Teen Help ~ Supporting and Empowering Youth

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Welcome!

SherryEklund-new

I’m very excited that you have found the I am Teen Strong website. As you already know, being a teenager, or the parent of one, is not easy.

Throughout our lives we all have questions, need help and guidance about important and sometimes life changing issues. If you, or someone you love, need support, I encourage you to explore the directory of services, and if necessary, reach out to one of the national helplines.

It is my hope that thru the weekly blogs you will find inspiration, tools, and information to help move through the challenging teen years.

This website was created for the sole purpose of connecting teens and their parents (and other influencers) to the resources and community programs available. We want to help all youth create a strong path for positive growth and discovering the greatness within.

As you explore the website, I hope that you feel the warmth and acceptance being offered. The colors of the logo and website were chosen for the meaning behind each color…pink is the international color for self-love, green represents a fresh start, new beginning and growth, gold is for optimism and positivity, and the color black represents power and strength.

We want you to feel Connected, Empowered and Inspired!

Strong On!

Sherry Eklund

Founder

DISCLAIMER

If you believe you may have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

The content of the Teen Strong website (“Site”), including, but not limited to, text, graphics, and images (collectively “Content”) is educational only and not intended to be a substitute for legal or medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Although the Content is written and approved by legal and health care professionals, I am Teen Strong does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any information and does not assume responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. Always seek the advice of an attorney or physician, or other licensed provider with any questions you may have regarding a legal situation or medical condition or symptom. Never disregard, avoid or delay obtaining advice from your licensed legal/health care provider because of something you have read on this Site.

Any mention of products or services on this Site is not meant as a guarantee, endorsement or recommendation of the products, services, or companies. Teen Strong makes no representations about the suitability of any products or services mentioned on this Site. I am Teen Strong hereby disclaims all warranties and conditions with regard to any products or services mentioned on this Site, including all implied warranties and conditions of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and noninfringement.

In no event shall Teen Strong be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of, or in any way connected with, the use of this Site or with the delay or inability to use this Site, or for any information, products, or services obtained through this Site, or otherwise arising out of the use of this Site, whether based on contract, tort, strict liability, or otherwise.

Reliance on any information provided on this Site is solely at your own risk. All information on the Site and/or included in e-mails distributed to you by Teen Strong is provided to you “as is” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied.

PRIVACY POLICY

Your privacy is important to Teen Strong (“Site”). This privacy statement will tell you about the personal information that the Site collects and the ways in which the Site uses that personal information.

Personal information collection

If you choose to use some of the Site’s interactive tools you may be required to submit Personal Information. “Personal Information” means information that we can use to identify or contact you, such as your name, address, telephone number or email address.

Using Personal Information

We may use Personal Information we collect about you to: administer your account, provide you with access to particular tools and services, respond to your inquiries and send you administrative communication, send you informational/promotional newsletters via email, obtain your feedback on our Site, or conduct research and measurement activities.

Some of the Site’s interactive tools may store Personal Information. The Site will not make any use of your Personal Information beyond the permitted uses in this Privacy Statement unless you provide such additional consent in connection with the specific tool at the time you submit Personal Information in order to use the tool.

With Whom Do We Share Your Information?

Site will not disclose any Personal Information about you unless specifically agreed to by you or:

  • To comply with legal requirements, such as a law, regulation, search warrant, subpoena, or court order;
  • In response to lawful requests by public authorities, including to meet national security or law enforcement requirements;
  • When we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, protect your safety or the safety of others, investigate fraud, or respond to a government request;
  • In special cases, such as in response to a physical threat to you or others.

Site does not make your Personal Information available to third parties for their marketing purposes without your consent.

Any information (including Personal Information) you share in any online community area is open to the public and is not private.

Securing your data

The Site will take reasonable technical and administrative precautions to prevent the loss, misuse or alteration of your Personal Information.

Please contact us if you have any questions about this Privacy Statement or the Personal Information we maintain about you.

Stories That Inspire

I’ve always felt emotions so deeply, seemingly much more than others. Anxiety found me even as a child. I’d cry hysterically to my mom because I was afraid of death and feel sick to my stomach for weeks before sleep away camp. Once my teenage years hit, the darkness of depression started to seep in. These intense emotions were frightening, and so I hid them away. Read more »

HANNAH

Like many people my age, I come from a blended family. There’s my mom, step-dad, step-sister, my two brothers and me. I was six when my mom got remarried and I am now 22. While it was challenging growing up in a blended family, it was rewarding, too. Looking back now, I wouldn’t trade my situation because, in the end, it gave me my family, and I wouldn’t change my family for anything in the world. Read more »

SHANNON

I was asked to write an article for the “Stories that Inspire” section of this website. Wow. I never thought I would have made it to a point where I could inspire and be in a position where I could share my story. I have no way of telling how you wandered to this site and then this article, but I hope you find the support you’re looking for, as well as the words you need to hear to carry on. Read more »

COURTNEY

Raised by parents who struggled with drug addiction, in an environment where abuse was rampant, I lived a childhood filled with setbacks, heartbreak and challenges. At 11, my dad beat my mom in the early hours of the morning and left for Cali and shortly thereafter ended up in prison. Read more »

CARRIE

I was in the 4th grade the first time someone called me the ‘n’ word. It was a teacher. At the time, I didn’t know what the word meant, but I remember going home and telling my family and the shock that swept over my mother’s face when I said it. Read more »

AMBER

You can pretty much guarantee another baby.” I’m eavesdropping as I sit next to a girl talking to her friend on how to game the government benefits we are all here to collect. It’s a monthly check under a program called WIC (Women Infant and Children program) for moms that don’t make enough money to take care of themselves and their baby, or babies if you follow the advice of the girl next to me. It pays for things like formula and peanut butter. Read more »

SANDRA

My name is Mary Kominska and the story of my life may sound like something out of a novel or tabloid magazine. I say this because I have survived. Read more »

MARY

I was 17. It was another hot and humid summer evening and as usual my friends I were “partying”. Nothing that regular teenagers didn’t do at that time in the early 80’s. We always partied at the neighbors house because her mom worked the night shift and let’s be honest the rest of the parents would have never allowed that many teenagers in one house at one time. Read more »

V.

Hello! My name is Jeanette.

I am an anxiety survivor. I didn’t know I was suffering from anxiety until I was in my 30’s. I
remember being told I Had mental health issues. I was handed a prescription and sent on my way. I sobbed all the way home from the Dr’s office. I didn’t know how I was going to tell my husband. After all, I thought I would need to be put in a straight jacket and locked in a padded cell. I mean isn’t that how Hollywood portrays mental health? I got home and told my husband. He said everything will be alright.

Fast forward a few years…I hadn’t told my parents about my diagnosis because I felt ashamed. Can anyone relate? We were getting ready to celebrate my father’s birthday, and one of the worst panic attacks kicked in. I didn’t want anyone to know. I went into the bathroom and turned the blow dryer on, pretending I was blow drying my hair. My Mom could still hear me.

She demanded that I let her in. I did, and I had to tell her about my anxiety and panic attacks. We stood for what seemed like forever. There was a single tear that rolled down my mom’s cheek. She then said, “I was hoping it would skip you, kids!” I couldn’t believe it. Did she just tell me that she had anxiety too? Here my mom was in her 60’s and she had suffered in silence all this time. That really clarified a lot of things throughout my childhood. It was at that point that even though I am only one person, my voice needed to be heard. We need to stop the stigma that comes with mental health. Here I am sharing my story with all of you.

Jeanette
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