniques that are used in DBT include the following. We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. The calls are usually brief, and they shouldn’t replace https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the work of individual or group sessions. They’ll determine how suitable DBT is for you by asking you questions and explaining how DBT works. If you decide that DBT is the right therapy for you, they’ll ask you to commit to the treatment and the length of treatment.

• This treatment focuses on problem solving and acceptance-based strategies.
• In the four RCTs1–4 with dropouts, the rates were high and had the potential to offset the initial randomization effect.
• The included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were critically appraised using the Downs and Black checklist.8 Summary scores were not calculated for the included studies; instead, a review of the strengths and limitations of each included study was narratively described.
• DBT can be provided by a range of mental health professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), and licensed professional counselors (LPC), among others.
• Patients are asked to keep a diary tracking their emotions and impulses, a tool that helps them gain awareness of their feelings, understand which situations are especially problematic for them, and use the information to gain control over their own behavior.
• This article highlights several key aspects of DBT and is organized around central questions that practitioners may have in deciding whether and how to implement the treatment.

The search was limited to English language documents published between January 1,2012, and September 21, 2017. Several studies and organizations support DBT’s efficacy in the treatment of BPD. The lifetime prevalence of BPD is 5.9%, according to some estimates. Mindfulness involves fostering an increased awareness of the present moment while having an open, nonreactive attitude and an acceptance of how things are. They can also learn how to increase emotions that feel good, such as joy and love. Individuals will learn to recognize and accept their emotions without judgment.

One-on-one sessions

The present article reviews the ways in which this concept, starting from its two distinguished sources, has been articulated in the psychology literature. The definition of mindfulness is explored as well as its empirical foundations and contemporary thinking. This concept contributed to the theoretical framework of different cognitive and behavioral models of present day therapy. Examples are dialectical behavior therapy and relapse-prevention for clients who successfully completed a treatment of depression with cognitive therapy.

Therefore, the therapy team typically meets weekly for support, training, and feedback. This skill involves being able to feel intense emotions, such as anger or grief, without reacting impulsively or using maladaptive coping techniques, such as substance abuse or self-harm. While DBT and CBT have a lot in common, DBT focuses more on managing emotions and interpersonal relationships. During stage 2, individuals will work on their emotional pain and traumatic experiences. Therapists help clients to identify unhelpful thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs. This stage involves stabilizing people and helping them gain control of their behaviors.

To prevent impulsive or self-harming behavior, this module also teaches you constructive, in-the-moment alternatives. These include distraction and self-soothing techniques, like doing a deep breathing exercise, taking a walk, or listening to your favorite music. In practice, the therapist validates that an individual’s actions “make sense” within the context of their personal experiences without necessarily agreeing that the actions are the best approach to solving a problem.

Knowing how you feel and what you want is an important part of building fulfilling connections. Distress tolerance skills help you get through rough patches without turning to potentially destructive coping techniques. By Michelle C. Brooten-Brooks, LMFTBrooten-Brooks is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Georgia. She has been covering https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt-for-addiction-recovery/ health and medical topics as a journalist for over 20 years. The practice of mindfulness is to be aware and focused on the present moment instead of the past. This article highlights several key aspects of DBT and is organized around central questions that practitioners may have in deciding whether and how to implement the treatment.

The Children’s Health pediatric psychiatry and psychology department provides comprehensive services to support children’s and teens’ mental health. Learn more about the types and effects of peer pressure and how you can prepare your child to deal with it in a healthy way. Using alcohol or drugs increases anyone’s chances of giving in to peer pressure. Substance use impairs judgment and interferes with the ability to make good decisions. People may feel pressure to conform so they fit in or are accepted, or so they don’t feel awkward or uncomfortable. When people are unsure of what to do in a social situation, they naturally look to others for cues about what is and isn’t acceptable.

• With the right mindset and support network, you can become more empowered to tackle any peer interactions that attempt to compromise your values and boundaries.
• Gender socialization may influence how receptive a young person is to peer pressure.
• This can lead teens to compare the true reality of their lives to the “picture-perfect” portrayal of others’ lives and feel pressure to keep up.
• It’s important to recognize that shielding children from all forms of peer pressure isn’t the goal.
• Everyone should have specific peer pressure strategies in their back pocket that will help them respond to subtle nudging from peers towards risky activities.
• Then, you can work together on a solution that doesn’t involve invalidating your child’s emotions.

Don’t overreact

Parenting with praise may boost your child’s confidence and improve your child’s academic performance, reinforcing their belief that they can do the work and be successful at it. One 2017 study suggests working your way up to offering four times more praise than criticism. Criticism drawing attention to your child’s mistakes or behaviors that bother you can cause your child’s defenses to go up, perpetuating what originally sparked the criticism. Parents might feel the need to pressure their children for many reasons. Exercising parental authority without being authoritarian is often the best way to release the pressure from your relationship.

