Adolescent behavior problems

Parents and other people around adolescents should monitor their behavior and if they notice negative changes, they should react immediately. Behavior problems during adolescence can lead to serious disorders and that is why they need to be treated as fast as possible.

About adolescence

Adolescence differs from any other life period and that is why it is challenging for both, parents and adolescents. Parents are usually feeling rejected since their kid is no longer spending so much time with them. Also, it seems like friends are now playing more important role in their kid’s life than they do. What parents usually don’t notice is that their child is going through some tough period. Adolescents are confused because they are convinced that they are all grown up now, but their parents are sometimes treating them as kids and sometimes as adults. Since this is a period where children are seeing things differently and trying to establish their identity, it is normal that some behavioral changes will occur.

What is normal adolescent behavior?

Adolescence approximately begins in thirteenth year of life, but this is individual, because some kids can enter this phase when they are ten. The main characteristic of adolescence is the need for to be independent and to have more privacy. Of course, a lot of people think of adolescence as a period of rebelliousness, but that is not always the case. More often we see explicit desire for independence. Also, the adolescents can become significantly attached to their friends and that is something that is normal.

What should be considered as a behavioral problem?

There are some disorders that are usually occurring in this vulnerable period of life. The problem that is common during this age is ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Teenagers with this disorder have learning difficulties and their behavior is impulsive and sometimes even aggressive. Some parents can see this as a normal behavior but it is not, especially, if it is combined with low grades at school. Because of poor achievement at school, children can turn to other destructive activities, such as alcohol and drug abuse or shoplifting.

Adolescents can have periods of depression, but if those periods are prolonged and followed by sleeping problems, social deprivation and lack of energy, parents should react. These symptoms must be recognized by parents, so that the treatment could start immediately. If left untreated, depression can lead to suicidal behavior and fast reaction is needed to prevent any tragic event. When adolescents act aggressive and unfriendly towards most of the people in their surrounding, it can be a sign of oppositional defiance disorder. Also, very common disorders in adolescence are eating disorders, particularly in girls. Anorexia and bulimia are affecting adolescents due to their desire to look attractive. However, not eating or eating and then throwing up on purpose can only lead to serious health problems.