6 Things Parents should know about Mental Illness in Teens

Mental illness in teens has increased due to the technology, social media and various other reasons. Parents being the primary caregivers are responsible for creating a healthy environment for their children and often strive hard to do the same, reason being lack of knowledge and awareness about mental health. Here are a few things parents should know about mental illness in teens.

1. Change in behavior

Do you observe a change in their behavior? There are a few signs and symptoms which are quite evident when your child is facing mental health issues.

• A change in appetite – Increase or loss in appetite
• Sleep- Change in sleep pattern, excessive sleeping or insomnia
• Anhedonia- When you child is unable to feel pleasure in normally pleasurable activities
• Behavior- Anger outbursts, isolation, lack of concentration, thoughts of suicide
• Changes in motivation- low levels of motivation, isolation

1. Common types of mental illnesses in teens

• Generalized anxiety- Excessive worry and overly concerned about everyday matters.
• Depression- Persistent feelings of emptiness, sadness and anxiety
• Social phobias- Severe feelings of insecurity and self consciousness in social setting

1. Consulting a family doctor or general physician

Generally your family doctor knows the entire medical history of your teen. It is always advisable to consult a general physician first; then they can make the diagnosis. Due to the present scenario if you are unable to head out you can also go for online consultation. There are various platforms like Zorbacare Rehabilitation which has got an entire team of mental health professionals.

1. Warning signs and symptoms do vary

If your child is facing generalized anxiety he might feel restless, become fatigued easily, struggle with concentration, experience irritability, feel muscle tension, Have a difficulty in keeping worry levels under his or her control, might struggle with sleep, like difficulties falling asleep and staying asleep

If your teen is suffering from depression he might feel persistently sad, anxious, or empty. Experience hopelessness and pessimism, struggle with irritability, feel guilty, worthless or helpless. He Might lose interest in hobbies or activities that used to be enjoyable. Struggle with fatigue, concentration, memory and experience unexplained changes in appetite or weight, thoughts of death or suicide and unexplained aches or pains.

In generalized anxiety disorder your teen would feel very anxious at the thought of being around other people and struggle to talk to others, experience extreme self-consciousness or fear of humiliation, embarrassment, rejection or even offending people. There is a fear of being judged. Your teen might feel anxious for weeks or days ahead of a social event and would try to avoid places where other people will be. There is a struggle to make and keep friends. Blushing, trembling and sweating around others, experiencing nausea around other people are also the signs your teen is having generalized anxiety.

1. Mental illness can be managed

Counseling often helps; sometimes it is paired with medications. Medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used. These are very safe and highly effective for social phobias, anxiety and depression. The first and foremost step is to identify the stressors while keeping a check on your teen such as if they are skipping meals, not eating well or lacking a daily routine.

1. Mental illness is common in teens

If you see any of the signs mentioned above you should always talk to your teen. Mental illness is definitely preventable. In most cases the parents don\’t bring the teen to see a mental health professional until after the  issues have been going on for months because  most of the times they are in denial. Parents feel that, \”this cannot possibly be what is happening to my teen.\” If you’re concerned that your teen might be struggling with a mental illness, schedule an appointment with your therapist.