Mental health is part of our overall physical health, even if we don’t talk about it nearly as much. While it can sometimes be hard to find the words and start talking about how we feel, hearing from other people who have experienced similar things can start to help.
We’ve selected episodes from across the TRAX podcast network that highlight the personal stories of tweens and teens making it through their own mental health issues.
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Before hopping into how to have better mental health, let’s first get an understanding of what mental health is! To do that, check out this episode of “That’s Totally Normal!,” a science podcast about the physical and emotional changes of puberty, below.
That’s Totally Normal!
“Mental Health”
Many young people may find mental health issues embarrassing, but why is that? The brain is as much a part of someone’s body as the skin or the bones, and it’s not usually embarrassing to talk about a cut or a fracture, right? However, society hasn’t always made a safe space for us to talk about mental health issues, but let’s try and change that! On this episode, we’ll be talking about the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of mental health, and will go over some advice that you can use in your everyday life!
Adjusting to change, whether those changes are good or bad, can take a huge toll on your emotions and mental well-being. You’ll hear about how these young people dealt with new developments in their lives in the episodes below.
Tatiana - The Year I Spent Alone
Now with the holidays upon us, think about what if you didn’t have the support system of your loved ones? What if you had to live on your own due to an extraordinary circumstance? What if that circumstance had destroyed your home, your school, and the entire town where you lived?
BEN beatboxes through his parents’ divorce
You’ll hear Ben talk about the history of beatboxing in hip hop and some of his influences: pioneers Doug E Fresh and Rahzel.
Max - Starting a New School, Again
What happens when your first day of school is in a new city? How about a new country? Max is 14 years old and has changed schools, even sometimes by choice which has taken him far from home, away from his family and friends. It's tough and emotional, but for Max, support was just a phone call away.
Anger and frustration are natural emotions that are okay to feel. But, not properly managing these feelings can negatively affect your emotional and physical health and your relationships. Below, three teens share their experiences with anger and frustration.
I Bullied My Teacher
Is it ever a good idea to tell someone in writing something you don’t feel you could ever say to their face? Hear the story of a teenager who was so upset about unfair grades, he wrote an over-the-top mean email to his teacher.
Balancing Act– ALIYAH on controlling her anger
Parents. Chores Friends. School. They can all be frustrating, especially when hormones are playing tricks with your moods. Aliyah talks about how she’s dealing with it all and thinks about the person she’s choosing to become.
The Kid Who Vandalized a Car
Seeking revenge for being unjustly punished, a boy impulsively turns to vandalism.
Self-care can look like exercising, eating well, setting boundaries, spending time doing things or with people you love, or taking breaks from social media. Basically, it’s anything that you need to improve your overall wellness and health! Below, hear stories about how these kids are putting themselves first.
Comfort Zone– GABE AND TRISTAN on sharing space from opposite corners
Being a twin isn’t always easy, especially when each is dealing with very different challenges. Tristan is in a wheelchair, making school, basketball practice and social life feel extra tough sometimes. He thinks his brother Gabe has it better, but Gabe is having his own hard time with depression and anxiety. This episode was recorded in their shared rec room where Tristan plays video games and Gabe cranks up the music to dance away his stresses. Tristan also takes us on a trip to his basketball practice, where he gets to let off some steam.
Taila - My Panic Attacks Won’t Hurt Me
We’ve talked a lot about anxiety and stress, and for good reason! So many kids deal with all sorts of anxious feelings which take on so many different forms. It’s hard to know what exactly might set off an anxiety attack and how it will make you feel. Sometimes it can make you feel sick or weird and it can be really scary. Is this what anxiety feels like? Is it a normal feeling? Yes! Taila totally gets it. When she was graduating 8th grade, she had a panic attack, and those can be intense. She talks about what led to her panic attack and what she did to feel better.
Comfort Zone– SARA AND EMILY ditch the chat group despite their FOMO
Sara and Emily were in a really toxic group chat but afraid to leave for fear of missing out.
Much like anger and frustration, not properly processing trauma and stress can have negative impacts on your health and relationships. Below, you’ll find stories from teens that found ways to process and even alleviate their trauma and stress.
Jayla - Overcoming My Anxiety
Jayla developed an anxiety disorder from trauma that happened to her in middle school and caused her to begin a bad habit to deal with it. Listen to her story in how she overcame her disorder and found her own worth in the process. LISTENER DISCRETION WARNING as Jayla does talk about experiencing abuse.
Hannah and Charlie Lucas
When Hannah Lucas was 15 years old, she developed POTS, a medical condition that caused her to faint without warning. The anxiety around her condition combined with bullying and harassment from her classmates led Hannah to fall into a deep depression, culminating in an attempt to end her own life. During this incredibly low moment in her life, Hannah had an idea: What if there was a way to immediately alert the people around her that she was not ok? Aided by her tech-savvy brother, Charlie, Hannah’s idea came to life. The result is the notOK App™, a digital panic button which has now helped tens of thousands of others struggling with mental illness.
Kobie - Is Anxiety Normal?
Anxiety can be a scary word. It can bring up so many feelings that you don't totally understand. Kobie knows that all too well. When Kobie was younger, she didn't know she wasn't ok because, well, she was supposed to be ok. But maybe something was actually wrong. In this episode, we discuss how anxiety feels, how scary it can be to talk about it, and what happens once you do. Maybe it's ok to not be ok.
TRAX from PRX is a network of curated and original high-quality podcasts specially designed for 9–13-year-olds. TRAX is a place of substance for tweens and the grown-ups in their lives. Listen and subscribe to our podcasts for free.
