No matter what one’s personal circumstances may be, being a teens is difficult in a person’s life. Not only do teenagers face a degree of societal pressure to look and act a certain way, but they are also going through a time of self-discovery.
Transitioning from childhood into adulthood and attempting to navigate everything that such a time encompasses can be overwhelming. Teenagers are at a time in life when they are encouraged to look to the future and decide what it is they want out of life and how they are going to achieve it.
Such things can place a great deal of pressure on a teen. Some pressure might come from family, while at other times, it is a self-imposed pressure that they place on themselves. Unfortunately, such pressure can have some troubling consequences from a mental health perspective.
These days, more and more teenagers are being diagnosed with and treated for certain mental health conditions. Even though mental health conditions of all types can affect a person regardless of their age, there are a number of them that are seen more frequently in teenagers.
Here are three of the more common mental health conditions that are seen in teenagers today.
1. Anxiety
Anxiety is a mental health condition that can affect any person regardless of their personal circumstances and background. When it comes to teenagers, however, reports of the frequency with which anxiety occurs are troubling. Studies show that one in three teenagers will experience some sort of anxiety disorder throughout their adolescent years.
Anxiety is often used as a blanket term for a number of disorders. For instance, a teenager might suffer from social anxiety when it comes to being in crowds. Others might experience panic attacks linked to anxiety when they are exposed to certain triggers.
If you think that your teen is struggling with an anxiety disorder, you can find out more about how to get them help at igniteteentreatment.com.
2. Anorexia
Because of the pressure that many teens feel to look a certain way and fit into a particular category regarding their weight and physical appearance, many find themselves struggling with an eating disorder such as anorexia.
Even though anorexia is seen much more frequently in females than males, many teenaged boys suffer from this condition. Furthermore, just because a teen doesn’t appear to be stick thin or underweight doesn’t mean they don’t have an eating disorder. There are other, more telling signs of anorexia that concerned parents should be on the lookout for.
3. Major Depression
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in people between the ages of 15 and 24. Because of this, it is important to be aware of the signs that your teen might be suffering from major or clinical depression.
Not always apparent, depression can develop as the result of any number of other mental health disorders. It is important to check in with your teen whenever you feel that their mood is inordinately low or if they have lost interest in activities that they once enjoyed.
