Help For Problem Teenagers
My teenage years were a great time, especially the years seventeen to nineteen, with music, girls and earning my own money.
My bedroom was my place to sleep and hang out, filled with rock band posters, guitars and record player, I spent most of my time there. I guess it was my first move asserting my new independence from my parents. During those years I was never much trouble to them.
Does your experience of your teenage children differ to my parents? Have your children become problem teenagers? Maybe they’ve started to distance themselves from the rest of the family, are argumentative or rebellious. In their attempt to assert their independence have they taken to spending much of their time with others you consider are a bad influence.
Have they been involved with alcohol or drugs? You desperately want to know what they are up to but you are told it’s “None of your business”. For some parents their problem teens are bringing about a breakdown of the family unit by their actions ,and so causing stress for everyone involved with a sense of helplessness. There are parents that try to keep their children’s problems a secret from family and friends, possibly fearing it’s proof they have failed as parents and so have no wish to bring shame on the family if others found out.
Do your problem teenagers think they know better than you that you do not understand, that they possibly even resent you! They could be affected by hormonal changes, teen depression, drugs and alcohol abuse or peer pressure to try new experiences.
You can begin to take control of the situation. Equip yourself with knowledge of what could be troubling them, or the steps needed to stop them doing something you think is harming them. I have included links to several websites that offer services. Some are American and include ‘Boot camp’ type establishments, where the problem teenagers are made to follow a strict regime. To learn to look after themselves and interact with other troubled teens. This may seem an expensive and extreme action to take. But there is also much helpful advice and information from anger issues to teen suicides.
If your problem teenager has lost their way, help them to help themselves and take steps to get them back. Don’t feel you are on your own, there is help out there, not just for your teen, but your family too.
