If you are a parent or other caregiver of a teenager, pay attention if your teen:
Is troubled by feeling:
- very angry most of the time, cries a lot or overreacts to things;
- worthless or guilty a lot;
- anxious or worried a lot more than other young people;
- grief for a long time after a loss or death;
- extremely fearful – has unexplained fears or more fears than most kids;
- constantly concerned about physical problems or appearance;
- frightened that his or her mind is controlled or is out of control.
Experiences big changes, for example:
- loses interest in things usually enjoyed;
- does much worse in school;
- has unexplained changes in sleeping or eating habits;
- avoids friends or family and wants to be alone all the time;
- daydreams too much and can’t get things done;
- feels life is too hard to handle or talks about suicide;
- hears voices that cannot be explained.
Is limited by:
- poor concentration; can’t make decisions;
- inability to sit still or focus attention;
- worry about being harmed, hurting others, or about doing something “bad”;
- the need to wash, clean things, or perform certain routines dozens of times a day;
- thoughts that race almost too fast to follow;
- persistent nightmares.
Behaves in ways that cause problems, for-example:
- uses alcohol or other drugs;
- eats large amounts of food and then forces vomiting, abuses laxatives, or takes enemas to avoid weight gain;
- continues to diet or exercise obsessively although bone-thin;
- often hurts other people, destroys property, or breaks the law;
- does things that can be life threatening.
To find help, discuss your concerns with your teen’s teacher, guidance counselor or others such as a family doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker.
These tips were reproduced from the SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center.