When Teen Moods Are Something More

Ups and downs are normal, ongoing irritability is not

It can be a shock when your pleasant child becomes an argumentative teenager—but to a certain extent, that’s to be expected. “Teens’ bodies are changing, they’re dealing with hormones, and they’re trying to exert their independence,” says Valerie Lewis, M.D., adolescent medicine specialist with Lehigh Valley Health Network. “Fluctuations in mood and arguments with parents are normal.”

It’s not normal if these things persist to the point where they affect a teen’s ability to cope with daily activities and relationships. “If your child is having a bad day every day and is in a negative mood for an extended period of time, that’s problematic,” says Danielle Goodwin, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist with the health network. Red flags include:

• Difficulties at school
• Withdrawing from friends and activities
• Sexual promiscuity or regular drug or alcohol use
• Increased aggressiveness
• Threatening to harm themselves or others
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Prolonged negative mood or anxiety
• Extreme mood swings
• Decreased concentration

Sometimes parents just have a gut feeling something is wrong. “For example, you may feel like you’re walking on eggshells around your child all the time,” Lewis says. Not all depressed teens feel sad; some just get irritable.

Parents may put off seeking help because they think the moodiness is just a phase, or they worry about their child being labeled depressed. “It helps to know your adolescent is not alone; others have similar issues,” Goodwin says. “If we get them professional help now, they’ll learn to effectively cope with their stress and be able to function better in the future.”

Choosing a mental health provider to assess your child can be confusing. Your family doctor (or the nurses at 610-402-CARE) can explain the differences among psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers, and recommend providers who specialize in treating adolescents.

Published from Healthy You Magazine, September October 2010

This page last updated 8/19/10 04:10 PM