Headstraight: Mental Health Support for Teens

Have you ever had a bad day, slipped into an old habit or reacted in a way you thought you'd moved past, only to feel like all your progress has disappeared? In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why setbacks can feel so discouraging during periods of growth and change. You'll learn why one difficult moment can quickly trigger self doubt, why progress is rarely a straight line and how the mi...

Have you ever felt distant from people even though nothing dramatic has happened? No argument, no fallout, no clear reason—just a quiet sense that things don't feel quite the same as they used to. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why feelings of disconnection can sometimes appear during periods of growth and change. You'll learn why relationships can feel different as you develop, why i...

Personal growth sounds positive in theory, but it can feel uncomfortable when the people around you start responding differently. As you change, set new boundaries or step away from old patterns, you may find that not everyone welcomes the new version of you. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why personal growth can create tension in relationships and why other people's reactions often f...

Do you ever notice that other people's stress quickly becomes your stress? Some people seem able to switch off and move on, while others absorb the tension, pressure and emotions of everyone around them. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why stress can be so contagious and why some young people are more affected by it than others. You'll learn how anxiety and overthinking can make it har...

Sometimes personal growth creates unexpected reactions. You start setting boundaries, speaking differently or making healthier choices, and suddenly the people around you seem uncomfortable, distant or unsure how to respond. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why change can affect relationships in surprising ways and why personal growth doesn't always feel as positive as people expect. Yo...

Most people expect change to feel clear and decisive. They expect a moment where things finally click and start making sense. In reality, change often shows up much more quietly than that. You start doing small things differently. You pause more. You react less. You handle situations in a new way without really making a big deal of it. And instead of feeling confident or settled, things can start...

This season has been about spotting the patterns that hold you back and building the tools to push through. From self doubt, self-sabotage, and losing motivation, to habits, setbacks, and redefining success — we’ve tackled the everyday struggles of teens and young adults and how they affect your emotional well-being. In this recap, hosted by Mark Taylor, we’ll pull together the key lessons. You’ll...

What does success actually mean to you? Many young people grow up feeling pressure to achieve certain goals, follow certain paths or live up to expectations they never chose for themselves. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore where our ideas about success come from and why chasing someone else's version of success can leave you feeling unhappy, unfulfilled or full of self doubt. You'll lea...

Do you ever feel like everyone else is moving ahead while you're standing still? Whether it's social media, school, work or life in general, constantly comparing yourself to other people can leave you feeling discouraged, frustrated and full of self doubt. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why comparison is such a powerful trap and why measuring your life against other people's highlight...

Why do so many habits start with good intentions and end a few days later? Whether it's exercising, studying, sleeping better or making positive changes, building habits that actually last can be harder than it looks. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why habits often fail and what separates short bursts Want to get involved? I’d love to hear from you: Send me a message → headstraight.co...

Do you feel tired all the time, no matter how much sleep you get? Constant exhaustion can affect your mood, motivation, concentration and ability to cope with everyday life. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore the different types of tiredness and why feeling exhausted isn't always about a lack of sleep. You'll learn how stress, emotional pressure, burnout and daily habits can drain your en...

I wasn't planning to record this episode. I was sitting on a park bench with my dog, watching the water and thinking about life, work and the pressure so many of us feel to have everything figured out. The more I thought about it, the more I realised there was a question worth exploring: Do adults really know what they're doing? In this bonus episode of Headstraight, I share some honest reflection...

Being misunderstood can be really frustrating. Whether it's parents, teachers, friends or other people in your life, feeling like nobody really understands what you're thinking or feeling can leave you feeling isolated, unheard and full of self doubt. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why being misunderstood hurts so much and how it can affect confidence, relationships and the way you se...

Do you ever sit down to do something important, only to find yourself scrolling, clicking, checking messages or getting distracted by something else? Staying focused has become harder than ever, and it's not simply a matter of trying harder. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why distractions are so powerful and how modern life is constantly competing for your attention. You'll learn why...

What do you do when you've got nothing left in the tank? When you're exhausted, fed up or struggling to care about things that used to matter, finding motivation can feel impossible. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why motivation disappears and what is often happening underneath it. You'll learn why feeling stuck isn't a sign of laziness, how self doubt and emotional exhaustion can dra...

Failure can feel painful. Whether it's an exam, a friendship, a goal or something you've worked hard for, setbacks often trigger self doubt and make us question ourselves in ways that success never does. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why failure hurts so much and why many young people get stuck replaying mistakes long after they've happened. You'll learn the difference between failur...

Do you ever feel like you're getting in your own way? Maybe you put things off, avoid opportunities, give up too soon or find yourself repeating the same patterns, even when you know they're not helping. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore what self sabotage really is and why it happens. You'll learn how fear, self doubt and the need to stay comfortable can sometimes stop you from making t...

Season 3 of Headstraight , hosted by Mark Taylor, goes straight into the struggles that keep so many teens and young adults stuck. This season is all about breaking patterns like self doubt, self-sabotage, losing motivation, and the weight of guilt trips that drag down your emotional well-being. Across ten episodes, we’ll tackle real mental challenges: the habits you can’t seem to build, the distr...

Season 2 was never about quick fixes. It was about facing fear, breaking toxic cycles, and building the kind of resilience that lasts. Along the way, you’ve battled self doubt, challenged people pleasing, dealt with guilt trips, and learned how to push through even when you’d lost motivation. In this season finale of Headstraight , we look back at the big shifts: making better choices, resetting a...

Do you ever feel like you're your own worst critic? Many young people speak to themselves in ways they would never speak to a friend, constantly focusing on mistakes, weaknesses and things they wish they had done differently. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why self doubt and harsh self-criticism can become such powerful habits. You'll learn where that inner critic comes from, why it c...

Do you ever feel so tired that you stop caring about things that normally matter to you? When you're emotionally exhausted, even simple tasks can feel overwhelming, and finding the motivation to keep going can seem impossible. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore what happens when stress, pressure and emotional exhaustion start to take their toll. You'll learn why burnout affects the way yo...

Have you ever decided to change something, felt motivated to get started and then found yourself slipping back into old habits? If so, you're not alone. Change is often much harder than we expect, even when we genuinely want things to be different. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why the brain often resists change and why familiar habits can feel safer than moving forward. You'll learn...

Do you ever worry that the confidence other people see isn't how you really feel inside? Many young people struggle with self doubt and spend a lot of energy trying to appear confident while privately questioning themselves. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore the difference between looking confident and genuinely believing in yourself. You'll learn why confidence isn't about pretending, w...

Do you find yourself putting other people's needs ahead of your own, even when it's leaving you exhausted, frustrated or unhappy? Many young people struggle to put themselves first and often feel guilty when they try. In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why people pleasing develops, where that guilt comes from and why saying no can feel so uncomfortable. You'll learn how self doubt, fear o...

Do you ever feel like you're stuck in the same cycle, making the same mistakes, having the same arguments or falling back into habits you thought you'd left behind? In this episode of Headstraight, we explore why people get trapped in unhelpful patterns and what sits underneath self sabotage. You'll learn how old coping strategies, fear, self doubt and avoidance can keep you repeating behaviours t...