4 Signs that Your Teenager is Struggling
As a Christian parent, you want the best for your teenager and their emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. However, sometimes with teenage struggles can develop that go unnoticed. Because teenagers are usually fairly private about what they are dealing with, it can be challenging to tell if your kid is struggling in this season of their life. Here are some 4 signs to watch for that may indicate your teen is struggling in their emotional or mental health.
Withdrawing from Community
Your teen withdrawing from friends or community may signal a problem. Look for other signs they are isolating themselves such as spending more time alone in their room with the door closed. Spending less time with family can also be a cause for concern as well.
Teenagers tend to enjoy community so isolation is a fairly good indicator that your teenager may be trying to navigate something on their own. I hear from students frequently that they feel like they should be able to handle everything by themselves, but just like our core value at River Ridge Church states, you can’t do life alone! Teenagers need community and we should be aware that if they aren’t connecting with others, there may be an underlying reason for that.
Mood Swings or Behavior Changes
Noticeable changes in mood, behavior, or habits may indicate issues with anxiety, stress, or depression. Irritability, restlessness, change in sleep, lack of focus or motivation are some examples. Acting out in anger or other behavioral issues could also be a cry for help.
Much of the conversation around teenagers in 2023 focuses on their mental health. Acting out, being lazy, sleeping more, listening to music all the time, and the other changes mentioned above can be a fairly clear indicators that students are dealing with mental or emotional health issues.
If your teenager is showing any of these mood swings or behavioral changes, it is best to start with grace and understand that there is probably something below the surface that is causing your student to act the way they are.
Questions About Worldview and Doubts
If your teen is asking deep, probing questions about faith or life that concern you or if they are expressing doubts in their beliefs, this may show you that they are grappling with the way they view the world. The teenage years are primarily a time of identity formation and your kid may be questioning things that they thought were true as a kid.
The best way to handle this is to provide compassionate responses and remember times in which your views on certain issues have changed. Teenagers need the space to navigate their worldview in a healthy way. Your role as a parent is to establish boundaries that will allow them to figure out what they really believe without erring into a dangerous way of living.
Frequently, the views that your teenagers develops will be different from yours. My encouragement to you is to remember that it is okay for your kid to disagree with you from time to time. Just remember to keep the conversations mutually respectful and seek to understand and inform your teenagers beliefs, not to fix them.
Self-Harm or Suicidal Thoughts
The final thing to watch for can be particularly scary for parents, but it is really important to be diligent in looking for this given the state of mental health with teenagers. As a parent you should be on the lookout for signs of self-injury such as cuts, burns or other wounds. Listen for comments about death or suicide, feelings of hopelessness or withdrawal. If you start to sense that your teenager is self harming or suicidal it is always a good idea to get help from a doctor, a therapist, or (if the situation is serious enough) call emergency services.
The most important thing is not to ignore any concerning signs you notice in your teen. Provide love and support and don’t hesitate to get professional help if needed. Your teen's well-being is worth fighting for.
Conclusion
All of the signs above are great indicators that your teenager may be struggling, but it is certainly not a comprehensive list. Every teenager will navigate challenges in their life in their own way. The most effective thing that you can do as a parent is to establish open lines of communication with your kid in hopes that when life gets hard, they will know where they can turn for grace, love, and maybe even (at the right time) some hard truth.
As always, our team is here to help you! If you notice signs that your teenager is struggling, please let one of us know so that we can pray for you and them and potentially we can offer some more refined advice based on the particular situation. We are praying for you as walk alongside you teenager in the good times and the bad.
