Raging Hormones or Mental Health Problems? Here’s How to Tell the Difference
The teenage years are notoriously tumultuous, leaving many parents wondering… Are my teen’s dramatic mood swings and risky choices just normal adolescent hormones, or are they signs of something more serious?
While hormones do significantly impact teen psychology, certain patterns of behavior can be indicative of problems in need of professional support. But before we get into that, let’s take a look at what can typically be expected of the teenage body and brain.
During puberty, hormonal activity drastically increases in both girls and boys. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone production ramps up, while cortisol (the stress hormone) fluctuates widely. More often than not, these rapid hormonal surges result in a wide array of intense emotions (anger, sadness, joy, excitement, etc.) that can seemingly arrive out of nowhere and send teenagers (and their parents) reeling.
To further complicate things, we also have to consider the fact that the prefrontal cortex, which governs rational thinking and impulse control, does not fully mature until the mid-20s.
It’s this combination of hormonal activity and brain development that makes it exceedingly challenging to differentiate between the sorts of tribulations we can ascribe to good ol’ adolescence and the sorts of behaviors that require professional support.
Be that as it may, here are some clear signs to look out for that might mean your teen is in need of professional help:
Severe loss of interest/enjoyment in typical activities
Anxiety and recurring negative thoughts
Declining school performance
Lengthy bouts of depression/irritable mood
Any kind of self-harm
Declining changes in sleep, appetite, and weight
Withdrawing from friends and family
Engaging in increasingly risky behavior
Compulsive use of technology and screens
Alcohol or drug misuse
Reckless or destructive choices
Expressing hopelessness about the future
*SADLADWECARE*
These are the kinds of behaviors that go beyond the realm of standard “teenage angst” and put young adults and adolescents at serious risk.
If you or your loved ones have noticed any of the aforementioned red flags, here’s what can be done at home:
Maintain an open and nonjudgmental dialogue with your teen
Ask your teen if they feel in need of support
Be on the alert for other red flags
Consult our team of professionals at Youth Prevention Mentors
With bespoke services and state-of-the-art care, YPM is here to help young adults and teens mitigate and overcome such behaviors.