It’s just a phase.
She’ll grow out of it.
Boys will be boys.
As a parent of a teenager, you’ve likely heard one of these phrases at least once in your life. Perhaps you may have even uttered one or two of them yourself.
It’s no secret that raising a teenager comes with its own set of unique challenges. Due to their changing hormones, they can be more prone to angry outbursts. They might become withdrawn and sullen. However, while these behaviors can undoubtedly be very frustrating for you, it’s also important to try to put yourself into your child’s shoes.
It’s actually highly unlikely that they’re acting like this for the sole purpose of antagonizing you. In fact, some of these behaviors can be a sign that your child is severely hurting — and it may be a not-so-subtle cry for help.
Extreme Anger or Outbursts
During their adolescent years, your child will go through many changes. They may start to develop acne outbreaks, they’ll start to show interest in dating, and it can seem like they’ve developed their own unique personalities almost overnight.
Some of these changes, though, can be wholly unwelcome. If your normally sweet son or daughter has suddenly started lashing out at you, and their outbursts seem almost scary in their intensity, that could mean that they’re dealing with more than they can handle right now.
While the occasional or random outbursts can be normal, if they seem to be occurring more frequently, they could hint at underlying mental health issues or an undiagnosed personality disorder. As a parent, they depend on you to help them get the treatment they need to deal with these volatile emotions.
Strange Behavior Around Food
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not only girls that get eating disorders. While females can be four times more likely to develop an eating disorder, they do not discriminate. Both your teenage son or daughter can suffer from one.
Furthermore, eating disorders are more than just starving oneself (anorexia) or throwing up (bulimia). It can also include orthorexia, binge eating disorder, and even compulsive exercise. They can be very challenging to identify, making it all the more difficult for you to pick up on them.
If your child has suddenly developed unusual behavior around eating and exercise, it may mean that they’re hiding turbulent emotions from you. It’s important to act both quickly and compassionately, as these disorders can be lethal.
The Many Faces of Depression
When you think of depression, what probably comes to mind is an overwhelming and pervasive sense of sadness. While that can be a symptom of depression, it actually can include several behaviors that can be less easy to identify.
Depression is more than just being “bummed out” or “feeling down.” It’s a serious mental illness, and signs of itcan include a loss of interest in previous hobbies, sleeping more than usual, and isolation. Your teen may even start to become angry and moody, as well.
Depression, like eating disorders, can be deadly if left untreated. Even if your teenager does not express suicidal ideation, it does not mean that they have not already considered it. If you start to notice that your teenager is exhibiting any of the common signs of this mental illness, you must intervene right away.
Substance Abuse and Addiction
It’s a common misconception that substance abuse only happens in urban centers. While many inner cities do have their own struggles with drug use, it’s actually rural youths that are more likely to have an addiction to illicit substances like methamphetamine and tobacco.
Substance abuse is not something that only so-called “bad” kids get into, either. Addiction is a mental illness, and it can affect anyone — people from all socio-economic backgrounds, genders, and walks of life. While there are certainly some factors that can increase your teen’s risk of developing a substance abuse problem, nobody is immune to it.
Getting mental health help for adolescents with addiction is extremely important. Without treatment, your teenager can quickly spiral into dangerous behaviors or might overdose. The sooner you get compassionate care for them, the better the outcome will be for the both of you.
Does Your Child Need Help?
If you are the parent of a teenager who is showing any of these signs of emotional turmoil, then please understand that you’re not alone. Almost all parents deal with similar issues in their child, and it doesn’t mean that you’ve failed as a parent.
What’s important is that you’ve identified and recognized these behaviors, and you’re getting your child the much-needed care that they need. And that, without a doubt, is a sign of good parenting!
