Troubled Teens Resources

Attention deficit hyperactive disorder has recently been viewed as amenable to treatment that simply involves getting teenagers outside, away from iPods,video games,TV,and all the sedentary ways that accompany those habits. Though we mostly hear from health specialists from the American perspective, doctors in England are making similar studies.

“For too long we have seriously underestimated the benefits nature has for the health of our nation. Everyone, from government to charities like the RSPB to private landowners, needs to work together to give people more access to nature.”

Parents who are considering enrolling their teen in a troubled teen boarding school might want to consider the lay of the land around it. Is it located where the beauty of nature can be one of the healing elements in your troubled teen’s recovery? Does the school offer a wilderness camp type of experience?
Here are some of the benefits all of us derive from interaction with nature:

• People’s stress levels fell within minutes of contact with nature.
• Hospital patients with views of nature needed fewer painkillers following operations.
• Elderly people with easy access to nature are much happier with their quality of life.
• Nature aids the part of the brain that controls irritability, helping to reduce violent behaviour.
• Playing in a natural environment improved children’s concentration, self-discipline and their social and mental development, as well as reducing the symptoms of conditions like attention deficit disorder (ADHD).

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A parent who has a teen diagnosed with ADD faces the difficult decision of whether to use medication or attempt to find a program designed to teach their teen how to work with their ADD and learn the necessary coping skills needed to mange ADD. It is often a more appealing resolution to give the teen the power to manage his own emotions and temperament than to give that responsibility over to a drug.

Find a Summer Program for Add Teen

Because ADD typically causes behavioral problems which can lead to agitation, insecurity and depression, an ADD teen is more vulnerable to self-destructive behavior. Without treatment, ADD can precipitate a downward spiral that ultimately can be very damaging.

Parents may want to consider finding a summer program conducted by a troubled teen boarding school or wilderness camp that will specifically focus on ADD. Some troubled teen boarding schools offer summer boot camp programs for non-resident teens specifically focused on learning cognitive and critical thinking skills that equip a teen to manage his ADD. Check with your mental health professionals to see if there is a summer program for your teen.

Here is a quick review of symptoms displayed by ADD kids;

Add Symptoms

• Inability to follow instructions, failing to complete schoolwork or requiring an excessive amount of time to finish homework
• Easily distractible, forgetting daily activities
• Failure to focus, failure to pay attention to someone speaking
• Some examples of impulsivity include:
• A child who interrupts or blurts out answers before a question is finished.
• Trouble waiting for ones turn.
• Acting or speaking without thinking of the consequences or dangers.
• Some examples of hyperactivity include:
• Inability to sit in ones seat with constant fidgeting of hands and feet.
• Running and climbing at inappropriate times.
• Children who talk excessively.
• A child who is on the go constantly.
• Some examples of poor organizational skills include:
• Failure to bring home assignments or to turn assignments into the teacher on a timely basis.
• Inability to follow instructions or be able to plan success strategies such as when to study for a test, or how to organize papers and folders.
• Difficulty remembering to bring home books etc.

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