The last thing a parent wants to do is sabotage their child’s treatment – so why do we see it happen so often? Parenting a teen undergoing treatment for behavioral or mental health issues is incredibly challenging. You want the best for your child, but sometimes, well-meaning actions or reactions can inadvertently undermine their progress.…
Our Blog - Parenting
Dive into the Antelope Recovery blog for guides, tips, and insights in your teen’s mental health. From battling summer blues to navigating IOPs, we’re here to help.
After an Attempt: A Guide for Caring for Your Teenager After the Emergency Department
We developed this guide to provide resources on how to take care of yourself and your family following a suicide attempt. Suicidal thoughts and actions often generate conflicting feelings in family members who love the person who wishes to take his or her own life, making it challenging to act after a crisis. We hope…
Parent Burnout & the Toll of Caregiving
Nearly every parent we talk to, by the time they make it to us at Antelope, is burned out and doesn’t know it. Or they do know it and are barely muscling through their day-to-day. This should be no surprise. Parenting a teen who is struggling with addiction or mental health disorders is an extremely…
Addiction and ADHD go hand in hand; three things parents and providers need to know about treating teens with co-occurring diagnoses
Parenting a teenager can be a challenging journey on its own. Add ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and substance use disorder into the mix, and it can bring a parent into crisis mode very quickly. In this blog, we’ll explore the co-occurring disorders of ADHD and addiction among teens, with a focus on understanding how these conditions…
6 Questions Your Teenager Needs You to Ask Their Therapist
When considering a therapist or mental health (MH) or substance use disorder (SUD) program, such as a residential, Intensive outpatient program, or PHP, for teenagers, it’s crucial for parents to ask the right questions on behalf of their child. Teenagers across the board can struggle to advocate for and express themselves. It’s up to parents…
What every parent needs to know about their teen’s drug cravings
As a parent, teacher, pediatrician, or friend who is supporting someone who is battling addiction, understanding the complexities of drug cravings is vital. Failure to understand drug cravings and the role they play in addiction is one of the most common mistakes people make, which leads to unnecessary pain for both you and your loved…
How to connect with your struggling teen while they are in IOP this summer
If your teenager is in an Intensive Outpatient Program, it is important to ensure you have time set aside to spend with your teen outside of therapy. Even if your teen is rolling their eyes and saying they don’t want to see you, having time to connect with them is an important way to keep…
How Test Anxiety Might Affect Your Teenager
As the school year nears its end, many students are preparing for final exams. While it is natural to feel a little anxious about these high-stakes assessments, some students experience overwhelming levels of anxiety that can interfere with their ability to perform well. This is known as test anxiety, and it can have serious consequences…
The Ups and Downs of Summer: A Parent’s Guide to Teen Mental Health
While summer can be a time of relaxation, fun, and adventure for many teenagers, for teens who have struggled with their mental health, the changes that happen during the summer can require some extra attention. Ideally, summertime is a period of self-exploration and growth as teens try out new hobbies and practice being more independent.…
Parents Need to Know: Psychedelic Use Decriminalized in Colorado
The passage of Proposition 122, the Natural Medicines Health Act in November 2022 marked a momentous occasion in Colorado. Coloradoans voted, by a tally of 53 to 47%, to both decriminalize psilocybin, DMT, ibogaine, and mescaline and medicalize psilocybin, with the possibility of a medicalization pathway for the others in 2026. Decriminalizing psychedelic use is…
