The Five Most Common Problems During Adolescence

Adolescence can be complicated, really complicated. For the changes that occur are confusing not only for the adolescent’s environment but also for the adolescent himself. Empathy and patience are very useful tools so that we are better prepared to deal with problems during adolescence. In addition, we should pay attention to any signs that may indicate a mental illness.

The prospect of adolescence terrifies many parents. That’s because of its reputation and the challenges it brings. It is also a period in a person’s life where they are prone to various disorders such as anxiety and depression. So read on and discover the biggest problems in adolescence. Also find out what we can do about it.

1 . Problems During Adolescence – Depression and Dysthymia

Depression is a condition that affects many teenagers. They have a need to belong to a group or have low self esteem due to acne. There may also be problems with regular bullying. These are just some of the possible causes of depression.

Dysthymia can also occur, but this is different from depression. Because it is a mild form of depression that can be chronic at the same time. It often happens that lasts up to two years.

Family support is extremely important. Don’t overlook it and don’t dismiss changes or obvious signs of mental illness as “teenagers.” It’s true that teenagers don’t talk much. The family is also not the environment where they express themselves most. So you will have to keep your eyes open and pay enough attention to your teen.

2. Anxiety Disorders

Today, anxiety is very common. Moreover, there is a stage in life where it is gaining ground, namely adolescence. Because a teenager may have expectations or others have expectations of them that can lead to severe stress. There is also the pressure to measure up to others or because of problems with friends. This too can be a source of anxiety.

The symptoms that can alert us to problems during adolescence are obvious. Do they suffer from insomnia? Are they very excitable? These could just be mood changes that are very typical of adolescence. But abdominal pain or muscle tension without an obvious cause are symptoms that you should refer to a specialist. If it’s nothing, then that’s okay. But if there is a problem, treatment can be arranged.

3. Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder

Problems related to nutrition are undoubtedly some of the most common problems encountered during adolescence. Because adolescents have to deal with criticism about their own bodies. At the same time, they are surrounded on all sides by those impossible images of beauty that society sells us at a high price. Adolescents will often focus on what they eat. They use their diet to gain control over their weight.

But this is not necessarily the cause of the problem. Because often it is due to the fact that teenagers take action without consulting anyone. Sometimes these measures are very restrictive. In addition, the young people apply them in the form of a punishment or as a way to alleviate feelings of anxiety. We need not point out that this can have disastrous consequences for the body.

In some cases, these disorders are also the expression of a larger underlying problem. For example, it could be related to a childhood trauma. This has caused the teen to feel guilty and bad about herself. They then start to control their lives with food. It is not uncommon for teens to exhibit self-destructive behaviors at times due to these issues.

Don’t be aggressive

It is very important that you are not aggressive towards the adolescent. You want to help him and fix this negative behavior they are exhibiting. Sometimes the parents can feel frustrated when they identify problems during adolescence. This can cause them to lose control. But you have to stay calm and above all ask for professional help.

If a teenager wants to lose weight, it is a good idea to take him to the doctor. He will in turn refer him to a nutritionist. They will advise them on what to eat to maintain a healthy diet. But it is also important that you keep an eye on the teenagers. Because if they have problems with feeding they will hide it from you.

4. Social Phobia

Social phobia belongs to the group of anxiety disorders. The symptoms occur when the adolescent is in a social environment or when they think they should be in that environment. Dealing with strangers or having to go to a place full of people can be a real nightmare for them.

That is why many young people stay at home in their teens. Feelings of insecurity, body awareness, bullying, and the need to be accepted can trigger social phobia.

5.  Antisocial and Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Is the teen stealing? Do they behave violently towards people or animals? These behaviors indicate problems during adolescence. People who are not experts in this field can  easily confuse antisocial and  oppositional  defiant  disorders with the common problems of adolescence. But this kind of behavior can be a symptom of a more serious problem.

Disobedience to adults, not following the rules, stealing, and being constantly angry are some signs that can indicate the presence of these disorders. Some young people respect no one and act without thinking. They are very impulsive and do not consider the integrity of others. Is that person just going through a rough patch or is there something more serious going on? The best thing to do is to consult a specialist who knows how to deal with problems during adolescence.

It is essential that you seek help. Parents very often feel powerless or go looking in the wrong places for reasons in this kind of situation. They may themselves feel that they were unable to raise their children well enough. But these misconceptions can lead to a passive and permissive attitude towards their children. This is something that does not benefit the kids at all.

We  know adolescence well

We have all gone through adolescence. We can well remember how misunderstood we felt. Our parents seemed to withdraw their help instead of giving it to us. For that reason, it’s important that parents don’t just assume that the things we’ve listed are just “teen issues.” If the parents act on time, they can prevent a disorder from getting worse.

Unfortunately, many adolescents are so badly affected that they end up committing suicide. Others suffer from terrible loneliness. At this very difficult time in their lives, they need the support of adults. Because adults can provide them with the security that teenagers so desperately need. We must try to help them and pay attention to the alarm signals. There are some comments that we shouldn’t just brush off, such as “I’m not going to eat tonight”, “My will is law” or “I feel good, locked in my room”. If we can look past these comments and identify the cause of the problem in time, we will be able to stop it from getting out of hand. And we can also avoid some very undesirable consequences.