Coping With Troubled Teens

Does your home appear like a battlefield everyconsiderate with them and allow them to express
morning? Is your teen giving you sleepless nights?themselves, but make it clear through example and
Parenting troubled teens is like doing overtime withoutexplanation that there are boundaries.
being paid. Parents generally rule the house instead ofIf your teen is facing problems at school and has falling
teens, but nowadays the scene can be just thegrades or is on the verge of getting expelled, then
opposite. Often parents find it very hard to tackle theirobviously the first thing would be to find the cause of it
teenagers and sometimes this difficulty turns a childand identify measures to handle the issue. If you
anti-social and it can affect their schooling. Parentsconsider severe measures such as boarding school,
have to play a dual role, a role of an understandingboot camps or troubled teen programs, try and
friend as well as mentor.understand the situation well before adopting these
Teenagers generally lack motivation and can getdrastic measures. Your child may be at fault or they
depressed over the slightest issue, yet they are oftenmay be the victim of bullying but feel unable to talk
unwilling to open up with their parents. If this is the caseabout it.
they should be taken for counselling. An out of controlTeen depression needs to be treated quickly to avoid
teen should not be pestered to speak up as it isit leading to serious issues. It is essential that parents
natural for him or her to get annoyed. You should berecognize the symptoms early because treatment is
patient with them, advising them instead of being toomore successful with early involvement. Typical
stern. Teenagers generally love to rebel, so you shoulddepression signs shown by teenagers are low energy
handle them carefully.levels, irritable nature, suicidal tendencies, indecisive
Parents are not perfectionists and sometimes do lacknature, drop in social activities or sudden change in
parenting skills, hence don’t ever try to disciplinepeer group. You should also be on the look-out for any
your teens using anger as it triggers them off. Besign of substance abuse. Talk to your family physician
patient with them and try and be a friend. We asif you are concerned.
parents should set some rules and values in our houseThe article is for information only and the author
and also follow it so that teens learn and follow too.accepts no liability for any action taken. All health
Examine their behavior and then try to understand theproblems should be discussed with your physician.
reason. Teenagers often test authority, so be