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The teenage years of a person's life are always challenging. There are so many changes to deal with, so many social pressures to handle on top of the growing demands in school and in their personal life. Some teens have a harder time handling these pressures than others, and need a bit more help coping.
There are also times when unfortunate things happen and counselling for troubled teens become a necessary part of the healing process. Here are a few examples of problems that may be better addressed if a counselor's help is sought:
- Major changes in the life of a family - This may include moving to a different school, dealing with their parents' divorce, or a serious illness in the family.
- Learning that they have a serious illness
- Developing a disability
- Becoming a victim of bullying or any kind of abuse
- Loss of a friend or a boyfriend/girlfriend
- Teen pregnancy
Sometimes it's hard for parents to know when their teen really needs counseling because of the many changes in attitude that goes with being an adolescent. How can a parent distinguish from simple "growing pains" to a silent cry for help?
Many teens will display several concerning negative behaviors that should serve as red flags for parents. It's best to get acquainted with these red flags in order to get help as soon as possible, before a troubled teen takes a turn for the worse. Here are a few examples of such red flags to look for:
- Indications of suicidal tendencies - Suicidal behaviors can often be very subtle and difficult to look out for. Some suicidal teens talk about death too much, they may write about death in online blogs or private journals, they may show fixation for it in some other way. Signs could be as subtle as saying "I love you" out of the blue and giving away valued personal possessions or even just joking about death and dying. If your child exhibits such symptoms, seek counselling for troubled teens right away.
- Depression - Like signs of suicidal tendencies, some parents have a hard time determining if a teen is actually depressed or just being moody like a typical teenager. Different teens show depression in different ways, but the classic signs of depression include withdrawal from family and friends, oversleeping or not sleeping enough, insomnia, neglecting personal hygiene, and more. Your child could be passionate about cheerleading but all of a sudden lose interest in it. You may notice a marked loss of appetite or a more irregular eating pattern than usual which could indicate that he/she is binge eating.
- A sudden change in appearance - A drastic weight loss or weight gain could be tell-tale signs of a dangerous eating disorder.
- A sudden change in school performance and grades - If your child has never struggled with school before but is suddenly failing classes or not attending his/her classes, it could be a red flag that indicates your teen needs counseling.
- Indications of behavioral problems - If your child suddenly gets into trouble at school or with a neighbors, it could be a sign of a problem that needs to be addressed. If suddenly none of his/her friends come over and your child is not talking to them or the phone or communicating with them in any way, that could be a bad sign too.
- Substance experimentation or abuse - Does your teen smell of smoke? Did you catch him with a pack of cigarettes in his/her bag? Even if your teen denies that it's his, the fact that the cigarettes are in his possession should be enough to get your attention to the problem. Do you notice beers disappearing from your fridge? Do you often catch your teen looking or sounding out of sorts? It's probably time to consult a counselor about it. Substance abuse could be an issue that can spiral out of control very quickly if not addressed early.
It's difficult to deal with a teen that needs counseling, but it's a lot more difficult to deal with the consequences of not seeking help as early as possible.
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