Ever feel like the weight of the world is pressing down on you, making even the simplest tasks feel impossible? For Carly, a 17-year-old high school student, this weight was all too real.
Anxiety clouded her every day, making it difficult to focus, stay motivated, or even enjoy time with friends. The anxiety grew so intense it began to fuel her depression, pulling her further into isolation.
With school, social pressures, and her mental health struggles all piling up, Carly and her foster parents knew she couldn’t face it alone. They reached out to March on Mission, ready to find a way for Carly to feel like herself again.
Carly’s story is a testament to the power of mental health services for foster children. Through the support of our nonprofit mental health organization, Carly transitioned from feeling overwhelmed by trauma to living an empowered life.
The First Step: Uncovering the Root of Carly’s Symptoms
To find out what was happening with Carley, March on Mission put Carly and her parents in touch with our trusted neurofeedback provider, Grey Matters Brain Training Studio. Their team started Carley with a brain map so they could get a visual of her brain’s unique patterns and uncover the causes of her anxiety and low motivation. Her results revealed heightened hiBeta activity in the back of her brain—an indicator of anxiety, perfectionism, and constant worry.
Her brain map also showed slowed frontal alpha waves, pointing to low motivation, which explained her struggles with schoolwork. So, the success coaches at Grey Matters created a neurofeedback training program specifically to address her anxiety and depression.
How Mental Health Services for Foster Children Changed Carly’s Life
After just a few weeks of consistent training sessions, Carly noticed small but meaningful changes. By the twenty-first session, her anxiety began to quiet down. The dread she felt about school and social situations slowly started to lift, and she was able to face each day with less fear.
Additionally, this relief from her anxiety opened the door for Carly to start connecting with friends and family again, allowing her to experience the joy of socializing without the shadow of constant worry.
Thanks to dedicated mental health services for foster children, Carly found the support she needed to heal from past trauma.
A Brighter Mood and Renewed Motivation
As her treatment continued, Carly saw improvements in her mood, too. The irritability and sadness that had once overwhelmed her faded, replaced by a lighter, more balanced outlook. While there were still tough days, her overall mood was noticeably brighter than before.
Perhaps most significantly, Carly’s motivation returned. She felt the drive to tackle her schoolwork again, catching up on missed assignments and raising her math grade before the semester’s end—a feat that once seemed impossible.
There are nearly 400,000 children and youth in foster care in the U.S. A vast majority (up to 80%) have serious mental health issues. That’s about four to five times greater than the rest of the population.
– UPMC Health Beat
How You Can Help Foster Children Like Carly Heal
Carly’s story is a powerful example of how neurofeedback can create real change, even for those facing overwhelming anxiety. Her journey reminds us that each foster child’s path to healing is unique, and results take time, dedication, and care. Neurofeedback helped Carly break free from the grips of anxiety, find motivation, and restore her sense of self.
At March On Mission, a leading nonprofit mental health organization, we strive to provide every foster child with access to life-changing mental health care.
If you or your foster child is struggling with anxiety, depression, or motivation issues, March on Mission wants to help! Each child deserves better.
Support mental health services for foster children by donating today!
