Addiction is a treatable health condition in which substance use or certain behaviors become difficult to control despite harm. During adolescence, alcohol, drugs, nicotine, gambling and other compulsive patterns can affect school, safety, mood and relationships quickly. Getting help early can protect health and make recovery easier.
ADHD can affect attention, organization, impulse control, time management and emotional regulation during the exact years when school expects teens to manage more on their own. ADHD is not laziness or a lack of intelligence. The right treatment and school support can make daily life far more manageable.
Adjustment disorders happen when a stressful life change or event triggers emotional or behavioral symptoms that are stronger than expected and interfere with daily life. For teens, triggers can include moving, changing schools, family separation, illness, breakup, academic problems, loss, bullying or other major changes. The problem is real even when the stressor seems “ordinary” to someone else.
Binge drinking means consuming enough alcohol in a short period to reach a high blood alcohol concentration. For adolescents, fewer drinks than the usual adult threshold may produce the same level because body size and development differ. Binge drinking can cause alcohol poisoning, injuries and other serious harm even when a teen does not have alcohol use disorder.
Binge-eating disorder involves repeated episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food while feeling unable to stop, followed by significant distress. Unlike bulimia, the binges are not regularly followed by purging or other compensatory behaviors. It can affect teens at many body sizes and deserves treatment without shame or weight-based assumptions.
Bipolar disorder in teens causes episodes of unusually high, energized or irritable mood and episodes of depression. It is not the same as ordinary moodiness. Diagnosis can take time because symptoms can overlap with ADHD, anxiety, depression and other conditions, but accurate diagnosis matters because treatment for bipolar disorder is different from treatment for depression alone.
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) causes intense preoccupation with one or more perceived flaws in appearance that other people may barely notice or not see at all. Teens with BDD may spend hours checking, hiding, comparing, grooming or avoiding situations because of appearance distress. BDD is treatable and is not the same as ordinary insecurity.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) involves intense difficulty with emotion regulation, relationships, self-image and impulsivity. It can be diagnosed in some adolescents when the pattern is persistent and impairing, but evaluation must distinguish BPD from normal teen development, bipolar disorder, trauma and other conditions.
Broken heart syndrome, or takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a temporary weakening of the heart that can be triggered by intense physical or emotional stress. It is uncommon in teenagers, but its symptoms can resemble a heart attack and require emergency medical evaluation.
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder involving intense fear and avoidance of situations where leaving might feel difficult or help might not be available if panic-like symptoms occur. For a teen, buses, assemblies, crowded hallways, stores or being far from home can become increasingly hard. Treatment can help rebuild freedom step by step.
Project Semicolon support
Choose the closest answer. We will narrow the next step from there.
You’re here for yourself.
You do not need the clinical name for what you are feeling. Pick the closest place. We will keep the next step small.
This may be a place to start.
Start with depression support.
A few answers for the thoughts that make this harder to say out loud.
Feeling like a burden is a very common experience when someone is struggling emotionally. Depression and intense stress can distort how we see ourselves and our value to others. You might believe you're making life harder for the people around you, even when they care deeply about you. These feelings can be powerful, but they are not always an accurate reflection of reality.
When you're in deep emotional pain, the brain often loses the ability to imagine a better future. It can feel like the way things are now is how they will always be. But emotions, circumstances, and perspectives change far more often than our minds allow us to see during dark moments. Many people later look back and realize that the future was much bigger than the pain they were in at the time.
The Semicolon Journey checks multiple areas at once and builds a support path around what surfaces for you.
This may be a place to start.
Find support for dread, panic, and overwhelm.
A few answers for the thoughts that make this harder to say out loud.
This confuses a lot of people. From the outside, things might look okay, but inside you may feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or emotionally numb. Suicidal thoughts often come from internal pain, not just external circumstances. You might be carrying stress, depression, trauma, loneliness, or pressure that others simply can't see. Feeling this way doesn't mean your pain isn't real.
More people experience suicidal thoughts than most realize. During periods of intense stress, depression, trauma, or emotional exhaustion, the brain can start searching for ways to escape the pain. These thoughts are often a signal that something inside you is hurting deeply — not a sign that you actually want your life to end. Experiencing these thoughts doesn't make you broken or beyond help.