• Throughout life we will have different values than coworkers and friends.
• And just as it can be very difficult to go against the tide for children, it can be tough for adults to do, too.
• To support children in an age of screens and social media, it’s important for parents to teach healthy digital habits that encourage emotional health.
• We all know what it’s like while dealing with peer pressure when so much seems to be riding on performance and meeting goals.
• They have confidence to do what’s right and skills needed for healthy future relationships.

Develop social skills

• When individuals, especially young ones, face pressure to conform to the behaviors, attitudes, and choices of their peers, it can have a significant impact on their development and well-being.
• Participants reported that they feared being neglectful during those upheavals, and they overcompensated with parental pressure.
• Not so easy when teens feel their peer relationships may be at stake.

The majority of teens with substance abuse problems began using drugs or alcohol as a result of peer pressure. In most scenarios on how to deal with peer pressure, it turns out to be unable to tackle feelings that come when you avoid peer pressure. While dealing with peer pressure, you can start documenting your emotions in a journal that provides a healthy approach after submitting to negative peer influence. Start asking yourself reflective questions without judgement to understand what happened.

My Child’s Personality is Changing—for the Worse!

Your child wants to fit in, doesn’t want to feel rejected or teased, and isn’t sure how to get out of a bad situation. When they are in preschool, tell them not to copy silly or bad behavior. For example, if a friend or classmate pressures them to take something that doesn’t belong to them, teach your child how to say “no” and walk away. Teaching effective anger management for kids can equip them with the tools to handle peer pressure situations calmly and make thoughtful decisions without succumbing to negative influences.. In this modern age, where social interactions and influences have expanded exponentially due to technology and connectivity, the impact of peer pressure has taken on new dimensions. The desire to belong, to be accepted, and to fit in is a fundamental human instinct, especially during the formative years of adolescence.

In reality, peer pressure can be either a positive or negative influence that one peer, or group of peers, has on another person. The following six terms are often used to describe the types of peer pressure a person may experience. As kids get older, peer pressure can get in the way of how well they do in school. By the time they turn 7, children start caring more and more about what other kids think of them — and less about what their parents or other adults think. I’ve also heard a lot of parents talking about the “no-questions-asked” pick-up. That’s when you tell your child that if he calls you to leave a party or a bad situation, you will go and get him with no consequences and no questions asked.

Finding the right balance between independence and supervision can help children feel supported while also giving them room to grow. Educate your child so they understand that they need to stop and think before they make a decision. Sometimes, we want to protect our children from hearing about things that may scare or harm them, but ultimately, parents need to make it their responsibility to educate kids about dangerous situations. Another example of negative peer pressure is when students bully or tease their peers.

Helping your child understand personal values

No is more clearly communicated through body language when you stand your ground, make eye contact, and remain calm. Sometimes the best strategy which of the following is a type of indirect peer pressure? is just walking away and distancing yourself from potential trouble. It’s common for teens to talk less to parents and more with friends.

For example, students may pressure their peers to engage in risky behaviors, such as drug and alcohol use, skipping school, or cheating on tests. This type of pressure can be particularly difficult for students who are trying to fit in or establish their social identity. Children who feel the need to conform to the group may engage in these risky behaviors to avoid being ostracized or excluded. If you suspect your kids are struggling with negative peer pressure, encourage them to talk to you. Sometimes, kids don’t want to talk to their parents about peer pressure.

• This can create a positive feedback loop, where students push each other to achieve their best.
• You may feel that your own choices could make their lives easier, more successful, or earn you the admiration of other parents in your circle.
• When people learn to set their own limits, they’ll feel more in control of themselves in many situations throughout their lives.
• People make choices and engage in behaviors because they think it’s how they’ll fit in.

Likewise, many of us slip into feeling that we’ve failed as parents in some way if our children don’t perform in the same way as someone else’s kids do. Instead of focusing on external measures, focus on internal measures like whether your kids are flourishing and are happy in the schools, programs or interests of their choosing. We tend to think of peer pressure as an issue facing teenagers, but adults — especially parents — are susceptible to peer pressure, too.

Finally, model how you say no clearly and definitively through your own body language and words. As our teens watch us, they gain “practice” painlessly from our life experiences and modeling. Teens should never feel the pressure to say yes when their gut tells them no. Having the ability to say no and mean it might even be lifesaving.

Peer pressure can sometimes take the form of bullying, which can be emotionally damaging and potentially dangerous. Parents can teach their children strategies for responding to bullying, such as speaking up, seeking help from adults, and standing up for others who are being bullied. Get to know their friends, keep track of what they are involved in while at school, what their favorite and least favorite subjects are, what they are doing after school, who they talk to, etc. Be sure to ask open-ended questions about their day, not only questions that require a yes or no answer. ” It is crucial that you monitor your child’s activities on social media or the internet and address any concerns with them. If another child is pushing your child toward something better, that is a good thing.

