Teenage years can be hard on anybody. Your body is flooded with hormones, you’re given more responsibilities, and there is new pressure on you to choose a life direction.

It’s a confusing time, but for some teenagers, it can become a much more stressful experience. Anxiety and depression can develop and the effects can be devastating. Anorexia, bulimia, drugs, alcohol, cutting, and suicidal thoughts may seem impossible for parents to think of, but they are all possibilities for teens in crisis.

Parents need to know what to look out for, so you can be aware and intervene before things spiral out of control. Join us, today, as we take a closer look at five issues specific to teenagers in crisis.

Bullying and Isolation

Bullying is a problem most of us are familiar with, as it has been an issue in the school system for generations. Whether physically or emotionally, being bullied can trigger thoughts of sadness and depression. And, with the introduction of cyber-bullying, the scope of this style of abuse is much larger than ever before. This can lead to victimization on a much deeper level than you may be familiar with, which can be dangerous to a potential teenager in crisis.

Bullying often leads to a sense of isolation, as well. When teens feel disconnected from the world, they tend to internalize their pain, keeping it secret and feeding their own insecurities. This can lead to low self-esteem, self-harming behaviors, and long-term emotional issues.

Divorce and Family Issues

Children between the ages of 12 and 19 often don’t have the emotional maturity to handle fallouts between parents and family members. It isn’t unreasonable for adults to fight, in fact, it happens all the time. But when the fights become too regular and the household becomes toxic, teenagers may internalize this negativity. This may stunt their emotional growth, or lead to feelings of anger or depression. Divorce can be traumatic for teens when feelings are not expressed and families don’t pursue emotional support or therapy.

Death and Loss

Loss affects everyone differently, but it can also have a dramatic impact on the life of a teenager. When family members or loved ones pass away, teens can sometimes process their negative feelings in unhealthy ways. Families need to get help and encourage everyone to express their feelings and learn healthy coping skills.

Stress and Anxiety

Of course, not all stresses will come from within the home or from other teenagers. For most people, high school is an introduction to peer pressures, socialization, strict deadlines, high-pressure tests, and big life decisions. Teenagers are sensitive to this kind of pressure, and though they may seem fine on the outside deep-seated anxieties are often repressed. Learning to cope with life is a necessary part of growing up, but that doesn’t change how stressful it can be. Teens are often not able to handle workloads, changes, and cope with adversity.

Relationships

Relationships are actually one of the biggest root causes of teen crises like depression and anxiety, today. The complicated processes of dating or socialization, of dealing with conflict and feeling included, can feel too much for young teenage minds. A breakup or falling out with friends could feel like the end of the world if you don’t know how to cope. This, in turn, can lead to feelings of depression or anxiety as teens struggle to process their situation and need to learn to cope with feelings of abandonment, rejection, and judgment.

While teenagers may keep their relationships a secret from their parents, it’s important to acknowledge, listen to and understand them when they do open up. Don’t minimize or be sarcastic and make light of it, or parents risk putting up a wall between parents and teen.

Keep in mind these feelings are completely valid to them. The best response is to acknowledge what’s happened and how they’re feeling, and not to downplay their crises. Treat these seriously, and seek help and support.

Identify and Respond in a Healthy Way to Teens In Crisis

At Total Health Concepts, we offer comprehensive treatment for teens in crises. We help to identify warning signs for depression and anxiety. Then it’s our job to build self-esteem in teens by focusing on their strengths. We also strengthen family bonds and teach healthy coping skills to teenagers.

As professionals in our field, we understand these problems affect everyone in a family. Because of this, we give the family the tools to work through them together and not blame or judge.

Our Teens in Crisis counseling services encourage families to foster a healthy environment for all family members. Get in touch with us, today, and discover Total Health Concepts’ comprehensive support services, including:

• • Family Therapy: to restore healthy boundaries and rebuild the home community
  • Individual Therapy: building up self-esteem and resiliency, and identifying and learning healthy coping mechanisms
  • Group Therapy: developing peer support and socialization
  • Parent Support: learning skills for raising independent, confident and resilient children

• Expressive Therapies: foster personal development and healing through creative therapies

• Nutrition Therapies: mindful eating and self-care to develop a healthy self-image in clients