As any parent with a teenager knows, it isn’t easy.
Teenagers have a lot to deal with, and their rapidly changing hormones don’t
make it any easier for them. However, while some troubles are expected with
teens, sometimes these issues grow too large and your teen will start to
struggle. If this happens, it could result in destructive behavior or poor
performance at school. The best thing you can do is look for some signs
that your teen is struggling, especially when they won’t tell you directly.
Here are a few signs to look for:
They Keep to Themselves
While many teenagers want to be left alone, teens keeping to
themselves more often than they used to could be a sign of an internal
struggle. Teens, just like everyone else, don’t want to let others see them
having a hard time. The result is that they will keep to themselves and hide
their struggles away from the world. If they want to spend a little less time
with their parents, this is normal. But if they are avoiding family functions
altogether, and especially if they are avoiding their friends as well, it could
be a sign that they are having some issues.
They Lash Out
Some teens won’t internalize their problems and instead will
start to lash out. Internal struggles can make us angry or cranky, and teens
tend to feel these emotions even more strongly. Most parents won’t get away
without ever arguing with their teenager, but if the outbursts start to become
more frequent than they once were, your kid may have something going on in
their life. The lashing out could take the form of arguing, yelling, or simply
misbehaving. Keep track of your child’s behavior and see how it has changed
over time.
They Seem Stressed
Sometimes it’s just obvious when someone is
stressed. They become irritable or they spend all their time working. Life
as a teenager isn’t easy and sometimes the amount of work they have to do can
become overwhelming. If you find your teenager in front of their textbooks all
the time, they are likely dealing with some stress. We have all had to deal
with stress at some point or another, so think about how stress impacts you
personally, then start to look for these same signs in your teenager.
How You Can Help Your Struggling Teen
If you think your teenager is struggling with something,
there are a few things you can do. First, you should try talking to
your teen. They may not want to talk, but reminding them that you are there
for them can go a long way. If they don’t want to talk, don’t pressure them too
much. Instead, just remind them that you are available and try to find subtle
ways to coax it out of them.
For teenagers dealing with more serious mental health
issues, you should consider getting them professional assistance. Teen depression
treatment is a good thing to look into, as is simply speaking to a
therapist. Sometimes your child won’t want to talk to you about their problems,
but they would be willing to talk to someone neutral. This is a good way to get
your teenager the help they need without invading their space.
If your child is dealing with a lot of stress from school,
try to find some simple ways to help them out. You could help them complete
some of their projects, study for a test, organize their notes or even talk to
their teachers if need be. You don’t want to do all the work for them (that
would defeat the point), but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways you can help
lessen the load a little bit. Also, remind them to step away from their work
from time to time and do something they enjoy, otherwise, the stress will just
make the work even harder.
All teens will go through some issues, it’s a part of
growing up. Your job as a parent is to make sure the struggles don’t get too
much to bear, and that your child knows you are there for support if they need
you. Be on the lookout for signs that your teen is struggling more than usual,
and if you spot any of them, take some action to help them out. When problems
are ignored or unattended to they can snowball into something worse, so do your
best to spot signs of a struggle as early as you can and get your child the
help they need.