Teens at Risk: High Functioning Addicts
Teens at risk for teen age drug abuse do not always behaving in a manner that indicates that there is a problem. Studies have identified people known as “high functioning” addicts who, for all intents and purposes, betray no evidence of dysfunctional behavior.
“Lizzie was an A student from first grade on. Everything she touched, she mastered. I really, really thought she was a happy energetic young girl. What i didn’t realize was that she wasn’t performing out of love for what she did, but in fear of disappointing me and her Dad. She masked it so well. I’m still devastated that I didn’t see how much pain she was in.”
This from a mother who has two PHDs married to an aeronautics engineer. The very air they breathe is competition and achievement. They had no idea that their youngest daughter lived in fear of failing. It took a wise therapist for them to recognize that their passion for perfection had made life unbearable. They are a family that literally needed to learn how to play and it took professional counseling to reveal that.
Just as parents monitor physical health, mental and emotional health needs to be observed as well.If you have concerns about your at-risk teen, develop a list of questions and then develop a list of specialists to interview. Interview several therapists before choosing one.
Relevant Tags:drug abuse, dysfunctional behavior, emotional health, fear of failing, teen age drug abuse, therapists“Consulting your child’s physician or teacher, or your minister, priest, or rabbi may help you identify problems-both in the child and within the family - that could be causing the upset…As a rule, it is the combination of parents’ growing concerns and the observation of outsiders such as teachers, physicians, and family members, that lead parents to consult a clinician for their child.”
