Based on my 30 years of experience of working with troubled teenagers, I've compiled this list of warning signs that a parent should for indicting that the teen needs professional help:
Your teen is...
2. Refusing to abide by anything you say or request, and his or her resulting behaviors put your child or your family in danger or high risk leading to constant fear or stress in the home.
3. Displaying behavior that is a marked change from what has been normal (sleeping little or too long, forgetfulness, lack of motivation, aggression, depression, anxiety, grades slipping, hating what they once loved or loving what they once hated, always wanting to be with friends or away from home, or avoiding friends altogether and spending too much time alone).
4. Ignoring the boundaries or rules of the home. This can be shown in passive aggressiveness or open defiance that is unusually excessive for your child.
5. Exibiting outright or veiled threats of suicide, or acts of self-mutilation/cutting, excessive risk-taking, dangerous drug use or blatant sexual promiscuity. There is seemingly a loss of a conscience or moral compass.
6. Treating people, pets, or belongings in a threatening way.
7. Thinking he or she is the center of your family and shows blatant disregard for the feelings of other family members, their time or their possessions.
8. Refusing to do anything with the family and displays a growing hatred for the family.
9. Refusing to keep away from peers who are obviously leading a lifestyle counter to your beliefs and your child is buying into their destructive behavior and attitudes.
Should you have a troubled teen needing the help of such a therapeutic program, we welcome your inquiry here at Heartlight. Call us at 903-668-2173 or contact us online at
www.heartlightministries.org . Many of our alumni parents say that Heartlight literally saved their troubled teen from sure self-destruction, or at the very least saved their family from pulling apart at the seams.
