YCteen publishes true stories by teens, giving readers insight into the issues that matter most in young people's lives.
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Health (100 found)
Note: These stories are from YCteen and its sister publication, Represent, which is written by and for youth in foster care.
The author feels intense pressure, so she begins taking pills that help her study. The drugs change her into someone she doesn't recognize. (full text)
Elisabet thinks an ad campaign to combat teen pregnancy perpetuates negative stereotypes. (full text)
Peter’s friends tease him for being short and slightly pudgy. He wants to let them know that their words hurt, but worries that speaking up will drive them away. (full text)
Because her older sister is mentally ill, the author feels a lot of pressure from her family to be perfect and compensate for the stress caused by her sister’s illness. (full text)
YCteen staff interview a therapist about coping with a mentally ill family member. (full text)
After the Sandy Hook school shooting, the author worries whether her own brother might be capable of a similarly violent rampage, and advocates for better treatment for mental illness. (full text)
New laws make it harder for mentally ill people to get access to guns--but the system needs to help people before they become a threat. (full text)
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, but few teens know its risks—including its link to certain cancers. (full text)
Juana reports on the growing obesity epidemic among young people, and wonders who is responsible for reversing the trend. (full text)
The author believes she experienced a healing miracle and vows to no longer take life for granted. (full text)
Isaura is frustrated that her mom doesn’t take better care of herself to prevent her diabetes from getting worse. (full text)
Marci tries to be supportive when Deborah is hospitalized for anorexia, but gets the cold shoulder. As their friendship falters, Marci attempts once more to repair the friendship, this time with better results. (full text)
Jhanae wants to be the skinniest girl on the track team, but the results of her extreme diet are more dramatic—and embarrassing—than she expects. (full text)
Luis attempts to diet, but his mom's dismissive attitude and delicious cooking make it difficult. Eventually, he finds the support he needs to get healthy. (full text)
Playing the piano is an escape from the pressure Linda puts on herself to be a perfect student. When her constant self-criticism starts affecting her music, she realizes she needs to ease up on herself. (full text)
A psychologist talks to YCteen about different types of anxiety and ways teens can cope. (full text)
The writer is terrified when she experiences her first panic attack. She initially tries to hide the symptoms, but eventually seeks help. (full text)
As a child, Edward was afraid of everything. It took one of his fears coming true before he was able to start working through his anxieties. (full text)
Hidden hazards in your home could trigger an asthma attack. Find out how to clean up indoor air. (full text)
Chemicals in your shampoo, lotion, deodorant, and even hand sanitizer could be doing more harm than good. (full text)
Teens Turning Green, an environmental organization, warns shoppers not to buy products with certain chemical ingredients. (full text)
Check out our guide to better understand some of the technical language in this issue. (full text)
Like many people, Troy feels a little depressed and disoriented during the winter months. It's called Seasonal Affective Disorder, and he explains its symptoms and ways to deal with it. (full text)
Barry is surprised by how hard his dad must work in the U.S. to support their extended family in West Africa. He develops anxieties about living up to expectations. (full text)
The writer finds a supportive community at a day treatment center for depressed teens. (full text)
The writer feels ignored and abandoned by her mother, which leads her to cut. The support of others helps her stop. (full text)
Carmen loves fast food—until she reads Chew On This, a book about the dark side of the industry. (full text)
Antwaun becomes dependent on drinking and smoking weed to deal with painful emotions, but gradually finds ways to deal with life without being high. (full text)
The writer lives in a poor neighborhood where junk food predominates. (full text)
Confined to a wheelchair by a genetic disease, Tania faces many challenges but emerges stronger in spirit. (full text)
The author interviews a social worker about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of mental illness. (full text)
When Antwaun balloons up to 291 pounds, he knows it’s time to change his ways. (full text)
Edwin smokes his first cigarette at 12 and becomes addicted. Now he can’t go a day without smoking. (full text)
The writer starts keeping a journal in the 9th grade to deal with her father's absence from the family and her mother's financial problems. By writing and re-reading her diary, she gains a better understanding of herself and how to handle her emotional problems. (full text)
After her father abandons the family, the writer feels weighed down by family responsibilities. Physical symptoms of depression and thoughts of suicide eventually drive her to make some changes. (full text)
The writer lives in a violent home and has to physically break up fights between her parents. She compensates by becoming the perfect kid, but her empty feelings lead to hallucinations and she starts seeing a counselor. (full text)
Christina cuts to relieve her depression, but she feels guilty afterward and wants to stop. Eventually, she finds she can feel OK without hurting herself. (full text)
Priscilla remembers her father as an "awesome guy." They went to ball games, made model airplanes, and cooked together. That's why she misses him so much. He couldn't kick the cigarette habit and died of lung cancer when she was 9. (full text)
Four relatives who live with Trenee are smokers, and she's sick and tired of smelling like an ashtray whenever she leaves the house. Her father continually warns Trenee never to smoke, but he's got nothing to worry about. (full text)
The writer starts throwing up her food to lose weight, but stops when a friend is hospitalized for bulimia. (full text)
It's a month before Allison's big bash, and her skin has suddenly erupted in itchy red spots that won't go away.
