Troubled Teens

Troubled teens are teens who are involved in drug abuse, gangs, and other destructive behaviors. They often suffer from depression, make poor decisions, and jeopardize their health and relationships. They might have ADHD or an eating disorder or simply be out of control.

The future of a troubled teen can be daunting. They often lack the ability to see the long-term consequences of their choices. Their future can be in danger. Parents often must intervene and seek additional help through boarding schools and programs to help troubled teens.

Every teen has problems - they are a part of life. But are they the normal problems of growing up or something more severe? There are signs a parent should look for when trying to determine if the teen has behavior issues or emotional problems.

Parents often see drastic behavior changes in teenagers - and your instincts are usually right. There are normal adjustments and there are more serious issues that need attention and action. Sometimes teens can hurt themselves and others and so it's important to watch for the signs and seek help.

Signs of a troubled teen:

Your teen has become secretive and doesn't want you to know how they spend their time or who they are with. They often lie rather than tell you the truth.
They have have unusually extreme mood swings which are bigger than you would expect in the situation.
Your teenager may refuse to follow your rules, skip school, and become angry and hard to communicate with.
Watch the kinds of friends your troubled teen hangs out with. This is a big sign - if their friends exhibit behavior like you're beginning to see, that is often a sign that they are troubled. They might stop being around their higher quality friends.
Your teen starts to steal from you and/or others.
Teens who are troubled often have low self-esteems and choose to do things that are self-destructive. They can get into relationships that are unhealthy and engage in casual sex and other risky choices that can have a long-term impact much bigger than they anticipate.
Watch for depression, drug abuse, unhealthy eating and sleeping patterns, and other signs. When you see these typical signs of a troubled teen you must intervene and get assistance. Troubled teenagers often lack the ability to see the true impact and long-term effects of their behavior and cannot stop on their own.