Davis Behavioral Health

Most parents know screens before bed aren't great. But understanding the why can make it a lot easier to have the conversation with your teen! Here's what's happening in your teen's brain at night:

-Blue light from screens suppresses melatonin, the hormone that signals it's time to sleep.
-Stimulating content like videos and group chats keeps the nervous system alert when it should be winding down.
-Sleep deprivation then worsens anxiety and depression symptoms, which can drive more late-night scrolling.

A few things that tend to help break it:
-A phone charger outside the bedroom removes the temptation entirely.
-A wind-down routine of even 20 to 30 minutes makes a real difference over time.
-Framing it as a sleep conversation rather than a screen time conversation tends to land better with teens.

For parents, summer seriously throws off the routines that keep the family grounded! If you’re feeling lost, try anchoring your day with just one consistent habit, like a regular wake time or a short walk after dinner.

The hardest part of parenting a struggling teenager isn't knowing what to do... It's trusting yourself when you sense something is off! Here are a few pervasive myths you might be telling yourself:

Myth: “If something were seriously wrong, I’d know for certain.”
Fact: A gut feeling that something has shifted is worth paying attention to. This is your subconscious mind trying to tell you something.

Myth: “Teens are just moody. It's probably a phase.”
Fact: Phases pass. But when changes in mood, sleep, appetite or social behavior last for weeks or start affecting school, that's worth a closer look.

Myth: “Bringing it up will make things worse.”
Fact: Research consistently shows that asking about mental health opens doors rather than closing them.

You don't need to have everything figured out before you talk to your teen. If you’re really unsure, family counseling can give you both a safe space to share your thoughts.

Showing up when you're vulnerable, whether that's asking for help, starting therapy or just telling someone the truth, takes real courage. This quote captures exactly what that looks like.

Summer social calendars fill up fast, and saying yes to everything is a reliable way to end the season in full-on burnout. It's okay to focus on your favorites and say no to other meet-ups!

Your adult child is struggling, and you're doing everything you can to help. But it's hard to know if you're helping the right way, and that uncertainty can feel incredibly isolating when there's no one around who understands what that's like.

Our Family Support Group meets weekly for parents of adults navigating mental health challenges. There's no set agenda. You bring what's on your mind, and together we work through it.

What parents walk away with:
-Practical strategies for supporting an adult child while protecting your own wellbeing
-A clearer understanding of treatment options, diagnoses and what to expect
-Tools for communicating with your child without pushing them further away

When: Thursdays | 6:30-8:00 PM
Where: 934 South Main Street, Layton
Cost: Free and open to all families, not just DBH clients

Contact [email protected] to join or learn more.

Family Support Group | Davis Behavioral Health Support for parents and family members of adults struggling with mental illness. Open Participation -- You don’t have to be a DBH client to attend.

Anxiety isn't just worried thoughts racing through your mind. It shows up in your body in ways that can be confusing or even scary if you don't recognize what's happening!

So, let’s talk about the physical signs that you might be experiencing anxiety:
--Chest tightness or rapid heartbeat that makes you worry something is physically wrong
--Headaches or muscle tension, especially in your neck, shoulders, and jaw
--Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or short of breath even when you're sitting still

As for why this happens, it comes down to biochemistry:
--Your nervous system can't tell the difference between real danger and perceived threats, so it activates your body's stress response
--Anxiety affects digestion, sleep patterns, and muscle tension through stress hormone release
--The mind-body connection means emotional distress often translates into physical discomfort

And here are the signs that you’d benefit from some professional support:
--Physical symptoms persist even after you've ruled out medical causes with your doctor
--You notice patterns where physical symptoms appear during stressful situations
--Anxiety symptoms interfere with daily activities, work, or relationships

Understanding that anxiety has real physical effects helps you recognize what's happening.

Most importantly, know that there are effective tools and treatments that address both the mental and physical aspects of anxiety!

Your worth isn't measured by your productivity or how much you accomplish in a day. Taking time to rest and recharge doesn't make you lazy… it makes you human.

Up to 80% of new mothers experience mood swings and tearfulness in the first few weeks after birth. If your symptoms persist beyond two weeks or interfere with caring for yourself or your baby, that's important information worth sharing with your doctor!

Depression creates one of the cruelest paradoxes. You need support, but reaching out feels impossible! If you've been avoiding texts, canceling plans or isolating yourself while simultaneously feeling lonely, you're experiencing something completely normal for depression. 💭

This internal conflict often sounds like, “I wish someone would check on me” while also thinking “Please don't ask me to hold a conversation.”

The hardest part is that when you're depressed, socializing genuinely does take more energy. Your brain is working harder to process conversation, read social cues and maintain the interaction.

So, the exhaustion you feel is definitely real!

What helps is finding middle ground. You don't have to choose between complete isolation and full social engagement.

Try low-pressure connection that doesn't demand much from you. Sit in the same room with someone while you both do separate activities. Or take a walk with someone who's comfortable with silence.

If you have people who care about you, consider telling them directly, “I'm struggling right now and I might not respond quickly, but I still want to hear from you.”

You're not a villain or selfish for feeling this way. Depression makes connection harder, and that's part of the condition, not a reflection of who you are!