The Semicolon Journey checks multiple areas at once and builds a support path around what surfaces for you.
This may be a place to start.
Make the next step smaller.
A few answers for the thoughts that make this harder to say out loud.
This confuses a lot of people. From the outside, things might look okay, but inside you may feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or emotionally numb. Suicidal thoughts often come from internal pain, not just external circumstances. You might be carrying stress, depression, trauma, loneliness, or pressure that others simply can't see. Feeling this way doesn't mean your pain isn't real.
More people experience suicidal thoughts than most realize. During periods of intense stress, depression, trauma, or emotional exhaustion, the brain can start searching for ways to escape the pain. These thoughts are often a signal that something inside you is hurting deeply — not a sign that you actually want your life to end. Experiencing these thoughts doesn't make you broken or beyond help.
The Semicolon Journey checks multiple areas at once and builds a support path around what surfaces for you.
This may be a place to start.
Start without needing the perfect words.
A few answers for the thoughts that make this harder to say out loud.
This confuses a lot of people. From the outside, things might look okay, but inside you may feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or emotionally numb. Suicidal thoughts often come from internal pain, not just external circumstances. You might be carrying stress, depression, trauma, loneliness, or pressure that others simply can't see. Feeling this way doesn't mean your pain isn't real.
More people experience suicidal thoughts than most realize. During periods of intense stress, depression, trauma, or emotional exhaustion, the brain can start searching for ways to escape the pain. These thoughts are often a signal that something inside you is hurting deeply — not a sign that you actually want your life to end. Experiencing these thoughts doesn't make you broken or beyond help.
The Semicolon Journey checks multiple areas at once and builds a support path around what surfaces for you.
This may be a place to start.
Find immediate next steps and crisis options.
A few answers for the thoughts that make this harder to say out loud.
This confuses a lot of people. From the outside, things might look okay, but inside you may feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or emotionally numb. Suicidal thoughts often come from internal pain, not just external circumstances. You might be carrying stress, depression, trauma, loneliness, or pressure that others simply can't see. Feeling this way doesn't mean your pain isn't real.
More people experience suicidal thoughts than most realize. During periods of intense stress, depression, trauma, or emotional exhaustion, the brain can start searching for ways to escape the pain. These thoughts are often a signal that something inside you is hurting deeply — not a sign that you actually want your life to end. Experiencing these thoughts doesn't make you broken or beyond help.
The Semicolon Journey checks multiple areas at once and builds a support path around what surfaces for you.
You’re here because you’re worried about someone.
You do not have to know whether this is serious before you deserve guidance. Start with what you are noticing.
This may be a place to start.
Start with what you are noticing.
A few answers for the moments people are afraid of handling wrong.
Sometimes it's hard to know for certain, and that uncertainty itself can feel unbearable. The signs vary from person to person, but some of the most important include: withdrawing from people they love, giving away meaningful possessions, talking about being a burden or not wanting to be here, a sudden calm after a long period of depression, or increased talk of hopelessness. Not everyone shows obvious signs. If you have a feeling something is wrong, trust it enough to gently ask.
Warning signs can be behavioral, verbal, or emotional. Behaviorally: withdrawing from people, sleeping too much or too little, reckless behavior, researching methods of suicide, or giving things away. Verbally: saying things like "I'm a burden," "I wish I wasn't here," or "No one would care if I was gone." Emotionally: sudden calm after intense depression, persistent hopelessness, or extreme mood changes. No single sign confirms risk, but a pattern — especially combined with a recent loss or crisis — warrants attention.
The Semicolon Journey can help someone sort what is surfacing and build a support path around it.
This may be a place to start.
Find words that stay calm and close.
A few answers for the moments people are afraid of handling wrong.
Stay calm and stay with them. You don't need the perfect words — what matters most is that they feel heard. Try: "I'm really glad you told me that. Can you tell me more about what you're feeling?" Avoid minimizing ("Things aren't that bad") or problem-solving immediately. Just listen first. Let them know you take what they're saying seriously and that you're not going anywhere.
