10 Signs Your Young Adult May Be Struggling With Their Mental Health
By Jack Vaughan
When a young person reaches adulthood, it’s perfectly natural for them to desire more autonomy and independence. However, for many parents, it can be a troubling prospect to grant their child such freedoms if he or she is struggling with mental health and/or addiction. For struggling young adults to successfully launch in life, they need just the right amount of support in order to become self-sufficient — too much or too little, and their transition into adulthood can become delayed for months, if not years. One of the best ways for parents to aid their child’s transition into adulthood is to become highly attuned to their mood and behaviors. The more keen your observations, the better you can detect the early warning signs of emerging mental health/addiction issues. But before we examine what particular red flags to be on the lookout for, let’s take a closer look at the current state of young adult mental health.
According to a recent study by the NIH, up to 1 in 4 young adults now struggle with conditions like anxiety, depression, addiction or eating disorders before the age of 25. Caught early, these issues are far more treatable. Left unaddressed, they can spiral into major crises that derail education, careers, relationships and family stability.
Additionally, a new report conducted by Harvard has found that young adults report twice the rates of anxiety and depression as teens. The top drivers of young adults’ mental health challenges include:
Lack of meaning, purpose, and direction: Nearly 3 in 5 young adults (58%) reported that they lacked “meaning or purpose” in their lives in the previous month. Half of young adults reported that their mental health was negatively influenced by “not knowing what to do with my life.”
Financial worries and achievement pressure: More than half of young adults reported that financial worries (56%) and achievement pressure (51%) were negatively impacting their mental health.
A perception that the world is unraveling: Forty-five percent (45%) of young adults reported that a general "sense that things are falling apart” was impairing their mental health.
Relationship deficits: Forty-four percent (44%) of young adults reported a sense of not mattering to others and 34% reported loneliness.
Social and political issues: Forty-two percent (42%) reported the negative influence on their mental health of gun violence in schools, 34% cited climate change, and 30% cited worries that our political leaders are incompetent or corrupt.
As a parent, you know your child better than anyone else. While coping habits and defense mechanisms can often mask what’s really happening beneath the surface, here are several important red flags to pay attention to:
1. Withdrawn or isolated social behaviors
Have they increasingly pushed away friends, suddenly quit activities that once brought them joy, or ceased engaging with peers and family? Self-isolation is strongly associated with depression and mood disorder and can be a significant sign that their mental health is floundering.
2. Significant sleep and appetite changes
Many young adults often cycle through phases of insufficient sleep. However, if they often complain of exhaustion no matter how many hours they sleep, and then oversleep for extended periods to “catch up,” they may be suffering from anxiety, depression, or a mood disorder. Keep a close watch for atypical sleep patterns, coupled with corresponding loss of appetite, overeating, or sudden weight fluctuations up or down. These physical signs frequently reflect inner turmoil.
3. Problems concentrating or handling responsibilities
Is your son or daughter increasingly forgetful or suddenly unable to focus enough to manage their coursework, job or basic chores/bills? Inability to concentrate or care for day-to-day responsibilities fuels self-doubt and shame about one’s abilities. Performance anxiety, depression and attention disorders often underlie a young person’s struggle to accomplish tasks that seemed easier just months ago.
4. Low motivation/apathy about the future
Do their natural ambitions seem muted? Are they procrastinating pursuing education or career steps that once excited them greatly? Loss of motivation or hopes can arise when feelings of helplessness, depression, trauma, or diminished self-worth take over.
5. Moodiness or irritability
While all young adults toggle moods at times, pervasive or dramatic emotional shifts can often signify a larger issue at work. Is their temper, sensitivity or general outlook increasingly volatile regardless of the actual circumstances going on around them? Sudden anger outbursts, reckless behaviors and extreme emotional reactions are often a sign of an inability to self-regulate.
6. Secrecy or dishonesty
Has your trustworthy child suddenly become far less transparent about how they spend their time, who they associate with, or specifics regarding school or work obligations? Acts of deception, hidden agendas or sneaky conduct often cloak emerging substance abuse and addiction.
7. Declining physical health
Mental and emotional health show up in physical ways. Pay close attention to new or worsening issues like headaches, stomach troubles, bodily pains, skin irritation, or weakened immunity going unexplained. Stress leaves it’s imprint on human physiology. When combined with poor self-care habits -- like inadequate sleep, nutrition or hygiene efforts – struggling bodies often display what’s happening internally.
8. Self-sabotaging choices
Is your child repeatedly "getting in their own way” and avoiding positive opportunities, relationships or responsibilities? This kind of avoidant and self-sabotaging behavior can become highly problematic if not dealt with quickly and effectively.
9. Comments about feeling hopeless, trapped or wanting to die
Any words or actions related to suicidal thinking warrant immediate compassionate response, regardless of whether you perceive real intent or just emotional venting. Struggling youth often broadcast and downplay their pain in equal measures. Ask directly if they’ve actually formulated a specific plan to act on suicidal thoughts. If so, seek professional help immediately.
10. Daily use of substances to cope
Increased alcohol, marijuana or prescription drug use is extremely common among struggling young adults. Whether they are using substances to escape or withdraw, any pattern of self-medication is deeply concerning and speaks to larger internal issues that require professional help.
YPM Understands The Young Adult Struggle
Not every instance of anger, introversion, or self-destructive behavior means your son or daughter is in the throes of a struggle with mental health/addiction. But paying close attention to their behavioral shifts can help discern ordinary growing pains from more worrisome patterns that require professional support.
At YPM, our goal is to catch mental health and addiction issues as early as possible. With evidence-based practices, premier mentors, and renowned clinicians, we provide the kind of support that can prevent years of unnecessary suffering down the road. Connect with us today to learn about how we have helped numerous young adults across the globe overcome their mental health hurdles and launch successfully into adulthood.
