The phrase struggling teen is quite often one that we can't define. Many parents feel that their own child may be having problems or might be struggling in some aspects, but they hesitate to broach the subject with the teen. Teens tend to be less than forthcoming with parents in many cases. This is a case of wanting to be more independent and of building their own small society of friends and learning to depend on themselves. That can be a positive thing when it is not an out of control issue that prevents the teen from coming to the parent with a problem that may be taking place. Usually one or more indicating factors stand out that will finally cause them to have a conversation with the teen about their outlook or their problems.
As a parent, can you tell when your teen needs help? The term struggling teen normally suggests that the parent knows that there is a problem.
If your teen starts to withdraw from the world and becomes isolated, then this is a red flag that something is wrong. This really holds water if your teen was once a vibrant person. His behavior may change and he does not feel like he can discuss his problems with you. He might not feel like he can get things done anymore or cannot deal with various areas of life. If this happens, he will withdraw and spend less time with the family. He will probably shrug all forms of social interaction, even the friendliest kinds.
Defiance toward all authority is another such symptom. All teens will to some extent rebel against strict authority but to the extreme it can be a real problem that may cause lifelong issues in their world. They struggle to obey even the most simple rules and may be cheating on homework, on class projects or get in trouble with the legal authorities as well. Teens who have such issues even one time may continue to make poor choices and do need help to sort out their problems before they become so deep that they cannot be corrected.
When a teen runs away from home, this is also a clear sign that something is wrong. This is evident when they do things such as come in later than their curfew or run away from the house. They run away because of unhappiness. Running away is the physical outcome, but this normally means that they are really running towards something. Unfortunately, they are leaving parents who were not helping them to solve their problems. There are tons of teen runaways with personal stories that normally do not have a happy ending.
It your child is becoming more and more anti social and you are doing nothing to help him, then he is probably a struggling teen.
The teen years are when most of their attachments are formed and when children learn how to make lifelong commitments, how to form friendships and how to cope with day to day stress. It is imperative that these lessons are well learned and that problem behaviors which are entered into are addressed.
If your teen does not want to interact with people and cannot make friends, you need to step in and help him to change this. Also, consider improving your parenting skills so that you can help him to change his behavior for the better.
It is best to address these problems now, which will really help your teen overall.
As a parent, can you tell when your teen needs help? The term struggling teen normally suggests that the parent knows that there is a problem.
If your teen starts to withdraw from the world and becomes isolated, then this is a red flag that something is wrong. This really holds water if your teen was once a vibrant person. His behavior may change and he does not feel like he can discuss his problems with you. He might not feel like he can get things done anymore or cannot deal with various areas of life. If this happens, he will withdraw and spend less time with the family. He will probably shrug all forms of social interaction, even the friendliest kinds.
Defiance toward all authority is another such symptom. All teens will to some extent rebel against strict authority but to the extreme it can be a real problem that may cause lifelong issues in their world. They struggle to obey even the most simple rules and may be cheating on homework, on class projects or get in trouble with the legal authorities as well. Teens who have such issues even one time may continue to make poor choices and do need help to sort out their problems before they become so deep that they cannot be corrected.
When a teen runs away from home, this is also a clear sign that something is wrong. This is evident when they do things such as come in later than their curfew or run away from the house. They run away because of unhappiness. Running away is the physical outcome, but this normally means that they are really running towards something. Unfortunately, they are leaving parents who were not helping them to solve their problems. There are tons of teen runaways with personal stories that normally do not have a happy ending.
It your child is becoming more and more anti social and you are doing nothing to help him, then he is probably a struggling teen.
The teen years are when most of their attachments are formed and when children learn how to make lifelong commitments, how to form friendships and how to cope with day to day stress. It is imperative that these lessons are well learned and that problem behaviors which are entered into are addressed.
If your teen does not want to interact with people and cannot make friends, you need to step in and help him to change this. Also, consider improving your parenting skills so that you can help him to change his behavior for the better.
It is best to address these problems now, which will really help your teen overall.
About the Author:
Some of the research was done at The Pinnacle Schools. Click here for more information on Struggling Teens and The Pinnacle Schools.
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