Have you ever noticed that once the days get shorter, everything feels a bit heavier? Getting out of bed is harder. Motivation dips. Even things you usually enjoy can feel like too much effort. If you are a teen or young adult in school, juggling classes, exams, work, and social pressure, winter can quietly turn up the volume on stress and low mood.

You know that feeling when you stare at your to do list and think, “I should really start this,” but your body feels like it’s made of concrete? Maybe you keep telling yourself you’ll begin in five minutes, then ten, then tomorrow. Even when you want to get things done, it feels almost impossible to make the first move.

If you are parenting a teen with mental health challenges here in British Columbia, you have probably had moments where emotions spike and conversations fall apart. You might be trying to help, yet your teen shuts you out, snaps back, or retreats to their room. Many parents tell me, I am trying so hard to connect. Why does it still feel so difficult to get through?

If you’ve ever walked into a classroom, a party, or even a video call and suddenly felt your chest tighten or your thoughts spiral, you’re not alone. Many teens and young adults I support here in British Columbia tell me it feels like their brain is warning them something will go wrong, even though the situation is actually safe. If that sounds familiar, this post is for you.

If you’re a young adult here in British Columbia, you’ve probably heard the advice to “just think positive” more times than you can count. Maybe you’ve even tried it. You stand in front of the mirror and say something like “I am enough” or “I believe in myself,” but deep down it doesn’t feel true. And instead of boosting your confidence, it sometimes makes you feel worse.

Have you ever stayed up late redoing an assignment that was already good enough? Or stared at your screen for hours because you couldn’t start something until it felt “perfect”? If so, you’re not alone. Many teens and young adults I work with here in British Columbia tell me they feel a constant pressure to succeed, to get top marks, impress teachers, or live up to what others expect.

Have you ever felt like you should have everything figured out by now, but instead, you feel stuck, anxious, or unsure of where you’re headed? If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many young people in British Columbia tell me they feel pressure to “get it right,” to pick the right school, the right career, the right version of themselves. It can feel like a lot.

Have you ever caught yourself replaying the same situation over and over, wishing you’d said something different or done something better? Maybe you find yourself stuck in “what ifs” or trying to predict every possible outcome. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Overthinking—also called rumination—is something many teens and young adults experience, especially when stress or anxiety starts to take over.

Have you ever had one of those days where even the smallest thing, like a text left on “read” or a teacher’s comment, feels like too much? Maybe your chest tightens, your mind races, or you suddenly want to cry, even though you’re not sure why. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Feeling everything so deeply can be exhausting, confusing, and sometimes isolating.

If you’ve found yourself lying awake at night wondering how to help your child feel better, you’re not alone. Many parents across British Columbia share that same quiet worry: am I doing enough? The truth is, your presence and willingness to keep showing up already matter more than you realize.

Have you ever noticed how your brain can replay the same worry over and over, like a song that won’t stop looping? You’re not alone. Many young people I meet in my BC counselling practice describe this constant overthinking as exhausting. It’s like your mind refuses to take a break, even when you desperately need one.

Have you ever felt like your emotions were just too much, or like your mind wouldn’t stop overthinking? Maybe you’ve watched your child struggle and wondered how to best support them. If so, you’re not alone. These are the challenges I help young people and parents with every day.