Although it is widely agreed upon that the teen years are a particularly challenging chapter of life, teenage issues today seem to be of a more serious nature than in generations past. Generation Z, those ages 4-24, are grappling with a rapidly shifting culture mainly due to the acceleration of technological advances. While technology can […]
Raising teenagers is not for the feint of heart. It is rife with so many challenges, that it might be tempting to take advantage of any tool that might alleviate a source of worry or stress. So when it comes to monitoring your teen for potential drug or alcohol use, it is a no brainer […]
When a child is hurting, parents hurt, too. Nothing is more painful to a parent than witnessing their teen in emotional pain. Teenage depression is real. This condition differs from occasional bouts of the blues caused by an upsetting event or a hormonal shift, which tend to be transient events that resolve spontaneously. Clinically diagnosed […]
In the wake of a spate of new mass shootings, our nation is mystified as to why these (mostly) young male shooters are triggered to inflict such carnage on humanity. Discussion centers around mental illness, political motivations, and the availability of automatic weapons as possible explanations for the spike in these violent acts. But more […]
Like a magnet, teenagers, and even kids as young as the 8-12 year-old “tween” cohort, have always shown a mysterious attraction to alcohol. So, if you are a parent of an adolescent, it is highly likely that your child might have already been introduced to alcohol. Whether this occurred at a family celebration or a […]
Let’s face it, human beings are prone to fibs, embellishments and fabrications, and little white lies. Some are even blatant liars. Lying is just one of many human foibles that we grapple with in our fallen nature. But when it’s our kids who tell lies, well now that takes on a whole different sense of […]
Slammed doors and angry outbursts may be just typical behavior that goes along with the highly combustible teenage years. Teens are transitioning from being completely dependent on parents as children toward the autonomy found in adulthood. This is a developmental phase fraught with supercharged emotions, including acting out in anger. But when does “typical” teenage […]
A teen that exhibits disruptive, aggressive, or defiant behavior is bound to become persona non grata in the school and social settings. These teens have a propensity to picking fights with others and to disregard social norms, making them unpleasant to be around. These behavior traits are features of conduct disorder, a mental health disorder […]
As most parents are aware, their teen’s blue moods are usually transitory. Often, the bouts of sadness are directly connected to a slight, a rumor, a criticism, or unrequited love. Teens are emotionally sensitive by nature, so social issues or academic challenges can easily whipsaw their moods. Moodiness is indeed part and parcel of typical […]
A child’s diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be life-altering for parents. Diagnosis is a mixed blessing, Relief in learning what their child is dealing with and methods of managing it, but sadness that the child may have to deal with ADHD for life. In fact, in one-third of children diagnosed, ADHD persists […]
