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Teenage years are typically characterized by numerous physical and social changes, often making it difficult for adolescents to know how to behave. As hormones kick in, a departure from conventional behavior is to be expected. But what if your teen begins to struggle with these different moods and character traits? Would you know the difference between normal teenage behavior and a mental health issue?
Click through the following gallery and learn of the signs your teen may be struggling with their mental health.
Teenagers—anyone between 13 and 19—are also called adolescents. And adolescence, the period between childhood and adulthood, can be challenging.
There's a lot going in the body throughout these years, during which most teens are still finding themselves and learning to live in their own skin.
At this stage of their lives, hormonal changes in teens are working overtime. The adolescent brain pumps out growth hormones, adrenal stress hormones, and hormones critical to male and female characteristics.
This rapid brain development and its effects can be a lot to deal with. Add to the mix an altering of relationships with family and friends, and it's no wonder teen years can be a demanding time for young people and their guardians.
The fact is that while a change in your teen's behavior may cause concern, many of these mood and behavioral changes can be normal.
But when does undesirable behavior start to indicate mental health issues in a teenager? It's not always easy to tell.
If your teenager is feeling sad and down for an extended period of time, it could be an indicator they are suffering from depression or anxiety.
Anxiety and depression are often comorbid, that is simultaneously present in someone. But the way they show up can be quite different.
A teenager overwhelmed by a sense of anxiety may have an adverse reaction to the thing that is making them feel anxious.
Depression, on the other hand, will generally show through mood changes and withdrawal.
Indicators of anxiety and depression can be seen in physical, emotional, and cognitive changes.
Cognitive indicators include trouble concentrating and solving everyday problems.
Obvious red flags are missing days in school or poor school performance, and difficulty in making decisions.
Forgetfulness and trouble retaining information is also indicative of underlying cognitive issues.
In more extreme cases, a depressed teenager may begin harboring negative thoughts, including notions of self-warm or worse.
Emotional or behavioral signs are many and can include feeling sad, tearful, moody, and irritable. Avoiding friends and a social life, and a general lack of interest in usual everyday activities, are other worrying signs.
Feeling worthless with no self-esteem and lacking energy or oversleeping are more red flags.
Physical signs extend to switching between feeling sluggish or unmotivated to manic hyperactivity.
Eating too little or too much are classic physical and emotional signs that all is not well.
A teenager struggling with their mental health is an issue that needs to be taken seriously.
The key to addressing this need is to talk to your teen about how they are feeling and how you can support them.
But discussing mental health issues with teenagers can be a touchy subject. It's therefore vital that parents gain the trust of their offspring completely and unconditionally.
This is important because teens who naturally distrust their moms and dads due to their parents' roles as authority figures will not open up about their problems easily, if at all.
A way around this dilemma is to find an adult whom the teenager does trust and can engage with in conversation.
However, experts agree that mental illness in teens requires a comprehensive approach and group effort from family members.
To that effect, a personalized recovery program should be drawn up. This can include services and features such as cognitive behavioral therapy for managing thoughts, actions, and emotions in a positive way.
Any therapeutic approach should also provide healthy outlets for self-expression, realization, and recreation.
If the family approach fails, then professional adolescent therapy is recommended. This affords a safe and neutral environment for your teen to share their experiences, work through challenges, and gain valuable coping mechanisms.
Adolescent therapy focuses on building empathy, self-reflection, mindfulness, and other useful traits for recovery.
The ultimate aim of adolescent therapy is to prevent a teenager from experiencing a mental health crisis and to shape safe and positive pathways to adulthood.
Sources: (HealthPartners) (Wellness Road Psychology) (Harvard Health) (Newport Academy)
See also: Common habits that negatively affect your mental health
Signs your teen may have mental health issues
Is your teenager in need of help?
LIFESTYLE Adolescene
Teenage years are typically characterized by numerous physical and social changes, often making it difficult for adolescents to know how to behave. As hormones kick in, a departure from conventional behavior is to be expected. But what if your teen begins to struggle with these different moods and character traits? Would you know the difference between normal teenage behavior and a mental health issue?
Click through the following gallery and learn of the signs your teen may be struggling with their mental health.