How Too Much Parental Pressure Can Affect Kids’ Mental Health

• Peer pressure can influence a person to do something that is relatively harmless — or something that has more serious consequences.
• Through your steadfast presence, you become a reliable anchor in their journey, helping them navigate the complexities of peer pressure with resilience and confidence.
• If you continue to have concerns regarding your child and peer pressure, reach out to teachers, school administration or a mental health professional for additional support.
• If she’s becoming defiant, aggressive or disrespectful, you’ll want to address this behavior and nip it in the bud before it continues to escalate.
• This steady stream of parenting tips comes from social media, expert opinions, and even each other.

In contrast, negative peer pressure coerces others towards risky, inappropriate, unethical, dangerous or illegal choices. This pressure may be overt (e.g. direct goading to try drugs) or subtle (e.g. everyone at a party drinking shots, creating an implicit expectation for others to join in). Saying “no” becomes difficult in such contexts, even when uncomfortable, since humans innately seek to “belong.” To support children in an age of screens and social media, it’s important for parents to teach healthy digital habits that encourage emotional health.

Impact on children’s development

For example, natural leaders tend to be less susceptible to negative forms of peer pressure, while followers may have a harder time resisting it. Eden Pontz is Executive Producer and Director of Digital Content for CPTC. She oversees digital media content development and production for Parentandteen.com. She also writes, copyedits, and produces articles, podcasts, and videos for the site. Her pieces cover a range of topics including teen development, peer pressure, and mentoring.

Teach them to say “no”

The only way teens can truly develop their decision-making skills is to have a chance to practice putting them into action! As they make decisions themselves, they’ll feel good about the choices they make and may be more likely to choose to do the right thing. Adolescence is a time when peer pressure, in particular, may seem the hardest to deal with. That’s because, in attempting to fit in with peers, teens want to please. Ultimately, how to tackle peer pressure uplifts or undermines the intentions and methods.

• Some young people choose to maintain friendships at the expense of their values.
• These skills can help them navigate social situations with greater confidence and autonomy.
• Tell your child they can blame you if they need to get out of a bad situation.
• Knowing the facts can help you to resist pressures based on the idea that “everyone is doing it” and that you must party to fit in.

It’s a combination that lets them resist succumbing to peer pressure and have the strength to walk away. They will know that even if they “fail” among their peers, they will succeed in the long run. It’s normal to feel pride in seeing them come into their own, and to recognize that our children’s success can shape how others think of us as parents. But when we hold our children up against someone else’s measuring stick, it’s not healthy or helpful. Simply put, it’s when others push you to conform to a behavior or belief system that’s different from yours. Don’t want your children watching PG-13 movies, but other parents tell you it’s not a big deal?

Method 3: Getting Support from Others

Self-regulation involves the ability to control thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to manage current behavior and achieve long-term goals. In turn, your friend might reconsider criticizing people based on their appearance. By simply adhering to your own values and sharing them with a friend, you can positively peer pressure them to think before making a negative comment.

If they seemingly feel unable to come to you, for now, let them know it’s also okay to seek guidance from a trusted adult other than yourself. Extended which of the following is a type of indirect peer pressure? family, teachers, counselors, clergy, and coaches are also good resources. They can provide advice and help deal with pressure-filled situations.

• Most importantly, true friendships arising from mutual care make you feel free as compared to those conditioned on some rules at the time of how to tackle peer pressure.
• Seeking professional support goes beyond normalising – it can unearth root causes behind sensitive topics that peers may unconsciously prey upon.
• Nurture connections with those who build you up as is, not those who require you to compromise core aspects of yourself to belong.
• This means social media has great potential to amplify feelings of peer pressure, both negative and positive.
• Don’t want your children watching PG-13 movies, but other parents tell you it’s not a big deal?

Types of parental pressure

Armed with some vital skills, teens can learn to handle and overcome peer pressure. We can give teens the know-how by considering the following strategies and understanding how they can make a difference. Authoritative parenting — rather than authoritarian parenting — is tied to high self-esteem in children. When parents are overly controlling, children can lose faith in themselves and their ability to do things or listen to their own feelings. Of course, you want your child to be successful, have friends, and do well in school. But sometimes, you might not realize that you’re pressuring your kids excessively.

Most teens will experience some form of peer pressure – whether in person or online – during adolescence. At a time when teens are trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in, it is especially challenging for them to say no in uncomfortable situations or to go against their peer group. Their brains actually have reward centers that get excited around peers, reinforcing their desire for more and deeper peer interactions. It can decrease self-confidence and lead to poor academic performance, distancing from family members and friends, or an increase in depression and anxiety. Left untreated, this could eventually lead teens to engage in self-harm or have suicidal thoughts.