If you know of a troubled teen struggling with finding his place in this world, you need to reach out and give him the tools he needs to pull through. Support through counseling may be beneficial for your teen. Teens face an array of problems explains the Teen Advisor website. Although some kids can cope effectively with problems that arise, others can bury their emotions or act out in ways that may be destructive to their overall well-being.
Reasons
A teen may be troubled for several reasons, states the Teen Advisor website. If she has experienced a loss in her life, significant change or had to move away from friends, she may develop an eating disorder or turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism. Self image issues, dating, friendships, bullying, school pressure, teen sex and family issues can all lead to emotional problems. Some teens have more problems to deal with than others. Many troubled teens have problems mounted on top of other problems.
Signs
The MSNBC website shares some tips on signs your teen may be troubled. A drop in grades, skipping school, changing his group of friends, mood swings, stealing, disobeying, lying to adults and weight changes are all some signs he may be experiencing something negative in his life. Talking to him about how noticeable the changes are may help him realize he has a problem. He may also be in denial about it and refuse to believe he has a problem.
Repercussions
The repercussions of being troubled as a teenager can lead to depression and anxiety---making it more difficult for her to function and recover from her problems. Untreated depression can lead to drug abuse, violence and suicide, explains the Help Guide website. If your teen is showcasing any of the following signs of depression, such as thoughts of death or suicide, lack of enthusiasm, withdrawal, anger, sadness or self mutilation, seek medical help immediately.
Solutions
The New York Times health guide explains that one solution to helping your troubled teen involves getting the proper treatment that is tailored to the extent of his problems. Many teens can get the help they need through anti-depressants prescribed through their family physician. Their family physician may also rule out other medical problems or suggest a healthy diet to help your teen feel better about himself physically. He may need more intense intervention that includes a combination of cognitive or behavioral therapy, inpatient psychotherapy therapy and close anti-depressant medication supervision.
Outcome
The outcome of a treatment plan should be to get your teen to feel good about herself and be able to cope with her problems in a healthy way. Psych Central shares that depression in teens can be resolved as long as the right combination therapy is found based on her needs. Every teenager is different and it is important to follow up with routine physician visits, attend teacher conferences regularly and make your teen accountable for her whereabouts and actions.
