Parents today find themselves in the difficult position of caring for teenagers and adolescents who go through more things than they ever did before. It’s not merely peer pressure that can affect the well-being of an adolescent; kids also feel stress at home and may suffer from bullying at school. When you combine those issues with the frustrations they have over their homework and relationships, it’s not surprising that so many young people struggle with mental issues today. As a parent of a child struggling at home or school, you may decide that it’s time to look at mental health treatment for adolescents.
What Mental Health Conditions Do Kids Face Today?
Anxiety disorders are just one of the conditions that affect adolescents today. Those who suffer from an anxiety disorder have a difficult time doing things that other kids their age do. They might worry about what other people think and have so many worries that they don’t want to leave the house in the morning. Some adolescents use illegal substances as a way to cope with their feelings. This condition can relate to some type of childhood trauma such as sexual abuse too.
Another condition that can affect kids is depression. Though you might think that depression is an adult disease, childhood depression is quite common. Though it can occur because kids were abused or bullied at school, it can also happen because kids do not feel as attractive as their peers. Some of the symptoms of depression in kids include:
Kids struggling with depression often suffer from physical symptoms such as headaches and tummy issues that doctors cannot diagnose. They may suffer from a lack of energy and not want to do the same things that they loved in the past. Looking through a parent’s guide to mental health can help parents decide when to seek help for their adolescents.
Depression and anxiety are far from the only mental issues facing kids today. Those who struggle at school may have ADHD or OCD. PTSD can also affect kids, especially those who went through traumatic events in the past. Those events can range from a serious car accident to the death of a loved one. Parents might worry about bipolar disorder and eating disorders too.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Mental health and substance abuse are two problems that go hand in hand. Doctors can diagnose a child with a co-occurring disorder if the individual suffers from both a mental issue and substance abuse. Nearly 5% of kids between the ages of 12 and 17 admit to using some type of illicit drug. Statistics show that more than 4% of those children also had some type of alcohol disorder.
Parents often do not want to admit that their children have issues with substance abuse, but it’s clear that many children struggle with those substances. Think about a child who suffers from depression and finds that their old friends no longer understand or want to spend time with them. They may seek out others who feel the same way and engage in risky activities with their new friends, including shoplifting or lying to their families.
Substance use can also act as a coping mechanism for young kids. When they cannot deal with their mental health symptoms any longer, using those substances can help them hide the signs of those symptoms to mask them. Using a narcotic helps someone with anxiety feel calmer and more relaxed. Someone suffering from a depressive episode might use another substance that gives them more energy. In family therapy for adolescents, parents learn how to watch their children for signs of drug or alcohol use and find ways to help their kids cope.
Best Treatment Options for Adolescents
Some of the mental health treatment options for kids include:
Also known as talk therapy, psychotherapy gives children the chance to talk about their experiences and find ways to cope with childhood trauma as well as any symptoms they have. Though medications can help some kids, doctors often prefer therapy. mental health treatment for adolescents also includes personalized treatment models based on each individual and his or her symptoms.
For example, with a child who has an eating disorder, the doctor may use medication as a way to combat symptoms such as acid reflux and the sores on the child’s mouth. Psychotherapy then helps the child talk about his or her reasons for binging, purging, and engaging in other activities. Anorexia and bulimia are just two of the common eating disorders that affect adolescents.
Family Therapy Can Help
Family therapy for adolescents can significantly help those suffering from mental illness as well as substance abuse. Kids often worry about talking to their parents because they assume that they can’t help or they’ll look down on them. The family roles that each person in the family has can help during the recovery process. You’ll find yourself in private sessions where you can focus on your family and the problems that your child has. This gives the adolescent a safe place to talk about their struggles. The whole family can learn what they can and cannot do after treatment ends too.
Call Today
Choosing the right mental health treatment for adolescents ensures that your child gets the help that he or she needs. A good adolescent program will focus on the specific needs of the child and any conditions the kid has such as childhood depression. When you combine that program with family therapy for adolescents, you’ll feel confident that your child can recover and feel better at home. Therapy can even give kids the confidence that they need to go back to school. Call today to learn about the best adolescent treatment options for mental illness or substance abuse and how we can help.
The facilities at Mission Harbor are staffed with trained experts to best assist patients with their mental health issues. We are capable of dealing with any and all cases with a licensed staff, equipment, and approved techniques. Our mission is to help those who want to help themselves, and we support your decision in seeking help.
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