If you are a teen or young adult, chances are you have a running commentary in your head about how you are doing at life. Not smart enough. Too awkward. Falling behind. Everyone else seems to have it together.

Many of the young people I work with here in British Columbia tell me the same thing: “I am so hard on myself in my head.” And honestly, that makes sense. You are growing up in a world of constant comparison, academic pressure, social media, and big expectations about who you are “supposed” to be.

If you have ever told yourself, “I should be stronger than this,” you are not alone. A lot of teens and young adults I speak with feel pressure to handle everything perfectly. School stress. Family stuff. Friend drama. Big life decisions. Social media telling you everyone else is thriving.

It can start to feel like resilience means never falling apart. Never needing help. Never having a bad day. But that is not what emotional resilience really is. Real resilience is quieter and more human. It is about learning how to move with your emotions instead of fighting them. It is about adapting, recovering, and growing over time, even when life feels hard.

If you are reading this, there is a good chance you have had that quiet moment at night when the house is finally still and your mind starts racing. Are they okay? Am I missing something? Should I be doing more?

Loving a teenager who is struggling with their mental health can feel heartbreaking and confusing. One day they might seem fine. The next, withdrawn, angry, overwhelmed, or shut down. Many parents tell me the hardest part is the helplessness. You would do anything to take the pain away, yet nothing you try seems to land the way you hope.

If you thought you would feel refreshed, motivated, or excited once the holidays were over, but instead you feel flat, overwhelmed, or emotionally drained, you are not alone.

January often arrives with quiet pressure. The decorations come down, routines restart, and suddenly it feels like you are supposed to be “back to normal.” But inside, things may feel heavier than expected. Your energy might be low. Your anxiety might feel louder. Your motivation might be nowhere to be found.

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’ve had that quiet, nagging thought in the back of your mind: What am I supposed to be doing with my life? Maybe it hits late at night when everyone else seems asleep but your brain is wide awake. Maybe it shows up when you scroll social media and see people your age announcing new jobs, degrees, or big life plans. Or maybe it’s just a constant background pressure that you “should” have things figured out by now.

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.