Troubled Teens Resources

There are many parents who may think their teen has a substance abuse problem but are not sure what the symptoms are. Teen age drug abuse has become a concern for many parents and it helps to know what to look for.

Symptoms of Substance abuse include the following:

• Sudden personality changes that include abrupt changes
• in work or school attendance, quality of work, work output, grades, discipline
• Unusual flare-ups or outbreaks of temper
• Withdrawal from responsibility
• General changes in overall attitude
• Loss of interest in what were once favorite hobbies and pursuits
• Changes in friends and reluctance to have friends visit or talk about them
• Difficulty in concentration, paying attention
• Sudden jitteriness, nervousness, or aggression
• Increased secretiveness
• Deterioration of physical appearance and grooming
• Wearing of sunglasses at inappropriate times
• Continual wearing of long-sleeved garments particularly in hot weather or reluctance to wear short-sleeved attire when appropriate
• Association with known substance abusers
• Unusual borrowing of money from friends, co-workers or parents
• Stealing small items from employer, home or school
• Secretive behavior regarding actions and possessions; poorly concealed attempts to avoid attention and suspicion such as frequent trips to storage rooms, restroom, basement, etc.

(source)
KD

Teen crisis intervention that directs attention to the increasing menace of teenage suicide and depression has been the mission of many in the field of mental health for years. Unfortunately, many parents fail to recognize the basic signs that can manifest during a teen’s bout with depression, thinking it is just moodiness or typical teen angst.

Some troubled teens are able to mask their depression and will do so if they have anxiety over causing stress for their parents or family. Some teens will become obsessed with sports or video games, trying to exorcise their demons by becoming so busy that they can ignore their sadness and fears. Unfortunately, some teens are swept away with the powerful emotions that accompany depression, unable to recognize that their view of the world is being greatly distorted.

Yet, even with all of the ways teens disguise depression, the following symptoms will inevitably become apparent.

• Sad or irritable mood
• Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable
• Large changes in appetite or weight
• Difficulty sleeping, or oversleeping
• Slow or agitated movement
• Loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Difficulty concentrating
• Frequent thoughts of death or suicide3
• Frequent headaches, muscle aches, stomach aches or tiredness, without a medical cause
• Frequent absences from school or poor performance in school
• Talk of or efforts to run away from home
• Boredom, sulking
• Lack of interest in spending time with friends or family
• Alcohol or substance abuse
• Social isolation, poor communication
• Fear of death
• Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure
• Increased irritability, anger, hostility, or crying
• Reckless behavior
• Neglect of clothing and appearance
• Difficulty with relationships
• Changes in mood

(Source)