- Social, Emotional, and Intellectual Development.
Your teenager is confused about his physical appearance, his sexual orientation,
his feelings, his intellectual interest and/or competence. That doesn’t mean he
is in crisis, or needs professional help. What he needs from you, as a parent,
and everybody around him, is an infinite patience, and unconditional love. When
he locks himself in his room for hours to listen to intolerably loud music, or
to play the same violent video games over and over again, and demands "privacy"
when you attempt to communicate with him, he acts normally. When your teenage
daughter is crying hours about her "ugly face", her "horribly fat thighs", and
she calls her best friend a "bitch", while sending IM to her friends in the
middle of the night, she is acting normally. This "normalcy" might be too
stressful for the family. If you feel overwhelmed with your adolescent, you
should ask for a consultation. Don’t wait until things get out of control.
- Eating Problems and Eating Disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia).
The adolescent years can be irreversibly harmful, even fatal, if you dismiss
signs of serious problems. If you have doubts, if you are confused about what to
do with your severely unhappy child, then seek help, and ask for a consultation.
- Smoking, Drinking, and Drug Abuse in High School.
Self-destructive behavior starts in middle school. During the early teenage
years children are willing to talk to their parents about the frustration and
pressure they have to deal with in case they had a trusting relationship
throughout their younger years. But if they lose trust in their parents during
the rough times, then they withdraw. After that it becomes more and more
difficult to reach out to them. These are critical years. Even if you have found
the most appropriate professional aid for your overly distressed teenager, it is
important to get some support for yourself as well.
- Depression and Suicidal Thoughts. How
can you tell that your daughter or son is depressed and/or suicidal when "all
teenagers look so unhappy"? If you see any sign of physically damaging behavior,
you can be sure that your child needs professional help. When your teenager
doesn’t sleep and eat enough, or he looks tired too often, you might need to
seek counseling. Don’t be in denial! You could regret it later.
- "Sweet 16" and Teenagers’ Sex Life. The
biggest myth about teenage sex is that the only thing kids need is for their
parents to sit down with them and openly talk about sex as early as possible.
Children are shy about their sexuality from an early age. They themselves are
too embarrassed by what their parents have to say about sex. How do you break
the barriers? Slowly, tactfully, honestly, and with a little bit of humor. Don’t
be shy to ask for help if you need some with this subject.
|