Avoid phrases that can unintentionally increase shame or shut down the conversation: "You have so much to live for," "Think about what this would do to your family," "You're being selfish," or "Other people have it worse." These responses — even when well-intentioned — can leave someone feeling more alone and misunderstood. Resist the urge to fix or reassure before you've truly listened.
The Semicolon Journey can help someone sort what is surfacing and build a support path around it.
This may be a place to start.
Understand distance without ignoring it.
A few answers for the moments people are afraid of handling wrong.
Sometimes it's hard to know for certain, and that uncertainty itself can feel unbearable. The signs vary from person to person, but some of the most important include: withdrawing from people they love, giving away meaningful possessions, talking about being a burden or not wanting to be here, a sudden calm after a long period of depression, or increased talk of hopelessness. Not everyone shows obvious signs. If you have a feeling something is wrong, trust it enough to gently ask.
Warning signs can be behavioral, verbal, or emotional. Behaviorally: withdrawing from people, sleeping too much or too little, reckless behavior, researching methods of suicide, or giving things away. Verbally: saying things like "I'm a burden," "I wish I wasn't here," or "No one would care if I was gone." Emotionally: sudden calm after intense depression, persistent hopelessness, or extreme mood changes. No single sign confirms risk, but a pattern — especially combined with a recent loss or crisis — warrants attention.
The Semicolon Journey can help someone sort what is surfacing and build a support path around it.
This may be a place to start.
Know what to watch for and when to act.
A few answers for the moments people are afraid of handling wrong.
Sometimes it's hard to know for certain, and that uncertainty itself can feel unbearable. The signs vary from person to person, but some of the most important include: withdrawing from people they love, giving away meaningful possessions, talking about being a burden or not wanting to be here, a sudden calm after a long period of depression, or increased talk of hopelessness. Not everyone shows obvious signs. If you have a feeling something is wrong, trust it enough to gently ask.
Warning signs can be behavioral, verbal, or emotional. Behaviorally: withdrawing from people, sleeping too much or too little, reckless behavior, researching methods of suicide, or giving things away. Verbally: saying things like "I'm a burden," "I wish I wasn't here," or "No one would care if I was gone." Emotionally: sudden calm after intense depression, persistent hopelessness, or extreme mood changes. No single sign confirms risk, but a pattern — especially combined with a recent loss or crisis — warrants attention.
The Semicolon Journey can help someone sort what is surfacing and build a support path around it.
This may be a place to start.
Use immediate support options.
A few answers for the moments people are afraid of handling wrong.
Sometimes it's hard to know for certain, and that uncertainty itself can feel unbearable. The signs vary from person to person, but some of the most important include: withdrawing from people they love, giving away meaningful possessions, talking about being a burden or not wanting to be here, a sudden calm after a long period of depression, or increased talk of hopelessness. Not everyone shows obvious signs. If you have a feeling something is wrong, trust it enough to gently ask.
Warning signs can be behavioral, verbal, or emotional. Behaviorally: withdrawing from people, sleeping too much or too little, reckless behavior, researching methods of suicide, or giving things away. Verbally: saying things like "I'm a burden," "I wish I wasn't here," or "No one would care if I was gone." Emotionally: sudden calm after intense depression, persistent hopelessness, or extreme mood changes. No single sign confirms risk, but a pattern — especially combined with a recent loss or crisis — warrants attention.
The Semicolon Journey can help someone sort what is surfacing and build a support path around it.
You’re here for a child or student.
Kids and teens do not always explain distress clearly. Start with the pattern you notice most.
This may be a place to start.
Help their body and mind settle safely.
A few answers for confusing, frightening, or easy-to-second-guess moments.
Take it seriously — every time, no matter how it's said. Stay calm, even though everything inside you may be screaming. Get to eye level, put down whatever you're holding, and listen without interrupting. Say: "I'm glad you told me that. I love you and I want to understand what you're feeling." Do not punish or minimize. Once they've talked, ask directly: "Are you thinking about hurting yourself?" Then get professional support as soon as possible.
