Behavioral disorders in teens entail a pattern of behaviors that disrupt an adolescent’s life not only at home but also at school. Some of the common symptoms of behavioral disorders in teens include hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattentiveness. Usually, the symptoms of a mental illness show up during adolescence. Hence, it is quite significant for guardians and parents to identify these signs and symptoms of behavioral disorders and seek professional help for therapies at the earliest.
Understanding Behavioral Disorders
There are different types of behavioral disorders that affect adolescents and teens. One of the common types of a brain disorder known as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), diagnosed in teens, is characterized by an ongoing pattern of inattentiveness, impulsive behaviors, and hyperactivity. For instance, a teen with ADHD usually faces difficulty in focusing on a particular task and shows signs of fidgeting and moving about constantly. Such an individual often interrupts others and tends to act rashly without counseling in Chandler the implications of their actions.
Teen Behavioral Health Warning Signs
A lot of times, it becomes challenging for parents and guardians to figure out if certain behaviors exhibited by their teens should be considered normal or as a warning sign of something more serious. Some of the common warning signs that parents can look out for to identify behavioral disorders include inflicting harm on animals as well as other people, self-harm, drinking, smoking, substance abuse, facing issues with schoolwork, lying, stealing, skipping school, and frequent arguments.
Often, a certain set of behaviors, such as temper tantrums, unhealthy eating or sleeping habits, oppositional behavior, criminal activity, and alcohol and drug abuse, appear to be just bad behavior patterns. However, in reality, they may be warning signs or indications that your teen is facing a more serious issue that needs timely professional intervention.
Common Consequences of Teen Behavioral Disorders
Behavioral disorders in teens, if not identified and addressed at the right time, may lead to risky sexual behaviors, which in turn may lead to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), alcohol or drug abuse, and problems in academics. If behavioral issues in teens remain unaddressed, they eventually progress into:
- Mental disorders, such as anxiety or depression disorder, drastically change an individual’s thoughts, emotions, and/or behaviors. It can even affect their overall personality, emotional well-being, schoolwork, and interpersonal relationships.
- Substance abuse disorders, getting into trouble with the law, and severe health consequences as an outcome of alcohol or any other substance abuse.
It is usually observed that when teens develop a mental disorder like depression, they are more drawn toward drugs or alcohol. They also withdraw socially from their friends and may even become suicidal. In order to avert such consequences, it is imperative that parents openly discuss any kind of emotional or behavioral issues that their teen may be facing.
With effective treatments such as stress management, relaxation techniques, and coping skills taught during individual or group therapy, teens can learn about different ways of responding to their issues. They can utilize these skills to effectively deal with negative emotions instead of harming themselves, drinking, or using drugs.
