Friday 26 / April / 2024
The teenage years can be a tumultuous time. It’s the perfect storm of hormones, raging emotions, and distorted perspective, as a child slowly transitions into the teenage years. For some teens, normal teenage angst can turn into a major mental health issue that is so overwhelming they don’t know where to begin, or how to cope.
School, family life, and social pressures can all take a toll on teens who are struggling to understand their own emotions and how to deal with them in a healthy way.This is when therapy can be extremely beneficial to teens, but still many ask, “How do I know if my teenager needs to see a therapist?”
As a parent, you want to believe that your teen doesn’t need help or that you are able to handle every situation they encounter on your own. But if they’re suffering in silence and refusing to talk with you about their feelings or problems, it is difficult for you to recognise the core of their struggles and help them in the way that they need.
This is why it is important to find a therapist who specialises in working with teens, as they are able to understand the teen’s perspective, have experience working with this age group, and are familiar with the best strategies to communicate with them in a way that your teen will be able to open up and connect about their innermost thoughts and feelings.
What Is Teen Therapy?
There are many different types of therapy, but teen therapy is unique and keeps many parents asking “Does my teen need therapy?” Teenage years are a time when teens are learning how to think for themselves and exert their independence.
They are also pursuing new friendships, relationships, and activities that they may not feel confident about or comfortable engaging in. This is why it is so important to have a therapist who can listen, support your teen, and give them the guidance they need before making difficult life decisions.
Although everyone experiences their teenage years differently, there are some problems that teens commonly struggle with:
Self Esteem Issues: Teens can struggle with low self-esteem and a lack of confidence in themselves. This often stems from issues such as bullying, depression, or anxiety that cause teens to question their worth and abilities.
Anxiety: Teen anxiety can take many forms, such as a social phobia or dealing with everyday stressors that seem too difficult to handle.
Depression: Teen depression is on the rise, and can stem from a lack of self-esteem, social anxiety, or a traumatic event that is too difficult for them to cope with.
School Issues: Struggling to fit in at school, bullying, and difficulty making friends are all common problems that can be overwhelming for teens who feel like they don’t belong or don’t know how to reach out.
Conflict with Parents: Difficulty communicating and dealing with their parents can be overwhelming for teens who just want to be treated as an adult.
Trauma: Whether it’s a past trauma that still haunts them or something that is currently happening in their lives, many teens struggle with the aftermath of a traumatic event and don’t know where to turn.
How to Know if Your Teen Needs Therapy?
The teenage years are a time of change and growth. It can be difficult for teens to navigate their way through these changes, and it can be very helpful for them to speak with a mental health professional about what they are going through.
As a parent, you might be constantly Googling, “What are the signs of a troubled teenager?” as it can be difficult to tell if your teen is struggling with an issue that requires professional help. But there are some signs you can look for that could indicate your teen might benefit from therapy:
Unexplained or Irrational Fears: If your teen is experiencing irrational fears or panic attacks that they cannot explain, it may be a sign of anxiety.
Social Withdrawal: A loss of interest in friends, school, and activities they once enjoyed is a sign that your teen might be suffering from depression or low self-esteem.
Excessive Anger: A teen who is having anger issues may be experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, or a host of other problems.
Self-Harm: Self-harm behaviours, including cutting or harming themselves in any way, are often an attempt to deal with the pain they are feeling.
Unexplained Changes in Behaviour: A sudden change in behaviour, such as becoming quieter and more withdrawn or more aggressive and confrontational, can be a sign that something is bothering your teen.
Mood Swings: Mood swings that are out of the blue or seem unreasonable for any given situation can indicate deeper issues.
A Decline in Grades or School Performance: Exhibiting a decline in academic performance or showing an unwillingness to attend school can be signs that your teen is struggling with social problems, depression, anxiety, or other issues.
Isolating Themselves from Family and Friends: A loss of interest in family and friends is a classic sign that your teen might need extra space alone to deal with the internal problems that are invisible to everyone around them.
Sudden Loss of Motivation: When a teenager suddenly becomes less passionate about the things they once loved and retracts themselves from participating, it can be a sign that there is something deeper going on that needs help.
Personality Changes: If your teen has been acting out more, being disrespectful towards others, or has become less empathetic and caring as they once were, it might be a sign that they are struggling with something that is causing them to lash out.
Changes in Eating Habits or Appetite: If your teen has become pickier about what they eat, or is avoiding meals altogether, it could indicate a deeper issue.
Low Self-Esteem or Poor Body Image: They have developed a negative body image or are having issues with their self-esteem due to bullying from other teens or from themselves.
Why It’s Important to Talk about Mental Health in the Household
Many people have been hiding their mental health problems from themselves and others for a long time. This is especially true in teenagers who might be trying to fit in and not stand out. Talking about addiction and mental health with teenagers is important because it helps them learn that they aren’t alone, and that they can get better if they need help.
It is important that we are able to talk about our mental health because if we’re not careful, these things can spiral out of control and cause us physical harm in the process. Mental illness does not just affect one person – it affects families and friends too. The sooner someone receives treatment for a mental illness, the better chance they will have at getting well again.
Teenagers can learn to cope with mental health problems by watching others around them who have been struggling with addiction or other issues and gotten better. Parents who are open about their own mental health struggles will help their children feel comfortable talking to them if they are struggling themselves. If your teen is having signs of mental health problems it’s important to talk.
Many teens feel like they are the only ones who are struggling with mental health problems, but this is not true. Talking about mental health with teenagers is important because it helps them know that there are other people who have been through what they might be going through right now.
