Teenage Behavior

Isolating

isolation Isolating is a form of pulling yourself away from life. Many people will do this by sleeping more than usual, retreating to their bedroom and staying there, not accepting phone calls, and taking sick days from school or work just to be alone. There is a big defference between wanting to have some time to yourself and isolating. Time to yourself is normal and a healthy way to clear your head and reflect on your own life. It may be just to take a break from how busy your life may feel. This may be done by taking a bath, going for a walk or run, or listening to music by yourself for an hour, Isolating is very different. It is for long periods of time and days, weeks or months and whenever the opportunity arises to be alone. For some it may even get to the point where they can be in a room full of people and turn themself invisible by shrinking into the background. Isolating is usually a symptom of a bigger problem.

If you or someone you know has been displaying this behavior and you would like more information please contact me.

Hygiene

Hygiene is an important part of life but when it becomes an obsession by going to the extreme of washing hands until they are red and raw or going the opposite of that and never having the desire to be clean this is usually a sign of something more severe going on.

hygiene Handwashing or being overly clean and concerned with germs to the point that it can dibilitate ones life is not only exhausting for the person doing these behaviors ut it is also exhausting for the loved ones who watch generally in silence about what they are seeing.

The same holds true to seeing someone who goes from caring about themself to going for days without showering or changing their clothes. Sometimes they may waer the same clothing for days.

Both can be signs of a bigger problem but many times families and loved ones don't know how or if they should approach their loved one to talk about their concerns.

If you would like more information on these behaviors please contact me.

Self Injury

Self-Injury can mean several things in a teenager life. From the parent point of view it should be taken as a cry for help. How big a cry it is the question. There are various forms of self-injury: cutting, which is generally on the forearms, tops of legs, stomach, chest or fronts of shoulders. Some teens will burn their skin with cigarettes, or some type of metal they can get hot enough to burn themselves with. Other types of self-injury is biting, pulling out hair, eye lashes, using erasers from the ends of pencils to rub on their skin until it leaves marks.

There are specific reasons for self-injury. These reasons consist of feeling overwhelmed, inability to cope, and feeling vulnerable or exposed in other words extreme stress. There are also other reasons which include feelings of numbness, feeling lost or alone, feeling disconnected or unreal these are all feelings of dissociation. Feeling extreme stress or dissociative are all triggers for self-injury.

Once there has been a trigger then the urge happens. Once the cutting has happened the teen generally feels like they are back in control of their life. They may also feel alive instead of numb or present instead of disconnected. The goal of the cutter is to feel alive or real again. There is generally no intention of committing suicide or dying, this doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.

Signs to look for are wearing long sleeves and pants. Not willing to go swimming or anywhere they can't be covered up, depression, withdrawn from family, and low self-esteem.

One of the reasons that self-injury becomes a coping skill is because it allows the teen to only focus on the physical pain and not the emotional pain. Most of the time their emotions are too difficult to deal with and they feel over-whelmed and so cutting or self injury will relieve this emotional trigger. Many that self-injure will report the inability to talk to someone or ask for help. Some injure themselves because they are trying to deal with a past abuse or trauma.

Loss of Interest

Loss of interest can be caused by many things. Many times it can be a sign of depression or severe stress. Many teenagers or young adults will lose interest in favorite sports, going out with friends, school, or playing music on their favorite instrument. This behavior by itself can be solved if there is willingness to talk about why they have stopped doing things they love to do. If there are other symptoms or behaviors that are coinsiding with loss of interest there may be something more serious going on.

Some of the more serious possibilities are drug/alcohol abuse, an abusive relationship, trauma, or severe depression.

If you would like more information please contact me.

Anger and Rage

Anger can be something that can drive your life. Anger can ruin relationships; ruin jobs and careers, ruin self respect, and make life very chaotic. Many think that anger cannot be controlled and it is just something that is passed down in the genes. Anger turns into rage and usually once you have gotten to the point of rage everything goes either red or a black out occurs. Many don't remember what they did during their fit of rage. There is a way to control anger and rage. It will take some understanding of where the anger comes from and then some effort on learning to re-direct your anger.

If you want more information please contact us.

Mood Swings

For teenagers mood swings can be a normal part of the growing up process. This time of life is filled with racing hormones, peer pressure, becoming independent of mom and dad, school and society expectations, and the expectations teenagers believe are put on them by their parent.

Severe mood swings, however, are not normal. This type of mood swing can cause irrational decisions, irritability, and acting out behavior. Many teens will shut parents out completely, change peer groups or become a loner, they may become physically or verbally abusive, school will be an after thought or not a thought at all, and their life will look out of control.

Most teenagers don't have the skills to know when their life is out of control so they don't know when it is time to talk to mom or dad. Because they are trying to become independent so they don't ask for help or admit that their life is unmanageable. This is when parents need to step in and intervene.

If this is happening to someone you know please contact us for a free consultation.