During growth, the child is faced with many problems, including teenage stress. It is stress that becomes a frequent cause of the development of mental illness among adolescents. If during the transitional age the child does not have the proper support, then everything can end with a nervous disease at a more advanced age, which practically cannot be treated.
If parents noticed a sharp change in the behavior of the teenager - he changed his hobby, ceased to be interested in what was expensive for a long time, then this indicates some problems. Do not immediately begin to harass the child with questions about love, problems at school or with drugs, you need to get the advice of a teenage psychologist. About how to determine the disorder by symptoms, how to help your child survive a difficult period. Let's dwell on this in more detail.
Signs of Mental Disorders in Adolescents
It is in adolescence that many mental illnesses begin to form, including schizophrenia and various kinds of psychoses. Symptoms of these disorders include the following symptoms:
- the child has a new hobby, to which he devotes all his time, but there is no success;
- sharply abandoned old hobbies;
- began to study poorly at school, when earlier he had significant successes;
- lost interest in everything he was previously passionate about.
But these symptoms do not all 100% indicate mental disorders in adolescents. Perhaps in this way the accentuation of character is manifested, which we will discuss in the following sections.
Symptomatology
Symptoms of mental disorders in adolescents 12-18 years are manifested by the following features:
- sudden mood swings, aggressiveness, conflicts with parents, teachers and other children, impulsiveness, melancholy, anxiety, inconsistency;
- neglect of adults;
- excessive criticism of oneself or, on the contrary, excessive self-confidence;
- explosive reaction to outside advice and criticism;
- sensitivity combined with callousness, the teenager is shy, but at the same time very irritated;
- refusal to comply with generally accepted rules;
- schizoid
- rejection of any custody.
If you notice only one of the points in the child’s behavior, then do not worry, just talk to him and find out the reason for the change. Mental disorders in adolescents are indicated by a combination of several or all of the symptoms listed.
Should I contact a specialist?
For advice from a teenage psychologist, parents usually prefer not to go. It seems to some that it is embarrassing to lead the child to brainwave, or that this will only aggravate the situation, and the child will become more self-enclosed, lose confidence in his parents, and so on.
In fact, you need to contact a specialist. Today, many psychologists work anonymously, that is, no one at school will know about a teenager going to a doctor, and he may not even speak his name.
To understand whether it is necessary to visit a psychologist in a particular case, answer a few questions:
- The signs of mental disorders in adolescents are described above. Remember how dramatically the child has changed. If everything is fine in the family, there are no quarrels and drastic changes (divorce, death of a relative, and so on), and the changes become noticeable, then it is difficult to do without a psychologist. If the child smoothly switched to other interests or abruptly, but everything is not going smoothly in the family, then these symptoms can be an accentuation of character or an expression (involuntary) of inner feelings.
- Pay attention to the teenager’s sleep and appetite. If the child does not sleep well and refuses food, then it is worth visiting a specialist.
- If the child is in a long depressed state, he is not interested in anything, delusions and hallucinations appear, then urgently seek help from a professional.
Here I want to note that many parents confuse the melancholy of a teenager, which is inherent in adolescence, with depression. If, in addition to this condition, the child is no longer bothered by anything (he eats and sleeps, as before, has not lost interest in his hobbies, and so on), then this is simply a difficult age threshold that good parents themselves will help to survive. Spend more time with your child, talk, but don’t “try”, if he doesn’t like a topic, walk together, listen to him. In adolescence, even simple hugs will help.
If a teenager himself understands that something is wrong with him, and tries to get rid of this condition, to return life to its former course, then this is a good sign. Most likely, he has a simple neurosis against the background of a transitional age, study, relationships with the opposite sex, and the like. If a serious mental illness is planned, then the teenager will perceive the new self calmly, and he will not have the desire to fix something.
There are specific disorders in the way of thinking of a teenager, but they are almost impossible to notice with a lay eye. In order to exclude or confirm a mental disorder in a teenager leading to a serious illness, it is still recommended to consult a psychologist.
If a specialist does not see alarming signals, then with a calm mind and with a few tips from a professional, you can go home. If alarming signals are detected, the doctor will help to correct the situation at home by conducting conversations with parents and other family members. Also, a specialist will help the child learn to be in school and other public places with minimal traumatic moments.
We suggest that you consider what mental disorders most often occur in adolescents.
Character Accentuation and Psychopathy
Only a professional psychologist practicing work with children and adolescents can understand what is happening to a teenager — accentuation of character or psychopathy, since the line between the concepts is very thin.
During accentuation, some character traits begin to sharpen sharply, and in appearance it may resemble a picture of the development of psychopathy.
The first thing you need to make sure of the normal social environment at home. As a rule, adolescents are less likely to suffer from psychopathy if the family is prosperous. The diagnosis must be made carefully and only parents and teachers of the teenager can report it. In this case, the psychologist must explain to the parties the difference between accentuation of character and psychopathy, so as not to accidentally put on the teenager the stigma of "psycho."
Melancholy
When a teenager begins hormonal restructuring, he changes his behavior. A melancholy state is a norm of transitional age, and it should not be confused with depression.
The first signs of melancholy can be a teenager's complaints about a restless mental state. He closes in on this background. There may be attacks of aggression, including those aimed at oneself. Young people often in this state are disappointed in themselves.
At such moments, you can’t leave the teenager alone. The world for him is losing its color, it seems empty and worthless, in this state many people think about suicide, and some even try to commit suicide. It seems to the teenager that nobody needs him.
Signs of Melancholy
If you notice at least half of the listed signs of melancholy, then immediately contact a specialist. Symptoms are the following changes:
- vulnerability, tears even from scratch;
- change of mood for no reason;
- self-isolation, circuit;
- frequent bouts of aggression due to trifles;
- insomnia;
- excessive appetite or lack thereof;
- decreased school performance;
- constant fatigue, malaise.
Affective insanity
The picture of the development of such a mental disorder in a teenager is very similar to melancholy, but is no longer the norm in adolescence. The main danger of the disorder is the crime of the law against the background of depression, and also not a suicide attempt, but its real possibility.
Distinguishing melancholy from manic-depressive psychosis is not easy. Please note that in the first case, the teenager often changes his mood, and in the second - for some time he has a manic mood, that is, he is passionate about something, cheerful, full of energy and plans, separation from class leads to aggression. The manic mood often changes depressing - the collapse of all hopes, bad memories, dissatisfaction with life and oneself. From this state, a teenager is very difficult to pull out.
If you notice such symptoms for your child, then immediately take him to a specialist.
Schizophrenia
This disorder is very similar to manic-depressive psychosis. All symptoms coincide - at first the mood is manic, enthusiastic, and then prolonged depression begins.
There is a difference, and it is important - with schizophrenia, panic attacks, delusions, hallucinations are possible.
Summarize
Problems in adolescence are an integral part of growing up. If you see that something is happening to the child, do not ignore it, thinking that the transitional age will pass by itself.
If you do not help the teenager in this difficult time for him, the consequences can be most dire: from the development of a serious mental illness to the child's suicide.