Diagnosed with arthritis, Chantel keeps a brave front but struggles inwardly to accept her condition. Eventually, looking beyond herself transforms her attitude.
Kelly reviews the movie It's Kind of a Funny Story, a comedy about a suicidal teen who checks himself into a mental hospital.
Can money buy happiness? And how much control do we really have over our happiness, anyway? Jhanae explains psychologists' answers to these vexing questions.
After her beloved Aunt Euphita is seriously injured in a car accident, Annmarie helps support her through a painful recovery. Along the way, she develops a new appreciation for family.
Horrified by how animals are treated after watching a video on slaughterhouse practices, Suzy tries to become a vegetarian.
A look at the difference between highly processed food and healthy alternatives.
A former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, explains that most packaged and restaurant food contains sugar, fat, and salt to get us hooked.
Six teens keep food diaries and are surprised at what they learn. A nutritionist evaluates the diaries and suggest ways to eat healthier.
Although teens have plenty of information about STDs and safe sex, they still take risks. Orubba interviews an expert to find out why.
Viveca has asthma and fears an attack. She isolates herself from peers, until she realizes she’s making her situation worse.
Donald is self-conscious about being tongue-tied. But when he has an operation to correct the condition, his life isn’t drastically changed.
Gamal interviews an expert on stuttering to find out what causes it and whether it can be cured.
Gamal, 20, has stuttered since he was 5. He learns some techniques for overcoming his stutter, but has a hard time sticking to them.
Natalie interviews an asthma expert about the causes of the disease and what can be done about it.
A program at a youth organization teaches teens about health and nutrition, alternatives to junk food and fast food, and helps them master basic cooking techniques.
Striving to look like the skinny girls in her school, the writer embarks on dangerous periods of restricting her food.
Adam takes a look at why so many young people are still getting infected with HIV.
The writer's best friend contracts chlamydia, which causes the writer to postpone having sex for fear of the consequences.
The author finds cutting helps her deal with a painful relationship with her father.
When the writer’s father is diagnosed as HIV-positive, she is in shock: how could it happen to someone in the family?
Loneliness, stress, and depression lead Melissa to cut. Therapy and support from her mother and boyfriend help her control the fixation.
Shavone takes up strenuous physical exercise to lose weight and be accepted by her peers.
The writer interviews two mental health experts on how to help a friend who is depressed.
Lenny falls for a girl and continues to pursue her until they have sex. He doesn't use a condom, however, and when the girl is hospitalized for pelvic inflammatory disease and Lenny tests positive for gonorrhea and chlamydia, unprotected sex quickly loses its appeal.
Rubie describes how she felt many confusing emotions when her grandfather died. She interviews a grief counselor, who explains that anger and guilt are a normal part of grieving and need to be expressed.
After contracting chlamydia for the second time, the writer resolves to start protecting herself.
Mimi interviews males and females, ages 14-22, to find out their excuses for not using condoms (and counters them with the cold, hard facts).
With his fourth therapist, Norman finally finds someone he can open up to.
Gia’s been depressed all her life. In therapy, she learns to express her emotions and begins to emerge from her personal darkness.
A social worker talks about how cutting helps to relieve intense feelings of frustration and shame.
She's a little nervous at first, but a tour of Planned Parenthood eases her anxieties, and Madeleine is glad she has her first GYN exam. She learns a lot about her body and how to keep it healthy.
The writer decides to get an HIV test after learning that the virus can be transmitted through oral sex and that you may not know you have it.
When Nicolle’s mother suffers a stroke, Nicolle is gripped by the fear of losing her.
Yamina, 16, sneaks her first cigarette when she's 12 and within two years is up to three packs a day. Cigarettes keep her sane and calm, but she can't catch her breath during volleyball and is broke from the expense, so she cuts down to half a pack and hopes to quit for good.
A friend introduces the writer to cocaine. Within two months she’s doing drugs several times a day. A year after quitting she’s still suffering the consequences.
Adrian starts smoking in the 10th grade, quickly becomes addicted, but is able to quit the habit.
Two mental health professionals give advice on what teens can do to help someone who is suicidal.
The writer's uncle is a married bisexual who contracts HIV, but no one in the family talks about his sexuality or his illness until after he dies from AIDS.
Bianca gives tips on identifying suspicious behavior and advice on what to do if a friend sends out warning signals.
Griffin struggles to control an explosive temper during conflicts with troublemakers at school.
Megan has always been an obsessive thinker and worrier, but when her anxiety threatens her friendships, she decides to consult a psychologist for advice.
A therapist describes the causes of stress, how it affects the body, and what teens can do to relieve it.
Miguel describes the programs that have tried to help him manage his emotions, and explains what works and what doesn’t.
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