Being a teen can be tough, both for the teenagers and for you as their parent. It's important that you understand what your teens are going through, but you need to be careful to keep an eye on them for signs of mental and emotional disorders. Do you think your teenagers are having problems? Here are some of the signs to watch out for:
Jokes or Comments about Suicide -- Has your teenager joked about committing suicide at any point in the last few months? If so, it's important that you consider getting help for the teenager. With suicide being the #3 leading cause of teenaged death, it's important that you're aware of what's going on inside your teenager's head. They will rarely joke about it if they aren't seriously considering it.
Experimenting with Drugs and Alcohol- Many teenager's see drug and alcohol experimentation as a rite of passage, and while it is a very common occurrence it is not something parents should overlook. Unfortunately, most parents do not know. Would you be shocked to learn most girls try alcohol by age 13? Boys try it even younger, statistically by age 11. There are some signs you can watch for when it comes to drugs and alcohol. Start with their behavior, have they had a sudden change in personality, friends, grades in school or begun to have problems with law enforcement? Couple behavioral changes with reddened eyes and nausea or vomiting and there is a good chance your child is at least dabbling in either alcohol or drugs.
Depression -- Depression is often accompanied by feelings of guilt or worthlessness, and many teenagers experience depression ranging from mild to severe. Your teenager may once have been a happy child, but now they're sullen, angry, and they are always putting themselves down. Your child may feel alone and helpless, and it's due to their depression.
Abuse -- Most teenagers won't be abusive to their siblings, but many of them will act out in the form of bullying or picking on the other kids in their class. Some kids will actually abuse, torture, or kill animals, such as pets like cats and dogs. The SPCA has found that children that abuse animals are much more likely to become violent with humans, and those that have this problem are often diagnosed with behavioral disorders.
Bi-Polar Behavior- As already mentioned depression is fairly common, but you want to watch for depressive periods that end in a heightened euphoric mood, these are classic bipolar symptoms. Bipolar disorder is marked by periods of ups and downs, mania being the upper side and manic being the downside. During mania your child may have trouble focussing, sitting still or be in a euphoric mood. Risky behavior is typical of bipolar mood disorder.
Being a parent means it's your job to help your child, and it becomes even more important if they are suffering from an emotional or mental health issue. If you can see these signs, you may be able to catch the problem earlier on in order to correct it. Get your child the help they need immediately!
Jokes or Comments about Suicide -- Has your teenager joked about committing suicide at any point in the last few months? If so, it's important that you consider getting help for the teenager. With suicide being the #3 leading cause of teenaged death, it's important that you're aware of what's going on inside your teenager's head. They will rarely joke about it if they aren't seriously considering it.
Experimenting with Drugs and Alcohol- Many teenager's see drug and alcohol experimentation as a rite of passage, and while it is a very common occurrence it is not something parents should overlook. Unfortunately, most parents do not know. Would you be shocked to learn most girls try alcohol by age 13? Boys try it even younger, statistically by age 11. There are some signs you can watch for when it comes to drugs and alcohol. Start with their behavior, have they had a sudden change in personality, friends, grades in school or begun to have problems with law enforcement? Couple behavioral changes with reddened eyes and nausea or vomiting and there is a good chance your child is at least dabbling in either alcohol or drugs.
Depression -- Depression is often accompanied by feelings of guilt or worthlessness, and many teenagers experience depression ranging from mild to severe. Your teenager may once have been a happy child, but now they're sullen, angry, and they are always putting themselves down. Your child may feel alone and helpless, and it's due to their depression.
Abuse -- Most teenagers won't be abusive to their siblings, but many of them will act out in the form of bullying or picking on the other kids in their class. Some kids will actually abuse, torture, or kill animals, such as pets like cats and dogs. The SPCA has found that children that abuse animals are much more likely to become violent with humans, and those that have this problem are often diagnosed with behavioral disorders.
Bi-Polar Behavior- As already mentioned depression is fairly common, but you want to watch for depressive periods that end in a heightened euphoric mood, these are classic bipolar symptoms. Bipolar disorder is marked by periods of ups and downs, mania being the upper side and manic being the downside. During mania your child may have trouble focussing, sitting still or be in a euphoric mood. Risky behavior is typical of bipolar mood disorder.
Being a parent means it's your job to help your child, and it becomes even more important if they are suffering from an emotional or mental health issue. If you can see these signs, you may be able to catch the problem earlier on in order to correct it. Get your child the help they need immediately!
About the Author:
The basis of this article was from Pinnacle Reviews: signs and complaints of mental health problems for teenagers.
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