Warning Signs that Your Teen May Be Struggling

As parents, we often feel like our children have it easy because they have few responsibilities, and we handle so many things for them. However, many teens deal with the same issues we do as adults, and life for young ones certainly is no walk in the park.

Unfortunately, teenagers are notoriously tight-lipped, and they often end up struggling more than we first realize. As such, it’s wise to know some of the warning signs to look out for that you have a child who may be depressed, highly anxious, or otherwise needs some mental health support.

Extreme Moods

One of the most obvious ways to identify a teen in trouble is when they often display extreme mood swings. We all know that teenagers have mood fluctuations due to their up and down hormones and need to navigate challenges at school and beyond. However, shocking extremes that seem to come out of nowhere regularly may indicate something more going on.

Do you find your teen goes from being very happy one minute to downright depressed before you know it? Or are they having out-of-character angry outbursts that are unreasonable based on the stimulus that occurred? Perhaps you’re weary of having a hostile teenager who’s disrespectful to you or other members of your family or simply no longer communicating much at all? Alternatively, their sleeping patterns may be entirely out of whack, and they’re getting a lot more or less sleep than usual.

Any of these situations can indicate that your child can’t regulate their emotions. This may be a chemical imbalance that will be assisted with appropriate depression medication for kids, or it may be caused by certain situations that a chat with a therapist can address.

Falling Grades or Other Issues at School

Another sign that many parents notice when their teenager is struggling is that they suddenly have falling grades at school when this hasn’t been an issue in the past. If your child has always struggled academically or with particular subjects, or if they have one bad exam, this doesn’t need to be cause for concern. However, if you see noticeable performance changes, it’s worth investigating further.

Similarly, children who are having a tough time might have other issues at school, such as getting into fights or being disrespectful to teachers or other adults. You might learn that their participation level has dropped right off or that they keep cutting classes. Try to determine if your teen is struggling with the workload or content at school, having problems with friends or other social factors, or if something else entirely is impacting them.

Withdrawing from Family

It’s natural for teenagers to spend more time with friends in their later school years. However, this doesn’t mean they should pull away from their family entirely. Your teen could be in dangerous territory if they withdraw to an extreme and you see such changes rapidly, for no other reason that you can work out.

When children disappear from the house without telling you where they’re going or with whom, or when they lock themselves away alone in their bedroom for much of the day and night, it’s smart to be concerned. Secretive behavior, missing curfews, sneaking out, or lying about where they’ve been, among other troubling actions, point to a teen who’s not in a great headspace.

Engaging in Risky Behaviors

Another clear sign of a troubled teen is when you see evidence that they’re engaging in risky behaviors. For instance, when depressed or anxious or suffering from other mental health issues, teens might regularly take drugs and drink alcohol in excess, drive dangerously or without a license, or get into a car with someone who’s clearly inexperienced or not fit to be behind the wheel.

Also, kids could start vandalizing property, shoplifting, playing around with guns, getting into fights, or otherwise trying to get a dangerous thrill, numb emotions, or go to extremes to impress others. Don’t just chalk these behaviors up to basic rebellion. They often turn into more serious situations. After all, people, even young ones, don’t generally throw caution to the wind and take significant risks when they’re happy.

There are no hard and fast rules about determining when someone is or isn’t in a good space, but if you pay attention to your teen and notice any of the above signs, it’s time to have a chat with them. Explaining what you’ve noticed in a non-judgemental way can help show kids they’re valued and cared about and might prompt them to open up about what’s troubling them.