Suicidal thoughts are more common in teenagers than most parents realize — but "common" does not mean something to dismiss. The adolescent brain is navigating enormous biological, social, and emotional change, and emotional pain in teenagers can be intense in ways that are genuinely difficult for adults to fully appreciate. Whether or not it's "typical" is less important than taking it seriously every time and connecting your child with proper support.
The Semicolon Journey can help sort multiple areas at once and point toward a support path.
This may be a place to start.
Respond without turning the moment into a fight.
A few answers for confusing, frightening, or easy-to-second-guess moments.
Take it seriously — every time, no matter how it's said. Stay calm, even though everything inside you may be screaming. Get to eye level, put down whatever you're holding, and listen without interrupting. Say: "I'm glad you told me that. I love you and I want to understand what you're feeling." Do not punish or minimize. Once they've talked, ask directly: "Are you thinking about hurting yourself?" Then get professional support as soon as possible.
Suicidal thoughts are more common in teenagers than most parents realize — but "common" does not mean something to dismiss. The adolescent brain is navigating enormous biological, social, and emotional change, and emotional pain in teenagers can be intense in ways that are genuinely difficult for adults to fully appreciate. Whether or not it's "typical" is less important than taking it seriously every time and connecting your child with proper support.
The Semicolon Journey can help sort multiple areas at once and point toward a support path.
This may be a place to start.
Look underneath the behavior for what may be wrong.
A few answers for confusing, frightening, or easy-to-second-guess moments.
Take it seriously — every time, no matter how it's said. Stay calm, even though everything inside you may be screaming. Get to eye level, put down whatever you're holding, and listen without interrupting. Say: "I'm glad you told me that. I love you and I want to understand what you're feeling." Do not punish or minimize. Once they've talked, ask directly: "Are you thinking about hurting yourself?" Then get professional support as soon as possible.
Suicidal thoughts are more common in teenagers than most parents realize — but "common" does not mean something to dismiss. The adolescent brain is navigating enormous biological, social, and emotional change, and emotional pain in teenagers can be intense in ways that are genuinely difficult for adults to fully appreciate. Whether or not it's "typical" is less important than taking it seriously every time and connecting your child with proper support.
The Semicolon Journey can help sort multiple areas at once and point toward a support path.
This may be a place to start.
Stay close without forcing them open.
A few answers for confusing, frightening, or easy-to-second-guess moments.
Take it seriously — every time, no matter how it's said. Stay calm, even though everything inside you may be screaming. Get to eye level, put down whatever you're holding, and listen without interrupting. Say: "I'm glad you told me that. I love you and I want to understand what you're feeling." Do not punish or minimize. Once they've talked, ask directly: "Are you thinking about hurting yourself?" Then get professional support as soon as possible.
Suicidal thoughts are more common in teenagers than most parents realize — but "common" does not mean something to dismiss. The adolescent brain is navigating enormous biological, social, and emotional change, and emotional pain in teenagers can be intense in ways that are genuinely difficult for adults to fully appreciate. Whether or not it's "typical" is less important than taking it seriously every time and connecting your child with proper support.
The Semicolon Journey can help sort multiple areas at once and point toward a support path.
This may be a place to start.
Use immediate support options.
A few answers for confusing, frightening, or easy-to-second-guess moments.
Take it seriously — every time, no matter how it's said. Stay calm, even though everything inside you may be screaming. Get to eye level, put down whatever you're holding, and listen without interrupting. Say: "I'm glad you told me that. I love you and I want to understand what you're feeling." Do not punish or minimize. Once they've talked, ask directly: "Are you thinking about hurting yourself?" Then get professional support as soon as possible.
Suicidal thoughts are more common in teenagers than most parents realize — but "common" does not mean something to dismiss. The adolescent brain is navigating enormous biological, social, and emotional change, and emotional pain in teenagers can be intense in ways that are genuinely difficult for adults to fully appreciate. Whether or not it's "typical" is less important than taking it seriously every time and connecting your child with proper support.
The Semicolon Journey can help sort multiple areas at once and point toward a support path.
